[Moogs]

In case anyone needs more evidence today's [younger generations] have problems making smart decisions...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...0.html?cnn=yes

[Luca]

Originally Posted by Moogs In case anyone needs more evidence today's teenagers have problems making smart decisions... http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...0.html?cnn=yes

Holy crap. I have attempted to compose a text message exactly once while driving. I did not complete it. It is SO dangerous compared to dialing and calling someone. You're looking at those tiny little letters instead of the large numbers and doing way more complex calculations in your head (how many times to press each key).

Even when I dial I normally use voice dialing, not pressing the numbers. And I don't do that very much. It's uncommon for me to hold a conversation while driving. I do it occasionally and I've never been severely distracted by it. By far the worst part is when you're looking down trying to type things in.

[kieran]

I text all the time while I'm driving. I try to do the majority of it while I'm stopped at a red light, but I will admit to doing it while the vehicle is in motion.

I know it's dumb, but I still do it.

[pscates2.0]

Originally Posted by Moogs In case anyone needs more evidence today's [younger generations] have problems making smart decisions... http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...0.html?cnn=yes

From the article:

"All of my friends do it," says Sonalie Patel, 17, who lives in Elk Grove Village, Ill...

Well, then...by all means! The ever-popular "all my friends do it" explanation/excuse...always a good, well-thought-out position, studies show, and rarely resulting in anything bad or negative happening.



That statement alone should get her two smacks and a $50 fine.

..."It's like an epidemic."

No, it's like "people being stupid". You're not just driving around and, out of the blue, through no fault of your own or via some sort of other risky behavior, suddenly afflicted with some terrible urge to text message, you brainless knob.

If it's an epidemic, Bono will pop up to tell us all about it at some point. Or, at the very least, there will be some sort of Product [THUMB] campaign to draw attention. But until then, get a clue, you flaming dingbat.



Someone wanna start the death-clock on this chick?

[Xaqtly]

Ask and ye shall receive.

[Eugene]

Someone in an IRC channel I hang out in just mentioned that his cousin died in a car accident.

1) He was a passenger and not wearing his seatbelt.
2) The driver was drunk.
3) His license was revoked after a DUI of his own.
4) He was 27, so it's not just teens.

[pscates2.0]

Yeow, there's nothing right on that. Three for three in the numbnut/WTF department...getting your license revoked by a DUI and then using another drunk driver as your taxi and not wearing seatbelts.

[Brad]

Split from the Six Flags thread.

[turtle]

Originally Posted by Brad Split from the Six Flags thread.

Yeah, this was really throwing me off. Thanks for letting me know why.

As for texting while driving, I do it. Not often and normally only using pre-saved messages or when stopped. I do occasionally type out a message, but then it's full of typos because I just pound out the message quickly. I even pay attention to the amount of traffic around me and entering side streets. IOW, while I do it, I at least am aware of my surroundings.

[Swox]

We came upon a brutal accident a few years ago that was caused by a moron in a truck (big surprise) who thought he'd check his email while driving on the highway at night. He plowed into the back of a guy and his kid driving in a little Honda who were slowing down to pull into a rest stop. Amazingly, just a few scratches and a lot of shock. Good thing no one was in the back seat, because it was totaled. One emergency response guy said to us that they were expecting to be pulling out corpses from the wreckage. Poor guy was moving inter-provincially, and had all of his computer equipment back there, all of it was destroyed.

I personally think anyone dumb enough to check their email while driving should have their license revoked for a good 5+ years so they can develop some better judgement before hitting the road again. I guess people think that they're not only entitled to drive, but to play with their cell phones while they do it.

I think they should ban those GPS maps, too, unless they're giving out instructions by sound. Maybe they should have the screens turn off while the car is in motion, too. Grumble grumble...

Originally Posted by kieran23kk Nothing is stupider than hearing someone say stupider when they really mean more stupid.

If only grammar and spelling mistakes were the greatest faults of our species . And, yes, stupider is a word. More stupider would be incorrect.

[turbulentfurball]

Using a phone in any capacity here will earn you a fine and points on your license which may lead to a ban if caught. It's a pretty recent thing, and just after it was launched, the traffic police did a focus campaign and pulled people over for doing just that.

