Stephanie has been with the Mountain Home News since September of 2017. In May of 2018 she was promoted to Managing Editor of the Mountain Home News and our Mountain Home Patriot. She is married and a mom which explains a lot of her blogs, but is also passionate about her community. Being a ranch grown Idahoan you will see her rural nature infused in her writing. Her blog pieces are sometimes very whimsical and funny to read, but she is not shy about sharing the personal side of her world. Sometimes it is more local, state or national trending. I never really know where she is going to take me and the readers weekly. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Editors have available to them that one piece each week that is an opinion piece, all things Stephanie and not news, but something that I hope you look forward to . She is very open to her readers and never hesitate to reach out. Brenda M Fincher ~ Publisher

Driving distracted

Posted Friday, April 13, 2018, at 12:01 PM

With the weather getting warmer and school coming to a close, I'm sure many of you are thinking about summer roadtrips and fun-filled vacations.

The downside of warmer weather? More drivers on the road.

I don't know if I'm the only one who has noticed this, but when the months get warmer it seems like some people suddenly forget how to operate a motor vehicle. I see more cars weaving in and out of lanes, more fender benders in parking lots - it's mayhem!

I know I'm not a perfect driver - and I don't know anyone who is - but you don't have to be the best driver in the world to know how to drive safely.

I think the biggest problem is distractions while driving.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not a perfect driver. Whenever I drive, I am surrounded by things I was told were distractions: I play my music while I'm driving; I talk to people who are with me in the car while I drive; and I am definitely guilty of glancing at my phone while I'm driving.

That being said, I still practice basic safe-driving skills, such as checking my mirrors before backing out of a space, using my blinker and much more.

Distracted driving is a serious problem, and one I'm sure all of us have been a part of. It's probably something we're not going to give up easy, either.

Pay attention the next time you drive.

Did you forget to use your blinker when you turned, did you forget to check your mirrors before changing lanes, do you find yourself picking up your phone constantly, do you find yourself overcorrecting because you didn't see another vehicle?