This photo was taken (from the passenger seat) while driving on the Autostrada between Lucca and Pisa.
Yes, the driver is looking at an IPad. I’ll admit that the traffic was moving slowly because of roadworks, but it was moving. We followed the driver for about 20 minutes when he finally put the tablet away…to pick up his phone.
I thought all Italians had mobiles attached to their ears!
By: Andrea Waterhouse on June 22, 2013
at 8:57 pm
That is the same the world over.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:06 am
Amazing!!! I have seen lots of people using their phones and driving at the same time, but a tablet???? Crazy!
By: mulino dominillo on June 22, 2013
at 9:04 pm
I thought it was worth a photo.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:06 am
It happens in America too. Dangerous driving habits.
By: margieinitaly on June 22, 2013
at 9:12 pm
Some people have no sense at all.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:06 am
It is happening everywhere, crazy!
By: Marcia Clarke on June 22, 2013
at 9:14 pm
Unfortunately that is true.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:07 am
As I understand it, in Italy you can be throw in jail for talking on a cell phone or texting….or this kind of thing. Can anyone confirm?
By: jann on June 22, 2013
at 9:15 pm
I’m sure it is illegal, but the police don’t seem to worry about it. They could collect a fortune in fines if they ever did start to charge people…and it might stop them doing it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:08 am
If you think that is bad, I saw somebody breast feeding a baby whilst driving on the autostrada from Viareggio!
By: Gill on June 22, 2013
at 9:49 pm
That’s a good one. Children seldom seem to be in seat belts here.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:09 am
Well, it was only a matter of time, I suppose. I’ve seen women putting on mascara using the rearview mirror while on the highway.
Here in NYC, if you use your phone, it must be on a hands free device otherwise you can get a ticket.
By: Jackie Cangro on June 22, 2013
at 11:22 pm
I’m sure it is illegal here too, but that doesn’t stop them.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:09 am
Ok.. knowing how wild the italian roads are .. that is just plain scary! c
By: cecilia on June 23, 2013
at 12:57 am
Ridiculous and frightening.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:10 am
I once saw a woman driving on a highway in Canada with sheet music stretched out across the steering wheel, mouth wide open and (apparently) singing at the top of her lungs while driving about 100k/h.
By: Diane C on June 23, 2013
at 1:26 am
Incredible!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:11 am
We were once travelling behind a car on a very narrow windy mountain road in Italy where the driver had one arm out of the car holding a cigarette and the other to his ear with his mobile phone. Wondered what he was using to steer with?
By: Michelle on June 23, 2013
at 1:51 am
I was on a bus here and the driver was speaking on his mobile phone when his other phone rang. He actually answered it and steered with his knee.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:12 am
Michelle, the mind boggles!!!
By: ytaba36 on June 23, 2013
at 2:40 am
It certainly does!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:12 am
Makes one cranky. So much can go wrong in a sec. And yes you see this bad behaviour everywhere.
By: Dianne Cant on June 23, 2013
at 4:32 am
I would like to see the police take some action here.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:12 am
Hi Deb,
that road is dangerous enough with FULL attention. The passengers should complain to him. This is reckless/irresponsible behavior. Unforgivable if he caused injury or death.
Hope you are keeping well and still enjoying Bagni Di Lucca.
Cheers Judy
By: Anonymous on June 23, 2013
at 5:43 am
He was alone on the car and quite oblivious to everything.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 23, 2013
at 8:13 am
Oh that’s the Italy we are currently experiencing and loving!
By: Pauline on June 23, 2013
at 9:25 am
Omygoodness. That is unreal.
By: lazylauramaisey on June 23, 2013
at 12:04 pm
Unbelievable!!
By: Madhu on June 23, 2013
at 10:13 pm
Ridiculous!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2013
at 3:16 pm
Good grief!!!! That is ridiculous!!!
By: jazzytower on June 24, 2013
at 4:30 am
Quite!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2013
at 3:24 pm
That has certainly created and outpouring of mad driving observations! It is amusing until someone gets hurt. Perhaps driving these days has got so tedious we feel the need for these, sometimes, fatal distractions?
By: Christian on June 24, 2013
at 8:36 am
It isn’t really amusing at all. The problem is that these people doing stupid things can hurt others as well as themselves.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2013
at 3:37 pm
Nuts!
By: twoblackdoggies on June 24, 2013
at 10:39 am
Completely!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2013
at 3:24 pm
We see people (while driving 80 mph): reading a newspaper that is perched on the steering wheel; texting on one phone, with another one held by their shoulder to their ear; shaving with an electric razor; eating (that’s “child’s play after all!); putting on a total makeup job with the rear view mirror facing them instead of the rear view; using a laptop computer in the passenger seat beside them; texting; facing the rear seats of the car talking to the kids;…shall I go on?!?!? In the US the drivers are total maniacs at the wheel.
By: Our Kitchen Inventions on June 24, 2013
at 7:03 pm
I’ve not seen anyone driving with an iPad before! It’s very irresponsible and dangerous. People don’t really think about the risks of inattentive driving until something bad happens to them, and by then it could be too late. What’s so important that it can’t wait until you get safely home?! It’s against the law in Australia and the police are trying to bring attention to it, but sadly people still do it.
By: Ali on June 24, 2013
at 8:34 pm
Crazy and irresponsible! What a danger to other motorists. 🙁
By: adinparadise on June 27, 2013
at 8:01 pm
I wish the police had been around.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 28, 2013
at 6:38 am
Trouble is, they’re never there when you want them to be. 🙁
By: adinparadise on June 28, 2013
at 7:06 am