Damn right too.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball Using a phone in any capacity here will earn you a fine and points on your license which may lead to a ban if caught. It's a pretty recent thing, and just after it was launched, the traffic police did a focus campaign and pulled people over for doing just that. Damn right too.

Even using a hands-free speaker/mic too?

I don't get the "safety" argument for a Bluetooth headset while driving. More convenient, yes, and maybe a little safer (since it keeps you from texting ) but isn't the real problem the distraction?

I don't text or call when driving. I just don't. I always think of the person on the other end hearing me get in an accident. Not fun.

[turbulentfurball]

You can use a hands-free kit or Bluetooth headset, but I agree with what you're saying re: the distraction being the problem. Physically holding a phone is what'll get you the fine or points. The sales of Bluetooth headsets increased substantially when this law was brought into effect, as you could imagine!

[pscates2.0]

Originally Posted by Roboman Even using a hands-free speaker/mic too? I don't get the "safety" argument for a Bluetooth headset while driving. More convenient, yes, and maybe a little safer (since it keeps you from texting ) but isn't the real problem the distraction? I don't text or call when driving. I just don't. I always think of the person on the other end hearing me get in an accident. Not fun.

Same here. Unfortunately, most of my family and friends don't think the same way and I really hate when they call me from a car. A lot of times I'll insist they call me when they're back home or where they're going.

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball You can use a hands-free kit or Bluetooth headset, but I agree with what you're saying re: the distraction being the problem. Physically holding a phone is what'll get you the fine or points. The sales of Bluetooth headsets increased substantially when this law was brought into effect, as you could imagine!

It's definitely not the physical act of "holding a phone". It's being engrossed in a conversation that is taking your focus and concentration off where it needs to be. That's it, plain and simple. All the "hands-free" gadgets in the world won't change the fact that when you're driving a car and talking on the phone, something is going to get shortchanged (and usually the driving).



Yes, there are degrees of conversation. A friendly, "hey, wassup" chat vs. an "I want a divorce because I've been doing your brother since September and I like him better"...the latter is probably going to pull a person in a bit more, but still...

IMO, it's best to just not do it. We survived for decades and decades without being able to reach - or be reached - everyone in our lives 24/7, wherever we were. Only in the past 10-15 years do we now act like it's something we can't do or live without.



I can think of about 2-3 scenarios where a phone conversation while driving in heavy traffic or fast, crowded freeways is truly, 100% necessary...and they're pretty damn rare and specific, and they don't include "so dude...did you nail her yet?" or "so, like, last night I told Ryan that Mark said Megan was cheating with Chad and, like, he's all, you know, like mad and stuff, and..." conversations and the like.

[dmegatool]

Originally Posted by Luca Holy crap. I have attempted to compose a text message exactly once while driving. I did not complete it. It is SO dangerous compared to dialing and calling someone.

Yeah me too. Exact same situation. I ended turning on a little street and stopped the car.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 I can think of about 2-3 scenarios where a phone conversation while driving in heavy traffic or fast, crowded freeways is truly, 100% necessary...and they're pretty damn rare and specific, and they don't include "so dude...did you nail her yet?" or "so, like, last night I told Ryan that Mark said Megan was cheating with Chad and, like, he's all, you know, like mad and stuff, and..." conversations and the like.

Yeah. A quick "I'm running late" at a red light is very unlikely to hurt anyone. A gossip session during your entire forty-minute highway commute? Not so much.

I know someone who reads while driving. Not, like, text messages. Books. Novels. On the highway.

Thankfully, several states from me.

They're one of the nicest people in the whole world, but damn. Not. Smart.

[noleli2]

I will admit, I have texted more than my share while driving (I'm 24, mind you, not 17). I keep telling myself that I need to stop, but it's an addiction. The recent press and this thread have convinced me to go cold-turkey except at red lights.

I need to stop texting while driving before texting while driving stops me from doing anything. Ever.

[pscates2.0]

Yeah, no kidding. Glad it finally dawned on you.

The day I get into a wreck because someone was texting while driving and ran right into me, you're gonna hear about it on the news because I'm going to drag them from their car (assuming I survive) and beat the living daylights out of them, right then and there.

[Wrao]

Of all of the things I have done while driving, from cell phone calls to taking off a shirt, I think that operating an iPod is the most dangerous.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 Yeah, no kidding. Glad it finally dawned on you. The day I get into a wreck because someone was texting while driving and ran right into me, you're gonna hear about it on the news because I'm going to drag them from their car (assuming I survive) and beat the living daylights out of them, right then and there.

