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StumbleUponIn October 2007, we published "Deadly Distraction," by Max Alexander, a report on the risks we take when we snack, talk on cells, even shave behind the wheel. We invited readers 18 and over to take our online driving survey. Here's what 669 of them told us:
We wanted to know the craziest thing you've ever done while driving. Your responses ranged from the innocuous (singing) to the strange (balancing a checkbook) to the truly dangerous (switching places with a passenger). What's more, we discovered we have a rather frisky readership. Quite a few admitted to various sexual activities (trust us, you don't want to know!) while behind the wheel. Now, how dangerous is that?
We thought we'd share some of your actual comments to that "crazy" question. Once you read this list, you'll wonder why there aren't many more accidents -- and you'll be tempted to stay off the roads for good.
- I freaked out when I saw a spider in my car and swerved into the other lane.
- I ducked out of sight so it would look like my dog was driving.
- Quickly drove across two lanes to make an exit. A semi almost hit me.
- Tried to pick up something from the passenger's side of the car floor.
- Read a map on my lap.
- I used to shave with an electric shaver while I drove.
- Put on pantyhose.
- Used my knee to steer when my hand was tired.
- Drove into a ditch while driving by looking at a certain house.
- Trying to untie tennis shoes while driving.
- Cut my nails.
- Changed clothes.
- Driving while impaired.
- Flossed my teeth.
- Tried to reach a gallon of milk that had toppled over.
- During a five-hour drive from a wedding, I watched a couple of movies on my laptop computer while driving on
the interstate at 75 mph.
- Text messaging.
- Took off a jacket while still wearing a seatbelt and got my arm stuck.
- With the car on cruise control, had passenger steer while I turned around to get something out of the back seat that the passenger could not reach.
- Tried to hold onto a cat on the way to the vet.
- I once drove with my head hanging out the window and yelling because I was trying to get the attention of the person in front of me. I definitely got their attention!
- Fell asleep.
- I was talking on my cell phone and stopped at a light when it was green, not red.
- Scratched off lottery tickets.
- Dropped a lit cigarette in my lap.
- Wrote a check.
- Tried to eat a pie. I can't do it.
- I read a book and a newspaper.
- Wrote out my grocery list.
- I tried to eat an ice cream while driving a standard.
- Reached into the back seat to retrieve my baby's pacifier while on an Interstate during rush hour.
- Drinking coffee and eating an ice cream cone while driving and shifting a dump truck with 20 tons of stone.
- Just daydreaming.
- While berating a highway patrolman for pulling a truck over, I looked back and plowed into the back of a semi, totaling my car.
- Drove 15 miles on a freeway at night without headlights.
- Opened the door to look underneath my car.
- Eat a bowl of cereal.
- Backed into someone -- twice.
- Read my mail.
- Probably drinking a six-pack of beer.
- I was a smoker. I caused a fire in the ash tray, which was filled with paper wrappers.
- 1000 miles straight driving.
- Kissed my wife.
- I did a Sudoku puzzle.
- Talked on the phone, ate a burrito, put on makeup and drove a stick shift with my knee and elbow. Yes, all at the same time. I'm not proud.
Please drive safely!
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