Traveling Woes and Cognitive Decline

Hello folks, let’s chat… This just in. A new study suggests driving for more than two hours a day steadily reduces intelligence. That could explain a lot. Being from an itty-bitty town in Lake Providence, two hours is minimum drive time for my busy speaking schedule, and I often have my best friend on board. More on that in just a moment.

Some have suggested this cognitive decline is due to physical inactivity as it has also been seen in people who watch television for long periods. However, the doctor who released the findings thinks there are other factors at play here. He says driving for long stretches produces stress and fatigue which contributes to cognitive decline. I hear you, doc, and I may know where some of that stress originates.

I’m looking at you, Red. That would be my BFF, who often travels with me in the shotgun position. Red accuses me of talking with my hands and taking my eyes off the road while driving. My position is that she is simply neurotic. I suppose the truth lies somewhere in between.

To say Red isn’t a fan of traffic congestion would be an understatement. I thought she was going to a have a coronary once when we hit Atlanta just as five million of our closest friends were getting off work. I’m not saying Red tends towards road rage, but she does make mean eyes at other vehicles.

Red takes shotgun literally. She’s usually packing, be it a smaller, cuter weapon, and she’s always prepared to help with navigation. It’s just that her help isn’t always helpful.

Take the time I was at that busy intersection in Dallas. The light was turning, people were honking at us from behind, and I was trying to make the right decision when Red began helping. “Go! Go!” she screamed, “Go! Left! Right! Straight!”

In the event you don’t find those directions particularly clear, welcome to my world. I feel sure screaming “Left! Right! Straight!” would impair any driver. My point? I can see where driving for long periods could cause cognitive decline. I’d just to go down on record as saying it can affect passengers, too!

Hugs, Shellie