Texting and Driving
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]One thing im pretty big against is texting and driving. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Sometimes you got to enter a address for navigation or check something on your phone and your options may be limited in those situations. But I dont think theres ever an excuse to carry out a full fledged text conversation or respond to a email or mess around on your phone and look up facebook, something on the internet or even thewarpath via tapatalk. If you need to talk to someone while youre driving just pick up your phone and call or better yet wait until youre no longer moving. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I think its way worse for most people then drinking and driving is, at least at the lower ends of the illegal impairment threshold. Either way its one of those things that just arnt worth it, and not because of your own saftey but for the safety and property of others. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[URL="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/heart-stopping-video-man-captures-teens-alleged-texting-while-driving-accident/"]Heart-Stopping Video: Man Captures Teen’s Alleged Texting-While-Driving Accident | The Blaze[/URL]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

How many times do you need to escape near accidents before you stop? Too bad a semi didnt hit him...that would have shown the little fcker.

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How do they know he was texting/driving? the way the car was weaving, sure looked, more like either sleeping or under the influence. And I agree about the story mentioning the hypocrisy of the guy who is driving and recording and talking.

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I think the above is more then just a case of texting. i think you stop after some of those close calls.

I hate people that text and drive to the point where if i saw one i blow the horn or try to get their attention. My wife pointed out I am just as distracted as them if i am doing that so I quit and i just work on being a defensive driver in general. So many idiots out there.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

I will admit I have done it before. Have not in a while, since it is a very dangerous thing to do.

How do you enforce it though? It has to be near impossible to. Without video evidence, how would a cop's claim hold up in court?

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Has someone been watching Oprah?

[url]http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4[/url]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

I've done it. There was a time when my daily commute was about 3 hours round trip. Based on the nature of my job, I needed to be on top of what was going on and that meant reading and responding to multiple emails. I try to be smart about it though, if I need to send a lengthy text I'll pull over.

But where do you draw the line. I see people on the road putting sugar in their coffee and driving, putting on their makeup and driving, even seen people reading the newspaper (they just lay it out on their steering wheel) and driving. Unfortunately, as many laws, a law against texting and driving and cell phone use and driving is in place because of people who are incapable of doing both, or better said, incapable of realize when they can't do both.

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I will text/check e-mail/etc at a stoplights occasionally. When it changes I set the phone down. Put the phone up so I can look at the light or car in front of me while texting. I used to think texting and driving was the dumbest thing you could do, then I saw [URL="http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-shaving-driving,0,1367286.story"]this[/URL]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

They've done studies that show texting or even talking on the cell phone (with phone up to your ear) impairs you just as much as having a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

It's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible, I can't understand why anybody would attempt to do that while their car is moving. Stoplights fine, obviously there's no risk there.

But how the hell can you react to the unexpected when you're looking at your phone?!

People are idiots. If I could block them from doing this, I would!

Re: Texting and Driving
 

When the whole texting phenomenon was born, I did it while driving quite often, but I almost rear-ended the car in front of me on two seperate occasions -like I had to slam the brakes- so at point I stopped. If I'm stopped at a red light I'll fire off a quick sentence or two, but never when the car is moving. I came very close to learning the hard way about that.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

Funny this thread was put up today.

I drive from Balt to DC for work so I get about 2 hours a day of 95 to 495 action.

Today I am in the far right lane of 4 on 95 S just passed the ICC connector which is still under construction. A car is in the 2nd to right lane, I am passing her on her right and there is a jersey wall right there on my right.

She decides to swerve over about 3 inches across the line into my lane. She was texting on her phone. I have my window down (b/c my A/C is broke! ohh yeah!) and I gave her a proper bird b/c my horn is broke.

The bumper stick "horn is broke, watch for finger" literally applies to me.

I do not give the bird often and reserve such use for the proper times.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

My Android phone has a cool feature that allows you to speak your text messages. Now this is good for a short message, I wouldn't recommend doing it for a long text. While I don't text a lot, this nifty little feature has helped me avoid having to text and drive.

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Well one more quick story. This was a day or so after the no talking/texting while driving law was passed.

Driving home from work kinda early around 3 pm. Little traffic, cruising up 95 N doing the speed limit at 65.

I see a black honda going about 50 in one of the middle lanes. Its looks like one of my buddies cars. I slow down and pull up next to him and its him, a big fat guy glasses beard talking on the phone. So I proceed to give him a huge middle finger right next to him then sped up still giving him the middle finger.

