Community weekly poll: Talking on the phone while driving
- 3/28/06 9:55 AM
Amen
by tankboy2k - 3/29/06 9:19 PM In reply to: Inflated egos by SizzlinizYou said it all.
dummies behind the wheel
by golfnut59 - 3/29/06 2:01 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
anyone talking on a phone while driving is a accident waiting to happen.Try to stay out of their way the further the better
j.mazz
Does it really matter?
by jw0915 - 3/29/06 3:00 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
I live in Ct and we do have a law against talking on the cell and driving. It seems to me that people just don't care and will continue to do it until they get a ticket. I dont't haven't seen any decrease in the talking for most.
I'd say...
by kena10 - 3/29/06 4:45 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
Unless your leg is broken, you got a bullet in you somewhere or your house is on fire, there's no need to use the phone while you're driving.
It drives me nuts everytime I'm going to work and all these damn idiots are on the phone at 6:00 am. I mean, what could be so friggin important that you have to talk on the phone that early????
The same happens during rush hour. I see all these stupid women and all these dumb guys talking on their phone as if they're on a conference call. Get real people! stop using your damn phones and drive! you'll get home quicker
talking on the phone while driving
by turtlemaninmi - 3/29/06 4:55 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
A couple seconds slower and we would have been broadsided by a women on the phone going through a red light.When they carted her off on her gurney she was STILL on the phone.Two other cars were in that accident.Luckily there wasn`t anyone hurt.
The awful accident and a learning lesson for my daughter
by lorettathome - 3/29/06 5:00 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
I have a 16 year old beautiful daughter, she had a 16 year old boyfriend, smart, popular and working hard at everything to make possible his dream to play pro baseball and doing well. He was a star rising at his young age.
"Dave", just got his driver's licence. His father gave him a brand new 1/2 ton truck,loaded,insured and ready to go.Dave lived 5 miles from town on a farm and now didnt have to take the school bus and drove his 6 year old sister to school and home each day. After stopping at our house to once again pleed for my daughter to be able to take the drive with him to the farm and yet again being told he did not have enough experiance behind the wheel he drove off. Ash and he talking on the cell phone as he drove the 5 miles to his home. All of a sudden she heard a scream , then after a moment a small girls frightened voice came on and cried,"I have to call my mom", and the pphone went silent. 15 min later a call from the hospital saying the ambulance was transporting him. Today this he has lost all ability to play ball,his dreams are gone, because of this and his 4 month hospital stay he cares about nothing and is on a path to nowhere.His tire hit a rut and his two hands and mind were elsewhere. Perhaps not on the phone he may have had more control, perhaps he might still be following his dream.
Who's More Distracted?
by cnye - 3/29/06 5:40 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
All this uproar about talking on cell phones takes me back to the 1950's, when I was a young driver. Of course, in those days, we didn't have cell phones, but we did have hot girlfriends... So who's more distracted? A guy with one hand holding a cell phone up to his ear, or a guy with one hand up under his girl's sweater trying to unsnap her bra (while she's doing unmentionable things to him)? We all learned how to drive with one hand; in fact, clever girls learned how to shift a stick-shift transmission from the passenger side of the seat ("OK, go to second.) Come on, be reasonable. Drivers are always going to be distracted, one way or another, and some will handle it well, and some will have terrible accidents. Making a law about anything only creates the avenue for punishment. Punishment - that's the American way! Some folks won't be happy until everybody who is not just like them is permanently in jail. More laws! That's what we need! Yes, sir! No cell phones in cars! No smoking in cars! No eating in cars! No putting on make-up while driving! Strap your kids and dogs in straitjackets, or else! Oh, excuse me, I got carried away there for a minute. I recommend we all just get a little more forgiving, and practice defensive driving which will keep us safe.
.. I'd say its you getting more distracted!
by akhilneo - 3/31/06 2:47 AM In reply to: Who's More Distracted? by cnyeHmmmm.... interesting post - somehow you've managed to say SO much!!
Punishment is the American way!?! :O Man - sounds like you're accepting it as "fate" that you gotta be punished... 
"We all learned to drive with one hand" - wow.. looks like we owe your generation more than we realized!!
The only thing that's really sensible - DEFENSIVE DRIVING, which I hope includes driving in a REALLY big/heavy vehicle with all the possible airbags/safety features which will probably save you when that moron in the animated mobile conversation crossed the berm & plowed into you. Just HOW much will "Defensive Driving" save you anyway??
What about CB's[more inside]
by BlazeEagle - 3/29/06 5:54 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
Truckers and others talk on CB Radio's. That's been around for a long time. Yes, talking on a cell phone while driving IS dangerous, especially the hunched over talkers! But, a head set wold be a lot better.
I do think that talking on the cell phone while driving is a dangerous thing to do but it's a good thing to have in case of an emergency.
Chit Chatting on a cell phone really has no place in a vehicle that's in motion. As long as they behave themselves and are responsible, A passenger is fine because that's another set of eyes on the road.
I seriously doubt we want MORE single person vehicles on the road! It’d add yet more traffic to our roads. Which would mean more chances of traffic accidents.
OK if the driver can multitask
by Doug_Iford - 3/29/06 6:19 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
As there are already so many posts on this topic, I couldn't find any one place better than another to jump in so I decided to simply reply to the original article.
