Cell phones VS Driving (small rant & a plea)

[Mike_W]

I talk a fair bit on my phone while driving it all hands free and I find it much less distracting than holding a phone.
When I drive hands free it is much easier to shoulder check signal and change lanes aswell as watch all my mirrors.
I never find myself distracted by a phone conversation but maybe that just the way I work ill stop talking if traffic need my attention.

I personally find a sexy lady walking down the road much more distracting.

Texting is another story however, same with girls and makeup guys and shaving....now thats distracted driving and stupid.

I am quite happy because my girlfriend is all about texting people and I got her to stop texting while driving!!

I think there should be sever tickets for texting and driving. Just like the construction zones 2x times the ticket and demerits. Driving with undue care and attention ain't enough.

[Killerb]

Isn't hands free talking the same as talking to a passenger?

[Shaggy]

My 16 year old neighbor crashed her car into my other neighbors truck. We live in a cul-de-sac, the victim truck was parked, and the perp car had driven about 30 yards from where it was parked. The girl got in the car, backed out of her parking spot, drove away, started texting and crashed.
Thats part of the reason I dont let my kids play hockey in the street. I rather they ruin my lawn.

[Sporty]

Originally Posted by Killerb

I had a guy run a stop sign and cut me off. He flipped me the finger when I honked my horn. do some people really think they own the roads. I got his plate and reported him. I hope he goes to court so I can see this jerk.

Too funny, do you live in GP because that is a common occurrence here. Idiots that cut you off then glare at you like you're the one that was driving like a moron.

I'm too am sick of seeing horrendous drivers with a phone attached to their ears. Can almost always pick out who is on the phone, no signals, cutting people off, sitting at a green light until someone honks, the majority of the time, someone has a cell phone stuck to their ears. This notion that cell phones don't cause accidents, when people are already stupid, giving them a cell phone only exacerbates the stupidity.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Peterupnorth

I really doubt the law (Sept 1st) is going to make a hoot of difference!
Sort of like the "no call" list.

Exactly. There will be periodic "stings" where the focus of the police will be on this type of violation, but the rest of the time people will happily continue to poke away at their phones behind the wheel, willing to take the chance that they won't get caught.

[pogo]

[QUOTE=winger7mm;1032013]I know its not a law yet, but come on guys its common sense to pay more attention while driving.... QUOTE]

Lots of distractions to driving in this day and age. Like that movie screen on the radios now etc.

If anyone has teen or even pre-teen kids, today's multi-media, even though it can be a useful tool, it can also be a huge distraction to academics.

[Killerb]

Originally Posted by Sporty

Too funny, do you live in GP because that is a common occurrence here. Idiots that cut you off then glare at you like you're the one that was driving like a moron.

I'm too am sick of seeing horrendous drivers with a phone attached to their ears. Can almost always pick out who is on the phone, no signals, cutting people off, sitting at a green light until someone honks, the majority of the time, someone has a cell phone stuck to their ears. This notion that cell phones don't cause accidents, when people are already stupid, giving them a cell phone only exacerbates the stupidity.

Yup I live in gp. The worst part was he had a twenty foot boat he was dragging behind him and he thought he could have made it. I do have to admit I have sat at a red light waiting for it to turn green so I can turn right. Luckily no one was behind me.

[Sneeze]

Originally Posted by mulecrazy

. I have zero problems taking away an unnecessary risk to everyone.

So I ask again... where is the line?

Do we take away motorcycles? Do we take away skateboards?

I resent the idea that society as a whole has the right to decide what is safe for me. When society takes on the burden for "everybody"'s safety, its both an endless & expensive task. It also implies that the individual is too stupid or absent of responsibility to take his own safety into his own hands.

Both issues... drinking and driving as well as cell phone usage while driving should have never been taken this far. Responsibility should be put back into our hands. A law should not prevent drinking and driving, common sense should. If an individual wants to crack a beer on the open road fly at er... if he wants to open a bottle of wine, well then I would think his good judgement would say "woah". If I am on the #1 in light traffic I can answer my phone. When I am on the Deerfoot at 5:00pm, asnwering it isn't in my best interest.

When laws start dictating common sense, responsibility is removed from society as a whole and stupidity is allowed to rise exponentially.

Take a close look at your ideology... what your saying is ludicrous. Your talking about "common good". That word makes my hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "Common good" implies you have developed an undeserved sense of moral superiority to those around you because you assume you are the only one capable of making good judgement.

I know I can speak for more then myself when I say "Keep the government & your moral fortitude out of my life"

[Sporty]

Unfortunately, common sense isn't so common anymore hence the reason for laws to think for those that can't think for themselves. When someone crashes into me while talking or texting on a cell phone, their right to freedom is negated if it effects me. If you believe you are fully capable at multi tasking while driving that is great for you, there are many more that are unable to do so and puts other people at risk. I know some people think they can't live without one but at the end of the day, its only a cell phone and no where do I, IMO, believe its a fundamental right to use one while driving.

