32 dies texting she's HAPPY

[T@T]

I have been using a cell phone while driving since 1993 and I dare anyone to say it's dangerous

Seriously, In about 1994 I bought this OKI phone with carkit(considered at the time the best of the best) I used this phone all over southern Alberta and seemed to never loose a call, absolutely awesome in it's day.

Forward about 6-7 years and the world of digital phones come out, I had no real idea what texting was but one night I was driving back from Red Deer and my phone started making stupid noises, as I started reading my GF's messages and trying to respond I hit the rumble strips twice and come very close to side swiping another car doing 100k down hwy 2. Last time I tried it.

This is the last time I'm going to bother with this subject, it's not the fu&%ing cell phones it's the fu*^ing texting...find a way to disable texting(and other typing apps) while driving... fu&k the passengers in cars and buses...you can wait to text!!

Thats it!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Yeah, can just imagine coming across a horrific accident and trying to call 911 while your phone is jammed.

Jeez, some of you remind me of Bashar Assad.

Your phone wouldn't be jammed if you were stopping to help.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

So, as someone who is on-call every second week, I'd have to never leave my home those weeks?

First of all, not society's problem that you are on call.

I don't see why you would be restricted to not leaving home though. Everytime you stop your vehicle or park somewhere you could check your messages. Your company could give you a pager. All kinds of easy solutions to solve that problem.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

Once again, no its not

Studies might show it is not more dangerous, but is it a larger danger? My guess is that there are more people driving around distracted by their cell phones than there are drunk drivers at any given moment on our roadways.

Odds for disaster go up, even it the activity is not as dangerous.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Studies might show it is not more dangerous, but is it a larger danger? My guessis that there are more people driving around distracted by their cell phones than there are drunk drivers at any given moment on our roadways.

Odds for disaster go up, even it the activity is not as dangerous.

I would agree that there is a much larger amount of people texting/reading texts while driving than people drinking while driving. So if the stats say that deaths attributed to drinking and driving are still over double those of distracted driving, which is still not made up of only phone related instances, then how is it possible that this is true.

[smoothpops]

On tuesday i was returning home from okotoks, going northbound on Macleod trail, the guy in the lane next to me was using his tablet while driving. He had it pinned to his steering wheel, and from where i was sitting it looked like he was skyping. I had no idea what to do, so i just let it go and the funny thing is, he wasn't even the worst driver i saw that day.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

I would agree that there is a much larger amount of people texting/reading texts while driving than people drinking while driving. So if the stats say that deaths attributed to drinking and driving are still over double those of distracted driving, which is still not made up of only phone related instances, then how is it possible that this is true.

The problem with those stats is that right now distracted driving stats are not reliably collected (this is even acknowledged at the links you posted earlier). It's relatively easy to demonstrate drunk driving after the fact (breathalyzers, blood tests, etc.) compared to demonstrating that a driver was distracted. So we don't really have very reliable information at this time on how many accidents are caused by texting vs. drunk driving. The other complication in tracking is that someone who is drunk will presumably be impaired for the entire duration of their drive, while someone who is distracted may only be impaired for a short duration. I have seen some studies comparing texting or talking on cell phones in laboratory conditions suggesting they cause as much or greater impairment than being drunk but at this time I don't think it's that easy to say how many accidents are being caused.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by T@T

I have been using a cell phone while driving since 1993 and I dare anyone to say it's dangerous

Seriously, In about 1994 I bought this OKI phone with carkit(considered at the time the best of the best) I used this phone all over southern Alberta and seemed to never loose a call, absolutely awesome in it's day.

Forward about 6-7 years and the world of digital phones come out, I had no real idea what texting was but one night I was driving back from Red Deer and my phone started making stupid noises, as I started reading my GF's messages and trying to respond I hit the rumble strips twice and come very close to side swiping another car doing 100k down hwy 2. Last time I tried it.

This is the last time I'm going to bother with this subject, it's not the fu&%ing cell phones it's the fu*^ing texting...find a way to disable texting(and other typing apps) while driving... fu&k the passengers in cars and buses...you can wait to text!!

Thats it!

I agree with this. It's not so much the talking on the phone, its the attenion needed for texting. Unless you're a freak of nature and can look at two things at once, you have to avert your eyes from the road to the screen in order to read and type text. Touch display is the absolute worst because it doesn't allow you the ability to text without looking at your phone.

[pylon]

I have zero issues with people answering a call while driving if it is a factory bluetooth system, a voice activated system, or an after market system that requires a simple one button activation. I really don't see that as any more an issue as chatting with someone in the passenger seat. Just last week, I was on a hands free call, and was cut off on Glenmore and had to pile on the brakes, stomp the clutch, and drop 2 gears. My reaction time was adequate because my eyes were still on the road.

The issue here is texting. There is no way to safely type and drive at the same time. And it is completely unnecessary.

I mentioned in a previous thread, that I set up a text shortcut on my phone that I use when I get a text while driving. Once I am at a light, or in bumper to bumper traffic, I just tap qqq into my phone and this message pops up "I cant text, I am driving. Call me if it is urgent, other words I will call you when I can." Not a perfect solution, but I have a dash mounted cradle for my phone, next to the radio, and it is really no different than changing a radio station.

I understand people feel busier nowadays, and more important. I feel that way too. As My phone inevitably rings every time I am 3 blocks away from work on the way home because I forgot to do something. But I don't think it is that we are any busier, I just think we are more accessible. We have a super old school guy on our sales floor who doesn't have a cell phone, has never sent a text in his life, and rarely ever uses email. He is still consistently one of our top performers. If there is an issue you need to talk to him about, you just have to wait until tomorrow, or hope he answers his landline at home. I kinda envy the guy, as he can actually go home, and not be disturbed.