I get no reaction from him so I slow back down to 50 mph like he was going. He slows down even more so that we wouldnt be side by side like I was trying to do. After a few seconds I just start going the speed limit again.

Mile down the road he passes me on the right taking an exit lane and gives me the bird.

So, ironically, I text him something like "hey man no talking n driving ya big dummy". he texts back "what are you talking about?", I txt back "I just passed you on 95 and gave you the bird", he texted "dude, im sitting on my couch right now I didnt have work today". I didnt flick off and try to pull up next to my buddy but some big stranger dude.

DOH! Good thing that dude wasnt in a pissy mood b/c he was a big boy and would have had every right to knock my teeth out.

PS - my eye sight is incredibly bad since my left eye got injured and I dont have glasses. Whenever a game is on, no matter how big the TV or how close im sitting I cant read the score and have to ask my lady about 10 times an hour. Oruioles games? I cant see that dang ball once its hit at all.

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[quote=Daseal;805099][B]I will text/check e-mail/etc at a stoplights occasionally. When it changes I set the phone down. Put the phone up so I can look at the light or car in front of me while texting. [/B] I used to think texting and driving was the dumbest thing you could do, then I saw [URL="http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-shaving-driving,0,1367286.story"]this[/URL][/quote]


A few years ago I got into a fender-bender doing just that. I saw the light go green, the cars on either side of me move but the car in front of me didn't. No one is immune to these sort of mistakes.

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I'm setting up an office in my car so I don't waist time while driving. I'm having a computer, fax, scanner, copier, and a phone installed in my car with driver side access. The best way to explain the set up is for you to think of a drum set and the drums set up around the drummer. I actual came up with the idea while playing my drums. It will be so cool to check and send emails while driving down the interstate or issuing a homeowners policy while merging into trafic. I can make money while driving kind of like my own 'cash cab'. Nothing like writing car insurance while driving 65mph. It should give me a better feel for the coverages my customers needs. I'm also having a coffee machine added and because of the coffe machine I'm thinking a toilet might be a good idea. Then if another drive pisses me off I can just get in front of them and flush. Its in the design stage now but soon I shale be faxing and craping all around a town near you.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

looks like someone already beat you to it FD, Excel not included of course

[IMG]http://www.ronmartin.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/7-a-office-in-car.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

I am guilty of it sometimes, but i never have a full conversation, and if i have to send out a message, it is only when i am on the road alone on a wide open stretch, never in traffic...plus my new phone doesnt have T9 Word, so i have to type everything on the pull-out keyboard.....

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Ill text at stop lights and stop signs and VERY seldom one word replys while moving, but i do mess around with gps, music selections and other driving apps on my phone while driving, all of which make me pretty hypocritical in starting this thread….

Its like speed when driving, going 10 over isn’t all that bad but going 30 over and it’s a little dangerous for others on the road. Or road rage, slamming on the horn isn’t bad but tailgating is. True with alcohol as well, .08 is a heck of a lot safer then .20.

Here’s something pretty [I]sobering[/I]:

[URL="http://www.cnbc.com/id/31545004/Texting_And_Driving_Worse_Than_Drinking_and_Driving"]News Headlines[/URL]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

I've checked a text while driving, but I've never typed one out. As far as the phone I have the Ford Sync system which works great for talking hands free in the car.

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[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/10-die-in-memorial-day-weekend-crashes-in-virginia/2011/06/01/AG4Z7rGH_story.html]10 die in Memorial Day weekend crashes in Virginia - The Washington Post[/url]

Re: Texting and Driving
 

I had a car drive into my house. I live on a straight stretch of road. The guy who did it was texting while driving.

While I was already opposed to such behavior, my experience has just made me more opposed. I think there should be a chip in cell phones which renders them inoperative when the phone is moving faster than a human being can run. Sure, this would keep passengers off the phone, too. But since when is it ok to be so impatient that you can't just text later? Technology has made us forget that patience is a virtue.

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That's crazy you had a car drive into your house.

Sometimes though I feel that it's like the same excuse we make for athletes going out at night. Because a few get into altercations, that automatically means no athlete should be allowed out at the club at night even though hundreds go out without incident. Or just because some athlete tweets something controversial, we just ban all athletes from tweeting.

But I guess that's what laws ultimately are for, to take care of people who are incapable of taking care of themselves.

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[quote=SmootSmack;805440]That's crazy you had a car drive into your house.

Sometimes though I feel that it's like the same excuse we make for athletes going out at night. Because a few get into altercations, that automatically means no athlete should be allowed out at the club at night even though hundreds go out without incident. Or just because some athlete tweets something controversial, we just ban all athletes from tweeting.

