OK, someone in Vermont got caught playing while driving…
So a lawmaker has added “playing a musical instrument” to
their list of things that will be illegal to do while driving.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/08/national/main2452179.shtml?source=RSSattr=Health_2452179
What about conversations? Surely no-one can concentrate on safe driving and have a conversation at the same time! This would mean that husbands driving would no-longer be permitted to respond to the nagging wife … not that it ever did much good anyways. 
djm
Almost certainly it was a whistle rather than a flute (playing whistle while driving is easy; playing flute while driving is not), and I might even know who it was
well…I can see where Vermont might not be the easiest state for flute.
North Dakota and parts of Montana aren’t too bad. 
I had the same feeling. I would never be tempted to play flute while
driving. You can’t drop it and grab the wheel. Plus the dizziness.
(Maybe that would make me work on my embouchure!) The whistle
is far more likely to lull someone into a false sense of security.
Yeah, they’ll have to ban listening to right-wing-hate-radio too cause it raises yer BP and is distracting. Oh wait, they’re gonna do that anyway with the “fairness doctrine.” Nyuk.
To be fair to the legislators, surely the only time that playing an instrument while driving (which requires the removal of one’s hands from the wheel) is equivalent to holding a conversation while driving, is if one removes one’s hands from the wheel in order to throttle the nagging spouse…
Driving while fluting isn’t all that difficult if you’re driving in one of the flatter states…especially if you have an automatic. I find parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and northern Missouri especially ideal for such activities.
They should write in that women’s purses are kept in the trunk or cargo area. No chance of gettin’ at the makeup. Outlaw all food near the driver’s seat. Take away cigarette lighters from the dash so than nobody can smoke. No more CD players so you can’t fuss with discs in sleeves and holders. Mwuhahahahah…
C’mon buddy, dontcha know that onerous legislation is aimed the most extreme so everybody can share the pain? Sorta like friskin’ granny at the airport.
I think we should just outlaw driving, maybe.
You’ve got MY vote!
In the UK (and many other places, I’m sure) there is a law against “driving without due care and attention”. So if you are doing your makeup, or shaving in your rear-view mirror while driving, you will be arrested and charged under that law. (Assuming you are spotted and caught and all the rest of it.)
As an Innocent Bystander, I can’t help thinking that playing a musical instrument while driving would come under that law. The onus of proof in the courtroom might hinge on whether you could pay attention and play at the same time, but I don’t see that as offering much in the way of defence.
Does Vermont not have such a law? Or is this a case of a Politician wanting his name in the Statute Books (and the newspapers)?
…but only if you play right handed (or left in the U.K.). As a passanger all I have room for sticking out the left is a fife, anything longer and I would have to open a window.
You know just how stupid people can be when a governing force feels compelled to create laws to keep them from hurting themself and innocent others.
What constitutes accidentally causing an accident?
When are excuses not good enough to justify what happened?
Yeah, they’ll have to ban listening to right-wing-hate-radio too cause it raises yer BP and is distracting.
What? That’s the only thing worth listening to these days. 
I’m getting a tv installed so I can watch Maury Povich while I drive.
“But y’r honor, I wasn’t actually blowing.”
I can see outlawing cello playing while driving. But, like, tabor pipes? Where’s the danger? I suppose accordians and air bags would be kind of chancy.
Tony
Why do you say that?
Add a keyboard and reeds to an airbag you’ve GOT an accordian. 