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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


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#56 of 3688
Re: Why, pray tell, can't ... [saabgirl] by tpe
Oct 17, 2006 (4:51 am)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
#62 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [eltonron] by gagrice
Oct 17, 2006 (8:15 am)
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Replying to: eltonron (Oct 17, 2006 8:08 am)

With Internet access through Cell providers, I am waiting to see someone driving down the road with their Dell laptop strapped to the steering wheel.
 
Just think we could be driving around keeping up with the threads here at Edmunds.
#63 of 3688
Re: Anyone see... [gagrice] by snakeweasel
Oct 17, 2006 (8:30 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Oct 17, 2006 8:15 am)

Just think we could be driving around keeping up with the threads here at Edmunds.
 
Funny thing is I used to post here using a cell phone. Now thats geekdom.
#64 of 3688
The by imidazol97
Oct 17, 2006 (9:26 am)
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Mythbusters duo were to "speak" at OSU same day Science Olympiad had state contests last year. I was amazed how many adults wanted to skip the events to go to the lecture by those folks. How do they build up such a following?
 
I am relieved they agreed that cellphoneusagewhiledriving is a problem because of the distraction needed.
 
I have been able to enter text message on cell phone whiledriving so kid would know where I would pick him up. Four years ago I would have swore never on your life would I use a cellphone while driving>
#65 of 3688
Re: Why, pray tell, can't ... [tpe] by saabgirl
Oct 17, 2006 (2:04 pm)
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Replying to: tpe (Oct 17, 2006 4:51 am)

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.
 
Some of us can remember a pre-cell phone period of automotive history in which cars didn't come equipped with belts, airbags, crumple zones nor other safety devices intended to protect us. Highways have also been designed to be less retributive to errant motorists.
 
In short, it's easier to make vehicles and highways safer than it is to educate drivers. On the other hand, drivers are ingenious in finding edgy new ways to test safety technology, including the absurdist notion that drivers can multitask because built in safety devices are so effective.

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