Sign In Join 



Should cell phone drivers be singled out?

3688 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2009 at 11:39 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Car Safety


Messages Page 7 of 370
1
...
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
...
370
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#52 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [gagrice] by snakeweasel
Oct 16, 2006 (6:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 16, 2006 6:21 pm)

I get those yahoos all the time and most are doing something else than using a cell phone.
#53 of 3688
plus by nippononly
Oct 16, 2006 (7:19 pm)
Reply
don't forget, a cell phone to the ear is one of the few distractions you could observe as you drive by. Many distractions would be below the window line, and you wouldn't be able to see them.
 
And as for the Mythbusters, they should do the same test, only force the non-drunk driver to eat a full Big Mac combo, taking care not to drip on the upholstery.
 
Or drive in an unfamiliar area, and find his destination on a paper map, or use his car's navigation system without voice commands, while driving. All things I regularly see people do. I bet we would find that many of them would be as impaired as a drunk person too.
#54 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [snakeweasel] by phinneas519
Oct 16, 2006 (8:30 pm)
Reply

Replying to: snakeweasel (Oct 16, 2006 5:02 pm)

Generally, they only depart from using the scientific method when a myth is busted and they want to see "what it would take" to get a particular result. I would like to add that there is nothing refined, scientific or methodical about distractions with cellular technology (or drinking for that matter) causing drivers to collide with pedestrians and other motorists.
#56 of 3688
Re: Why, pray tell, can't ... [saabgirl] by tpe
Oct 17, 2006 (4:51 am)
Reply

Replying to: saabgirl (Oct 16, 2006 5:57 pm)

You can't convince me it's a mere coincidence that improvements in airbag technology coincide with an increase in multitasking drivers
 
Airbags may save lives but they don't prevent accidents. The accident rate per 100 million vehicle mile travelled has continued to decrease during the cell phone age. Would the rate have gone down further? Maybe.
#57 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [phinneas519] by snakeweasel
Oct 17, 2006 (5:25 am)
Reply

Replying to: phinneas519 (Oct 16, 2006 8:30 pm)

They deviate from the scientific method quite often, even when they "prove" a myth.
#58 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [snakeweasel] by kirstie_h HOST
Oct 17, 2006 (7:10 am)
Reply

Replying to: snakeweasel (Oct 16, 2006 5:02 pm)

I see Mythbusters often and didn't see that episode...
 
I highly recommend the box set. Lots of stuff gets set on fire or blown up.
 
It seems like cell phone usage is just the target-du-jour. I wonder if significantly fewer people are now dying in car accidents since most states passed seat belt laws... the hot issue some 5 years ago.
#59 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [kirstie_h] by xrunner2
Oct 17, 2006 (7:28 am)
Reply

Replying to: kirstie_h (Oct 17, 2006 7:10 am)

It seems like cell phone usage is just the target-du-jour. I wonder if significantly fewer people are now dying in car accidents since most states passed seat belt laws... the hot issue some 5 years ago.
 
Would agree that seat belt laws have helped. But, consider a whole range of things that have improved over last 5-10 years: vehicle structures to help protect occupants, emt response times, hospital procedures and doctors, vehicle dynamics (tires/susp/steering), numerous air bags (front, side, etc), highway design/lighting/signage/traffic controls/etc, attention focussed on drunk driving by MADD and others and so on.
 
In one way, cell phone usage has probably also helped cut down on accident deaths because most motorists probably have cell phones and they can call 911 when they observe or encounter an accident. The emts can get to the accident quicker than they would have back in pre-cell phone days. This can save lives. Think about how it was 20+ years ago. If you saw an accident happen, had to find a nearby house, store, gas station, phone booth to call emt/911.
#60 of 3688
Re: gagrice [gagrice] by xrunner2
Oct 17, 2006 (7:50 am)
Reply

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 16, 2006 7:16 am)

I'm still not convinced that cell phones do not cause physical problems. Too many technician friends that worked on microwave and other radio equipment died at an early age. Many by cancer thought to be caused by too much radiation.
 
I have heard about this and too wonder about this matter. Don't think there has been anything in the media about this for a couple of years. Cell phone is good when away from home or office for many situations. But, I try to get the vast majority of my calls made the old-fashioned way through hard-wire land lines connected to an end office. Land lines are most always available in a power outage as long as you use old fashioned subsets that don't require connection to AC. Cell phones are vulnerable to limited power reserve at cell tower sites.
#61 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [kirstie_h] by eltonron
Oct 17, 2006 (8:08 am)
Reply

Replying to: kirstie_h (Oct 16, 2006 4:05 pm)

I'll also stand up and proudly proclaim my geekdom status by saying that I saw that particular episode of Mythbusters as well (by the way kirstie_h, there ARE 12-step programs for our kind). While their scientific methods may be called into question, the results from the Mythbusters experiment were pretty startling, nevertheless. The mental focus required by drivers to answer even the simplest of questions obviously detracted from their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
 
Talking on a cell phone is bad enough. But what about those yahoos you pass who are apparently thumb-typing text messages on their Treos while driving?!? Madness!
 
Eltonron
Host- Automotive News & Views

Messages Page 7 of 370
1
...
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
...
370
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement