iPhone Savior: Email Driving Becomes Thrill Seeker Sport for One

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - There's no denying the fact that texting while driving can be a potentially lethal combination. On Wednesday it was announced that Senators are seeking a nationwide ban to outlaw the sending of text and e-mail messages by drivers. Currently, texting while driving is banned in 14 states, including Alaska, California and New Jersey.

A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed that "Truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver," according to a CNN report.

The result of that study has had no impact on repo man Lane Roster, a devoted iPhone user with a zero tolerance for road safety. Roster decided to dash mount his iPhone 3G in order to send dozens of email messages each day from inside the cab of his pickup truck using the popular novelty app Email 'n Walk. A decision that flies in the face of lawmakers and haunts Roster's family every time he exits their mobile home park.

"I work out of my rig for hours on end doing repos," Lane revealed in a brief phone interview, "If I can't email and drive or send an occasional text I would get absolutely nothing done. My wife thinks I'm mental but that's how I roll Paco."

Roster, who downloaded the Email 'n Walk ($.99) iPhone app a few months back, is quick to defend his ability to keep all eyes on the road while actively emailing. The unique app provides forward sight by engaging the iPhone's camera with an email window superimposed on top allowing for real-time viewing while performing the task of emailing. Although the viewing area amounts to only half of the iPhone's screen.

Lane Roster calls his reckless, road tested emailing obsession "high risk multitasking", which has become a new kind of dangerous thrill seeker sport for this Huntington Beach resident road raging up and down Southern California highways. Some have called him an idiot with a death wish.

"I had only two minor love taps where I rear ended some folks," Roster said, "There was no major damage to speak of. I just settled it right there with good ol' American greenbacks and we were on our way. I won't lie, I do swerve a tad some days when I'm tired, but email driving is a real rush man!"

While we would caution anyone from attempting the wildly irresponsible act of email driving, the app's developers deserve high praise for creating a brilliant concept aimed at servicing the mostly ignored community of iPhone mall walkers. A group that may also come under fire should US Senators choose to go after walkers that text and email.

It's painfully obvious from the apps name and description that Email 'n Walk was never intended to be used while driving or abused by the likes of mobile business owner Lane Roster, who's moronic story of grand douchery is bound to end badly. That's if he even lives long enough to tell about it.

[Photos courtesy of L. Roster]