texting and driving

[DucMouse the Mighty]

it just passed here to..no txt while moving or at a stop.

people were using a loop hole(txt while at a red light) as a way to keep doing it...

[sbrguy]

You know, there is one easy way to enforce it. Have a motorbike cop set up on the sidewalk in the shade and shoot radar and check visually for phone usage. He/she could get two for one! And even if the driver sees the officer and realizes they are not speeding they may continue texting as they drive by. It's worked for catching speeders forever, ambushing the texters could too!

exactly or you can just be pulled over and given a ticket for failing to signal while changnig lanes or weaving and such when driving.

in other words if they see you talking on the phone they can give you a ticket for what they see indicates bad driving and give you a ticke for that and other offences such at seatbelt/talking on the phone, dui test, etc. 

all you need first is the initial excuse to give a simple ticket then you can tack on a lot more.

[fastwin]

i'm training my 13 y.o. about how texts aren't that important.
1) no iPhones or Blackberry at the dining table. period.
2) when friends are over, iPhone is put down.  is a text from someone else more important than the friend in your presence?
3) if something was that important, a phone call is necessary.  and when we are eating as a family, phone calls go unanswered.  if it was that important, they'll leave a message.
4) what text message is worth dying for?

my list is sure to grow. i have a few years to beat this into my kids' heads before i let them get behind a wheel.  ride and drive safe everyone. Ciao!

We're trying the same thing with our 13 year old. You have to at least try. I refrain from talking about all the horrible, dangerous, distracted drivers I see every day around his Mom. She is already freaked about him learning how to drive anyway. Don't want to fan the flames. But if he is with me in the car or truck and we see someone do something extra stupid I just say "did you see that? don't do that".

[Vindingo]

Well done. If I ever have kiddos, I've got plans for rules like that.

IMO there is no need to for a kid to have a cell phone before they are driving anyway.  No cell phone, no need for the rules.

i'm training my 13 y.o. about how texts aren't that important.
1) no iPhones or Blackberry at the dining table. period.
2) when friends are over, iPhone is put down.  is a text from someone else more important than the friend in your presence?

13 y.o with an Iphone?  

[Doctor Woodrow]

What about those people who drive with a dog or other pet on their lap? Do they think they can respond in an emergency without worrying about squishing Barkster with their arm as they turn the wheel, or use one arm to stop the dog from slamming into the wheel? Those airbags aren't made for dog-on-lap protection, if they don't recommend children in the front seat, I doubt a tiny dog squished between the airbag and someone's chest is going to fare well either.

Or the ones with their left leg bent and their left foot up on the seat with them (so you can see the top of their knee just above the windowsill). What is up with that crap? They obviously aren't driving a stick like me, otherwise their leg would be down in the footwell where it belongs. I can just imagine the damage top their body if they got in an collision with their leg up like that. It's bad enough looking through files and X-rays of people who WERE sitting correctly and still got hurt in collisions, having your completely flexed hip and knee slammed back into your pelvis in that position, *shudders*.

The Doc

[zarn02]

Maybe I'll just open my own highway, with no phones, or cheeseburgers, or snotty brats...

And extraneous curves!

No cupholders allowed!





("I'll build my own moon park. With blackjack! And hookers!")

[fastwin]

IMO there is no need to for a kid to have a cell phone before they are driving anyway.  No cell phone, no need for the rules.

13 y.o with an Iphone?  

Thank you! Can I have an amen! Previously mentioned 13 year old never make the beast with two backsing shut up about a cell phone all last year. He was an outcast in the 7th grade because he didn't have one! WTF??!! All we heard before Xmas was that's all he wanted and that so-and-so's 5th grade brother/sister has one and how he's treated like a retard because he doesn't have a cell phone, Iphone, etc... The shit never ended. I told Mom, make the beast with two backs it, he can have mine it's ancient and it never rings because everyone knows I probably won't answer it. Guess what, they call the house and leave me a message just like the good old days. Still works. I don't need to be or want to be "immediately accessible" to everyone!

He's actually my step son and his real Dad and step Mom (who are very nice folks that we really get along with) are so into keeping up with the Jones' they just couldn't let Junior be an outcast due to no cell phone. Great you buy it and stick him on your plan! They did... Merry Christmas . Guess what? He still doesn't talk to anyone anymore than he did before the cell phone!! But now he has one and his universe is in alignment. Total bullshit. But hey... I'm not paying for it. A new generation of "I have to have it right now or I will explode and it will all be your fault for not giving it to me". Jeez...  I keep hoping mine gets stolen out of my car but it's so old no one wants it! No camera, no video. Just a phone, that I only want when I'm on a ride in the middle of nowhere and I break down. [moto]

[Veloce-Fino]

Yup.

Well done.

[ROBsS4R]

I heard on the local KGO news station that the accidents regarding texting since the law passed has gone up.

I don't know how true this is but the reasoning was that people that were doing it before still do it but now they try to hide the fact they are doing it so they have even less attention on the road. The logic seems to make sense to me.

[r_ciao]

IMO there is no need to for a kid to have a cell phone before they are driving anyway.  No cell phone, no need for the rules.

13 y.o with an Iphone?  

ahem.  guilty as charged and it's the iPhone 4.  maybe i should start a new topic: the official "i can justify anything" thread. 

[ungeheuer]

IMO there is no need to for a kid to have a cell phone before they are driving anyway.  No cell phone, no need for the rules.

13 y.o with an Iphone?  

These were my exact thoughts too... 

[redxblack]

A person who holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued or any other license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and is operating an amateur radio;

I'm not crazy about that exemption. Who should be operating a radio/broadcasting while driving?

[ducpainter]

Interpretations/opinions of law will get this locked.

[red baron]

cars now get 4  seconds to react to a light and I am on the horn until they move

I'd never have the paitience to wait 4, it's more like 2.

[CairnsDuc]

This is just as bad here in Australia, I watched a classic one yesterday morning, Sitting at a set of lights in the turn lane waiting to turn
right across the intersection, Highway patrol car sitting to my left waiting for the main lights to turn green, Green arrow comes on both sides of the intersection (Main lights still red) Woman in a Honda accord just sees any hint of green and drives through the intersection against the red, Car ahead of me has to brake and swerve to avoid her, She drives off oblivious to near accident she causes because she is chatting on her cell phone. I stop right next to the Highway patrol car to see if he will react (He was 1st in the lane, so in the perfect position to view the incident) he turns to look at what is going on, he has a phone up to his ear as well!      

Nothing happens, and he just drives off! Now, I'm not going to get into a cop bashing session, but what hope have you got when even is doing the wrong thing!?! (I know they have exceptions under the law, but it is still wrong unless they have a very good reason!)