Car Tech: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars?
- 5/22/07 5:29 PM
Are you in control of the car or not?
by Andy77e - 5/27/07 7:43 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
There are some people that can't handle various extra things, and some that can. If you crash or harm someone, you should be held responsible for your actions. It is wrong to hold everyone responsible for the actions of a few. I think heavy penalties should be leveled against those that fail to control their automobile. 10 year suspension of licence. Jail time or fines.
For example, I have a difficult time talking on the phone while driving. Knowing this... I do something amazing... incredible even... I simply do not talk on the phone while driving. Shocking huh. So to make it simple, I'm against gadgets in cars being used by people who can't use them safely, and for gadgets in cars being used by people who can. The individual should be wise and own up to this.
It is not "some people"...
by kittyo - 5/30/07 5:56 PM In reply to: Are you in control of the car or not? by Andy77eThe data indicates response times are longer when driving while on a cell phone. Period. The researchers do not say that this is true for "some people." The data do not indicate that some people are just naturally inept while others can "handle" all sorts of distractions while driving. The data relates to all people. Even you. Drivers on cell phones kill thousands, and injure tens of thousands more. If a similar situation occurred where a medication, or toy, or lawnmower, or shampoo killed thousands every year, don't you think it would be yanked out of our hands pronto? The false thinking is that it is the other guy who can't control his car and his cell phone. The fact is, it is all of us. Take a look at the accident stories offered on NPR:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Drive-Now/accidents-8.html The guy named Randy is a jet pilot...and even he sees that his driving suffers while on the phone. Need some data? Visit here:
http://www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html
I have a friend who was hospitalized with a spinal injury after an oncoming driver veered across a divided highway and crashed head on into her car. The driver of the other car died in the crash. They found a cell phone still in her hand. True story...
We just need to hang up and drive.
What About?....
by rschama - 5/30/07 6:58 PM In reply to: It is not "some people"... by kittyoHello? What about all the people that have never gotten into an accident but do spend time on cell phones or listening to the stereo? Your statistics only include those who have had an accident. Statistically what is the percentage of ALL drivers that have and use stereos or cell phones and have never been in an accident?
I have been in sales for 9 years and spend the majority of the time on the road. I have probably driven a quarter million miles in my lifetime and have never been in an accident of my making (I have been rear ended which was not my fault, and hey, I wasn't on the phone).
I do find a wireless headset to be safer than holding the phone itself (it frees up a hand so I can jot down a note).
Statistics misunderstood
by bon978 - 5/31/07 1:12 AM In reply to: It is not "some people"... by kittyoThe very nature of statistical analysis depends on means (or other measures of central tendency) of response times. That means that the data does NOT speak for individuals but for the experimental group as a whole. It is a misrepresentation to take this data and state that each and every individual in the study had longer response times on the phone, it only means that for this specific set of participants as a whole and on average the response times were longer. Not only that, but without knowing more specifics about how the participants were selected or how many were included in the study it is difficult to know if the results really reflect the trends in the total population. Not only that, but the study only included 18-25 year old drivers and another group 65-74, groups that according to insurance companies are already the highest risk drivers. You can't just take this data and apply it to all drivers!
Is Talking the Problems?
by mikesessler - 5/31/07 6:05 AM In reply to: It is not "some people"... by kittyoOK, I'll bite. I've been fascinated with this debate for some time. So it seems that those opposed to cell phone use while driving make the following point: "If you talk on a phone and drive your reaction time goes way down and eventually you'll get into an accident." OK, let's try this experiment; take the cell phone away and put the person you're talking to in the seat beside you.
I'm pretty sure people have been talking to other people in the car far longer than cell phones have been in use, and for some reason, we still have a human race. Granted, holding a cell phone is certainly inconvenient while driving, and in an emergency maneuver situation is hazardous. On the other hand, I've observed women applying eyeliner while driving 70 MPH, people eating Big Macs on the freeway and even the occasional commuter reading a book. Not to mention other drivers who are in their own little world, completely unaware of anything going on around them.
The fact is, there are some (perhaps many) people who should not be driving. Period. Getting a license to operate a 2 ton piece of machinery at 65 MPH is far too easy. We don't need new laws to fix the problem either. Insurance companies can do it by refusing to affordable insure people who operate a vehicle negligently. If more people had the threat of their insurance premiums going up to $5000 a year if they drive into someone while on the phone, they would be more careful.
What insurance?
by tchristoff - 5/31/07 8:45 AM In reply to: Is Talking the Problems? by mikesesslerI'm guessing they just won't bother with insurance. They won't stop driving any more than the drunk with multiple DUIs. They SHOULD, but many won't. And then, insurance costs will go up for the rest of us.
Great, but you must follow logic to it's conclusion.
by Andy77e - 6/9/07 10:03 PM In reply to: It is not "some people"... by kittyoThat's fine and peachy. I don't trust NPR. The government funds that. But still, if you want to hang up and drive fine. If you want to tell others to do the same, that's your choice.
