Texting while driving... wow.

  • Thread starter V1P3R
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V1P3R

V1P3R

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I was watching the news and they reported how some drivers actually... text while they drive. I don't give a flying buck how well and fast they can text, they are more of a danger to other drivers and me than if they were on the phone while driving. I can't believe there are people this stupid. I'd post what the % of people do it but I missed it. :grumpy:

Anyway, what do you think about this Texting while you drive?
 
It is worse than simply talking on the cell phone. You have to look at the phone in order to text, rather than just driving with one arm, or two arms with the phone between your shoulder and head. Multi-tasking is what most car acccidents come from.
 
It is so ridiculous I was amazed when I first heard it, just talking is bad enough, but texting is just stupid, how do you type, read to check, and drive at the same time while still driving in an orderly fashion?
 
I'll admit I've sent a couple of text messages behind the wheel. I was also able to maintain full control over the vehicle. Although, I can text without looking.

It's not something I would want to do a lot though.
 
Famine
It's a criminal offence in the UK.
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Same in Washington state now as well.

My brother does this alot, and his driving is crap. Though, talking on the phone isn't much better for most, because the distraction isn't so much having a hand off the wheel, as the mental part of keeping up a conversation.

I myself have done this once or twice, generally at some ungodly hour of the morning with no cars on the road.

But its certainly something I look down upon doing.
 
Personally, I've never understood texting. Period.

OK, I can see "Be @ moms @ 4" so they can just pick it up whenever, but I see people carrying on conversations by texting. Call and leave a voice mail.

MAKE A CALL!!!!! Why spend 35 seconds to type something that takes 1 second to say? I don't get it!

I also hate the fact that I have to PAY for a RECEIVED text. I didn't ask for it, but it costs me $$$ for every stinking message. I don't have to pay for somebody to leave me voice mail. . . .
 
Wow I can't even imagine trying to text while drive...I don't even talk on my mobile while behind the wheel.
 
wfooshee
Personally, I've never understood texting. Period.

OK, I can see "Be @ moms @ 4" so they can just pick it up whenever, but I see people carrying on conversations by texting. Call and leave a voice mail.

MAKE A CALL!!!!! Why spend 35 seconds to type something that takes 1 second to say? I don't get it!

I also hate the fact that I have to PAY for a RECEIVED text. I didn't ask for it, but it costs me $$$ for every stinking message. I don't have to pay for somebody to leave me voice mail. . . .
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It's too freaking hard to use @ on a phone, I spell it out. :) It's something I do a lot and I don't care if someone calls me I'll pick it up and talk but it's just easier for a lazy person like me.

As far as texting behind the wheel, I would never try it.
 
wfooshee
Personally, I've never understood texting. Period.
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Same here but I have friends that insist it's better than making a call. Frankly, it's a throw back to the pager days. One I don't miss AT ALL. Damn... I just dated myself. :grumpy:
 
I've done it :guilty:. Never more than an "OK", "yes", or "no". Even so, it is incredibly difficult (stupid) to do, and I wouldn't recommend it.
 
wfooshee
Personally, I've never understood texting. Period.

OK, I can see "Be @ moms @ 4" so they can just pick it up whenever, but I see people carrying on conversations by texting. Call and leave a voice mail.

MAKE A CALL!!!!! Why spend 35 seconds to type something that takes 1 second to say? I don't get it!
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I text when its not something super-important and time sensitive. People text me when I'm working or in class. I text people when I know they're in the middle of doing something, and I don't know when they'll be finished.

Seriously, voicemail? Voicemail is the biggest pain in the ass. It's without a doubt the worst part of my phone. It takes FOREVER to use. I'd rather just look at a text message.
 
...I'm waiting for Doug to come in and tell us about how easy it is to do while driving TipTronic...

Either way, I neither support this, nor the idea of texting in general. I'm far more happy to actually call someone and get the same question answered in the time it would take for me just to type something out on my RAZR. Plus, the rates! They're outrageous!
 
I am confused why this is a big deal when reading the newspaper, shaving, applying makeup, changing clothes (seen it), and various other things that actually block your view of the road never get any attention.

I am willing to bet it has more to do with the fact that teens are most likely to do this and older people see it as a waste of time to begin with so this must definitely be worse than anything they might do.


