On a serious note for a moment

[begreen]

Cell phones have changed our lives in many ways, mostly good. But a dark secret is the number of accidents caused by drivers distracted by texting. To me this is unthinkable, yet the numbers of accidents are large and growing. This is an excellent video on the topic by Werner Herzog. It's worth watching and sharing, especially if you know someone that texts and drives. Watch it if you can.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/something-serious-change

 

[ScotO]

Good post, BG. Something we agree 100% on, without a doubt.
My personal opinion is that cell phones (at least the hands-on variety) ought to be TOTALLY ILLEGAL while driving a car, motorcycle, truck, or any other vehicle on public roads. No ifs, ands, or buts about it....
And they should make it an even MORE serious offense than DUI on drugs or alcohol......

 

[Jack Straw]

I shudder when I consider the ramifications of distracted driving. Imagine killing someone's child and having to live with that for the rest of your life. NY just enacted a very strong distracted driver law and I think it's great!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Thanks for posting this Begreen. I have not yet watched the whole thing but certainly it will be done.

Perhaps many have seen this before but it bears a repeat. During RAAM in June, 2013, Maria Parker was riding her bike going NW out of Tuba City, AZ. There was lots of road construction so the going was rough to begin with, but suddenly her pace car (follow van) was rear ended. The car was traveling between 15-20 mph. Suddenly, a car going at 65 mph ran into the van. The lady who was driving admitted she was texting at the time. Alcohol may also have been a factor. Fortunately nobody was killed but all the bikes were lost plus wheels and other supplies.

 

[Shadow&Flame]

It really bothers me that people that are normally very safe, will use a phone while driving. On my way home today I was waiting to turn out and a cop went by talking on and looking at his cell phone...I wonder how many times this hypocrite has warned people about doing just that!

 

[Swedishchef]

I always tell new young drivers (who may not be as disciplined as adults...then again age doesn't always bring on maturity/discipline) to leave the cell phones in the back seat of the car or the trunk. I have been to several addidents due to texting and they are usually the most violent/deadly ones.

Nice post BG.

Andrew

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Good post, BG. Something we agree 100% on, without a doubt.
My personal opinion is that cell phones (at least the hands-on variety) ought to be TOTALLY ILLEGAL while driving a car, motorcycle, truck, or any other vehicle on public roads. No ifs, ands, or buts about it....
And they should make it an even MORE serious offense than DUI on drugs or alcohol......

The accident rate for hands free cell phones turns out to be the same as for hands on. I think it has everything to do with your head not being in the car, rather than what you are doing with hands!

 

[ScotO]

The accident rate for hands free cell phones turns out to be the same as for hands on. I think it has everything to do with your head not being in the car, rather than what you are doing with hands!

maybe just get rid of all of 'em then.......
I agree, if your head ain't "in the car", you shouldn't be driving the car.....I've seen women driving down the interstate at 60-70mph trying to put makeup on......crazy.....

 

[jeff_t]

It really bothers me that people that are normally very safe, will use a phone while driving. On my way home today I was waiting to turn out and a cop went by talking on and looking at his cell phone...I wonder how many times this hypocrite has warned people about doing just that!

As a commercial driver, I find it somewhat hypocritical that I must use a handsfree device. As a professional, it is part of my responsibilty to the safety of the motoring public, yet it is not required of public safety personnel? I don't get it.

The accident rate for hands free cell phones turns out to be the same as for hands on. I think it has everything to do with your head not being in the car, rather than what you are doing with hands!

Absolutely. It is the conversation that is the distraction, not holding onto a phone.

I see people doing lots of stuff they shouldn't be doing while driving. All the time.

 

[MasterMech]

Auto manufacturers have adopted Bluetooth pretty quickly as standard equipment in most new cars. That's a step in the right direction and I'd love to see the phones come up with a way to detect that they are inside a running/moving vehicle and disable texts/apps/non-hands free phone usage.

Personally I hate being on the phone while driving and will usually wait to make a call until I get where I am going. I do make quick calls with a hands free device but non-hands free phone usage is out of the question. And yes, seeing a cop speeding down the highway exceeding the speed limit (by far!) while yakking it up on his phone infuriates me too. Even better when they swing into the local coffee/donut joint for their morning fix and leave the cruiser idling in the parking lot with the AC on.

 

[jeff_t]

Auto manufacturers have adopted Bluetooth pretty quickly as standard equipment in most new cars.

It is not stantard equipment in trucks, but my employer specs it on all new equipment. They don't work very well and sound like poo, but it requires a substantial upgrade to the sound system

 

[begreen]

When I am in heavy traffic, I don't like distraction, especially if the traffic is driving fast. I even turn off the radio and ask my wife to stop talking.