[Mhunter51]

Sneeze -- I couldn't care less about YOUR best interests answering a phone or drinking while driving -- I CARE ABOUT THE OTHER PERSONS INTERESTS ( mine ). Are you for real that you don't think there should be no laws against drinking and driving. Really !!! We in Saskatchewan have had the no phone calls while driving for a bit now. Stupid people still do some. More texting now because they THINK no one can see that. The other weekend the city police had a safety blitz. 63 people got tickets for cell phones in one day. 282.00 plus 2 points on their drivers. Can't believe there are still that many stupid people endangering everyone else, and then we have the Dodo's that say it shouldn't be enforcable because it takes away my RIGHT. BBBBSSSSS. Get the head out of the sand, but as they say ' you can't fix stupid'.

[atka]

Really the problem with all this is you might think your good to drive and then kill/injure somebody else. And driving is not a right it is a privilege nobody has the right to drive it is a privilege you are given and if you don't follow the laws it can be taken away from you.

[Killerb]

I would rather have the police take away your right to use the phone while driving. Its better than having a texter take away my ability to walk.

[mulecrazy]

Originally Posted by Killerb

Isn't hands free talking the same as talking to a passenger?

Nope, when the person is not there your brain works differently, something about it trying to create a picture of the conversation. Something like that, can't remember the exact reason in the article I read a few months back.

[mulecrazy]

Originally Posted by Sneeze

So I ask again... where is the line?

Do we take away motorcycles? Do we take away skateboards?

I resent the idea that society as a whole has the right to decide what is safe for me. When society takes on the burden for "everybody"'s safety, its both an endless & expensive task. It also implies that the individual is too stupid or absent of responsibility to take his own safety into his own hands.

Both issues... drinking and driving as well as cell phone usage while driving should have never been taken this far. Responsibility should be put back into our hands. A law should not prevent drinking and driving, common sense should. If an individual wants to crack a beer on the open road fly at er... if he wants to open a bottle of wine, well then I would think his good judgement would say "woah". If I am on the #1 in light traffic I can answer my phone. When I am on the Deerfoot at 5:00pm, asnwering it isn't in my best interest.

When laws start dictating common sense, responsibility is removed from society as a whole and stupidity is allowed to rise exponentially.

Take a close look at your ideology... what your saying is ludicrous. Your talking about "common good". That word makes my hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "Common good" implies you have developed an undeserved sense of moral superiority to those around you because you assume you are the only one capable of making good judgement.

I know I can speak for more then myself when I say "Keep the government & your moral fortitude out of my life"

Holier than thou BS.

i am not even going to bother, you obviously don't have the ability to understand a very simple reason.

[winger7mm]

This girl a see driving around all the time, constantly on her phone texting, I watched her drive into the ditch with all four tires 2 and then half way in the ditch again all withing 20 seconds. Then when she drives by us since we were painting the center line she almost hit the guy i work with didnt even know. months later, same girl goes through a red light. sits through a green. and does a bunch of more stupid crap. all with a young child in the back seat. since I work for the city I see cops at the fuel pumps all the time, they do have her license plate number and car description.
MHUNTER51 I wish they had the same penalty here as they do across the border. A $175 ticket is all a person gets for getting caught with distracted driving. no demerits that will not make people stop or get the point across. I believe 500 and 2 demerits would be sufficient. Also I am kinda shocked at how many people I see with a newspaper strewn across the steering wheel as they drive I just dont understand what makes a person think that this kind of behavoir is ok. Drinking and driving is bad due to what the booze does to your system but there is no reason to be in an accident cause some one was to busy texting someone about the stupidest things. or other stupid things behind the wheel. its to bad that alberta is being so relaxed on this topic. dunno what a guy can do to change it

[Okotokian]

I have my opinions about cell phone use and driving, but I'll leave them for now. But here's a question for you to ponder...Are roadside billboards and other advertising not specifically designed to take your eyes and attention off the road? What about people dressed in mascot costumes dancing around on the busy roadside with signs trying to get you to buy their pizza, burgers, etc..... hmmmmmmm... Perhaps the next legislative target?

[Braun]

Originally Posted by mulecrazy

Bluetooth and other hands free devices give a false sense of security. It is not the hands being busy that causes these accidents. It is the way our brain functions. Brain studies have shown that a normal person to person conversation uses far less active brain then a phone conversation. Thus, hands free calling is just as dangerous as hands on calling. There is a reason they are banning all types of phone calls while driving.

I believe Chicago is checking out making texting and walking illegal as well. Apparently the number of pedestrians getting hit while texting is through the roof there.

