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Compiled by "Smart Mouth" columnist Amelia Robinson, Seen and Overheard is fueled by juicy tidbits, oddball tales and strange sightings.
Home > Blogs > Seen and Overheard > Archives > 2009 > September > 09 > Entry
‘Backseat’ driving cat causes crash
A cat is blamed for a crash even though he or she doesn’t have opposable thumbs.
A Maine woman blamed a cat in her backseat for a crash that saw her car smack into an utility pole Tuesday, Sept. 8
The Lewiston woman told police she became distracted feeding the cat when the crash happened, the Sun Journal in Lewiston said.
Liked any good cat burglar, the cat disappeared after the crash.
New rule: don’t feed a cat while driving.
Incidentally, a new law is set to take effect in Maine this weekend that could see distracted driver fined for accidents.
What do you think? Should distracted drivers be fined here?
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Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: talk
Comments
By Lea
September 9, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
I suspect it depends on what distracts them. Something they have control over such as a cell phone, radio, or food - yes. Swerving to avoid a collision, no.By Trent
September 9, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this
The answer is yes. Don’t text, talk on phone, eat while driving, or even feed you cat while driving. If you swerve for anything you are liable. You need to brake and look before you switch lanes. If you swerve to miss something and you side swipe me you are responsible for the damage on my car. There are no excuses.By Kathy
September 9, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this
What is kitty running free in a vehicle in the first place. That is why you have cat carriers.By Wilmoth
September 9, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this
What is wrong with people? Feeding a cat while driving? The state should just say “you know what, you’re a jackass and we’re going to go ahead and take your license, Catwoman.” Go home to your filthy house and 37 stray cats and stay off the road.By vaa
September 9, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this
I agree with Lea, it depends on the reason for the distraction. This bozo feeding the cat should get a triple fine and her license revoked!By DEB
September 9, 2009 9:29 PM | Link to this
Why waste time answering rhetorical questions? It would however, be interesting if anyone could produce any defense of moronic behavior such as this. Maybe the cat is a diabetic and had to eat to prevent going into shock? Driving is a privelege and not a right. It is a serious responsibility when you sit behind the wheel of thousands of pounds of propelled steel. Ever had a bee fly in the window? That is distracting. But brace yourself and prepare to get stung while maintaining your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. Ignorant cat lady needs to lose her driver’s license!By nick
September 10, 2009 12:38 AM | Link to this
re:deb To add to that, what if you are allergic to bees? In many ways, diving is a right, one that can be revoked. The masses believe the opposite. The masses also think that the US is a Democracy. It isn’t. It is a Republic. There IS a difference.By CatMan
September 10, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this
Hey Kathy, Where does it say the cat was loose? Quit assumiung things, you cat hating wench. I bet you like dogs! BURN!!!By skeeter
September 10, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this
this woman deserves to be hit with a hefty fine. i adore cats, my fur “children” rule the roost but #1 i would never let one of my cats in the car loose (thats why they make carriers) and #2 i certainly would be feeding them (diabetes? ok, sure that could be, but you pull over, off the road, into a parking lot, etc if the darn thing has to be fed!)By Maczter
September 10, 2009 12:48 PM | Link to this
I had some clueless idiot almost take me out on my motorcycle last week in the Huber Heights Kroger parking lot. He was on his cell while crossing the lot against the flow of traffic, and his trailer park princess of a wife had the nerve to get mad at me when I told him off.By skeeter
September 10, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this
oops! hey guys, my previous message should read #2 I CERTAINLY WOULD “NOT” BE FEEDING THEMBy bob
September 10, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
dont blame that cat for what you did you. the cat doesnt make you do anything why dont you feed your cat when you are stopped.By Sinead
September 11, 2009 12:58 AM | Link to this
Now I’ve heard them all!! Feeding a cat while driving?! I have two furry little beasts that I adore but I would NEVER feed them while driving. They can wait.By Cinti132
September 11, 2009 1:19 AM | Link to this
Cat causes crash? Are you kidding! That stupid woman caused the crash, & yes, she should be fined. Let’s hope it includes an additional stupidity fine. By the way, I’m a cat owner & I have something called a cat carrier. I guess this idiot doesn’t own one. I hope the cat has found a new home with someone who actually has some intelligence!By MELANIE
September 11, 2009 8:23 AM | Link to this
i can see yes and no! yes to a cell phone eating food etc. but i was driving down a back road last year with my 2 girls in the back, windows down, when a bee flew in landed on my thigh and stung me! im very allergic and started having reactions before i could pull over, i eneded up hitting a mailbox! i got sited for failure to control! how is that fair??? i had to use my epipen and go to the ER. so its not like i went mailbox removing on purpose!By Jo
September 22, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this
Deb!!! hhaha LMAO diabetic cat!! Reading this is way funnier than the story I saw on TV. On TV they didn’t say she was feeding the cat while driving!!! The cat ran away!!!! I would too! This is hilirious!!!