Every time we get in our car, I remind Eliot that his job is not just to drive but to watch out for others. I guess you can call me a backseat driver. In my estimation, I have good reason to be a nervous wreck when we go out for a drive. Driver distraction has increased dramatically thanks to texting. I have watched more and more cars weave in and out of lanes. It is so unnerving I beg Eliot to be extra careful.

I am all in favor of requiring automakers to equip new vehicles with technology that lets them warn each other which way they are going. That would be such a great relief for me. I spend all my time navigating and directing. Eliot hates it.

A radio beacon can be placed on each car to continually transmit a vehicle’s position, heading, speed, and other information. All automobiles would receive the same information from other vehicles. The car’s computer would alert the driver to an impending collision.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates vehicle-to-vehicle communications could prevent up to 80 percent of accidents.

I’m all for it.