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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 406 of 407

#4051 of 4065 Feds propose built-in limits on driving distractions by lilengineerboy

Feb 17, 2012 (6:11 pm)

Feds propose built-in limits on driving distractions
 
I am more okay with this than I expected to be. So that crummy earphone that you have to plug into your ringing phone while driving 75 mph doesn't count? And still having to dial the phone manually? Or search through a list of 150 contacts while driving? Or 1500 songs on your iPod.
 
If you have an integrated bluetooth system, that works.

#4052 of 4065 lock box by steve_ HOST

Sep 29, 2012 (9:09 pm)

"Surge'ON system ... prevents a car from starting unless the driver's cell phone is secured in a box that can't be opened while the engine is running.
 
Ron Pothul said the system can be installed in about 15 minutes and takes five minutes to learn to use. It involves putting a chip on the driver's phone, or the use of a bypass card for the system if another driver with a phone takes the wheel. Pothul compared the pass-card to carrying a car key.
 
He said a driver will be able to hear an incoming call with the phone secured, but will have to pull over and stop the engine to answer it."
 
Inventor's system keeps drivers off cell phones (Detroit Free Press)

#4053 of 4065 Re: lock box [steve_] by claires HOST

Sep 30, 2012 (2:42 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 29, 2012 9:09 pm)
I remember defeating the seat belt notification buzzer when I was a kid; wonder what would stop a kid from removing the phone's chip?

#4054 of 4065 Re: lock box [steve_] by fintail

Sep 30, 2012 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Sep 29, 2012 9:09 pm)
Doesn't seem very well thought out. Comments in the article sum it up.

#4055 of 4065 You Can"t Fight Progress by vinnyny

Oct 01, 2012 (8:07 am)

I hate all the idiots I see doing dangerous things on the road while texting or dialing cell phones. However, the problem is going to get worse as we progress towards greater mobile connectivity. Rather than being Luddites who insist on locking up cell phones, let's try for some realistic means to minimize the inherent dangers. The idea won't be popular, but I think it's time we force car manufacturers to install hands-free devices in all new cars and require dealers to set them up for buyers. Used car dealers would be forced to retrofit their cars as well. Cell phone providers would be required to provide hands-free devices with every new phone sold. As the technology evolves to the point where all texting, tuning, etc could be done by voice commands, the requirements would evolve to include these capabilities.
 
Higher costs? Yes. Less freedom? Yes. As mobile technology continues to spread and evolve, so does the danger of distracted driving. The safety benefits far outweigh the costs over the long term...

#4056 of 4065 Re: You Can"t Fight Progress [vinnyny] by fintail

Oct 01, 2012 (8:40 am)

Replying to: vinnyny (Oct 01, 2012 8:07 am)
I think a lot of new cars have bluetooth already, or have it as a cheap option. Heck, my sister's Sonic has it. And I still see dopes in brand new 60K+ cars which definitely have it standard, with a phone to their ear, via laziness or technical illiteracy.
 
The tech needs to be encouraged, along with penalties with teeth for those who won't adapt.
 
I have a better hands free device in all of my cars. Phone rings, I don't answer. If it's important, they will leave a message.

#4057 of 4065 Dope on cell phone by xrunner2

Oct 01, 2012 (10:37 am)

Recently, while stopped on a road (that has 45 MPH limit) at stop sign waiting for traffic to clear so that I can cross, up comes a guy in an SUV holding a cell phone to his head in his left hand. He is waiting for opposing traffic to clear so that he can turn on the road I am on. Sure enough he is blabbing away while waiting, then when an opening in opposing traffic, he makes his left turn in front of me steering apparently with his right hand, blabbing away while turning.

#4058 of 4065 Re: Dope on cell phone [xrunner2] by fezo

Oct 11, 2012 (10:59 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Oct 01, 2012 10:37 am)
I almost met my end with a woman in an Expedition doing nearly the same thing. Had I not anticipated it I'd be gone.

#4059 of 4065 rendered unoperable? by steve_ HOST

Mar 06, 2013 (8:06 pm)

"Simply stated, handheld portable devices must be rendered unoperable whenever the automobile is in motion or when the transmission shaft lever is in forward or reverse gear," they wrote in a Viewpoint essay in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Automobile and cell phone equipment manufacturers have the engineering capabilities to implement these safeguards, and they should be required to do so."
 
Cellphones shouldn't be able to work in moving cars, experts say (Anchorage DAily News)

#4060 of 4065 Re: rendered unoperable? [steve_] by vinnyny

Mar 06, 2013 (8:40 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Mar 06, 2013 8:06 pm)
If only they could spell "inoperable".
 
Strange how it always seems to be the least skilled drivers who insist on texting & driving...

Messages Page 406 of 407

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