But I guess that's what laws ultimately are for, to take care of people who are incapable of taking care of themselves.[/quote]


I think you are comparing apples to oranges. Nobody can drive safely and text at the same time, no one. You may get away with it but don't fool yourself that you are not taking a risk.

I am willing to bet I could down a six pack right now and drive home without anything happen. Was it safe to do? No. If I did it every day for a year would something eventually bad happen? Most likely. Same goes for texting, if you think you can text and drive in any situation safely in my book you are a fawking idiot. The folks coming up with the well I do it when stopped or on a straight road you might as well be a drunk in a bar that says well I drive home with the windows down and the music on loud and it is a short drive, same boat same idiots.

When you smash into a family and kill their children over some stupid most likely useless text, then maybe you will see the light.

(For the record I am speaking in general not directly to you SS)

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There really shouldn't be much of a discussion to have here. Doing anything other than driving while you're behind the wheel just isn't smart, period. Distracted drivers cause more accidents than non-distracted drivers.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

[quote=over the mountain;805148]Well one more quick story. This was a day or so after the no talking/texting while driving law was passed.

Driving home from work kinda early around 3 pm. Little traffic, cruising up 95 N doing the speed limit at 65.

I see a black honda going about 50 in one of the middle lanes. Its looks like one of my buddies cars. I slow down and pull up next to him and its him, a big fat guy glasses beard talking on the phone. So I proceed to give him a huge middle finger right next to him then sped up still giving him the middle finger.

I get no reaction from him so I slow back down to 50 mph like he was going. He slows down even more so that we wouldnt be side by side like I was trying to do. After a few seconds I just start going the speed limit again.

Mile down the road he passes me on the right taking an exit lane and gives me the bird.

So, ironically, I text him something like "hey man no talking n driving ya big dummy". he texts back "what are you talking about?", I txt back "I just passed you on 95 and gave you the bird", he texted "dude, im sitting on my couch right now I didnt have work today". I didnt flick off and try to pull up next to my buddy but some big stranger dude.

DOH! Good thing that dude wasnt in a pissy mood b/c he was a big boy and would have had every right to knock my teeth out.[/quote]

hahahahahaha....


Too bad it couldn't have been Albert. Might have gotten paid from it.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

[quote=mredskins;805450]I think you are comparing apples to oranges. Nobody can drive safely and text at the same time, no one. You may get away with it but don't fool yourself that you are not taking a risk.

I am willing to bet I could down a six pack right now and drive home without anything happen. Was it safe to do? No. If I did it every day for a year would something eventually bad happen? Most likely. Same goes for texting, if you think you can text and drive in any situation safely in my book you are a fawking idiot. The folks coming up with the well I do it when stopped or on a straight road you might as well be a drunk in a bar that says well I drive home with the windows down and the music on loud and it is a short drive, same boat same idiots.

When you smash into a family and kill their children over some stupid most likely useless text, then maybe you will see the light.

(For the record I am speaking in general not directly to you SS)[/quote]

Well my point is, why do we need to have a law to tell people not to do this. Seems like common sense to know your limitations. But I understand the drunk analogy many make. I'm sure all, if not most, of us have gotten behind the wheel when we shouldn't have because we thought we were ok.

And do you stop with just texting? What about all the other "distractions" I, and others here have mentioned. Why isn't there commotion about reading the paper and driving, shaving and driving, putting on your makeup and driving, etc.

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[quote=Mattyk;805462]There really shouldn't be much of a discussion to have here. Doing anything other than driving while you're behind the wheel just isn't smart, period. Distracted drivers cause more accidents than non-distracted drivers.[/quote]

I agree 100% with this. I bicycle quite a bit and I'm scared shitless to bike out on the open roads/highways because of idiots and their cell phones.

Re: Texting and Driving
 

[quote=SmootSmack;805474]Well my point is, why do we need to have a law to tell people not to do this. Seems like common sense to know your limitations. But I understand the drunk analogy many make. I'm sure all, if not most, of us have gotten behind the wheel when we shouldn't have because we thought we were ok.

And do you stop with just texting? What about all the other "distractions" I, and others here have mentioned. [B]Why isn't there commotion about reading the paper and driving, shaving and driving, putting on your makeup and driving, etc[/B].[/quote]

Personally I see people on their phones every day. On occasion I might see someone shaving or eating, but not as often as someone on a cell phone. But yeah you're right, any sort of distraction is a problem.