US Senators target driving-while-texting

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Tower

Great Thread!

Don't consent Azure!

Uhhh....

Originally Posted by 4X4

Haha! Azure just got the Crazy Endorsement.

Man, just because I don't trust the government doesn't mean I actually believe the government can do everything you claim it can, Tower.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by fatso

if you make this your sig, I bet you could cut your posts in half.

You should be pissed off with the fact that I give people like Tower more POWER!!!!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Any cellphone use will driving should be a fineable offence so it shouldn't matter.

Oh geez.

So even though we've banned cell phones already, lets draft MORE legislation, and waste MORE time, to draft a bill that makes texting illegal, even though you can't technically text without using your freakin' cell phone.

Oh wait, we're talking about the US government here.

Well then, carry on.

On a more serious note, banning the use of cell phones is just a ploy by the US government to get people to buy Bluetooth headsets because Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid own shares in numerous companies that make Bluetooth headsets.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

I see a lot of problems with it, and quite frankly being told to move to another country because I'm exercising my right as a freely born human being to DISAGREE with the policies of a government I helped elect(assuming this law is brought into effect here)....is a bit, lets say...stupid.

Tell me how you are going to affect changes with the goverment. You say you fear what might happen and i'd like to know what you'd do.

I have a concern with how this LAW would be enforced. Thats all.

Your concern seems to be a bit of fear mongering as to how far the government will go. Even if it does i'm not going to worry about till it happens.

Then you present worst case sinerios as if they might be the norm.There will always be cops who are hellbent on issueing tickets no matter what the situation.

Finally you present sinerios of how it would be hard for police to enforce. Don't you think those in the States who want to make it illegal would have thought of ways to enforce this?

[4X4]

Just saying that it's ridiculous to compare a law like seatbelts to a law about texting. They're not comparable. Apples and oranges, yada yada.

It'd at least be a deterrant if there was a law against it. A cop sees it and tickets the stupid little child that's doing it. Or in the event of a fatal accident that was witnessed, the crown could theoretically investigate phone records to see if there was phone activity at the time. Sure, some would get off if there was someone else in the car that "was texting", but if the lone occupant was also the phone subscriber that sent messages immediately before an accident, NO SOUP FOR YOU!!

Frack. I'm lashing out because I really, really can't stand these little idiots texting and going 30 and then gunning it and going 80 until their next message comes along and they go 30 again while dodging legit pedestrians. I hate driver/texters with a mighty passion. Even more than cellphone drivers.

[jayswin]

I have nothing to add at this late drunken hour except; I can't believe the same cartoon was posted three times in a 4 page thread.

[corporatejay]

While this might be a good idea, doesn't this seem like something state governments should be concerned with, not federal, sounds like a giant waste of time if you ask me.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Azure

FATA!!!!

Page one there, uberMod.

Must have been an echo.

[OilersBaby]

So as of Jan 1, 2008 a law in California was passed that we couldn't TALK on our cell phones while driving. So what does everyone do? They start texting and driving...and yes, an Amtrak collission occured in Southern California (a friend of a close friend was killed in that crash, a 21 year old with admission to med school in the fall). It was proven that the driver of the train was texting and driving.

So now we're not allowed to text and drive in Cali. Here it's already against the law.......

Almost everyone either has a headset plugged from their cell phone to their cigerette lighter thing so they can talk on their phone, or have a bluetooth device of some sort. Luckily my MINI came with a cool feature where I can pair my phone to my car and talk via the stereo speakers (music automatically fades out when a call comes in). And people still text, but you can get caught very easily..especailly downtown SJ. There are cops everywhere. They assume that if you're holding your phone..you are either calling or texting and you should be doing either according to law in this state.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

So as of Jan 1, 2008 a law in California was passed that we couldn't TALK on our cell phones while driving. So what does everyone do? They start texting and driving...and yes, an Amtrak collission occured in Southern California (a friend of a close friend was killed in that crash, a 21 year old with admission to med school in the fall). It was proven that the driver of the train was texting and driving.

So now we're not allowed to text and drive in Cali. Here it's already against the law.......

Almost everyone either has a headset plugged from their cell phone to their cigerette lighter thing so they can talk on their phone, or have a bluetooth device of some sort. Luckily my MINI came with a cool feature where I can pair my phone to my car and talk via the stereo speakers (music automatically fades out when a call comes in). And people still text, but you can get caught very easily..especailly downtown SJ. There are cops everywhere. They assume that if you're holding your phone..you are either calling or texting and you should be doing either according to law in this state.

