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One-in-six Americans (16%) have combed their hair or applied makeup while driving, according to a Social & Demographic Trends survey by Pew Research Center. And those are only the ones who admit it!

We’ve all seen those “smart” commuters who try to save time by shaving, brushing their teeth or flossing, removing or altering contact lenses, or putting on jewelry – while on the way to work.

But, just when you think you’ve heard or seen it all, you haven’t.

Here are a few headliners taken from online newspapers:

Driver lacked razor-sharp focus

“Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woma driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.” Read more at: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/the-other-side/florida-woman-crash...

Look Ma, No Hands!

A 22-year-old woman in Wales was caught on police video with both hands off the steering wheel, putting on her eye make-up while driving at 32 mph. The video pictured her holding a compact mirror in one hand and an eye brush in the other while driving along the A499 in north Wales. She was fined £200. Read more here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-379284/Woman-fined-putting make-wheel.html#ixzz0hbymImp9

Should have known better!

A health and safety expert has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught shaving as he overtook a line of rush hour traffic at 70 mph. The 39-year-old man was seen, by police, leaning forward to look in his rear view mirror as he used an electric shaver.

The man, who had previously worked on accident investigations with the police, also claimed he had been leaning across the car at an awkward angle so he could see past a dozen mannequins he had stored in the back of his car.

When apprehended, the man said he was running late to deliver a first aid training course!

Read the full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/6335491.stm

Double, double, toil and trouble

An Ontario Ombudsman caught a driver shaving his head and captured the incident on his new iPhone. The Ombudsman then started a discussion on Twitter. Shaving while driving will likely be illegal when new restrictions on using electronic devices come into effect. And upstanding citizens will likely report lawbreakers. However, note the irony here. Under the new law, soon to take effect, the Ombudsman would also be guilty of breaking the law by using his iPhone to video the event. Why is life so complicated?

The pundits, as well as irate citizens, are having a field day on the topic of
grooming while driving:

Here’s a take from Mindjack Magazine:

“Grooming: …people are using the rearview mirror to apply their makeup, use battery-powered curling irons, style their hair, and even shave while trying to drive. Some people claim they can complete their entire grooming routine during the morning rush hour. … Changing clothes, applying deodorant, nail polishing, even tooth-brushing are being done now as drivers wield around three thousand pounds of metal at 65 mph. If you start to go bonkers driving behind one of these nuts, just honk your horn, stay cool, and be glad no one has come up with porta-potties for the car yet.”

Read more at: http://www.mindjack.com/plfrank/drive.html

10 Worst Things:

Another irate citizen posted a list of 10 worst things to do while driving. Her motivation: “I was actually rear-ended by a woman who was brushing her hair while driving. She had actually dropped her brush, tried to retrieve it and BAM! Hit my car.”

Here are her comments about grooming:

On makeup: …I am afraid of being poked in the eye while putting on mascara in front of my mirror at home. I can only imagine what happens while driving, one wrong move and the worst that can happen is you poke your eye out or else come out looking like a clown.