I would just take their phone (assuming it survived) and read them the text they were sending.

"omg i just saw the panda movie with brendan and now i want a pet panda lol"

And then I would point to the wrecked cars, and ask if it was worth it.

It's a pretty safe bet, because nothing of any importance has ever been said in a text message, ever.

[popantique]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 It's definitely not the physical act of "holding a phone". It's being engrossed in a conversation that is taking your focus and concentration off where it needs to be. That's it, plain and simple. All the "hands-free" gadgets in the world won't change the fact that when you're driving a car and talking on the phone, something is going to get shortchanged (and usually the driving).

With the disclaimer that I don't drive (pathetic!), how is having a conversation on a handsfree bluetooth gadget different/worse than having a conversation with someone else in the car?

My dad is on his phone a LOT when he drives (or, really, any other time). He pretty much always uses an earpiece when he's in the car, and uses he voice commands a lot, or if I'm with him then he makes me look people up, check his palm pilot, etc. The only time I think phone-while-driving has ever been a problem is if we both end up being on the phone at the same time (which is rare, because I don't like phones). Overlapping conversations = confusing!

Originally Posted by Roboman It's a pretty safe bet, because nothing of any importance has ever been said in a text message, ever.

At first I thought you were talking about this, but those are great. The first time in a while that I've seen "txt-speak" that doesn't make me want to punch someone.

[joveblue]

Originally Posted by popantique With the disclaimer that I don't drive (pathetic!), how is having a conversation on a handsfree bluetooth gadget different/worse than having a conversation with someone else in the car?

The major difference is that a person in the car with you can see when you're concentrating on the driving and not on the conversation, whereas a person on the phone requires more constant attention because they don't know what you're doing. Other than that though, not a lot. In some instances like freeway driving, I think conversation can be beneficial for the driver by keeping their brain awake. It should be avoided in more demanding driving scenarios though.

Text messaging on the other hand, I can't believe people would try, other than at traffic lights. Although one of my friends had Messenger on his phone and was an absolute freak with T9, so could write a message without looking at all, very few typos.

[popantique]

Originally Posted by joveblue The major difference is that a person in the car with you can see when you're concentrating on the driving and not on the conversation, whereas a person on the phone requires more constant attention because they don't know what you're doing.

Seems like that would frequently be untrue. A lot of in-car phone conversations either start with or eventually include the disclaimer, "Sorry, I'm on the road right now," either to excuse noise or inattention or somesuch.

Originally Posted by joveblue In some instances like freeway driving, I think conversation can be beneficial for the driver by keeping their brain awake.

I agree. My dad always makes me talk to him when it starts getting "late" (at, like, 10... silly man) because he starts practically falling asleep at the wheel. Sometimes he sticks his face out the window. Worst case scenario, in my book, is when he starts listening to talk radio.


I'm also pretty good at texting without looking at my phone, but I can't imagine trying to do it while driving. (If I knew how, that is.)

I definitely agree that iPod operation is also a terrible idea! It's hard enough for me to find things even when it's my sole focus.

[atomicbartbeans]

I find it pretty simple actually... glance at the phone, watch the road, repeat - I'm not looking at the phone for any longer than someone would take to check their rear-view mirror. If you hold your phone up on the top of the wheel, you can actually still see the road and type too - there isn't any looking "down" or "away" involved. Obviously, it helps to be very intimate with your phone's UI.

Of course, I don't text at all without good reason - usually just to make plans or change them on short notice. I save texting while driving for situations that really warrant it.

[RowdyScot]

I only text in the driver's seat at red lights, even if it takes multiple red lights to complete the message.

[Bryson]

Originally Posted by atomicbartbeans Of course, I don't text at all without good reason - usually just to make plans or change them on short notice. I save texting while driving for situations that really warrant it.

...like when you feel like dying and taking some other people out with you?

[pscates2.0]

Exactly.

What gets me most of all, beyond the hard debate of "should you or shouldn't you", is just the fact that we've gotten so used to contacting others (and being reached outselves), 24/7, no matter where we are, that the idea of not doing that is just unthinkable to many of us now (hell, I kinda like the idea of not having to hear from someone, or being unable to be reached for certain periods).

