Ducati Monster Forum

Seems like with every new law, common sense takes a hit, but this is something I can't wait to take effect.  Too bad the fines are less than a parking ticket.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/media/cell_phone_faq.pdf

 + 1 [thumbsup]

Now we just need laws about ADA, & driving blind and stupid.  [bang]

I too can't wait, but don't think this'll change much.  People (alot of whom have no business having a license, let alone walking & chewing gum) will just go hands free, and continue driving like completely clueless idiots.

I for one favor a complete ban on using cells while driving.  Pull the F#*k over, if the call is THAT important.

Yes, most people can talk on the phone & drive at the same time, most of the time.

All it takes is one little lapse in attention at the wrong time...

People's lives are at stake.

+11tyb

But its just not reality. People live/work in their cars. Its f*k'ed & It may be here to stay.
What if we throw rocks at them or something? Is that mean?

Last time I got rear-ended (in my car) was by somebody reading a newspaper while driving. >:(

Now, THAT's some impressive multi-tasking!  ;D

Wish WI would make pass that law until then I've had my eye on this sweet piece of heavenly hardware http://www.thesignaljammer.com/portable-mobile-phone-signal-jammer.html.

Unfortunately, it appears the driver wasn't multi-tasking  :-[

I've seen a couple of rear-enders of bikers on my travels, and it seems way too commonplace.

If I crash on a corner, my bad. But being taken out while stationary at a junction scares me.

The law has been in affect in NY and NJ for the last couple of years.  First offence was $300 and for a second offence they impound your car. 

I have never met anyone or heard of one person acctually getting this ticket!  They dont enforce it.   I would like to see how it goes down here. 

aslong as i can still text while driving.

which by the way i think is 10x worse thean chating on the phone and drinking

It's only impressive if you don't hit anything!

The only thing one should be doing while driving is, DRiViNG!!!!!! Listening to music is ok too.

I've lost count of how many times I have seen people do something stupid. Only to see they have a cell phone in their hand, pressed up against their head. (and I don't even commute!)  Put both hands on the steering wheel jackass! The best example. Changing lanes without looking and not using the turn signal. Because the cell phone is in your right hand!  They have no idea if it's clear and no warning to anyone who might be there.

Oh, how I wish stupidity was painful.  [bang] I mean, internally painful to the person being stupid. That way we would learn quicker. Stupidity goes unpunished way to much and to often affects others.

Everyone gets distracted while driving. Talking to passengers, listening to music, changing stations, CD's or songs on the mp3 player, daydreaming, etc.. However, those things are momentary distractions (depending on the situation) and can be minimized.
Reading a newspaper, book, text messaging, putting on makeup or eating are distractions that can only be minimized by not doing them while driving.
That is why I agree with laws that limit cell phone use to handsfree only. It minimizes the distraction to about the same level as talking to a passenger. At least then you have use of both hands.

...until gas is $7 a gallon and people can't afford to drive anymore.

Of course, then we can start acting like idiots with out bluetooth helmets:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/dainese-infinity-bluetooth/dainese-infinity-helmet.htm (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/dainese-infinity-bluetooth/dainese-infinity-helmet.htm)

Sure man, you know you want one...  [laugh] [laugh]

Not really  :-\

...and I know someone who can get me a 40% discount  ;D

I typically carry a few large ball bearings in my left jacket pocket to get people's attention if they're jeopardizing my safety on the road.  It's not nice, but neither is getting a cage enema. 

I used to carry those urethane superballs in my pocket. Bounce one of those off a windshield and see how fast a motorist gets civilized  [evil]

a  friend of mine bought one of those jammers( 5 metre range)  to use on his Muni commute .  His rationale, unless you are a surgeon performing remote surgery over a cell phone on the bus, he is not harming anyone.


 ;D

Obviously NOT, as she got hit by the MORON.

I was far more lucky than msincredible. the moron was in front of me and in the right lane on 37. I thought he was drunk. I timed his weaving back and forth and shot past him (was on my "other" twin). I got a quick glance going by, only to see the F*CKING MORON turning the page on the book he was reading!! OH COME ON!!  [bang]  [bang]

I vote for a complete cell phone usage ban for moving vehicles.

I think tiered licensing and aptitude testing would be more affective in the fight against careless drivers.

...as well as handlebar-mounted machine guns  ;D

For sure in my town (a tourist trap). Which has always begged the question from me, "If it's tourist season, why can't I shoot 'em!?"  [bang]

IQ tests would help as well. 
Plus they should change add some more questions.  Q:  If you are on page 433 of Harry Potter, he's about to save the ____, and  you are coming up to a stop sign, should you           A)  Try to finish the chapter while rolling to a stop
                                           B)  Put down the book until you are moving again at full speed
                                           C)  Pull over to finish the book
                                           D) You should not be reading while driving.

