Texting while driving
- Thread starter UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
- Start date
wily_old_vet
Well-Known Member
It took the state of Maryland two years before they could enact a ban on texting while driving. How insane is that.
UnconTROLLed
perfection
It took the state of Maryland two years before they could enact a ban on texting while driving. How insane is that.
No, that is not insane whatsoever. Would you want to be pulled over for looking at your cell phone or navigation, and ticketed for texting on your phone wrongly because the officer didn't know better from a distance?
It's very touchy ground actually. I think it's idiotic people text while driving or do anything that IS NOT driving. I also think it's pretty stupid you can get pulled over for texting because it opened the can of worms; does the officer or anyone else REALLY know whats going on in with the driver and can prove it?
Sammie
Well-Known Member
Don't forget train engineer who killed 25 and injured over 100
last September in L.A. as he ran a red light and smacked into
a freight train while texting.
Until common sense prevails, I see nothing wrong with hard and
fast laws regarding this. A quick glance at a GPS system or your
cell is hardly going to raise any alarms. But if a cop can see from a distance that you're not paying attention, good for him. He probably saved a life. And if you know anyone who works in an E.R., enough said.
A letter to the editor in my paper today sent in by an ex race car driver and motorcycle safety instructor responded well to this issue:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2009/04/28/modern-phones-a-serious-hazard-on-the-road/
last September in L.A. as he ran a red light and smacked into
a freight train while texting.
Until common sense prevails, I see nothing wrong with hard and
fast laws regarding this. A quick glance at a GPS system or your
cell is hardly going to raise any alarms. But if a cop can see from a distance that you're not paying attention, good for him. He probably saved a life. And if you know anyone who works in an E.R., enough said.
A letter to the editor in my paper today sent in by an ex race car driver and motorcycle safety instructor responded well to this issue:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2009/04/28/modern-phones-a-serious-hazard-on-the-road/
UnconTROLLed
perfection
Doesn't read that way to me; looks like finger pointing at the state of Maryland
Cementups
Box Monkey
We don't have handsfree laws here but yesterday i did witness 3 seperate local police officers talking on the phone while driving. And you could tell they were casual conversations by how they were sitting in the car and leaning on the door to prop the phone up. Nothing like leading by example, i guess.
dilligaf
IN VINO VERITAS
I can see what you are saying. Actually I can see both sides of the point. It took Az. years (more than just 2) just to get a ban on talking on a cell phone while driving. And even if it is pointing a finger at the state, maybe they need to have a finger pointed at them. Texting while driving is deadly. And since some people lack enough common sense to police themselves, someone else has to do it for them.
I like the way Sammie put it. A quick glance is not what the problem is and more likely than not an officer would never notice it. But texting is a whole different situation. Your eyes are away from the road for an extended period of time. That is what causes accidents.
This pisses me off. I think it's selfish to be concerned with your cell phone while your responsible for the safe transport of others, not to mention the safety of other motorists being that your in a huge vehicle. Nothing on that cell phone is more important than focusing on the task at hand which involves the safety of others. Personally, I don't text or conduct a call while operating the package car. I don't feel that anything is THAT important on my cell phone that I have to text or use it without a headset while driving. JMHO
stevetheupsguy
sʇǝʌǝʇɥǝndsƃnʎ
What's texting? Here's pictures from an email I received. This happened because of texting.
bluehdmc
Well-Known Member
In NJ texting or not using a "hands free" device is illegal, that being said I've often seen police officers with the cell phone to there ears. All the laws really can do, is if there is a serious accident, they can get the records to see if ANY of the drivers involved were texting or talking on the phone. This is what they did in the train wreck mentioned previously. If I recall he'd sent a text message shortly before the crash.
stevetheupsguy
sʇǝʌǝʇɥǝndsƃnʎ
Those laws and safety compliance, go hand in hand. They only serve to punish, not deter. JMHO
Catatonic
Nine Lives
Not sure I catch the implied reason that Bluetooth would make it safer. It is not so much the glance way or dialing or holding the phone up to one's ear that causes accidents.
It's the distraction of talking to someone else rather than concentrating on driving.
I've known 5 (maybe more) people, one my daughter, that had an accident because they were talking to someone else in the car.
It scares the crap out of me to see someone driving and turning to the person in the passenger seat while talking. Eye to eye contact is not necessary to talk to someone especially while driving.
Agree with all that badpal's wife.
My wife and my other boss say, "I called you but you didn't answer."
That's right ... I was driving. Leave a message and I'll call you back when it's safe.
lol, i'm badpal #2...not his wife. i'm sure he wouldn't like it if his wife had man parts
Catatonic
Nine Lives
lol, i'm badpal #2...not his wife. i'm sure he wouldn't like it if his wife had man parts
Sorry. I thought badpal with a period would be a woman.