For crying out loud, just 10-15 short years ago (I'm not talking about the 1960's or 70's, mind you), there wasn't this type of thing. People certainly got by. It's not like people started making dinner plans, meetings with buddies or having to coordinate soccer and ballet practice with the kids in just the past 3-4 years, and absolutely had to have a way to reach everyone at any given second (or be reached themselves).



Just hearing all the excuses and justifications is funny to me...

It'll take wrapping their car around a phone pole or T-boning some poor schmuck for some people to realize "hey, this might not be the best thing to be doing...".

No shit, junior. Welcome to Clueville, and enjoy your stay.



Point is, 97% of the time it's just not necessary or required (we didn't do it at all just 15 or so years ago, and things worked just fine; the world didn't end). It's a distraction, no matter how you put the phone on top of the steering wheel, etc. When you're in your car, driving, how about just concentrating on that? The world will thank you. You're not going to find some study that shows texting/talking while driving actually improves your driving, so save your energy and give Google a break...



I've got a sneaking suspicion that everyone who does this - and passionately defends their doing it - is of a certain age or below. That's no kind of slam, that's just an honest observation. I simply don't know any 44-year-olds who are adamant about such a thing. But holy hell, I do know a couple of 23-year-olds who'd rather be shot in the eye with a bazooka than to not be able to text 10-15 times an hour, all day/night long. It is indeed a teen/twenty-something type of deal...bear in mind that I'm not saying all teens/twentysomethings do this...but the people who are doing it, and do it the most, are in that group (I'm specifically referring to texting while driving). My 30/40/50-something peers certainly aren't at the center of this; we tend to risk our lives in other, more subtle and mature ways.

You can get mad all you want, but you know I'm right. And I've seen a lot of the messages, and trust me...it ain't that critical or important.

"hey"

"what u doin?"

"tired lol"

"me 2"

"call me l8r!"



WTF?!? Are you kidding me? I gotta take my car to body shop and deal with the insurance company because of that?

[murbot]

Originally Posted by RowdyScot I only text in the driver's seat at red lights, even if it takes multiple red lights to complete the message.

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 It'll take wrapping their car around a phone pole or T-boning some poor schmuck for some people to realize "hey, this might not be the best thing to be doing...".

I'm imagining someone texting in chunks and then having a wreck:

"omg u see her? wut a fat bitch. so drinks at 9? hope u no who doesnt show. omg just got hit. cant move legs. maybe wiplash and win lottery, lol. fuk cant breath good. c u l8r i hope, lol"

[Xaqtly]

Yeah I barely ever text anything. I have a friend who is the GM of a movie theater and we text now and then, but pretty infrequently. I think it's just convenient for him because he's always moving around. But I'm sure I text less than 25 texts a month, incoming and outgoing combined, (25/month = $5 worth of texts at $.20 per) so I think I'll skip the text plan if I get a 3G iPhone.

I personally agree about distractions while driving. Even if I did more texting than I do, I wouldn't do it while driving. Maybe at a red light with my foot on the brake, but that's it. I know how fast you can get into an accident and it can literally happen in the two seconds you take your eyes off the road.

Of course nothing beats the time I saw some woman cutting her bangs with scissors, while driving. Like, actually moving. Wow. I wanted to rear end her just to see if she would jam the scissors into her forehead.

[pscates2.0]

What was she thinking?

We've all seen people reading the paper, shaving, applying make-up, eating an elaborate breakfast or some other meal (holding a muffin or sausage biscuit in one hand is fine, but when you've got pancakes, syrup and you're needing a knife and fork, etc. ), etc. I just don't think they're completely thinking things through, you know? I really don't.



I really don't think some people appreciate how fast something can happen (and how devastating it can be, in the blink of an eye). Some folks never seem to figure this out ("lucky", I guess), and, unfortunately, some have to learn it the hard way...



I take driving quite seriously. Always have. It's why I get really upset at those groups of crotch-rocket riders who do wheelies on the interstate or busy surface streets and weave around cars with only feet to spare. I see it all the time (never a cop around either, of course...grrr). Again, it's always young guys ("invincible") and you just want to shake them and say "asshole, let me explain a few things to you...this is hard pavement/concrete. Those are 70mph 18-wheelers all around you, and cars with families and regular people just going about their day. Pretend you realize this - just humor me - and act accordingly".