Talking on the phone and driving....

2

Comments

  • markin ball
    markin ball Posts: 1,076
    catefrances wrote:
    markin ball wrote:
    Helmet laws exist because insurance companies don't like paying for brain injuries and subsequent care. It ain't because big brother is looking out for you. Texting while driving laws are likely born of something similar. $ > "personal liberties".


    and what about my personal liberty NOT to sideswiped by some idiot whose total attention isnt on the road and whats around them as it should be? driving isnt a right, its a privilege.. people need to know that...and appreciate it.

    I'm not sure you the intent of my post was understood. I don't think it is a good idea to talk/text while driving however I think that if laws are passed banning such things I believe it is not necessarily because big brother gives a shit about you or is trying to take personal liberties from you but because the corporations that fund politicians find these types of laws help their bottom line.
    "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win ."

    "With our thoughts we make the world"
  • he still stands
    he still stands Posts: 2,835
    there is a massive difference between motorcycle helmet laws and texting/driving laws.

    In the former, there isn't any chance that their actions are going to hurt anyone else. So yeah, it shouldn't be illegal.

    In the latter, the actions of the texter puts everyone else on the road in danger. Like drinking and driving, it is very dangerous and shouldn't be allowed. It is unfortunate that we have to tell other IDIOTS how to behave while driving 3,000 lb death machines at 70mph, but we do.

    There obviously has to be a line drawn where you allow some activities that *could* be dangerous, like adjusting your radio, drinking your water, not putting your hands at 10/2, adjusting your balls, etc. I think texting while driving goes past that line.
    Everything not forbidden is compulsory and eveything not compulsory is forbidden. You are free... free to do what the government says you can do.
  • blueandwhite
    blueandwhite Posts: 662
    he still stands wrote:
    there is a massive difference between motorcycle helmet laws and texting/driving laws.

    In the former, there isn't any chance that their actions are going to hurt anyone else. So yeah, it shouldn't be illegal.

    In the latter, the actions of the texter puts everyone else on the road in danger. Like drinking and driving, it is very dangerous and shouldn't be allowed. It is unfortunate that we have to tell other IDIOTS how to behave while driving 3,000 lb death machines at 70mph, but we do.

    There obviously has to be a line drawn where you allow some activities that *could* be dangerous, like adjusting your radio, drinking your water, not putting your hands at 10/2, adjusting your balls, etc. I think texting while driving goes past that line.

    Exactly!

    It's one thing to restrict your liberties when the only person you're endangering is yourself. It's a completely different matter when your stupidity endangers the life of another person. Then again, if you do decide to ride your bike without a helmet, I don't think your health or motor insurance provider should have to cover you for any injuries you sustain. Why should the premiums of other motorists go up because you are being an idiot?

    As for hands free devices; my car has a built in hands free device but I can honestly say that being on the phone while driving is still quite distracting, hands free or not. Still, I don't think it's any worse than drinking your coffee while trying to downshift from 5th to 3rd. I'm all for laws that limit the use of handsets while driving, but I think that it should be limited to that.
  • he still stands
    he still stands Posts: 2,835
    Yep. There's a very basic philosophy of "civil liberties" that I think some people are missing; do what thou wilt, AND HARM NONE.

    If you think your civil liberties are more important than an act that DRAMATICALLY increases the chances that you're going to kill someone, there is a definition for that: sociopath

    Obviously, texting while driving fits that description. Talking on the phone? I don't think so... but if there is proof to the contrary then I won't do it any longer.

    I'm a big free market / civil liberties guy, but when you operate a car the bottom line is you have to follow some rules that society deems to be necessary. It sucks that we have to rely on the government to enforce these rules... but people suck, so we do.
    Everything not forbidden is compulsory and eveything not compulsory is forbidden. You are free... free to do what the government says you can do.
  • Go Beavers
    Go Beavers Posts: 9,618
    he still stands wrote:
    Yep. There's a very basic philosophy of "civil liberties" that I think some people are missing; do what thou wilt, AND HARM NONE.

    If you think your civil liberties are more important than an act that DRAMATICALLY increases the chances that you're going to kill someone, there is a definition for that: sociopath

    Obviously, texting while driving fits that description. Talking on the phone? I don't think so... but if there is proof to the contrary then I won't do it any longer.

