Thursday, June 19, 2014

A Bear and a Distracted Driver

essaysbysean.blogspot.com

In the Rockies today, driving un-distracted, I saw a black bear with a yellow ear tag sneaking across the transCanada highway. I slowed, moved to drive behind him over the center lane. The tag meant, “Don’t stop! If this bear gets dangerously used to humans it will need to be put down.” An oncoming blonde my age saw the bear and me and gave a salute-wave as she passed.

Also today I saw a noble deer at bay, with a broad black nose. He stood, thought better of crossing the highway, and spun about to nimbly return to the forest.

Today I saw a sign by an interesting brown road joining the highway, in the middle of nowhere, “School bus Stop Zone.” Are you curious? I regret I didn’t turn off to coolly explore whatever might be up that less traveled road. No, for although I am on holiday until Monday I had to hurry home by Wednesday afternoon. Sorry.

That’s because over a year ago I had a dozen cars stopped behind me at a red light. Green. A nanosecond passed. The distracted driver behind me, who was on his “hands free cell phone” and had “just broken off with his girlfriend” suddenly noticed the green light and stomped on the gas. Good thing my headrest was precisely adjusted. Too bad I was trying to suck a sour candy with my jaw wayyy out of line. Good thing his girl hadn’t told him she was pregnant—he could have seriously crashed my car. Instead he only impacted my life—now I have to cut my holiday short to see my doctor; my jaw is in dire pain.

“Save the bears!”

 If you are a girlfriend, then please don’t be what alcoholic husbands call an “enabler.” Don’t enable your boyfriend to call you from his car in traffic, whether he is moving or still. Tell him there’s no fire, you’re not pregnant, and there’s no reason he can’t wait to call you until he is safe, and legal. It would be the loving thing to do.


Sean Crawford
June
Now on the pouring rain side of the mountains
2014 

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing that, Sean! It's important to remain focused when you're driving. It's best to be safe than reckless, because once a drive turns for the worse, the possible injuries sustained will not only be from the people inside the car, but for others near the vehicle as well. Always keep in mind that distractions cause most car accidents. Take care! :)

    Kim Hunter

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  2. It's strange-Most times when I click I get only your profile, but once I got your site. I wanted to give you feedback about your blog—hey, I bet I can get back to you through my history tab.

    It was nice to read your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. While hands-free driving can let people use their hands for driving, it still serves as a distraction – whether it’s a normal call or an emergency. If it is an emergency, then pull over and take the call, rather than driving around distracted. Anyway, how did you deal with that incident? I hope that was the last time you had an accident on the road. Thanks for sharing this with us, Sean. Take care!


    Modesto Culbertson @ D&Z Law Group

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dinged his insurance company to pay for a tiny dent in my bumper, partly so I could re-sell my car, and mainly to send a message.

      I did not ding his insurance, although maybe I should have, when I later required a mouthguard at night because I am getting 24-hour a day ringing in my ear caused by my jaw. I'm not in pain, so I don't qualify for physiotherapy.

      For the rest of my life my two jaw joints will feel different. If only he had put his phone in the glove compartment or the trunk while he was driving.

      Delete
  4. I feel really bad about your accident, Sean. Using mobile phones while driving should truly be avoided, because that would likely to cause accidents. I hope that distracted driver learned his lesson with what happened from that incident, and I also hope that it wouldn't happen again. Anyway, thanks for sharing. Take care!


    Stephanie Waters @ Chastaine Law

    ReplyDelete