The thing is a lot of places actually have laws regarding distractions while driving, but they are rarely enforced. I know from my many, many, many traffic school appearances that in Kentucky you can even be given a ticket for eating/drinking while driving as it is considered a distraction. Also, distractions are apparently the number one cause of accidents in Kentucky. At least it was in December.

Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars making laws for each individual distraction just enforce, or create, a distracted driving law. As the officer is the one who decides to stop the driver it would be his discretion as to whether they are distracted or not.
 
Unfortunately, alot of 'distraction' related offenses are disregarded because a) they have been superceded by a more serious offense i.e. killing a pedestrian or b) the offender is being removed from a twisted wreck by a fireman with the Jaws of Life.

The nearest I've (knowingly) come to meeting my maker was when my friend was driving on a motorway and we couldn't decide which CD to put on. Amidst our collective fumbling around, he hit the central reservation and we nearly went under the wheels of an articulated lorry, but luckily he regained control of the car before we were squished.

It's the same thing, and texting is no more dangerous - save for the fact that serial texters can find themselves doing it every few minutes, whereas putting on a CD, changing your shirt, or shaving (your face) in the car mirror is something you will probably only do once in any given journey...
 
Touring Mars
...shaving (your face) in the car mirror is something you will probably only do once in any given journey...
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If you have to do it more than once in a given journey you have bigger problems.

It's such a tricky issue trying to figure out which distractions must be illegal and which ones shouldn't be. As TM mentioned, changing CDs is about as distracting as dialing a phone number or text messaging someone. Having a passenger that you're chatting with is about as distracting as carrying on a phone conversation. Listening to the radio or an ipod is also distracting and can keep you from hearing important cues. Driving with one hand on the wheel isn't as safe as two. Driving at 70 mph isn't as safe as 50 mph. Smoking while driving is distracting. Driving under the influence of alcohol or fatigue or large quantities of caffeine is also unsafe.

Want to ban cell phones? Well then you should ban passengers.
Want to require Breathalyzers? Then you should require cars to shut off after 8 hours of driving.
Want to ban text messaging? Might as well ban CD players.

We already have laws that cover this. You're not allowed to drive recklessly or erratically for whatever reason. There is no need for a text message ban, because if you can't keep it on the road while texting a cop already has all the license he needs to pull you over.

sage
You’re itching to bring up the drunk driving vs. wreckless driving issue again, huh? :lol:
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:) I guess that's a yes.
 
Guilty as charged! Do you know how this came about?? when they made talking on your phone illegal when driving you can keep your phone out of view when texting so more people do it.

I'm often trying to find a mate who's also out or warning or being warned about police in certain area's or changing our minds about where we are going - and before poeple start dissing me i dont care what anyone thinks about me doing this, i can write a text message without looking at my phone i only need to look when i'm sending it.
 
Touring Mars
It's the same thing, and texting is no more dangerous - save for the fact that serial texters can find themselves doing it every few minutes, whereas putting on a CD, changing your shirt, or shaving (your face) in the car mirror is something you will probably only do once in any given journey...
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Where as the lady I saw reading Harry Potter last week or the guy I see reading the Wall Street Journal (laid across his steering wheel) everyday probably look at the road even less than a texter.

Danoff
It's such a tricky issue trying to figure out which distractions must be illegal and which ones shouldn't be.

<snip>

We already have laws that cover this. You're not allowed to drive recklessly or erratically for whatever reason. There is no need for a text message ban, because if you can't keep it on the road while texting a cop already has all the license he needs to pull you over.
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I agree with this and is what I was attempting to say. The laws are already in place for this kind of thing without banning the use of specific objects. In the case of something like reading, if the person is driving straight, at the speed limit, and not causing any other sort of danger to others then the most I would suggest is a cop stop them just to ask them to pay attention.

Honestly I could be just as dangerous when my sleep apnea causes me to be barely awake some mornings, which traffic school informed me can be charged as a DUI if an officer so chooses :eek: .

Of course, with my multiple traffic school visits maybe speeding is my main issue.

barryl85
Guilty as charged! Do you know how this came about?? when they made talking on your phone illegal when driving you can keep your phone out of view when texting so more people do it.
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Are hands-free devices legal? Or do what I do on the rare occasion I actually answer my phone in the car, put it on speaker and lay the phone in your lap, or iPod mount in my case. No cop could tell if you were talking to yourself or singing or talking on the phone, but at least your eyes are on the road.
 
