Texting and Driving

[firstdown]

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.

[MTK]

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

[SolidSnake84]

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.....

[mlmpetert]

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 sobering:

News Headlines

[MTK]

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.

[BringBackJoeT]

10 die in Memorial Day weekend crashes in Virginia - The Washington Post

[Lotus]

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.

[SmootSmack]

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.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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.

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)

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by mredskins

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)

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.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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.

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.

[MTK]

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.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

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.

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.