    I'm a big free market / civil liberties guy, but when you operate a car the bottom line is you have to follow some rules that society deems to be necessary. It sucks that we have to rely on the government to enforce these rules... but people suck, so we do.

    Here's links to several articles and data:
    Here's the reference from my first post about 1000 deaths a year:
    http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf

    Here's links to two decent articles:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080531084958.htm

    http://www.economist.com/node/18561075?story_id=18561075

    And a research article:

    http://www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/carnegie-mellon.pdf

    And for Mythbuster geeks:

    http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-cell-phone-vs-drunk-driving-minimyth.html

    It's too bad the law allows for hands-free devices, because that sends the completely wrong message, in that the distraction is due to driving with one hand. That's like saying people with one arm shouldn't be allowed to drive.

    I'm not trying to be a twat with all this. I just think, in general, we should take driving more seriously. Unless you're an IV drug user, base jumper, or crop duster, it's probably the most dangerous thing you do.
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    edited December 2011
    why can't someone talk while driving? i talk to my passengers, they talk to me. it is a conversation. when this happens the stereo is turned down so we all can hear one another.

    holding a phone to your head or using a hands free device while talking on the phone is no different than talking to them ppl in your car. as a matter of fact, talking to someone who in present in a moving car is more dangerous than if they were on the phone with the driver.

    passengers interacting w/ drivers...horrific
    drivers using a communication device...not very bright when not watching the road...and can be horrific.
    Post edited by chadwick on
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • he still stands
    he still stands Posts: 2,835
    chadwick wrote:
    why can't someone talk with driving. i talk to my passangers, they talk to me. it is a conversation. when this happens the stereo is turned down so we all can hear one another.

    holding a phone to your head or using a hands free device while talking on the phone is no different than talking to them ppl in your car. as a matter of fact, talking to someone who in present in a moving car is more dangerous than if they were on the phone with the driver.

    passengers interacting w/ drivers...horrific
    drivers using a communication device...not very bright when not watching the road...and can be horrific.

    this presents another problem; some of us ARE able to drive safely while talking to others, whether it be in person, on bluetooth, or on the phone. I know that I'm safer than 99.9% of the drivers out there regardless if I'm driving without any potential distractions or if I've got a two year old throwing shit at my head while talking on the phone.

    I shouldn't have to follow some bullshit rules just because other people are shitty drivers. Maybe it should be specific to the INDIVIDUAL? What a crazy thought... basing rules and laws on the individual rather than a subset of the population. How about a driving test that gives you special privileges if you're a good driver that isn't distracted by a phone conversation?

    Just throwing this stuff out there. I think once you outlaw talking on the phone you start the whole "slippery slope" thing and next thing you know you won't be able to put stereos in your car... or it'll be like "I Robot" and the cards will do the driving for us.

    Another thing... what about driving with kids? Trust me, driving with a two year old is much more distracting than a phone conversation.
    Everything not forbidden is compulsory and eveything not compulsory is forbidden. You are free... free to do what the government says you can do.
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    he still stands wrote:
    chadwick wrote:
    why can't someone talk with driving. i talk to my passangers, they talk to me. it is a conversation. when this happens the stereo is turned down so we all can hear one another.

    holding a phone to your head or using a hands free device while talking on the phone is no different than talking to them ppl in your car. as a matter of fact, talking to someone who in present in a moving car is more dangerous than if they were on the phone with the driver.

    passengers interacting w/ drivers...horrific
    drivers using a communication device...not very bright when not watching the road...and can be horrific.

    this presents another problem; some of us ARE able to drive safely while talking to others, whether it be in person, on bluetooth, or on the phone. I know that I'm safer than 99.9% of the drivers out there regardless if I'm driving without any potential distractions or if I've got a two year old throwing shit at my head while talking on the phone.

    I shouldn't have to follow some bullshit rules just because other people are shitty drivers. Maybe it should be specific to the INDIVIDUAL? What a crazy thought... basing rules and laws on the individual rather than a subset of the population. How about a driving test that gives you special privileges if you're a good driver that isn't distracted by a phone conversation?

    Just throwing this stuff out there. I think once you outlaw talking on the phone you start the whole "slippery slope" thing and next thing you know you won't be able to put stereos in your car... or it'll be like "I Robot" and the cards will do the driving for us.