That said, I have had two cars with Bluetooth tech and it works quite well both for voice quality and ease of use. It wouldn't surprise me if the patrol cars have Bluetooth but the officer in question didn't want to have his personal phone linked to it or monitored, especially if all Bluetooth calls are noted by the car's computer.

 

[WeldrDave]

BG, very powerful Every young driver should be shown this before a license is given. I personally don't text well so I don't do it, "eyes not so good" I don't even like to talk while driving, "guilty" ........ This video really makes you think, Thanks

 

[rideau]

What has always bothered me about people talking on the phone while driving is that the person on the nother end cannot see what is going on in your vicinity. An emergency can happen so quickly: someone in the car with you usually sees it and warns or stops talking so as not to distract. On the other hand, the even fraction of s econd that can be lost dealing with the person on the other end of a line can mean the difference between an accident and a fright.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

What a powerful message! I just don't understand why anyone thinks this is a good idea, ever. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people not only driving and texting but walking and texting and walk RIGHT out into traffic! Detroit, NYC, Dallas, Philly it doesn't matter WHERE I seem to be, these people are everywhere!

 

[Adios Pantalones]

maybe just get rid of all of 'em then.......
I agree, if your head ain't "in the car", you shouldn't be driving the car.....I've seen women driving down the interstate at 60-70mph trying to put makeup on......crazy.....

Way back when I was in college 20+ years ago, I let my sister borrow my car during the semester. When I got it back after she wrecked it there was makeup all over the inside- she was obviously driving and applying. Her kid must not have been buckled because her head hit the windshield- thankfully not seriously injured despite the spiderweb crack.

 

[ScotO]

Way back when I was in college 20+ years ago, I let my sister borrow my car during the semester. When I got it back after she wrecked it there was makeup all over the inside- she was obviously driving and applying. Her kid must not have been buckled because her head hot the windshield- thankfully not seriously injured despite the spiderweb crack.

There's usually a fender bender or two every year in our area involving (you guessed it) a folded down sunvisor and the perp (woman driver) with lipstick all over her face......

Glad to hear your sis' kid was OK.....I'm sure your sis kicked herself after that accident....

 

[firefighterjake]

Can't really prove it . . . but we're pretty sure Trisha, one of my younger sisters, was either talking on the cell phone or texting when she crashed several years back. Sadly, she did not survive.

 

[ScotO]

Can't really prove it . . . but we're pretty sure Trisha, one of my younger sisters, was either talking on the cell phone or texting when she crashed several years back. Sadly, she did not survive.

I'm sorry to hear that Jake....that's just terrible. And I think that with the technology we have today, there must be some way that they can disable the text capabilities of a cell phone when you are in a car.....that texting and driving is just plain evil, IMO.....

 

[Swedishchef]

There should be an option in a car that disables phone while driving. Kinda like how doors lock on NA cars when in drive. You would still need access to a phone though for emergency calls...911. So perhaps emergency calls only....Cellphones are computers now, there must be a way.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

There are devices in broadway theaters that "jam" cell phone signals so ignorant people aren't texting or fiddling with their phones during the show. You'd think if you paid a few hundred bucks for tickets, you'd put your phone away but I guess I have different priorities. I'm sure a similar thing could be in cars. Living in the woods, where I don't always have a good cell signal, my phone goes into "911 Mode" a lot, so at least for my carrier, Verizon, there is technology in place that even without a signal 911 would work somehow.

 

[Swedishchef]

In Canada, jammers are actually illegal. It is because organised crime keep them in their vehicles so that when they get pulled over it prevents law enforcement from communicating with backup, etc.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf05401.html

However I think that may have changed in the last couple of years or maybe not...it would suck if bad guys started jamming cells at mass casualty sites....I am all for jamming in certain areas (schools, theatres, etc)...

 

[USMC80]

It really bothers me that people that are normally very safe, will use a phone while driving. On my way home today I was waiting to turn out and a cop went by talking on and looking at his cell phone...I wonder how many times this hypocrite has warned people about doing just that!

Most states allow for emergency vehicle and bus drivers to operate while using cell phones

• (d) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties.
• (e) This section does not apply to a person driving a schoolbus or transit vehicle that is subject to Section 23125.
• (f) This section does not apply to a person while driving a motor vehicle on private property.

 

[MasterMech]

• , in the course and scope of his or her duties.

I highly doubt they limit themselves to work-related phone calls. Had a Trooper damn near get flattened right in front of me because he was walking across a toll plaza while texting on his phone.

 

[Shadow&Flame]

Most states allow for emergency vehicle and bus drivers to operate while using cell phones

• (d) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties.
• (e) This section does not apply to a person driving a schoolbus or transit vehicle that is subject to Section 23125.
• (f) This section does not apply to a person while driving a motor vehicle on private property.

Funny how those who enforce/make rules will exempt themselves from said rules...