by Janet Donaldson

Created on: October 20, 2009

In 1903 there were only two cars in the state of Ohio. At an intersection, they collided. It must have been before stop signs.

In the good old days, there were no seat belts (except your mom throwing her arm out in front of you), no multiple lane expressways, 50 mph were top speed limits, and we ate at restaurants or packed a lunch for a longer trip. Stopping for a picnic was a highlight of the journey.

The worst distractions were, if you were lucky, a radio that got more than five stations and the kids in the back seat punctually asking every 3 minutes and 37 seconds, are we there yet? By then there were stop signs, and a fraction of the number of cars on the road as there are today. Cars were for getting from one place to another. It was a more leisurely pace and people would often find entertainment in taking a Sunday afternoon drive with no destination in mind.

Today we seem to consider our cars as an extension of our homes. They are safer, take us places faster, and we have found unintended uses from what Henry Ford envisioned when he started rolling horseless carriages off the assembly line. Our lives have become more complex and frenetic. So have we gone overboard? It would seem so. Here are a few things that, as a driver, you should never do in a car.

Speed up to see how fast a bird is flying next to your car.

Dry your laundry by hanging it out the windows.

Allow your pet loose in the car. They always want to drive.

Take pictures, no matter how funny or fascinating the photo would be on Facebook.

Drive really fast up a hill to see if your car will fly. Note: The Wright Brothers already figured that one out.

Look for interesting animal shapes in the clouds.

Bake cookies on your engine on the way to work.

Overindulge in drink; i.e., water, coffee, unless you know where the next rest stop or gas station is located.

Hunt for dinner by chasing down deer, pheasants, squirrels, or rabbits.

Catch a quick nap.

Underlying the do nots above are serious mistakes we have all been guilty of making while driving. We have become too complacent about our responsibility while driving a one-to-three ton lethal weapon. We have known about driving drunk for a long time, and are coming to the realization that cell phones and texting are dangerous activities, but we get away with something once and think we can do it again. And again.

Have you ever driven a familiar route and suddenly realized you do not remember driving for miles of it? Go ahead and admit it; we all

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