I don't understand why talking on your phone while driving is so bad. I mean, I understand texting while driving because you have to look down the whole time you're texting. But phones calls are nothing. I just look down, see who is calling, hit answer and blab away. I look away from the road more when a dog has a poofy tail then when I talk on the phone.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I don't understand why talking on your phone while driving is so bad. I mean, I understand texting while driving because you have to look down the whole time you're texting. But phones calls are nothing. I just look down, see who is calling, hit answer and blab away. I look away from the road more when a dog has a poofy tail then when I talk on the phone.

Really? I must live in some sort of place where the cell phone drivers suck more than wherever you live. Around here, pretty much every time I'm stopped and waiting for the loser in front of me struggle to perform a simple task (such as: turn right on a red light), I see their hand plastered to their ear.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Really? I must live in some sort of place where the cell phone drivers suck more than wherever you live. Around here, pretty much every time I'm stopped and waiting for the loser in front of me struggle to perform a simple task (such as: turn right on a red light), I see their hand plastered to their ear.

Yeah, I don't know, I'm pretty decent at multi tasking. Honestly, carrying a conversation with my phone in one hand while driving is nothing. In fact, I'm still usually the guy shaking my head at people who start off slow at a light or merge wrong, or drive slow or whatever.

[Hemi-Cuda]

sorry, i was texting while reading this thread. LOL gr8 pic!!1

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I don't understand why talking on your phone while driving is so bad. I mean, I understand texting while driving because you have to look down the whole time you're texting. But phones calls are nothing. I just look down, see who is calling, hit answer and blab away. I look away from the road more when a dog has a poofy tail then when I talk on the phone.

I think the biggest issue is people who are holding the phone to their ear with one hand and not being able to react as quickly to an unusual traffic occurrence. I think we probably don't drop the phone and get that other hand to the wheel as fast as you'd think.

[Phanuthier]

I say GOOD! At the very least, it discourages the act and hopefully gets fewer people to do it. Some people on the road really, really scare me.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I think the biggest issue is people who are holding the phone to their ear with one hand and not being able to react as quickly to an unusual traffic occurrence. I think we probably don't drop the phone and get that other hand to the wheel as fast as you'd think.

I actually wondered the same thing, and the whole one hand thing I don't know if I buy. A lot of people drive with one hand, I know I do when I drive standard (i.e. drive with just my left hand* on the wheel... all times): Fox Drive in Edmonton, winding through Kelowna or those weavy roads in BC, CA-17 going from San Jose to Santa Cruz and so on, it feels weird to have 2 hands on the steering wheel again since I switched back to auto.

* most times these days, I just have 2 fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel... probably not ideal, I don't even know why...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I actually wondered the same thing, and the whole one hand thing I don't know if I buy. A lot of people drive with one hand, I know I do when I drive standard (i.e. drive with just my left hand* on the wheel... all times): Fox Drive in Edmonton, winding through Kelowna or those weavy roads in BC, CA-17 going from San Jose to Santa Cruz and so on, it feels weird to have 2 hands on the steering wheel again since I switched back to auto.

* most times these days, I just have 2 fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel... probably not ideal, I don't even know why...

Yeah but how quickly can you get that other hand to the wheel? Where is it resting? I often drive one-handed too, but my other hand is always ready at hand.

I think the issue is that we don't really have an instinct to drop stuff. I'm not sure that if someone swerves up ahead of you your instinct will be to drop the phone.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I think the biggest issue is people who are holding the phone to their ear with one hand and not being able to react as quickly to an unusual traffic occurrence. I think we probably don't drop the phone and get that other hand to the wheel as fast as you'd think.

Maybe, but you're not factoring in how awesome I am!

[mykalberta]

Does Federal law actually govern roads in the US? Isnt it up to individ states to inact those laws? Or do I now know what a union of states is?

Last I checked it was up to state law makers to enact those laws hence why there are differing ages in different states for drinking, driving age etc. Much like in Canada.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Does Federal law actually govern roads in the US? Isnt it up to individ states to inact those laws? Or do I now know what a union of states is?

Last I checked it was up to state law makers to enact those laws hence why there are differing ages in different states for drinking, driving age etc. Much like in Canada.

You know, but Americans don't.