Texting while driving
 

Evidently this public service announcement is showing in the UK warning against texting while driving. There's been some outcry that it is too graphic.

I'm thinking that if you're dumb enough to text and drive, then maybe you need something this blatant.

Just discovered while preparing to make the link that youtube has put an age limit on the video.

Won't work, though. Teenagers know that they're better at texting at that and can do it safely -not like that stupid bitch. :rolleyes:

And invincible. :headshake

And are criminals now.

I got that video via something called EMStube, which has a superior collection of grimmy accident videos.

Ugh...I see it all the time, the texting while driving. I'm pretty sure the kid who hit me was either texting or yakking.

I have become quite wary while driving...though I have always tried to be a careful driver, I find myself almost freaking myself out "I know he's going to do a sudden lane change...why is she drifting into my lane...are they going to stop?"

Most of us remember thinking we were invincible, reducing the chance that such a video would help, but if even a few young people got a little scared, then pressured their friends into driving sans phone...

Other than that, I'd like to completely abolish cell phones. Wipe them off the face of the earth...I hate them! [/oldfogey]

Oh, I like my cell phone well enough. It's great for when you're meeting up somewhere and so forth. But I don't use it while I'm driving neither texting nor talking. If someone calls they have to wait until I get where I'm going.

It's not nearly as dangerous as the huffing while driving that was so popular with teens a few years ago...

What's huffing?

Inhalants such as paint cans, solvents, cans of air etc. Stupidest drug use ever.

"I resemble that remark."

Reality is too graphic. We should ban it.

Nothing in it is 'too graphic'. Amazing how so many want to be so protected from reality.

But then most teenagers *know* they are better. Amazing how many only learn after THEY make the mistake. And then some still do not.

I also want to see the dead bicyclist because the car windows were tinted. What is essential to have saved the bicyclist - too many of us even deny the need to ban windows tinting. Denial extends beyond teenagers.

atta boy - where ya been?

front and front-side window tinting is banned here

From who've I talked too, more kids my age (19-23) would rather drink and drive then text and drive. Honestly I really don't know what I would consider more dangerous....

I probably shouldn't have watched that %^&*ing vid. I am nervous enough in cars without adding that to my list of mental horrors.

The safest way to drive is to assume they're all out to get you.

A couple years ago. Doesn't seem that long because it still hurts to even say. She was texting on the freeway going home and she didn't see the semi that pulled out in front of her. She was the best supervisor ever. They are all good supers but she always always got alot of work out of me with her sweet talk and compliments. One day she was there then the next not. I couldn't go to work on that next Sunday because it was our regular day together. The car was smashed underneath the body of the truck. They had to reconstruct her face for the funeral. I am not sure why they had it open casket.

This was her.I guess its only been 18months now.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingn...regon_99e.html


more horrible photos
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/f...i_jam_2108.php

I see this and worse every day. And while I am guilty of eating/drinking/smoking whilst driving, even taking on the phone while driving (headset only!), I never allow anything to take my attention away from what I am doing...driving!

Tell me the guy reading the newspaper (wide open yet) can even see. Or the guy changing his PANTS on the Schuylkill during rush hour and-a-half. At 35 mph.

What about the woman who took off her seat belt to turn completely around, let go of the wheel, and minister to her crying baby in the back? At 65 mph? Makeup, shaving, computers, even the lowly dash radio seems to command more interest than where one is going. I've seen lovemaking, changing/dressing, eating a bowl of chili (was driving with his knees) and even fighting (punching) at the wheel. I bet I see even worse things as my career comes along. I ain't seen everything yet!

I fear for the survival of the young generation.

What about the woman that drove 30 miles while asleep?

We had a truly horrific texting to firey crash locally, which killed a special ed teacher and her mom. I get to see the scorched pavement about 5 times a week. The teen texter who slammed into their stopped car was not physically injured, but she lives in the school district of the now dead beloved teacher.

