Girl texting while driving hits cyclist, says “I just don’t care”

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by habernac

my favourite are the police with the huge laptop they're busy looking at while driving.

http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/Traffic...edDriving.aspx

There are some exceptions to this law. Emergency personnel such as fire rescue, EMS and police are exempt from using hand-held radio communications and electronic devices while performing their duties.

Running license plates, responding to requests on line, coordinating with other officers to perform the duties of their jobs. Those computers aren't for checking Facebook and updating their fantasy hockey lineups.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/Traffic...edDriving.aspx



Running license plates, responding to requests on line, coordinating with other officers to perform the duties of their jobs. Those computers aren't for checking Facebook and updating their fantasy hockey lineups.

Thank you this is an informed response.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

How the #### do you know what driver training I have had?

Okay calm down. What driver training do you have?

Beyond, that.......WTF?

Explain the difference between the police looking at a laptop for 15 secs and a "Joe Public" looking at a phone for 15 secs, for that matter explain the difference between EMS using a phone and "Joe Public".......

The difference is the police and EMS need to use mobile equipment as part of the job. It's essential to them. It's not essential for me to operate my cell while driving, so I don't. Not to mention officers have better driving skills than 99% of the people on the road.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by zamler

Okay calm down. What driver training do you have?

Enough, and I have driven in a number of high stress situations.

The difference is the police and EMS need to use mobile equipment as part of the job. It's essential to them. It's not essential for me to operate my cell while driving, so I don't. Not to mention officers have better driving skills than 99% of the people on the road.

See the post after yours provided information, which I thanked.

[Cuz]

Us transit operators have an exemption under the law as well to use our radio to communicate with dispatch. Actually, any driver who needs a radio to communicate with their employer does, like a taxi driver.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by zamler

These people have training you don't.

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/Traffic...edDriving.aspx



Running license plates, responding to requests on line, coordinating with other officers to perform the duties of their jobs. Those computers aren't for checking Facebook and updating their fantasy hockey lineups.

There's NO safe way of doing this and driving at the same time. This should be performed by someone in the passenger seat period.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by habernac

There's NO safe way of doing this and driving at the same time. This should be performed by someone in the passenger seat period.

I agree with you on this point. This is why the new CAD system on busses is supposed to lock the screen when the bus starts in motion. Even with the lock the blue screen is mildly distracting and that's not even trying to read information from the screen.

[Troubamaker]

Orange is the new black for you!

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by zamler

These people have training you don't.

Let me know which course I can take which will allow me to drive distracted safely while operating a vehicle.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Let me know which course I can take which will allow me to drive distracted safely while operating a vehicle.

I suggest you go for a ride along and see first hand. The cops just don't stare at the screen while gunning it down the road.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by habernac

There's NO safe way of doing this and driving at the same time. This should be performed by someone in the passenger seat period.

Just stating the law as written. You complained about police officers using their computers while driving and I pointed out that the law contemplates exceptions to the law in order to allow certain professions to do their jobs.

If you don't think there should be any exceptions, start lobbying to the police chiefs to partner up all patrols and/or lobby the government to amend the law.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by zamler

I suggest you go for a ride along and see first hand. The cops just don't stare at the screen while gunning it down the road.

Can you post the course synopsis or a link? I'd be interested in signing up.

Part of the reason people still continue to drive distracted is because of these role models.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Can you post the course synopsis or a link? I'd be interested in signing up.

Part of the reason people still continue to drive distracted is because of these role models.

http://www.calgary.ca/CPS/Pages/Work...ry-Police.aspx

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

http://www.calgary.ca/CPS/Pages/Work...ry-Police.aspx

Sorry, I don't see any information related to the course on here. Zamler posted they have specific training for these situations.

I haven't seen anything that shows that is the case.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Can you post the course synopsis or a link? I'd be interested in signing up.

I went on a few many years ago and it was awesome. You gain a totally different perspective, and for me a new found respect.

If you are serious then go to any station and ask, I don't know if they still do that kind of thing or not. Wait you're asking about specific training? You might have misunderstood, I'm saying cops have driver training they are much better at operating a vehicle than most people. From what I saw the cops were really good at multi-tasking and paid attention to the road.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by zamler

I went on a few many years ago and it was awesome. You gain a totally different perspective, and for me a new found respect.

If you are serious then go to any station and ask, I don't know if they still do that kind of thing or not.

Oh I'm quite familiar with what a ride along is. But that isn't what I was asking for, nor is that actually specific training.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Sorry, I don't see any information related to the course on here. Zamler posted they have specific training for these situations.

I haven't seen anything that shows that is the case.

Well as part of the training process officers go through, they take specific driver training. It's largely focused on pursuits and high speed manoeuvres. Not really a section on "driving while using the computer - dos and do nots". I'm sure there's guidance, but not specific training.

The exception is focused on doing their jobs (along with EMS, Fire, etc). Like running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns. It's part of the reality of certain professions. Is there a risk in using the computer while driving? Yes. If the officer is involved in a collision/accident and they were using their computer, they're going to have to show that using the computer was to perform functions of their job AND that the officer needed to use the computer at that moment.

It's a measure of reasonableness.

[CaramonLS]

Police officers have to take a training course on using Multinova radar guns. I guess I'm having a hard time seeing why this would be different.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Well as part of the training process officers go through, they take specific driver training. It's largely focused on pursuits and high speed manoeuvres. Not really a section on "driving while using the computer - dos and do nots". I'm sure there's guidance, but not specific training.

The exception is focused on doing their jobs (along with EMS, Fire, etc). Like running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns. It's part of the reality of certain professions. Is there a risk in using the computer while driving? Yes. If the officer is involved in a collision/accident and they were using their computer, they're going to have to show that using the computer was to perform functions of their job AND that the officer needed to use the computer at that moment.

It's a measure of reasonableness.

Difference is when they are "running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns" they have their lights/sirens on.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Difference is when they are "running red lights, exceeding the speed limit and illegal turns" they have their lights/sirens on.

Illegal turns?