    Another thing... what about driving with kids? Trust me, driving with a two year old is much more distracting than a phone conversation.

    agree on all counts.
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • Go Beavers
    Go Beavers Posts: 9,618
    chadwick wrote:
    why can't someone talk while driving? i talk to my passengers, they talk to me. it is a conversation. when this happens the stereo is turned down so we all can hear one another.

    holding a phone to your head or using a hands free device while talking on the phone is no different than talking to them ppl in your car. as a matter of fact, talking to someone who in present in a moving car is more dangerous than if they were on the phone with the driver.

    Talking to people on the phone is different than talking to people in the car. Passengers in the car take a more active role in what the driver is doing, and they also allow for the driver to put more focus at the task at hand when necessary. And here's an interesting quote from the science daily article:
    “Either people are used to face-to-face communication or, when they engage in a language task, they create a mental representation in their mind and place the voice somewhere in space,” Almor said. “In this case, that space is in front of them, which suggests that it may be easier to have all things that require attention occupy the same space.”

    It's an interesting point, because in the few times I have spoke on the phone while driving, I can tell that my attention was more "tunnel like", which makes sense as is pointed out in the quote. My brain was creating a visual representation of the conversation I was having on the phone directly in front of me, but my brain was also trying to focus on driving at the same time, which is also happening right in front of me.
  • Go Beavers
    Go Beavers Posts: 9,618
    he still stands wrote:

    this presents another problem; some of us ARE able to drive safely while talking to others, whether it be in person, on bluetooth, or on the phone. I know that I'm safer than 99.9% of the drivers out there regardless if I'm driving without any potential distractions or if I've got a two year old throwing shit at my head while talking on the phone.

    I shouldn't have to follow some bullshit rules just because other people are shitty drivers. Maybe it should be specific to the INDIVIDUAL? What a crazy thought... basing rules and laws on the individual rather than a subset of the population. How about a driving test that gives you special privileges if you're a good driver that isn't distracted by a phone conversation?

    Just throwing this stuff out there. I think once you outlaw talking on the phone you start the whole "slippery slope" thing and next thing you know you won't be able to put stereos in your car... or it'll be like "I Robot" and the cards will do the driving for us.

    Another thing... what about driving with kids? Trust me, driving with a two year old is much more distracting than a phone conversation.

    People think that they are able to talk on the phone and drive safely, but they're not. I'm sure if you participated in a simulation that you would do as poorly as everyone else.

    The "slippery slope" argument doesn't really hold up in reality. Driving with kids can be distracting, but see the point about having conversations with people in the car vs. not in the car. Plus, you can ignore a two year old.
  • he still stands
    he still stands Posts: 2,835
    Go Beavers wrote:
    Plus, you can ignore a two year old.

    obviously you don't have kids :lol:

    I disagree that I would be any worse with or without a phone stuck to my ear. I'm positive I can out-drive 99% of the population. If there was a test for the individual... like a driving IQ test... I could prove it.

    With that sort of a test you could get a license that allows use of the phone while driving.
    Everything not forbidden is compulsory and eveything not compulsory is forbidden. You are free... free to do what the government says you can do.
  • Go Beavers
    Go Beavers Posts: 9,618
    he still stands wrote:
    Go Beavers wrote:
    Plus, you can ignore a two year old.

    obviously you don't have kids :lol:

    I disagree that I would be any worse with or without a phone stuck to my ear. I'm positive I can out-drive 99% of the population. If there was a test for the individual... like a driving IQ test... I could prove it.

    With that sort of a test you could get a license that allows use of the phone while driving.

    It's not really about being a good driver or not, although a cell phone makes a bad driver worse. The amount of brain power focused on driving drops 37% when you're on the phone. Maybe you have a super brain that overcomes this, I don't know. My guess is you've cut people off, pulled out in front of others, and weaved into other lanes without knowing it. I see it frequently and the drivers have absolutely no idea that they're doing it.

    To me, what defines a good driver includes focusing on the driving itself.
  • Wobbie
    Wobbie Posts: 31,396
    I'm actually all for this.

    I'm old enough to remember if you needed to make a call, you found a phone booth and dug out a quarter. And guess what? People hardly ever "needed" to make a call. 99% of car cell phone conversations are just people yakking because they can.
    If I had known then what I know now...

    Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
    VIC 07
    EV LA1 08
    Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
    Columbus 10
    EV LA 11
    Vancouver 11
    Missoula 12
    Portland 13, Spokane 13
    St. Paul 14, Denver 14
    Philly I & II, 16
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  • ONCE DEVIDED
    ONCE DEVIDED Posts: 1,131
    Heres a test about civil liberties
    Should a train driver, bus driver or a pilot of the plane YOUR ON have the civil liberty to do whatever the hell he likes texting, talking or generally NOT PAYING ATTENTION whilst transporting you and your loved ones about.
    AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    edited December 2011
    anyone ever drove a 80,000 - 105,500 pound combination vehicle? how does a professional driver read his own written directions, others' written directions, a atlas or other city maps, write, and use one of three cell phone all at the same time while driving in new territory whilst it is snowy, raining, night time and eatin a burrito and drinkin v-8 juice or water?

    approaching 9 billion miles and never had a accident except for when i fell asleep in my camaro after taking my g/f home. i was up all night hammering. the next day i was tired and took at nap @ 50mph on a lost & lonely highway.

    warning...never fall out of a moving car at highway speeds.
    Post edited by chadwick on
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    Heres a test about civil liberties
    Should a train driver, bus driver or a pilot of the plane YOUR ON have the civil liberty to do whatever the hell he likes texting, talking or generally NOT PAYING ATTENTION whilst transporting you and your loved ones about.
    pilots and train people do not have to phone or text women. pilots have stewardesses and train operators and bus drivers have female co-workers. why phone or text anyone when they are 3ft away?

    just sayin... :twisted:
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • mikepegg44
    mikepegg44 Posts: 3,353
    ONCE DEVIDED wrote:
    Heres a test about civil liberties
    Should a train driver, bus driver or a pilot of the plane YOUR ON have the civil liberty to do whatever the hell he likes texting, talking or generally NOT PAYING ATTENTION whilst transporting you and your loved ones about.


    Pilots literally sleep...

    their employer surely can enact rules and regulations that would stop this kind of behavior...why does the government have to do it?
    that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
    It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
    - Joe Rogan
  • EmBleve
    EmBleve Posts: 3,019
    I don't do it at all. The few times I have in the past, I can tell that it is a distraction to the point of being noticeable. And texting? fuhgedaboutit.
  • AELARA
    AELARA Posts: 803
    It's illegal here too even if you use a handsfree. My car is connected to my phone via Bluetooth technology which is really helpful and legal! But sometimes people look at me strange because they think I'm talking to myself! :lol:
    I am mine!
  • Wobbie
    Wobbie Posts: 31,396
    chadwick wrote:

    approaching 9 billion miles and never had a accident except for when i fell asleep in my camaro after taking my g/f home. i was up all night hammering.

    did you used to work at the santa claus and his old lady commune? :shock:

    Once upon a time, about, hmmm, five years ago, there was this groovy dude and has name was Santa Claus, y'know? And he used to live over in the projects with his old lady and they had a pretty good thing together because his old lady was really fine and she could cook and all that stuff like that, y'know. Like, she made da best brownies in town, man! Oh, I could remember 'em now, man. I could eat one of 'em, man, wow...

    TC: Wow, did you know these people, man?

    CM: Oh, yeah, man. They used to live next door to me, y'know...until they got kicked out, man.

    TC: Wha? They got kicked out of the projects, man?

    CM: Yeah, you know what happened, man? They used ta live with all these midgets, y'know, and da midgets used ta make a lotta noise, y'know, like pounding and hammering and pounding all night, man...

    TC: Typical freaks, huh?

    CM: Oh, yeah, man, they were really freaks, man. As a matter of fact, they all moved up north together, y'know.

    TC: Oh, they had to go get their head together, man?

    CM: Yeah, get their head together. And they started a commune, y'know. It was called the...uh..."Santa Claus and his Old Lady Commune"; it was a real famous one up there, man. And they used to sit around and groove all the time, y'know.     :lol:
    If I had known then what I know now...

    Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
    VIC 07
    EV LA1 08
    Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
    Columbus 10
    EV LA 11
    Vancouver 11
    Missoula 12
    Portland 13, Spokane 13
    St. Paul 14, Denver 14
    Philly I & II, 16
    Denver 22
    Missoula 24

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