Having been involved with radio telecommunications of one sort or another for about 40 years, I opted for the "OK for multitasker" answer. A number of professions have had to use two-way radio communications for as long as such technology has been available, and I don't recall, though I'm sure there have been a number, ever hearing of a police officer, fire fighter, aircraft pilot, truck driver, or persons using CB radios having problems such as seem to be so prevalent with cell phones. Or could it be that there are so many cell phones compared to the other types of two-ways that they have become the big media issue of the day? Then, of course, with the “nanny State” mentality that seems to be increasingly prevalent, with anything that could be tied, even remotely, to someone being involved in a vehicle accident the cry is "there oughta be a law." Sort of like SUVs that are involved in accidents ... more often than not there is no mention of the fact that there was a driver involved ... "those SUVs oughta be outlawed."
I will grant that, other than the average CB radio operator, many of the above have probably had at least some training in mobile communicating. Beyond that, the advent of available "hands free" devices for anyone with a need/desire to use the cell phone (or other radio) on the road is invaluable and, I must say, much safer. It does seem, however, that an inordinate number of drivers who use cell phones probably can't walk and chew gum without tripping over their shoe laces, much less drive and talk on the phone. These, however, are probably the same people who attempt to carry on animated conversations with back seat passengers, put on their makeup, or change a diaper while tooling down the freeway. Perhaps an additional check box on drivers' licenses signifying that the individual has proven competent to drive and talk at the same time?
Also, being old enough to remember when cars didn't have individual "buckets" for front seats (they had "bench" seats), I can fondly recall putting any number of miles on various cars while driving with one hand. Steering wheel "spinners" were rather handy at those times. ;-} But I digress…
talking to passengers vs. talking on cell phone
by whozethere - 3/29/06 7:11 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
What is central to this issue? Talking? Listening? No, I have seen people turn their heads to talk to passengers and almost wreck. We don't outlaw radios, CD players, IPods or other passengers--all of which have been known to divert your attention from the road and cause wrecks.
There are ways to use a cell phone responsibly and no one wants to discuss this part of the issue. People forget voice dialing, handsfree headsets, etc. Everyone assumes a person using a cell phone will be dialing and holding the phone to their ear. Cell phones are here to stay, I think it is time to educate people on how to use them responsibly while driving rather than say it is all bad.
Reply to talking to passengers vs. talking on cell phone
by gmclam - 3/29/06 8:39 PM In reply to: talking to passengers vs. talking on cell phone by whozethereThe issue really is that DRIVING is the #1 task. Some people can drive while talking (whether to passengers, via a 2-way radio or via a phone) while others can not. I too have seen a lot of drivers "staring" at their passenger for so long that they almost crash. Law enforcement needs to get off their butts (watching their RADAR screens) and start citing people who are not driving. No new laws are needed; although I would not mind one which triples the fines for someone who violates a traffic law while using a cell phone.
yes they here to stay
by bushranger2001 - 3/29/06 11:10 PM In reply to: talking to passengers vs. talking on cell phone by whozetherewish they was not,everyone has a choice and the fredom to act,but if you say hands free and voice are safe then think again please,even two ways are dangoures,any thing that takes your hands off the wheel is,yes passangers can be distracting aswell,multitasking is a skill when driving a car,truck,bus,bike,there is lots you have to do allready with out the extras,so why not wait until you get home to make those othere calls or to where you are going,it be safer......
Cell Phones and Driving-2600 deaths, 330,000 injuries yearly
by Dafreak - 3/29/06 7:38 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
Two studies, one from the New England Journal of Medicine, and the other from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis specifically state cell phone use kills. The research also shows drivers, not only when they have their heads stuck in their Razrs, looking for the other idiot they are tyring to call, while they are weaving in two or three lanes and slowing everyone around them to a crawl, but also during the call and even for a time afterwards, are as severely impaired in their driving as a drunk blowing .2 on the breathalyzer. This includes those people who use ''hands free'' as they are JUST as likely as their headphone deprived relatives.
Come on now, you've all seen these people, completely unobservant in their own little world, forgetting they are driving two tons of death. I ride a motorcycle to work, and sometimes drive my truck. Either way I make sure to get away from these people. And living in the Washington DC area we have more than our fair share.
I firmly believe if it wasn't for the machinations of cell phone companies and organizations such as CTIA, cell phone use while driving would be a punishible, jailable, finable primary offense which would be enforced. Look at all the hurah and horror for 35 baby's deaths from badly made cribs years ago. Now we kill 1000s and I see idiots saying if you can't multitask (drive while phoning) you should take a bus as if the death toll is just another non-problem.
All I can say is I hope Darwin is correct and in time these people will be weeded out.
Quote from the NEJOM:
Boston, MA. ö A new evaluation by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (HCRA) estimates that the use of cell phones by drivers may result in approximately 2,600 deaths, 330,000 injuries, and 1.5 million instances of property damage in America per year. But because the data on cell phone use by motorists are still limited, the range of uncertainty is wide. The estimate of fatalities ranges between 800 and 8,000, and the estimate of injuries is between 100,000 and 1 million.
Bring it On!
Cell phones
by billheis - 3/29/06 9:53 PM In reply to: Talking on the phone while driving by Marc Bennett
I just wonder why most peoples head stay upright until they start talking on the cell and then they have to their head up as it tilts toword the phone. One other gripe, its a phone talk into and listen just like anyother phone and stop holding it out in front of you. OK I feel better now LOL
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