I just read an interesting factoid that stated people who are texting while driving are more impaired then peoplw who are drunk and driving.

I've driven longer than that asleep. Ha Ha Ha.

This has nothing to do with texting. The real problem is driving on the wrong side of the car and road. It's confusing. It goes against nature!

We're not talking about England. Oh, you mean the op.

The above only demonstrates that the public service announcement is not graphic enough. Too tame. Amazing that we would fear someone would see blood, and yet condom the so many actions described above. I watched a lady talking on her cell phone so that she could not see anything to her left - as she made a left turn almost into me. Clearly, that public service announcement is not graphic enough. Unfortunately, it was staged. When it is really someone's liver hanging out; only then do I believe it is graphic enough to have any impact.

:eyebrow: did you mean condemn, or condone? :lol: posting about one thing, really thinking about something else ...

Im quite talented at txting and driving. If my hands were a little bigger I would be awesome with my iPhone.

On my way to work every morning (30 mins), I eat my breakfast cereal, apply lipstick, answer emails and txt.

Its my free time.

Yeah, I saw a lot of drivers this week whose time was more important than my life. Very important people, all of them.

I sometimes text while driving, I don't need to look down. I eat frequently, talk ect ect. My worst problem though, is being tired while driving. On my way to work every morning my eyes get heavy, my head gets heavy and so on, and then I'm bargaining with myself "Ok self, just keep your eyes open for 5 more min and then you can shut 'em for 1 second" All the way 'till I get to work. I never actually really let myself close my eyes, its a lie I tell myself.

Have I got a guy for you. Not sure if he's replaced his car yet, but...

giggle

Well she would have seen the semi turning in front of her if she wasn't looking at her phone.

She was texting her boyfriend. Imagine how the boyfriend felt when everyone was asking how it happened. He loses contact with her then finds out later in the day she is dead. At somepoint he has to confess he was texting her and word gets around in small work places. I should say that the information didn't just get around. Each of us were brought separately into the office to be told. She was precious to us all.

I was somehow mollified there was a logical reason for her slamming into and under a truck. It was wrong but it didn't seem so random. Senseless but not so random.

TG you live a long, long way from me. No offence or anything, but if you are so tired that you have to concentrate on keeping your eyes open, not on what they are seeing, you are dangerous. pull over and rest until you're ready to drive. Get up earlier, Go to bed earlier. get sleeping pills, whatever

Uh, and put away the damn phone. We don't want to see anything happen to you (and that could include hurting someone ELSE with which you'll have to live the rest of your life.)

We all think we're the exception to the rule, but the bottom line is being distracted is being distracted.

Yes folks, even with your ear gadgets your yappin' distracts you from the matter at hand, which is to not die in a pile of twisted burning metal or kill me because you needed to find out what kind of condiments are needed at home.

Maybe not so bad in the middle of nowhere but keep your damn asses off I-75 in the hours I am in rush hour traffic, k? thxbai!

Mon and Shawnee,

Thanks for speaking up. You ladies said it much more politely than I would have been able to.

I suppose if you are on open highway and are the only car for miles around, then it's your choice to take such risks. But if you are driving in the city or on a crowded highway, you are gambling with everyone else's lives too.

I heard that too but I think that is when people are just over the legal limit for drinking and driving.

If someone is at a .3 I think the stats would be a bit different...

Exactly. I keep glancing at my rear-view mirror wondering if Britney is going to be so busy looking cute and laughing on her cell phone and looking around to see if anyone notices how popular she is that she forgets that traffic stops and starts...

NO CONVERSATION IS THAT IMPORTANT.

What Britney doesn't realize is that, after all the crap I went through with Cell Phone boy, even a minor fender bender would probably cause me to go ballistic. The beauty of it is: all the kids with camera phones can take video and I'll be famous on youtube as a crazed woman! :p

What people don't get is, just because you're looking out the windshield doesn't make you safe. It's where your mind is at, and if your talking on the phone or texting, your mind isn't on driving.

