Cell Phones

[moloprintz]

Just venting.

Each day when leaving work the traffic is bumper to bumper.
Last week 'Blondie in the SUV' had to lock up the brakes to keep from rear ending me.
Yesterday she didn't stop in time and smacked a Harley.
They took the rider off in the meat wagon.
The bike is a mess.

What really pisses me off is this is called an accident!
This is criminal!

Mike

[Top Cat]

There's laws against it here in NY and and near as I can tell they are not enforced.
I say jail time and $5000 fine if caught. That may deter some but not all.

[dank]

Studies in driving simulators have shown that a person who is using a cell phone is more apt to cause an accident than someone who is at the legal limit for being drunk. And that is obvious when you watch motorists who are driving erratically and then note that most are on the phone. Apparently the problem is that people on the phone mentally visualize the person they are talking to or situation they are discussing, unlike those who are speaking to a passenger or eating a burger, who still have their main focus on the highway.

I'm not sure how to resolve it, since hand free phones don't lessen the problem according to the study that was done. Use of your hands isn't the issue. It is where your mental focus is while on the phone. But banning the use of phones while driving seems logical to me given the data about this that exist. People resist that, figuring they are immune to the problem with their superior powers of concentration, but apparently most are not.

[cactusjack]

Lawmakers need to grow a pair and ban the use of cellphones (calls and texting) while driving and do it nationwide. Of course then they will be subject to the ban as well. It wouldn't bother me one iota if I couldn't use my phone while driving. An accident caused due to use of a cellphone should carry heavier penalties than an accident not involving a cell phone.

[cnc]

We have had a law against cell phone use while driving for a couple of years now. At first the police seemed hot on enforcing the law. Now you never hear much of it and I seem to encounter several cars and trucks a day where the driver has a phone to his ear. The laws need to be enforced and the penalty's much stiffer in my opinion.

[Blue Rebel]

El Paso has made it a law; no cell phone use or texting while driving. Hands free only is allowed though.

They even announce it on the electronic road signs. Unfortunately, I do not or have not seen any
Improvement.

It suppose to be even more strict in school zones with stiffer penalty, but it hasn't stopped anyone yet from using them.

[elvis]

Originally Posted by moloprintz

Just venting.

Each day when leaving work the traffic is bumper to bumper.
Last week 'Blondie in the SUV' had to lock up the brakes to keep from rear ending me.
Yesterday she didn't stop in time and smacked a Harley.
They took the rider off in the meat wagon.
The bike is a mess.

What really pisses me off is this is called an accident!
This is criminal!

Mike

+1

British Columbia has banned the use of cell phones while driving. (I think bluetooth devices are allowed) But there are no regulations for those who eat breakfast while driving.

Get this, I am merging on to a busy street and this woman on my left is having her cereals. She has a nice silverware and a bowl, spooning her healthy breakfast.

I yielded for her, after all, I don't want to mess with anybody's breakfast on the road.

[cactusjack]

A couple of years ago, they made it illegal to text while driving in Phoenix. It is not illegal to text while driving in Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, or any of the dozen or so other municipalities in the greater Phoenix area. I have never heard of it being enforced.

[desertdog]

CJ: Reason its not enforced is if you see most of the police cars driving around, they are on their cells, or texting as they drive. I can't recall seeing a patrol car in the last few weeks where the officer inside did not have a cell glued to his ear, or was texting and driving.

[billmac]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

CJ: Reason its not enforced is if you see most of the police cars driving around, they are on their cells, or texting as they drive. I can't recall seeing a patrol car in the last few weeks where the officer inside did not have a cell glued to his ear, or was texting and driving.

Glad I retired from the police force before cell phones and texting became a requirement for cops.

If the cops stopped someone for talking on the cell phone, the cops will get an ear full about why arent you out there enforcing real crime.

A law or a sign is not going to solve the problem. It is hard to legislate and enforce common sense.

[macmac]

More like the auto industry needs to create a electric field that prevent the use of these devices with the engine running. Paper laws are useless.

If you could ask each driver you see weaving around slower than the posted limit, they would each and every one, tell you they are excellent drivers.

[Sin City Stan]

There are portable cell phone jammers that could wipe out cell phone reception in a 300' diameter around your bike. Kind of your own quiet bubble going down the road. They're illegal though. Just saying.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

CJ: Reason its not enforced is if you see most of the police cars driving around, they are on their cells, or texting as they drive. I can't recall seeing a patrol car in the last few weeks where the officer inside did not have a cell glued to his ear, or was texting and driving.

Yeah, you're right. Just about every cop I see is on the phone while driving.

[ringadingh]

Cell phones are a real problem here also, they passed a law banning their use but it doesn't seem to be enforced very well.

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by dank

Studies in driving simulators have shown that a person who is using a cell phone is more apt to cause an accident than someone who is at the legal limit for being drunk. And that is obvious when you watch motorists who are driving erratically and then note that most are on the phone. Apparently the problem is that people on the phone mentally visualize the person they are talking to or situation they are discussing, unlike those who are speaking to a passenger or eating a burger, who still have their main focus on the highway.

I'm not sure how to resolve it, since hand free phones don't lessen the problem according to the study that was done. Use of your hands isn't the issue. It is where your mental focus is while on the phone. But banning the use of phones while driving seems logical to me given the data about this that exist. People resist that, figuring they are immune to the problem with their superior powers of concentration, but apparently most are not.

It's called "distracted driving". In some areas it causes more accidents than driving under the influence.