Don't do it guys. Had a friend that was a Killed in a car accident a year ago due to someone who was using his phone. Is it really worth someone's life?

 

 

I hope they throw the book at anybody caught texting and driving.
I would make it harsher than DUI, whatever they gotta do to get dumb asses to quite it.

 

No...

 

I am guilty of it but making it harsher then a dui. I don't think so...

 

Car & Driver did a test/report and found that texting while driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving. The reaction times between the 2 were totally different.

 

Glad the ban in Ohio started a few days ago.

 

This was to long coming I've seen way to many texting and driving in Ohio and the cops couldn't do anything about it because no law against it. The only problem with the law though is cops arnt aware how to prove if someone is txting or not unless they see it. My cousin is a cop in pa and he said there is only so much he can do if he doesn't see it and it normaly doesn't end in a ticket. I know of somebody that was killed a little while ago because of txting and driveing. Was going up a hill in the slow lane at the speed limit on the interstate and txing and ran into the back of a truck climbing the hill at about 25mph with 4ways on. Never saw the truck or hit the brakes and was killed on impact.

 

Next time you are at a red light look around and see how many drivers are staring down at their steering wheels texting.

You'll be surprised how many drivers actually text while driving!

Mike

 

Just because they ban texting while driving doesn't mean it will stop it. Doubt it will even cut it down much.

It's sad but the future.

 

Im guilty of it too, its like anything else time and place. Do I do it going to and from work in stop and go no. Being aware of what is around you is the thing. You know how many women I see putting on make up or people reading while driving everyday... I dont see any ad campaigns against these, or tech members starting threads and posting about it.. People have been getting into wrecks while doing **** other than driving in a car forever. Only because there is a data trail with texts can you prove this one. If there is a book or makeup or stereo on at the scene of an accident you cant prove they were distracted doing that, only that it was in the car.

 

no joke. now instead of holding the phone up where they can see the road, they'll keep it down low so they dont get caught, so now their eyes are off the road more.

 

Agreed, I used to do it on top of my steering wheels when I would. I could see just about everything through my peripheral vision. Now it has to be below the windows.

 

Thissss

And to make it worse then a DUI is idiotic IMO.

I am guilty of it as well. And to be honest I feel like I am in complete control when I do it. I can text while not looking at the phone.

 

Same here, did anyone see Top Gears old episode about distracted driving? Jeremy sowed a button on his shirt while driving a road course, and James May runs the same course zipped up in a sleeping bag to his neck.

 

I hold out for stoplights, when the light turns green I put it back in the cup holder and finish when I next get the chance. These 6 speeds don't allow for multitasking.

 

***** haha, just kidding, but I used to text, eat and do everything I did in all my autos in my 6speed gto. Texting was usually after Im up in 6th though, I drove mostly highway.

 

Texting while driving is just being stuck on stupid. But is more legislation the answer? We already have a police/nanny state imo.
They can police us all they want but will it stop? Nope. All it ends up doing is taking more freedom away from responsible citizens. IMO they shouldnt make everyone suffer by allowing police to x ray vision into your personal freedom BUT I do not have a problem with making penalties MUCH steeper when you screw up.
The banning of specific things is just retarted to me. When will they pass a law saying "women will not be allowed to focus their rear view mirror on themselves while doing their makeup driving in the passing lane doing 45mph"...?

 

This is the way I see it. Yes it's a very idiotic thing to do, but because its such a simple and innocent activity I think we are blurring the importance of the impact it really has. I am a big advocate for freedom and individual rights and small gov't/law etc... but here is the thing.

Laws like seatbelt requirements I am against. Its a good idea to wear a seatbelt and I always do, but to be forced to wear it if you choose not, I am against!

Laws like banning texting while driving... how many people do you know that have died from the "other" person not wearing their seatbelt? People die from this activity, and not just the person doing it, but other people all the time. That is the problem. By participating in this activity you are willingly putting everybody elses life at risk on the road. What is so important you cannot check your message/email later that you are willing to take that risk?

I've been in an accident when this has occurred, I know people that have died because of this or become permanently disabled (from both sides of the table).

It's unnecessary and you are putting others in harms way, knowingly. It's not that by doing it you are a bad person or a criminal its about being responsible. Driving a car is not a right, its a privelage. And nobody has the right to decide how much somebody else's life is worth. Laws are meant to protect people and this one does.

It's been proven time and time again that this activity in particular is one of the most distracting activities you can do behind the wheel.


It's simply unnecessary that we should even deal with this. It's common sense in its simplest form. You are engaging in an activity that is proven to remove control from the driver. If it was only the driver that pays the price I really wouldn't care, but its not.

Should the penalty be more, maybe not, but the same, yeah I think so. Generally I think we should have less fluff laws but the penalty for all laws broken should be steeper for all adult offenders, then we would have less crime (but thats a different story).

In relation (not that it holds bearing on punishment) but texting while driving in various tests has proven more dangerouns than while driving intoxicated (over legal limit) by a large margin. The point is its dangerous to everbody. And let's be honest, how many stories have you heard about somebody getting in an accident on their 4,5,6th DUI? Apparently the punishment wasn't strict enough early on.

There are other dumb things you can do in a car, but this can and should be easily controlled. You might as well be driving blind, things always happen faster than you want them to when you do anything behind the wheel thats not driving in itself.

It saves lives guys, thats all. Just be smart, pull off the road or something if its that important.

Mark my words, the technology is there to auto disable this feature when you get behind the wheel. When it gets bad enough they will implement it. Is that really what you want? To be forced to comply? It's that stuff I'm against, when you are told what's best for you and the choice is taken away!

But I guess if nobody takes it seriously then we have no choice but to be treated like little kids. Less law and harsher punishment sounds better to me.
Some might say, "but only at stop signs, or just a quick glance, or I still am watching with my peripheral vision".... yeah you know what, its a lot easier and fairer to just say don't do it. This law holds weight and its got more positives than negatives for it.

 

First off Id like to throw out on the tech is there to disable texting when youre behind the wheel. Hell to even disable the whole phone? Love to hear that bit of sci-fi.

Second, its no more dangerous then any of the following.
-police using laptops
-disciplining children
-eating
-messing with your overly complicated 2000 dollar stereo
-putting on makeup
-reading
-even talking to people in the car
-doing anything with your gps
-using maps(this one is outdated, but used to happen all the time)
-I can go all day, you cant just vilify one activity. If you want to attack all distracted driving then fine go for it. At least I can see and follow your logic, but if youre one of the people sayin, "I dont text while driving thats idiotic!" and you do any of the above then you are a hypocrit and no one is going to listen to you.

Your logic is extremely flawed. You are saying anything that puts others lives at risk while being behind the wheel of a car should have strong legal consequences. You are putting other people at risk doing anything in your car except for hands 10-2, actively scanning surroundings and mirrors for threats, and looking at the road.

Furthermore, I can garuntee every person who has ever or is currently driving a car is guilty of not paying attention, zoning out, or engaging in other distracting activities. And in no way operates a vehicle the way government has outlined that we should. I am also ignoring proper maintenance of vehicles, thats just as dangerous to those around you as not paying attention.