This is probably because too many people think driving is only reacting to things that happen in front of you. You should be aware of the vehicles in front, beside, and behind you... in every lane. What type of vehicle they are, and what they're capable of... by that I mean in order to anticipate what any particular vehicle is likely to do, it makes a difference if it's a big truck, a station wagon, or a sports car.
Is the driver drifting in and out of their lane? Are they distracted or paying attention? Are they tailgating? It only takes a few seconds of watching to ascertain those details.

You should be more concerned with the cars ahead than the car in front of you. The chances the guy in front of you is going to suddenly stop are pretty damn slim, unless some one forces him to, so what's in front of him is your real concern. If you're paying attention to what's going on ahead of him, you probably won't be surprised.

Watching for entrance ramps or parking lots on the right, where someone might force the car on your right into your lane.
Is the guy coming the other way going to make a left in front of you without signaling? They give clues if you're paying attention.

But you can't see any of the dangers, you can't drive defensively, if your head is somewhere else. That's what makes phones and texting so dangerous.
Of course there are drivers that don't do those things, even when they are not phoning or texting. Those drivers shouldn't be on the fucking road.

Agreed. I watch for slow-downs way ahead of me on the interstate. If there are a bunch of brakelights a mile ahead, I will be braking, as will the guy in front of me, and behind me.

A guy once told me, when I first started bartending, that good bartending depends on "acute awareness" in other words, knowing what is going on all around you all the time. It's certainly more true of driving. I watch the people on either side for sudden lane changes, I anticipate that Mr Important will feel the need to be ahead of me (after you, buddy old pal), which reminds me of jinx mentioning once "it's not a competition! ;) I anticipate that Buffy won't notice any of these things, and that Tyler with the three feet high after-market spoiler bolted to the trunk of his 1987 Honda (presumably so it won't fly up off the road as he hits warp speed) and the bad flame paintings on the side will probably disregard the rest of the traffic entirely because he's "just that cool."

Once the road is more open I am more relaxed, but ever vigilant.

Don't forget the motorcyclist who gets to pass cars in the middle of twolanes because, well because he can :eek:
If you are an inattentive driver or are distracted by shaving, makeup application, kids... just give it up. Hire a driver if you really are that important. If not, then cut it out and drive safely - for everyone's sake.

I saw a guy do that motorcyle thing just the other day. I make a point to watch for motorcyclists...but if he's not going to take some personal responsibility then I don't need all the admonishments that us mean old car drivers don't watch for them.

Is talking on a hands free cell phone more or less distracting than talking to someone in your car?

Should texting be regulated?

no, it should be illegal. Every friggin car should have a cell blocker <Pissy Overlord attitude>

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could "just shut the fuck up for a minute and enjoy the silence?" [/MiaWallace]

:lol:

Over here, a hands-free phone is considered legal and acceptable. I don't see much difference between that and talking to someone in the car. As to how safe or unsafe that is I suspect that rather depends on the individual. Some people can multitask well and have their attention on the road and a conversation at the same time. Others not so much. I am pretty sure, if I were a driver, I would want any passengers in the car to shut the fuck up whilst i was driving, or at the very least not expect me to join in. I wuold want all of my attention on the road. My brother, on the other hand, can happily carry on two separate conversations and still have a greater awareness of the road than I could ever manage:P Not to mention lightning fast reactions.

Depeche Mode

How is talking on your handsfree any different to having a conversation with a passenger ? Arguing with kids in the back seat?

I don't look down when I txt, I don't txt in city traffic...well I do at red lights.

Paranoid over cautious reactive drivers are just as dangerous, someone who's watching for that car to swerve, so when a car wanders off line a little, they've already decided that person is going to kill them and have jammed the breaks on or swerved themselves.

Sure, I don't think txting n driving is safe, but there's a whole lot of other dangers out there.