'hands free' kits are legal but bluetooth ones are expensive (you can get el-cheapo egay ones but no thanks) and the hands free kits with wires i cant keep them untangled!

Yeah i've used the phone on speaker but its just me and my mates txt more than call because things change often and a txt every now and then isnt as annoying as a phone call!
 
FoolKiller
I agree with this and is what I was attempting to say. The laws are already in place for this kind of thing without banning the use of specific objects. In the case of something like reading, if the person is driving straight, at the speed limit, and not causing any other sort of danger to others then the most I would suggest is a cop stop them just to ask them to pay attention.
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A bloke with no licence and drunk off his ass can still keep it between the white lines at 135mph. He doesn't have to crash into someone to be committing an offence, no matter how competent he might appear to be.
 
Famine
A bloke with no licence and drunk off his ass can still keep it between the white lines at 135mph. He doesn't have to crash into someone to be committing an offence, no matter how competent he might appear to be.
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As said bloke, even if sober, is meeting the definition of wreckless in Kentucky (25+ over) I think the example is outside my criteria, especially since I did say, "at the speed limit." And I did say a cop stopping the person in my example, if just to warn them, was warranted.

And I have argued before that I support the idea of a reasonable speed limit as we all weren't born into the Andretti family.

And, as Danoff pointed out, if we wanted to rule out any distraction offense we would have to rule out even passengers and stereos. The laws, as they are, already cover being wreckless from distractions. We don't need to go banning everything that may make us unsafe.

I place alcohol in a different category because, as you said, you can drive straight while drunk, but your ability to react to someone else's actions are limited.



By the way, that looks suspiciously like a "it's wrong because it's the law" argument. Unless I misread your intentions, in which case ignore my entire post.
 
FoolKiller
I place alcohol in a different category because, as you said, you can drive straight while drunk, but your ability to react to someone else's actions are limited.
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As they are whilst looking at a cellphone screen - you won't even see the other person's actions to react to them.

FoolKiller
By the way, that looks suspiciously like a "it's wrong because it's the law" argument. Unless I misread your intentions, in which case ignore my entire post.
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Ooo, lord no. "The law is a ass".
 
Famine
As they are whilst looking at a cellphone screen
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Or shaving, putting on makeup, looking for a CD, looking back and forth while talking to a passenger, tuning the radio, looking at someone else's accident/construction, picking your nose, shaving, rubbing your eyes, flicking a cigarette butt out the window, picking the cigarette butt out of the rear floorboard after it blows back in, putting out the smoking fie in your crotch from the cigarette blowing back in, calming a screaming child, eating a Big Mac, drinking a soft drink, scratching an itch on your back, etc.

There are a million things that take our eyes off the road. Do we bam them all?


Really, if someone would just get those Minority Report cars going we would have plenty of time to do whatever.


"The law is a ass".
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I knew we agreed on this.



And to give full disclosure: My wife has been known to text while driving. When I asked what she was doing she said, "You told me not to talk on the phone while driving." :ouch:
 
FoolKiller
Or shaving, putting on makeup, looking for a CD, looking back and forth while talking to a passenger, tuning the radio, looking at someone else's accident/construction, picking your nose, shaving, rubbing your eyes, flicking a cigarette butt out the window, picking the cigarette butt out of the rear floorboard after it blows back in, putting out the smoking fie in your crotch from the cigarette blowing back in, calming a screaming child, eating a Big Mac, drinking a soft drink, scratching an itch on your back, etc.

There are a million things that take our eyes off the road. Do we bam them all?
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A far better way would be to educate drivers that the #1 job, whilst driving, is driving.

I've only done four of the above while driving - and I don't take my eyes off the road (or more than one hand off the wheel) to do any of them.


Unless the bogey is real stubborn.

If it's important enough to take your mind off the road, take yourself off the road first.
 
Famine
A far better way would be to educate drivers that the #1 job, whilst driving, is driving.

<snip>

If it's important enough to take your mind off the road, take yourself off the road first.
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And with this we need not ban anything, including texting.


Some states are working towards trying to get this through people's heads by requiring driver's education before obtaining a license and whatnot, but I guess it doesn't work as it seems there are more people not paying attention than ever before.
 

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