Always the dumb...

I am strangely addicted to advice columns. I guess it's that train reck of human nature thing. Today, I present this from Dead Abby:

DEAR ABBY: My diabetic husband had low blood sugar while driving on a five-lane highway. I was later told that had I used my emergency flasher, someone with a cell phone would have called the police and they would have assisted me in getting off the highway. At the time I didn't even know we HAD a flasher. Now I know -- and my husband eats something before we get into heavy traffic. -- ELLA IN WALDON, N.Y.

DEAR READERS: Needless to say, after reading the above letters, I contacted the National Highway Safety Commission in Washington, D.C. In a nutshell, here's what they told me:

"While your advice was accurate, we're more concerned about the reason behind the question, and the message that it's safe to drive with occasional loss of consciousness as long as one has a co-pilot. Relying on another person in a vehicle to take control is neither responsible nor safe.

"If a person experiences loss of consciousness for any reason, they need to stop driving until they are treated by a doctor who gives them permission to resume driving. This means they'll have to find another means of transportation, at least temporarily. Families have a role to play. If they are aware of the risk, they need to tell the state licensing agency and the doctor."

Dear Ella,

Are you and your husband both fecking stupid?! He has a blood sugar issue -and you do not find keeping food in the car is a good idea?! You'd rather just play Russian Roulette with the possiblity of him passing out beind the wheel, and taking out some other travellers, huh. Well, I do suppose you are a dumb complacent cow, as you admit you didn't even know the vehicle had emergency flashers -I believe these have been required in vehicles since I have been born, at least.