Alberta passes distracted driving law

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

And the legislation has made things worse. Now, instead of glancing at text messages while *also* keeping an eye on the cars in front of them, people attempt to hide the phone in their crotch and completely lose situational awareness.

I've "viewed" my phone unlawfully maybe 5 times since this became law, so I'm hardly a serial text-and-driver...but I recognize unintended consequences when I see them and the law is the reason that crotch-starers are "wrecking traffic flow."

No it is because they are idiots, not because of the law. Put the phone away till you are at your destination and you won't have to try and hide.

[FireGilbert]

I learned the hard way about distracted driving. When I lived in Banff Trail I ran into a parked car due to a combination of sending a text and icy roads.

Funny story though, I got away with it since the car should not have been there. It was filled with teenagers smoking weed.

[The Yen Man]

Almost nailed a distracted pedestrian today in a parking lot. Well, didn't almost nail her, as I was aware of the fact that she wasn't paying attention and was busy on her phone. Plus, I wasn't going fast enough to actually hit her. She was crossing in front of me, looking down on her phone the whole time. I was turning left when mid cross, she decided to veer diagonally towards my car, all the while not even glancing up. I brake hard (on purpose to make a point), and she finally looks up last second and freaks out.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

I learned the hard way about distracted driving. When I lived in Banff Trail I ran into a parked car due to a combination of sending a text and icy roads.

Funny story though, I got away with it since the car should not have been there. It was filled with teenagers smoking weed.

God will be your judge.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I don't even really have a phone.

Me either. I have a mobile CalgaryPuck viewing device

[4X4]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Almost nailed a distracted pedestrian today in a parking lot. Well, didn't almost nail her, as I was aware of the fact that she wasn't paying attention and was busy on her phone. Plus, I wasn't going fast enough to actually hit her. She was crossing in front of me, looking down on her phone the whole time. I was turning left when mid cross, she decided to veer diagonally towards my car, all the while not even glancing up. I brake hard (on purpose to make a point), and she finally looks up last second and freaks out.

One fine saturday morning I was going to help a buddy do some concrete work, so I had a bunch of stuff in the back of my truck, and an upside down wheelbarrow on top of it all. It was only a few blocks away, so like an idiot, I didn't strap it down. Just puttering down a 50kph road, this stupid bitch texting away on her phone suddenly just walks right into the street at 45 degrees, doesn;t shoulder check to see the truck coming, so I slammed the brakes, all my tools in the back slid forward and the wheelbarrow popped up and smashed my back window. OEM that window was $1200. Found it for $400 at an aftermarket place. Insurance wouldn't cover it. I spend the rest of the day wishing I'd have pulled over and berated her, but it was also my fault for not strapping my tools down. But god dammit, who is so stupid that they just walk into the street? This was 33rd ave in Marda Loop. 50kph, but busy enough that you need to be a special kind of stupid to just walk into the street. Texting and walking will do that to you.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One fine saturday morning I was going to help a buddy do some concrete work, so I had a bunch of stuff in the back of my truck, and an upside down wheelbarrow on top of it all. It was only a few blocks away, so like an idiot, I didn't strap it down. Just puttering down a 50kph road, this stupid bitch texting away on her phone suddenly just walks right into the street at 45 degrees, doesn;t shoulder check to see the truck coming, so I slammed the brakes, all my tools in the back slid forward and the wheelbarrow popped up and smashed my back window. OEM that window was $1200. Found it for $400 at an aftermarket place. Insurance wouldn't cover it. I spend the rest of the day wishing I'd have pulled over and berated her, but it was also my fault for not strapping my tools down. But god dammit, who is so stupid that they just walk into the street? This was 33rd ave in Marda Loop. 50kph, but busy enough that you need to be a special kind of stupid to just walk into the street. Texting and walking will do that to you.

Coulda been a kid or a dog.

I see guys like you all the time losing stuff from loose loads in their pickups because theyre only going a couple of blocks so no need to strap down or tarp a load.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Coulda been a kid or a dog.

I see guys like you all the time losing stuff from loose loads in their pickups because theyre only going a couple of blocks so no need to strap down or tarp a load.

You make a good point, but I still think you're a doosh.

[peter12]

Drivers - tie down your loads. Pedestrians - stay off your phones. Everyone happy?

[Erick Estrada]

I don't have an issue with pedestrians in general as I feel it's the responsibility of the driver to be aware of the surroundings. However I despise those pedestrians that purposely slow their pace through crosswalks at busy intersections as if they are trying to stick it to drivers. What the hell is wrong with some of these people?

[peter12]

I agree. A little bit of hustle really goes a long way.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't have an issue with pedestrians in general as I feel it's the responsibility of the driver to be aware of the surroundings. However I despise those pedestrians that purposely slow their pace through crosswalks at busy intersections as if they are trying to stick it to drivers. What the hell is wrong with some of these people?

