Driving Under the Influence

Forbes magazine reports on a new study examining the effect of cell phone use on traffic accidents:

Maneuvering through traffic while talking on the phone increases the likelihood of an accident five-fold and is actually more dangerous than driving drunk, U.S. researchers report. That finding held true whether the driver was holding a cell phone or using a hands-free device, the researchers noted.

Sobering news there. But this study might only be scratching the surface of what's happening on American streets. Including the streets of our very own Twin Cities, if this Pioneer Press story can be believed:

... current [Minnesota Timberwolves ] center Eddie Griffin was served with a civil suit accusing him of crashing his SUV into a parked car because he was drunk and watching a pornographic DVD.

The complaint, filed in St. Paul District Court, alleges the crash occurred because he was "under the influence of alcohol" and masturbating while watching pornography on a TV set in his dashboard."

I think it's safe to assume, Eddie Griffin was not using a hands free device in this incident.

Simultaneously driving the streets of Minneapolis while drunk AND "actively watching" pornography on his dashboard TV set? The words of former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich from NBA draft night in 2001 upon acquiring Griffin have never rung truer:

He's so versatile," Tomjanovich said

And Griffin will finally get the last laugh on his critics, who had this to say when he was a mere prospect out of Seton Hall:

Ball handling while not bad could stand a tad bit more improvement on protecting the ball as he turned the ball over too many times.

I don't think anyone can legitimately question his ball handling skills again.

Yes, I'll stop now.