Damn skippy Ducks. Next thing these whiny people will want to outlaw roadhead saying it's unsafe and all that other crap. roadhead is a god given right that i refuse to give up.

The difference between talking on a hands-free and talking to your passenger is that, according to a study I saw about a year ago, the passenger is aware that you are driving and will pause in conversation when they see you are doing a difficult move (say, getting across three lanes of traffic) and need your full concentration.

However, I also have read that on average women are better at multi-tasking then men. The posters here who say they do multiple tasks while driving are women. Maybe they are more able to deal with these situations than we others would be. But even so, I Do Not Approve. [shakes head sternly].

Even though I specifically don't live near you, there are probably plenty of drivers that do the same in your area.
Doing something, whether it be eat or drink (tea, not booze of course) helps me be a little more awake and aware. Most mornings I try to have a little something with me. One of the common side effects of sleeping pills: drowsiness the next day. So yeah, those are a worse idea. I take tylanol or advil PM on occasion because they don't linger, but the OTC and prescription ones do. If I go to bed too early I toss around and don't get as deep of sleep as when I just wait until I'm tired.

Shaw- the kid who hit you...wasn't he turning at the same time? I don't do that, even if I want to I can't, I have to change gears. I very rarely text when I drive, I never carry on a conversation and its never when in traffic. I am being honest by sayin I do text, but I'm not any worse than what the majority of other drivers are doin. We all have a bit of distraction while on the road, even if its a bit of daydreamin' cuz we are doin something else. Texting is probably a lot safer than my tiredness in the AM .

yup I know they're around here too. And they probably say the same things. The excuses sound fine until you do nod off. If you feel sleepy at the wheel, just don't drive. I don't care if you lose your job, that's not as important as my kid's life. kthxbai.

....then stay off the road at 5AM. I do every damn thing I can to stay awake. I can't live without my job.

I've always heard that too, Zen. But see this about multi-tasking.

Yes. There are.


So why would you want to add to them?

FYI -

"If a fatal accident is caused by the driver's unconsciousness as a result of a medical condition, such as an epileptic seizure, or by falling asleep at the wheel, criminal liability for involuntary manslaughter can be imposed. That is so because of the recklessness or culpable negligence of operating an automobile while in such a condition."

Some people can text and drive attentively just fine. Some people can drive at 90 in residential zones just fine.

Unfortunately, enough can't do one or both of these that we need legislation. Speeding legislation is old -but is still hotly contested.

but driving drunk, stoned or sleepy -you have to be stupid to think any of those are OK -they're not a matter of multitasking -they're a matter of fail-to-task-at-all. if you have to drive at 5am to get to work, then adjust your system so 4am is a good wake-up time. or get another job. or die. Bur don't do the latter as you kill my children because you "closed your eyes for a moment" and ran through the red light mmkay?

OK, wait, let me change the scenario... in the back of my car are 2 puppies, 3 old dogs, 6 kittens and a hamster which were abused, have been nursed back to health and i'm transporting them to their new loving homes.....

...still think it's ok to risk falling alseep and frying them? Ii can find recipes if so.....

I strictly do not close my eyes for a moment (well besides natural blinking). I tell myself I can, I lie to myself to bargain with myself to keep 'em open. I never close my eyes for that moment! I have been in the car with my mom when she feel asleep, I know how easy it is to do, so I don't "rest" my eyes, ever, no matter how badly I want to.
I have been workin to get myself adjusted to an earlier time, but its not that easy, it takes time.

right, but while you're thinking about that, you're not thinking about what the other (texting) arsehles on the road are doing.

I know, I've done it myself on long roadtrips. My rule is, the minute I think about the need to keep my eyes open, wake beest up to keep me awake until we find the next exit with a motel. and if it's more than 10 minutes, we pull over and he drives.

and we're usually in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night on a straight road. Driving sleepy is a stupidly dangerous thing to do.