However if you want to ban it because you have some "true story" about a cell phone, as if you know for certain it was the phone that caused the accident when you, nor anyone else, was in the car with her, then I have a problem.
Because I've been hit several times. One was a guy distracted by a passenger, another was changing radio stations, One was eating, another was just a lame driver. No phone or food or drink, just a lame driver.
So if you want to play the ban game, then you must support banning everything else too. Ban passengers, ban food and drinks, ban stereos, ban personal electronics, ban pets. Otherwise your just playing games and wanting to ban something you personally don't like, and not being really true to your own "claimed" beliefs. Why should anyone support you when you just are on a personal kick. So place your stake. Do you want to ban *every* distraction? Or is this just your personal crusade in which case, why should I support it?
You is da man
by luidafly - 6/15/07 8:13 PM In reply to: Great, but you must follow logic to it's conclusion. by Andy77eI agree with you on his subject the only problem I have is to see drivers at 65mph passing me and texting SMS message while doig this. But onthe whole your reasoning is spot on..Why not just ban cars could be the next issue.
More evidence is needed
by Andy77e - 6/16/07 1:29 PM In reply to: It is not "some people"... by kittyoHow do you know it's not "some people"? The evidence you give is good... but not conclusive. The first web link, lists a bunch of accidents involving cell phones. Great, but accidents happened all the time prior to cell phones, AND millions of accidents happen every year without cell phones.
Further, and others here pointed out, millions drive and use cell phones without having an accident. For example, my father has yet to hit anyone ever, yet he has used a cell phone in the car. Not often and normally for a short time.
Again, my point is not "phones are safe" my point is, if we are going to ban something for being a distraction, then passengers (I was hit by a guy distracted by another in the car) and stereos (I was hit by a guy messing with his stereo) and everything else that could be a distraction like drive throughs, food in the car, TVs, hot coffee, babies, pets, and so on, should all be banned.
Be true to your own beliefs, or accept the fact you are hypocritical.
dumb statement
by mssoot - 5/30/07 8:13 PM In reply to: Are you in control of the car or not? by Andy77eWhat place do YOU drive that if you crash and or hurt some one you are not held responsible?
Two answers:
by Andy77e - 6/10/07 9:30 AM In reply to: dumb statement by mssootA: If they are held responsible, then there's no need for other laws. That will be enough.
B: I don't know where you live, but the number of people here who clearly should not be on the road, to me indicates proper removel of bad drivers from the road is not occuring. The punishment for driving without a licence should be strong enough to cause people to not do it. It clearly isn't because of the number of times a person with a suspended or revoked licence is caught. And for each person caught, likely there are many more not.
Further, one of the accidents I was in, involved a person without insurance, who was intoxicated, driving "a friends" truck, with expired tags. For reasons that would take too long to explain, nothing happened to him. He might be on the road now.
insurance
by yenaro - 5/31/07 12:24 AM In reply to: Are you in control of the car or not? by Andy77eIf someone crash because of holding a callphone in the hand, it may be difficult to prove that he was responsible of the accident, because of the fact that the callphone would falling out of his hand. And fingerprints would not be helpfull for investigation.
All things will be more difficult and unlegal when we eat, drink and speak while we are driving a car. Men cannot make two things at a time, we don't have three hands. Traveling can be very lonely, but don't drive alone. Your partner can entertain you or drive at your place if you get tired. It's so simple!
Are you in control of the car or not
by glorya - 5/31/07 12:24 PM In reply to: Are you in control of the car or not? by Andy77eMany, many times it is not the perpetrator that crashes but who CAUSES others to crash because of inattentive/erratic driving caused by using a cell phone, GPS, or etc. etc. etc. And the corker is, the inattentive driver just keeps on going!
But in that case it wouldn't matter.
by Andy77e - 6/10/07 9:36 AM In reply to: Are you in control of the car or not by gloryaWhether they had a cell phone or were just inattentive, if they were not involved in the crash, what difference does it make? If you ban cell phones, that will not stop people from being inattentive or erratic. In fact it won't stop them from talking on the phone either.
For example, I was driving on the highway in the rain when a small plastic midget mobile zoomed pasted me. If you don't know, the faster your going, the less weight anchors the wheels to the road, combined with rain....
This girl in the car, had flown past out of sight... next thing I see is a car spinning in the middle of the highway. She did 3 complete 360 degree turns (that I saw. She was spinning already when she came into view) before the cars screeched to a halt. Now that is a foolish reckless driver. What exactly would you ban to prevent that?
Cell phones no, GPS si!
by vicmill - 5/30/07 4:28 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
My GPS has made me a much safer driver in areas I don't know very well. I am much more relaxed, I do less slowing down at odd times, I am not staring into the distance hoping to read signs or building numbers a half mile ahead, and I am much less of a problem to those around me. Cell phones, on the other hand, demand my attention on subjects other than the one at hand: driving and getting where I need to go safely.
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