Distracted Drivers: Part Two

[RaW142857]

@Chris05161967 True, unlike the race driver the person on the other end of the call is not focused on your driving. Now think: Is the morning DJ focused on your driving? Is Rush Limbaugh? Why not outlaw radios? Or CD players? It still comes back to the driver being situationally aware, serious about driving, and having his priorities straight. I can't tell you how many times I've been on hands-free and said "could you repeat the last 20 seconds, I was focused on traffic and didn't hear you."

[ThinkStage]

Everyone knows the dangers of texting and driving, so here is a video of what I am trying to do to prevent myself from texting and driving

youtube.com/watch?v=2gfxxVzRw1­I&feature=youtu.be

[jackshilack]

Tell the world you've had enough of distracted drivers on our facebook page... "itsUrcall"

[sonnyman2000]

in norway ur fined 300 USD for using phone while driving

[Ibedieb]

Go ahead, drive and text. I see it all the time. Sorry thing is most people don't have the common sense to drive a car safely.

Hit me while you're on the phone...I'll own everything yoou ever have.

[xFrequentC]

This is retarded. They clearly weren't comfortable driving at those speeds WITHOUT the phone. Also, I'm sure if I had someone screaming at me from the passenger seat while I'm driving through chaos I'd hang up, slow down, and beat the crap out of the passenger. So what does this prove?

[ethicomm]

Since they passed hands-free laws where I live on February 1, I've kept count of the drivers using cell phones while I sit at red lights. So far the score is men: 33, women 15. Of those 33 men, about 15 were truckers, cabbies or tradesmen. At this moment women seem to take the laws more seriously than men though I've yet to see a woman with an earset.

[Zipper696969]

What did all these morons do before cell phones? Are they making life and death , important calls? No! They are chatting, makiing small talk, discussing last night's TV and general BS.

Ban all cell phone use WHILST driving. Need to really make a call - pull over or wait until the next junction.

Frankly I don't care if these dimwits remove themselves from the gene pool, but I want my loved ones and myself not to be wiped out by their carelessness and stupidity.

[stevent222]

whats up with all this texting? I need vowels. And in English to know what someone is saying.

[rekooc]

I almost got hit by a silly blonde in an SUV on I-65 southbound just past MLK exit. I honked my horn and pointed my finger at her (I did not extend it upward although I probably should have). She didn't even look over -- just kept on chatting. Seems mean to say, but IF that causes an accident, I hope she is the victim/casualty/hurt one.

[pfcntp]

I know a nursing student who had a car accident while texting and ended up with a serious brain injury-not worth it! I t is really seductive and really dangerous.

[Relda999]

i almost hit someone while checking a text message a while back n i have not done it since!!

[joedoe99]

Something like 90% of drivers consider themselves "above average". Many of these say that average drivers can't handle a celphone while driving, but me? No problem ! As for 25 MPH in a residential area? Who does that? I live on a 25 MPH street and routinely clock cars at 45+ MPH. 65 on the freeway? Hah! If you drive the speed limit, you're the slowest car on the road !

[mshatswell]

When following a vehicle on any California we are required to stay 3 seconds behind them. It takes the brain .4 second to react and .7 second with a cell phone. Doesn't sound that bad when you look at the numbers this way. We wouldn't be chatting at 70 in a residential anyway. 25 MPH is the speed limit in all residentials so their "snail pace" wouldn't be bad either. They are asking them to drive at 40 MPH in a 25. Again, this test is tainted.

[dewerk]

@mshatswell Yes, we are required to be 3 seconds behind. However, if you do that people will come into you2 lane in front of you and will be within 1 to 2 seconds of you. Also if the swerve into your lane due to an obstacle or accident in their lane, you may not have the 3 seconds either. As for 40 in a 25? That happens all the time. My street is a main entry into our section and is marked 25, but people still drive 40.

[mshatswell]

@dewerk Staying 3 seconds behind is the law, and no excuses hold water in court. The DMV Handbook tells you to drive in such a way that you always have an escape, in case you are faced with someone swerving into your lane. I agree that accidents happen, and that some people are too lame to own phones, let alone drive with them on their ear, but I cannot rationalize punishing everyone for the actions of a few.

[dewerk]

@mshatswell Actually CAVC 21703. "The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway." 3 seconds is the *recommended* distance. Attention and scanning ahead and around are the main problems that people don't do. One gets very defensive in driving when riding a motorcycle, unless you're one of those young speed demons.

[mshatswell]

We normally talk on the freeway. If a potential accident happened we would not continue to dial numbers. Most phones have 1 touch dial. This test is obviously tainted.

[RaW142857]

Nascar, IndyCar, and F1 drivers talk to their crews while driving bumper-bumper at 200 mph. What's the diff?

1 They use hands-free.

2 They never dial while driving.

3 Both hands always on the wheel.

4 Their priorities are straight.

5 They're situationally aware.

Follow their example. Driving is deadly serious, not an empty time to fill with diversions. Cellphones aren't the problem, idiots who are distracted by them are.

[CragarShinoda]

Very good points but yoy forgot one huge one... they are professionally trained race car drivers. They are trained and make a living out of driving 200+ mph. All in all, it is a bad habit and is dangeous. Please do not do this.

[RaW142857]

That they're professionally trained race drivers includes their good habits (situationally aware, priorities straight, both hands on the wheel) and the ones we shouldn't emulate (tailgating, 200 mph). 

Do not do what? Talk on a hands-free cellphone with situational awareness, or tailgate at 200 mph? Or, as in the ridiculous setup of the video, wave a cellphone around with one hand while being told to drive faster between cones?

[CragarShinoda]

No, do not talk on the cell phone while driving. Yes, you bring up five good points, I was just stating that point number six is that race car drivers are professionally trained drivers with skills that are way beyond what most drivers have. All in all, driving while talking on the phone is indeed dangerous and should not be done.

[yourboycal]

@RaW142857 You just answered your own question captain obvious 1) Hands free. Vs Non hands free . Thats the differnce.

[Chris05161967]

@RaW142857 There is a big difference between a race car driver talking to a pit crew on the radio and, talking to someone on a cell phone. A race car driver along with the pit crew are BOTH constantly focused on the race. On a cell phone, the person on the other end of the phone won't be focused on the person's driving. They will be focused on why they called.

[HighVoltageFag]

so teach your kids not to run across the road without looking. if i can teach my cats to do this (i have) surely you can teach a child.

things like talking to others in the car, adjusting the radio, talking on a CB, eating, nosepicking or having a bee inside the car are also just as hazardous...why not make them all illegal too?

[screwmaster404]

Not nosepicking per se. Inspecting the bugger and then eating it is distracting.

[keebstracy]

My husband was recently injured when he was rear ended by a driver who had been looking down at his ipod and did not see him stopped in the road. I wish there were more laws against this kind thing!