Agree and dissagree. Contrary to our world's perception. the human brain is not functionally designed for multitasking of any sort. A person cannot be a "good multitasker". the brain has to take away from the capabilities of performing one task in order to handle another. However I disagree with you hugely on the bluetooth and handsfree stuff big time. otherwise they need to outlaw conversations with a passenger. maybe cars should be built with separate compartments for the driver and the passengers so they cannot distract the drivers. there is a limit to everything. you cant wrap everything in a big friggin bubble. A person needs to have the ability to choose the level of focus. for me. if im talking to someone while i drive and i notice something i need to pay attention to on the road its second nature to me to just completely stop talking mid sentence until i pass that point where the extra attention is needed. Like I said any sort of multitask takes away from the persons ability to perform 100% at either task. in this case driving. but there are so many other factors to consider than just that fact. If you say hands free devices cant be used then neither should communication with passengers.

If you want to talk about the brains capabilities and driving..... one issue that majorly needs to be addressed is over stimulation of the visual senses. Research has shown that the eyes can be easily over stimulated on the road causing the person to be less tuned to details or miss certain details. A big issue is construction zones. The eyes are drawn to major changes in the vision fields. construction zones use lots of flashy tape, signs, lights, changes of rules of the roads. plus the regular driving stuff like other vehicles, temporary crossings, pedestrians. maybe school or playground signs. Plus throw in commercial advertisements or that memorial reef laying beside the road.

[eastcoast]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I have my opinions about cell phone use and driving, but I'll leave them for now. But here's a question for you to ponder...Are roadside billboards and other advertising not specifically designed to take your eyes and attention off the road? What about people dressed in mascot costumes dancing around on the busy roadside with signs trying to get you to buy their pizza, burgers, etc..... hmmmmmmm... Perhaps the next legislative target?

of course not didn't you notice you were in alberta the friendliest business province in canada, drive with a cell phone attached to your ear while doing nothing wrong is now going to be a fine,get distracted by the 40 foot flashing screens around town the government doesn't care.

[Killerb]

Originally Posted by mulecrazy

Nope, when the person is not there your brain works differently, something about it trying to create a picture of the conversation. Something like that, can't remember the exact reason in the article I read a few months back.

That's weird

Studies have shown that texting while driving shows more impairment than actually being impaired by alcohol. Should make it the same as a DUI, 1 year suspension, huge fine, criminal record. Make the consequence huge for people. But there are still a lot of drunks on the road.
Maybe cell phone manufacturers should develop technology that disables the phone from working when it is in motion.

[Kurt505]

Edmonton, two years ago on 97st northbound a woman was texting while driving, a city worker had a water truck and was watering the plants on the median so he had the truck parked in the left lane. Bam! Young man with his whole life infront of him CUT iN HALF between her car and his water truck! Blood stained the street for over a week, two families have tragedy to deal with for the rest of their lives. Ask them what they think about the topic.

[Braun]

This is just too funny not to post in this thread


Internet punsters are celebrating Megan Barnes as Florida's "Pubic Enemy," others are chattering about her "razor sharp focus."

The 37-year-old Barnes catapulted to instant fame for an alleged multi-tasking mash-up that earned the bottle-blonde's mug shot a spot on hundreds of Web sites.

According to a startled Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Barnes was shaving her bikini area while driving south on the famed Overseas Highway when she crashed into the rear of an SUV March 2.

Stay Up to Date on the Latest Travel Trends from ABC News on Twitter

'If I Wasn't There, I Wouldn't Have Believed It'

In the police report obtained by ABC News, the trim job was apparently essential because the arresting officer, trooper Gary Dunick, said the Indiana native told him she was heading to Key West visit her boyfriend.

"She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit," Dunick told the Key West Citizen.

It gets weirder. In order to pay full attention to her sensitive regions, police say Barnes enlisted her ex-husband, Charles Judy, who was riding shotgun, to hold the wheel.

Yes, her ex-husband.

Their tag-team driving went awry when an SUV driving in front of them slowed to turn. Barnes' 1995 Thunderbird smashed into it. Two of the SUV's passengers suffered minor injuries, police say. Barnes shouldn't have been driving that Thunderbird, since she had been convicted the previous day for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

According to the arrest report, it was the sixth time her license had been suspended.

After the accident, Barnes and Judy drove off, police say. The Thunderbird limped a few hundred yards before the couple switched seats. "She jumps in the back seat and he moves over," Dunick told the Citizen. "It was like the old comedy bit, 'Who's on first?'"

But the attempt to claim that Judy, not Barnes, was driving was also doomed. Judy had visible burns on his chest he claimed came from the exploding airbag, but only the passenger side airbag deployed, according to the police report.

So Dunick charged Barnes with driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and driving with no insurance. Judy was not charged.

According to the arrest affidavit, the trooper asked her afterward why she didn't hit the brakes when she saw the SUV. She answered bluntly, "I told you, I was shaving."

"If I wasn't there, I wouldn't have believed it," Dunick told the Citizen.

"About 10 years ago, I stopped a guy in the exact same spot... who had three or four syringes sticking out of his arm. It was just surreal and I thought, 'Nothing will ever beat this.' Well, this takes it."

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/cops-wo...ry?id=10065885