This Can't Be Right

This startling and somewhat unbelievable statistic was reported in the Sunday's New York Daily News article "Eat-&-drive sure recipe for a crash."

"A new study shows a staggering 80% of all car accidents and 65% of all near misses are caused by distracted drivers being more focused on their burgrers than on the road."

The upshot of the article is that eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages, especially hot coffee, while driving is the contributing cause of 80% of all automobile accidents and, by the way, 65% of all near misses.

Now first of all, who keeps statistics on near misses? Do people pull over to the side of the road after a near miss, wait for the police to show up and then admit to eating a hamburger or drinking a cup of coffee while driving? I don't think so.

And 80% of all accidents? Why are we banning the use of cellphones and texting then? Hell, if we believe that statistic then driving while intoxicated isn't as dangerous as eating while driving.

Sometimes you read something in the paper and just have to shake your head in disbelief. Sometimes the editor should do the same.