Alberta passes distracted driving law

[Yasa]

It bothers me that this has to be a law. People are sitting in their cars, deepthroating their curling irons and pouring cereal into their hair thinking "there's absolutely nothing wrong with what I'm doing." Then all of a sudden this law gets announced and these same idiots are saying "Wait, it's dangerous to read Where's Waldo on Deerfoot? This is absurd!"

I wish I could store up common sense and vomit it all over the public. L4D Boomer-esque. Except instead of attracting infected, it attracts a little bit of everyday intelligence into those poor milk-soaked heads of idiots.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by pylon

My new GTI has full on factory voice command Bluetooth. This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that requires only 1 button, on the steering wheel, to activate a call. Push button, say name, and talk. To answer, just say answer.

After having this system in my car for a few months, I can honestly say anyone who says that holding a cell phone, dialing, texting, whatever it is you are doing, is not distracted ....is sniffing glue , in denial, or ignorant to the technology. The difference is so extreme, that I can't honestly believe for 15 years, I was driving around holding a phone to my ear, endangering myself and people around me. It is literally no different than having a conversation with someone in the passenger seat. The system is so seamless, I can get in my car during an active call, and it seamlessly passes the call over to the car within 3 seconds.

I am fully behind the law, and think anyone passing judgment on it, should be forced to use a factory hands free device first. Then come to the realization on how distracted they were before.

Never BMWs and MBs have handsfree too, don't they?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by ken0042

See, I'm not sold on Bluetooth being safe. Is it safer than using a handheld device- sure.

I've had Bluetooth in my vehicle for 6 months and I am aware that talking on the phone distracts me. And the people I think are idiots on the road aren't people I see dialing; it's people with a phone up to their ear. They are the ones doing 20 under, not signaling, wandering in their lanes, etc.

It is certainly the lesser of all evils though. A true hands free system is no less distracting than turning on your blinker. Literally tap the button and say the name you want to dial. It is full voice from that point on. If you are to say it is still too distracting, then we are at the point where we need to ban passengers from all vehicles, as a yappy girlfriend, or a buddy crapping his pants with the windows up is definitely more distracting to me.

Mine goes like this:

1) Push button.
2) Prompted by tone to speak.
3) Me:Call Alyssa on cell.
4) Car: Would you like to call Alyssa, on mobile phone?
5) Me: Yes
6) Call is dialed.

I do not have to look at any displays at all, or remove my hands from the wheel. Coming into work today, As I was shoulder checking during a merge and a call came in from work, and I instinctively tapped the button with my thumb and answered the call, without breaking a stride in my merge. It was no different than having a passenger ask me a question. Is it perfect, no. Is it tenfold better than the old way... hell yes.

However, I do agree, hat bluetooth systems that require you to still dial, hit a button to pass the call over, etc... essentially a remote speaker, yes, they are still as distracting as a phone IMO as well.

I know some super high end cars do not even require you to push any buttons. But I drive a VW, not a Maybach.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Never BMWs and MBs have handsfree too, don't they?

Anything German pretty much does now, it is law over there.

We have a few lower end VW's where it is still optional, but I believe it is pretty much standard on any BMW, Benz, or Audi.

[Salty Banana]

Originally Posted by Yasa

It bothers me that this has to be a law. People are sitting in their cars, deepthroating their curling irons and pouring cereal into their hair thinking "there's absolutely nothing wrong with what I'm doing." Then all of a sudden this law gets announced and these same idiots are saying "Wait, it's dangerous to read Where's Waldo on Deerfoot? This is absurd!"

I wish I could store up common sense and vomit it all over the public. L4D Boomer-esque. Except instead of attracting infected, it attracts a little bit of everyday intelligence into those poor milk-soaked heads of idiots.

Sadly, this is what society has come to....

[Pizza]

nvrmd

[Gozer]

Talking to a passenger in a car is very different than talking on the phone in some ways.
When I'm a passenger and the driver is entering a merge lane on Deerfoot then the conversation, or even the sentence, waits until the maneuver is completed.

[Yakbutter]

I know I'm going to be hated for this but I'll admit it anyways. In vancouver the traffic is almost always at a crawl and I don't see the problem sending off a quick 5 word text while sitting at a red knowing I'm not going to be moving for a good 30 seconds. However it's ridiculous see people flying a buck 10 down he freeway sending texts about how bad their farts smell. Is one worse than the other? I think so. One situation is probably harmless and the other is going to kill people.

[Slava]

Is there evidence that collisions have been reduced where these laws have been implemented? (other than anecdotal, it just makes sense kind of evidence). I'm just curious as to how much I can anticipate my insurance premiums to drop as a result!

