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Should cell phone drivers be singled out?

4065 messages,  Last post on Mar 17, 2013 at 8:43 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety

Messages Page 404 of 407

#4029 of 4065 7000 miles, 100 cellfone/MMS photos @ 70 mph !! oh the humanity! by elias

Aug 27, 2011 (3:59 am)

many times i've watched from the passenger seat or adjacent vehicle as a driver does seemingly/impossibly delicate things one handed while they drive, never taking their eyes off the road.
      
even in recent weeks i've watched plenty of adult drivers send text messages with one hand in violation of civil statute! the horror! should i report them to the police? i'm not shy about reporting dangerous drivers . today I had to call 911 due to highway incident. a ladder fell off the back of an F250 diesel driven by a maniac tailgating zigzagging driver. either that or that same driver saw or caused the ladder to fall off another truck - so I reported it after helping all the cars stop in time, by braking early from looking so much further ahead than the other drivers. it appeared that no cellphones were involved with this incident except for everyone calling 911 afterwards.
  
in recent years i don't touch the phone whatsoever while driving except rarely when my child is counting on me for example. The iphone is really difficult to dial while driving for me - not enough dexterity/skill. but i understand that there are people with better dexterity and skill that they can dial a phone or text a message just fine *while driving*.
  
my old LG phone was very ergonomic to position on steering wheel, but iphone is not. i suppose i'll have to use a 35mm camera next time I want to take photos while driving - it's still legal to take a 35mm photo while driving isn't it? (if not, then write your legislators now, nanny-state proponents !!!!)
 
in 2005, the early days of "unlimited text messages" I drove cross-country and took 50 or 100 cellfone photos along the way, and back. can anyone be more superlative than 'stupidest thing ever' such as above - was that MORE stupid than the stupidest thing ever? I got really good at timing it so I could send perfectly photos of the interstate-sign of interest, or the bizarre swarms of locust-like beetles in nevada.
 
I'll suppose I may reconsider my plans to take 10 rolls of 36 exposure verichrome-pan photos using a zoom-lens while driving at interstate speeds on my next long drive. :|
 
But next, could the nanny-statists here write their congresspeople and ask to make it illegal for drivers to practice intricate nasal hygiene while driving?
[except in NH of course, where we will continue to "pick free or die".]

#4031 of 4065 Re: 7000 miles, 100 cellfone/MMS photos @ 70 mph !! oh the humanity! [elias] by kdshapiro

Oct 25, 2011 (6:36 pm)

Replying to: elias (Aug 27, 2011 3:59 am)
How many people take a picture with a 35mm vs how many people do you observe using the cell phone while driving?
 
The number of people on the phone, swerving, slowing down/speeding up, hitting locomotives, has been a problem for years.
 
My new car has bluetooth so I don't even have to touch the phone or take my hands off the wheel to answer a call, yet I avoid having anything other than cursory conversations.
 
Hopefully as we get more experience in life we *should* grow smarter and understand why we should focus on driving, but sadly there seems to be missing some common sense.

#4032 of 4065 NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use by xrunner2

Dec 14, 2011 (9:47 am)

So, we are moving in the right direction to get the driver-cell talker issue resolved.

#4033 of 4065 Re: NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use [xrunner2] by kdshapiro

Dec 14, 2011 (10:00 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Dec 14, 2011 9:47 am)
At least they recognize the obvious.

#4034 of 4065 Re: NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use [xrunner2] by robr2

Dec 14, 2011 (10:32 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Dec 14, 2011 9:47 am)
The NTSB didn't propose it. They recommended it. But since it's a states' rights issues, they'll have to get Congress to tie it into highway funding bills.
 
I'm all in favor of hands' free cell phone use but banning use totally should also include banning eating, reading, talking to passengers, adjusting the radio, scrolling through media players, reaching into the back seat to whack the kids, et al.

#4035 of 4065 Re: NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use [robr2] by kdshapiro

Dec 14, 2011 (10:44 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Dec 14, 2011 10:32 am)
While you're at it, ban looking into the rear view mirror to check traffic.
 
I wouldn't give up adjusting my radio I can do it without taking my hands off the steering wheel. I agree in principal on what you are saying, but realistically drinking coffee, picking a random example, while driving is not in the same boat as texting or holding the cell phone to your ear and conversing.
 
It's not the coffee drinkers I have assiduiously avoided the last few years, it's the texters and conversers.

#4036 of 4065 Re: NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use [robr2] by xrunner2

Dec 14, 2011 (10:49 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Dec 14, 2011 10:32 am)
I'm all in favor of hands' free cell phone use but banning use totally should also include banning eating, reading, talking to passengers, adjusting the radio, scrolling through media players, reaching into the back seat to whack the kids, et al.
 
Hands-free is not the solution to the problem of the driver's brain being pre-occupied with conversation rather than OPERATING a motor vehicle.
 
There are all kinds of eating and distraction possibilities. Eating a large dripping cheeseburger and grabbing a fry from a center console is a huge distraction compared to merely grabbing a small cookie from cupholder in center console with right hand.

#4037 of 4065 Re: NTSB proposes nationwide ban on driver cell use [xrunner2] by robr2

Dec 14, 2011 (11:28 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Dec 14, 2011 10:49 am)
Hands-free is not the solution to the problem of the driver's brain being pre-occupied with conversation rather than OPERATING a motor vehicle.
 
So should we also ban talking to a passenger in the car as well? After all, the conversation is the problem - right??
 
Basically just about everything we do other than drive is a distraction. I agree texting should be banned. But I personally feel that hands free use isn't anymore distracting than radio/music player use or dealing with children in the back seat while driving.

#4038 of 4065 Happened Again Earlier by sandman_6472

Dec 14, 2011 (11:54 am)

About an hour ago, arrow turns green & the guy don't move...just sits there. Finally tap the horn and the guys pulls away at like 5 mpg's. Guys behind me are honking at me like it's my fault. See as I pass the guy is holding his cell and looking down while crawling down a major through fare a real a--hole who just didn't get it and obviously can't do two things at once.
 
Just ban it all...talking, texting, whatever and do the task at hand...driving! If one has to talk, then bluetooth all the way and the way it looks, it'll be standard on most cars within a few years anyways.
 
The Sandman

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