Me too, can't wait for that to be effective..!!

+11ty billion

I also think improving drivers ed would help. Teach more than just the basics!

Not quite sure of the fine print but in AZ licenses don't expire for 25 years thanks to senior citizens' lobbying.  ???

Senior citizens, age 70+, should have to take a driving test every three years.

No, actually, everyone should have to retest every few years.

+1 on that.  It's kinda a hassle but not as much as having cagers that can't drive.

Sorry, it was my poor attempt at a joke/innuendo (ie. her S.O. driving HER car while reading the paper, and...)


And I agree, the test should be required more often to retain one's license, as well, made a little more difficult, and while I'm shootingg for the stars, I hate to say it, but reading/writing/speaking the primary language of this country should also be a requirement for taking & passing the test.

I agree with that. Every five years. Which would be every time you went in to renew your licence.


Amen to that!
If you can't read english, then you can't read street signs, and if you can't read the signs then you should not be driving.

I'd add one more thing to that. If the person came from a 2nd or 3rd world country and is old enough to have "learned" how to drive there.
They get two things when they arrive. A mass transit pass and a bicycle! Don't bother going anywhere near the DMV or a car dealership.

If they are moving here the mass transit pass is good until they become a citizen and they can keep the bike. If the person is here on a visa they give them both back before they leave. If there is no mass transit were they move to then they just get the bike.

CA really needs to make the test more stringent.  The one I did in IL was far more difficult.

My ex-boyfriend moved here from the UK a couple of years ago and his tester marked him down for speeding 3 times, failure to stop at a stop sign twice, and at least one "loss of steering control".  He still got his license. [roll]

When I was 16 taking the test, I was so nervous that I stopped at a green light.  Didn't get marked down for it. [laugh]

When I was 16 I got marked down 2 points for going too slow on a right hand corner  [roll], I finished the test with a 98  ;D.

I then got my license taken away  a month later for speeding  [evil]  :(  >:(  :P
(License taken away by my parents, suggested by the officer)

My brother hit a squirrel on his first attempt at the NY State road test. Afterwards, the instructor commented, "Poor squirrel" and flunked him. [laugh]

O! oooo! that's just bad sign..    [laugh]   Poor brother.

You can kill yourself trying to avoid a squire though.  :o
Better to just ...  :-X

If I found out someone was jamming me on the bus, that Jamming device would be confiscated by me...

The bus is an acceptable place to make phone calls from. It's not a restaraunt or a movie theatre. I'm not saying you should just gab endlessly and spew your whole life story for everyone to hear. but a quick brief phone call on a noisy old bus should give anyone the right to Jam my signal because they hate phones.

If you have one of those jammers and you are driving in your car or riding your bike with it. Does it cut off every phone call with in its range as you drive by?

Lots of people looking down at their phones to see what happened, might not be a good idea.  :o  Although, it would be funny as hell!

Yes every one in range 10 - 200 meters depending on which one you have.  And at least you would know for sure where their attention was focused.

I had a guy stop in front of me, no stop sign, no yeild nothing.  I honk my horn he looks up from his phone, flips me off and takes off like bat out of hell.

Sensibility and etiquette. Seriously. It's not asking too much.
However, have you seen what rides the bus?!

This sort of thing needs to get taught in grade school.

+1 on that

I really can't wait.

Today (in my car) nearly got hit by someone driving through the city on the wrong side of the street, cell phone glued to their face. >:( [roll]

I don't know that the law will really change the behavior that much. It will just allow citations to be written for using the cell phone while driving. The speed limit law doesn't stop speeding. It may even prove to be worse as now people may try to hide their cell phones while trying to use them and drive at the same time. It may even cause people to text since they can hold the phone low in their lap. Ahhh, such a Pessimist [evil].

You think people aren't texting while driving already? I know several people who do it all the time.

fixed  :-X

Today I saw someone driving with a Borg headset in their ear, holding a cup o' soup in one hand, and the spoon in the other. Elbow on the steering wheel.

I'll be glad when the law goes into effect, but it ain't gonna do a damn thing, I'm afraid.

I once saw someone on 101 lathering up and shaving the old-fashioned way while driving! :o

With a straight razor? That wouldn't be so bad, because eventually, they're going to nick themselves going over a pothole, and bleed to death. Traffic control by Darwin!

I've seen electric razors in use and novels being read.

Yes.


 [laugh] [laugh]

I have to admit, similar [evil] thoughts come into my mind when I see women putting on mascara while driving. 

They at least get points for ridiculous amounts of dedication.

It's not [evil] to hope people get what's coming to them, unless in addition to poking themselves in the eye, you're hoping that they swerve, overcorrect, hit a bus full of nuns, ricochet off the bus and careen off the bridge into the water below...