Traffic coneheads

Can we correlate the increase in the use of mobile devices/social media to drivers becoming more and more idiotic?

Specifically I’m talking the people who do not see the gigantic, flashing-lights signs that tell even the semi-observant that one or more traffic lanes are about to close and they need to merge into another lane. Seriously—these suckers are visible from at least half a mile back.

But I’ve noticed several times over the past couple of weeks that people ignore everyone else peeling off to one side or another and drive steadily up until they reach the light truck and have to come to a full stop.

I’m not talking the arrogant jerks who think they can queue-jump to the tune of ten cars by speeding up in the empty lane and then trying to barge into one of the active lanes, only hitting the brakes when they get in and have to slow down by at least 30 MPH.

No, these are people who just seem to think that that big flashing arrow under the “Lane Closed” sign will somehow relocate or disappear before they get there, and are therefore nonplussed when that doesn’t happen. They stop, put on their turn indicators and eventually poke into moving traffic.

This is kind of a new one on me, so I welcome all theories.