Texting while driving

[khryslerkid]

Ever wonder why people don't seem to be using their turn signals any more? Well it took me awhile to figure it out but when someone in front of you abruptly brakes and then turns off, take a look and see if they don't have a cell phone up to their ear. Kinda hard to reach for the turn signal lever when both hands are already busy!

Here's another real scary observation.
Driving down the road and all of a sudden you have someone tailgating you. Take a good look at what they are doing. Yep, they're texting! You'll see them come running up behind you and start "drafting" you just to make it easier to text and not have to pay attention to what's going on in front. A guy I worked with made the same observation. He said he likes to gradually let off the gas and watch their response when they realize they're almost running into the back of you! Now that's just insane what people are doing just to text and drive...

 

[ZR9B]

some people cant walk and chew bubble gum let alone drive a car. the more crap that they put in the new cars the more dangerous the roads will be....."just add another air bag it will be ok" says the engineer

 

[Speedbird]

Just wait and they can yack all they want while the car has a wreck all by itself.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/our-fascination-with-the-failings-of-driverless-cars/
Our Fascination With The Failings Of Driverless Cars

 

[Bad Sport]

What's wrong with texting and driving? I can text, eat, put my makeup on and drive all at the same time while watching MASH re-runs on my tablet.

 

[ilm65]

I agree it is a serious problem. But, disabling moving cell phones is not a viable solution. What about passengers? What about people on buses or trains? What about emergency service personnel who are passengers? I think that a HUD-type display that projects the screen onto the windshield so a driver does not have to take his eyes off the road, coupled with a 100% accurate voice-controlled cell phone would be an improvement. Still would distract a driver's attention, but at least they'd have eyes on the road.

NJRR, A HUD-type display with voice-control would be an IMPROVEMENT--but as we agree, still distracting. The old saying: "If we can put a man on the moon..." the system could be designed to accommodate emergency service personnel, etc. As to passengers within the vehicle or on trains and busses, what did we do previously? I don't see the convenience outweighing the current damage, injury, and loss of life.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Hey ilm65, it's a problem all over the world and not just in US of A. I see so much dumb **** on the roads it makes me sick. It's a $300 fine here, even just touching your phone while driving - yet I see so many people drive past with the phone in their hand... how stupid can you be?!

If I was a covert cop, I reckon I could rack up $6000 in fines a day easy....

 

[HawkRod]

I agree that the roads are getting dangerous as hell due to all the distracted driving. But like others have said, while cell phones are the primary reason, they are not the only reason. Putting on makeup, reading papers, messing with the car touch screen/navigation, etc. There are tons of reasons.

There are no easy answers, but in my opinion the answer lies not in further regulating cell phones, but rather to change the culture that feels it is OK to mess with it while driving. For one thing, the driver's test in most states is a total joke. Why not really force people to learn how to drive, as well as handle their car in skid or emergency situations? Then, along with that, teach some of the issues that happen when the driver is distracted. That, along with stiff fines, may help improve the situation. By the way, a recent study found that young drivers take their eyes off the road much longer than more experienced drivers. So this is another thing can perhaps be taught by helping young drivers realize how quickly something bad can happen.

No, the above wouldn't be a total solution, but I am not sure anything would be...

 

[Speedbird]

For one thing, the driver's test in most states is a total joke.

Yea, what he said.

 

[ilm65]

I have ATT and they have an app for smart phones called DriveMode that you can turn on, or just leave on, that after your car reaches 15 miles per hour by gps it won't let texts or phone calls through until you come to a stop. It sends a message to the caller that you are driving at the moment and you will return their call later. If you have a hands free Bluetooth device installed it will only stop incoming texts. Works very good.

So the technology is there--but this is voluntary, not mandatory. If the majority is not in favor of disabling the signal totally, then at the very least, disable texting when the vehicle is moving. If the communication is extremely important, then use the phone as it was originally intended--CALL!

 

[evilmopar]

I have ATT and they have an app for smart phones called DriveMode that you can turn on, or just leave on, that after your car reaches 15 miles per hour by gps it won't let texts or phone calls through until you come to a stop. It sends a message to the caller that you are driving at the moment and you will return their call later. If you have a hands free Bluetooth device installed it will only stop incoming texts. Works very good.

I'd love to have that app here in sweden. Make it mandatory on all smartphones! Would make the streets a little more safe....probably not...

 

[Speedbird]

There's an app for that?
Woman Pleasures Herself While Driving A Mini, Crashes Into A Van

http://andyjwells.tumblr.com/post/123975996107/woman-pleasures-herself-while-driving-a-mini

 

[2059]

was t-boned three years ago by a young girl texting. she ran the red light.

 

[patrick66]

In the last week, I've seen the following:

1) Woman on the Interstate in a new Ford Taurus, swerving in and out of the outside lane, going from two feet in the shoulder to two feet into the inside lane. She is on her phone AND has a laptop open next to her, as she is attempting to drive and telecommute simultaneously. I laid on the horn as I got up next to her, flipped her off, then called the State Patrol with her description and tag number.

2) At a four way stop, the guy in front of me has been swerving for the previous two miles, texting away. At the sign, he turns left and heads down the ONCOMING lane! Thankfully, no one was heading the opposite direction. He drove like this for at least an eighth-mile.

3) Another four-way stop. Me and three other vehicles were stopped when a fourth blew through the intersection at the 45-mph speed limit, on her phone, oblivious to the intersection.

And 4) Same four-way intersection. A Ford F150 blows through the stop sign and T-bones a Lexus SC450, then careens across the street and ends up parked 100% inside the church on the corner. He blamed the "sun in his eyes" on an unfamiliar road that caused it; when it was that, talking on his cell, and running the stop sign that was the problem!

 

[HawkRod]

A Ford F150 blows through the stop sign and T-bones a Lexus SC450, then careens across the street and ends up parked 100% inside the church on the corner. He blamed the "sun in his eyes" on an unfamiliar road that caused it; when it was that, talking on his cell, and running the stop sign that was the problem!

The cops are getting wise to the BS excuses. In most cases now, they check a driver's cell phone records and compare it to the time of the crash. Not sure how well it holds up in court, but it is a start...

 

[GetX'd]

Welcome to the new age drunk driving..... They ought to triple the fines to really make this hurt if you get caught. Suspend licenses the ball of wax. In California it's illegal to either talk or text while driving - do you think anyone pays attention to that law.... Hardly. It really infuriates me to see people doing so.

 

[satman72]

Here in Ontario, it's a fine between 300-1000 dollars. You would think this would stop people. Nope. F'n idiots. I see them on the road all the time.