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Slava

Is there evidence that collisions have been reduced where these laws have been implemented? (other than anecdotal, it just makes sense kind of evidence). I'm just curious as to how much I can anticipate my insurance premiums to drop as a result!

I was listening to 770 yesterday morning and they said collisions tend to be the same, and in some instances had increased in the US. I think the increase was a fluke, but I'm not surprised to hear that the rate didn't drop.

The people that text/read/play psp/do their finances while they drive are the same type of people that are going to defy that law anyway. It won't make a difference. Add to the fact that it's hard to police effectively. The police will get somebody here and there, but otherwise it won't do much.

As for texting at a red light; I don't see what's wrong with it. Assuming you're still paying attention to what's around you before you move and you notice green lights, etc. I can't stand being behind somebody that decides to diddle their bits or something at a red light and miss the following green because they're too caught in the moment to pay attention.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Slava

Is there evidence that collisions have been reduced where these laws have been implemented? (other than anecdotal, it just makes sense kind of evidence). I'm just curious as to how much I can anticipate my insurance premiums to drop as a result!

Haha, that's funny!

+1 for bluetooth being fantastic. I often wait to get in my truck to make phone calls because it's easier and more efficient that way...

However, I'm not as talented as pylon with it. Since I drive with 1 hand at best on the wheel I find myself scrambling to find the button when receiving a call. I also usually tell the person on the other end to hold on when I'm merging or otherwise need to concentrate.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by pylon

Anything German pretty much does now, it is law over there.

We have a few lower end VW's where it is still optional, but I believe it is pretty much standard on any BMW, Benz, or Audi.

Ford Sync and Touch is pretty great as well. Not standard, but I think most models have it.

[SeoulFire]

It will end up being the same as most traffic laws - ignored by those that created the need for such a law.

Speeders will speed and texters will text.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by pylon

It is certainly the lesser of all evils though. A true hands free system is no less distracting than turning on your blinker. Literally tap the button and say the name you want to dial. It is full voice from that point on. If you are to say it is still too distracting, then we are at the point where we need to ban passengers from all vehicles, as a yappy girlfriend, or a buddy crapping his pants with the windows up is definitely more distracting to me.

This has been gone over to death in countless threads here, but there is a ton of research out there that shows that talking to someone on the phone, hands free or not, is still a significant distraction and much more of a distraction than talking to a passenger.

[Bertuzzied]

The thing that bothers me the most is when the car someone is driving has the bluetooth and they are still using the handset.

It's not that difficult to figure out people.

[JustAnotherGuy]

I am turning left and waiting for the oncoming car to turn right. The light turns amber and I am still waiting for the lady to turn right. It is a bit of tight turn and she is having a problem turning the wheel. Cars everywhere and I am wanting to clear the intersection but she is still there trying to do the turn. The light turns red and she finally completes the turn.

She was holding the phone in her left hand and talking and trying to make the tight right hand turn with her right hand. Stupid bitch.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Yasa

I was listening to 770 yesterday morning and they said collisions tend to be the same, and in some instances had increased in the US. I think the increase was a fluke, but I'm not surprised to hear that the rate didn't drop.

The people that text/read/play psp/do their finances while they drive are the same type of people that are going to defy that law anyway. It won't make a difference. Add to the fact that it's hard to police effectively. The police will get somebody here and there, but otherwise it won't do much.

As for texting at a red light; I don't see what's wrong with it. Assuming you're still paying attention to what's around you before you move and you notice green lights, etc. I can't stand being behind somebody that decides to diddle their bits or something at a red light and miss the following green because they're too caught in the moment to pay attention.

One theory in regards to why collisions increased is because people are still doing it and just don't want to get caught, thus they're holding it even lower, (ie. between their legs) and thus becoming more distracted then they would be before.

Its going to be nearly impossible to enforce and gives police more power to pull people over, which is great, but its not going to be something that really curbs the problem.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I am turning left and waiting for the oncoming car to turn right. The light turns amber and I am still waiting for the lady to turn right. It is a bit of tight turn and she is having a problem turning the wheel. Cars everywhere and I am wanting to clear the intersection but she is still there trying to do the turn. The light turns red and she finally completes the turn.

She was holding the phone in her left hand and talking and trying to make the tight right hand turn with her right hand. Stupid bitch.

These are the people that need to be fined until they can't afford to drive anymore.

[Lee of Red]

I like to get blowjobs while I'm driving. Where do I stand legally now?

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Lee of Red

I like to get blowjobs while I'm driving. Where do I stand legally now?

I don't think there are laws against having dogs in your lap.