It's the responsibility of EVERYONE to be aware of their surroundings. Vehicles aren't magical devices that can stop on a dime every time some dumbass walks out into the road without looking.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I hate cell phones, and what they do to people. You are not so important that whatever buzzing is going on in your pocket cant wait until you get home. If you are that important, you should have a driver. If you can't afford a driver, you aren't that important.

People on their phones in theatres, while out for a walking, commuting, driving, eating, on the toilet, WTF is wrong with you? Put the damn thing away and enjoy the world or your thoughts for 5 fircken minutes.

As someone who is reading this post while pooping, I am suddenly ashamed...

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One fine saturday morning I was going to help a buddy do some concrete work, so I had a bunch of stuff in the back of my truck, and an upside down wheelbarrow on top of it all. It was only a few blocks away, so like an idiot, I didn't strap it down. Just puttering down a 50kph road, this stupid bitch texting away on her phone suddenly just walks right into the street at 45 degrees, doesn;t shoulder check to see the truck coming, so I slammed the brakes, all my tools in the back slid forward and the wheelbarrow popped up and smashed my back window. OEM that window was $1200. Found it for $400 at an aftermarket place. Insurance wouldn't cover it. I spend the rest of the day wishing I'd have pulled over and berated her, but it was also my fault for not strapping my tools down. But god dammit, who is so stupid that they just walk into the street? This was 33rd ave in Marda Loop. 50kph, but busy enough that you need to be a special kind of stupid to just walk into the street. Texting and walking will do that to you.

The real problem is the perception of immunity. People don't care that it is dangerous, they know that you have to stop and if they are hit, even if they are jaywalking, you will be found at fault.

I work in an area where, on a daily basis, pedestrians walking down a sidewalk do a sudden, I'm going to say purposeful, 90 degree turn and walk out into the road. So help you god if you don't slow down because they flip out. They know that drivers have to stop so they don't care. It is crazy the recklessness.

Just the other day I was driving up 4th street by that Mcdonalds around 32nd in the north. Some jogger going down the sidewalk at a good pace made one of these 90 degree turns into a busy roadway on a saturday afternoon. Cars both ways skidded to a stop as she ran into the road. And this was at a cross walk at an intersection with no specific above road pedestrian lights or light signals for drivers. It was just a regular intersection with vehicles doing 50-60km/h. She didn't look or even flinch. She had her music in her ears and for sure didn't give a crap that she almost died and almost caused multiple fender benders.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One fine saturday morning I was going to help a buddy do some concrete work, so I had a bunch of stuff in the back of my truck, and an upside down wheelbarrow on top of it all. It was only a few blocks away, so like an idiot, I didn't strap it down. Just puttering down a 50kph road, this stupid bitch texting away on her phone suddenly just walks right into the street at 45 degrees, doesn;t shoulder check to see the truck coming, so I slammed the brakes, all my tools in the back slid forward and the wheelbarrow popped up and smashed my back window. OEM that window was $1200. Found it for $400 at an aftermarket place. Insurance wouldn't cover it. I spend the rest of the day wishing I'd have pulled over and berated her, but it was also my fault for not strapping my tools down. But god dammit, who is so stupid that they just walk into the street? This was 33rd ave in Marda Loop. 50kph, but busy enough that you need to be a special kind of stupid to just walk into the street. Texting and walking will do that to you.

She was lucky. My father in law, older, slower reflexes, nailed the woman who walked out into traffic without looking. Broke her pelvis, she was in big time pain. All because her text was more important than paying attention.

[CliffFletcher]

This is what it must have been like in 1980 watching drunk driving go on all around you all the time.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's the responsibility of EVERYONE to be aware of their surroundings. Vehicles aren't magical devices that can stop on a dime every time some dumbass walks out into the road without looking.

Well yes but the car is the deadly weapon at the end of the day and the one behind the wheel ultimately controls it. Of course if someone runs into traffic you can't expect drivers to be able to make a perfect stop but at the same time a lot of pedestrian accidents are due to drivers that were not as aware of their surroundings as they should have been.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

The real problem is the perception of immunity. People don't care that it is dangerous, they know that you have to stop and if they are hit, even if they are jaywalking, you will be found at fault.
.

That is not always the case.

[ken0042]

Just recently a 4 year old girl was killed, and they are not looking at charging the driver who hit her.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/...led-in-bowness

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

That is not always the case.

Ok?

Originally Posted by ken0042

Just recently a 4 year old girl was killed, and they are not looking at charging the driver who hit her.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/...led-in-bowness

That's a child that ran into traffic though. Not an adult walking across a road or in a parking lot or through a crosswalk. The point is that people have the perception that they are immune and that drivers must stop at all times. I don't think anyone is arguing that you can hide on the side of the road and jump into traffic and be killed to get someone charged.