Cell phone to her ear, index finger resting lightly atop the the steering wheel -- she was prepared for nearly anything -- except an emergency.

Yeah, this photo was taken before the recent "hands free" vehicle code rules took effect in California. But then, this thoroughly modern gal is pretty much driving hands-free (and brain-free) anyway.

A friend sent this to me a while ago, so I thought I'd get off my duff and post it. It was taken in Silicon Valley last year, and it shows just how silly some people can be.

Here we have a car that has taken a significant impact to the rear quarter, enough to tweak the entire car (this is a unibody car, after all) and someone felt it would be reasonable to 1) hold it all together with duct tape, and 2) drive the car in Bay Area traffic.

Stay alert, people. This kind of driver is capable of all sorts of carnage.

Photo provided by James Cheap