Texting

[JasG]

Even though you see this in the news, this problem seem to continue to get worse. Why do people who can probably not even walk and chew gum at the same time think they can drive or operate machinery and text at the same time. Some sites claim that well over 20% of auto accidents have a cell phone as at least in part the cause of the accident.

80% Of College Students Text And Drive Even Though It's Worse Than Driving Drunk - seattlepi.com


Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk

This site has some great information.
Texting and Driving Statistics

Isn't the whole point of a text that it can wait? You don't need an answer right away.

 

[JasG]

Study: Texting while driving now leading cause of death for teen drivers

Texting while driving has become a greater hazard than drinking and driving among teenagers who openly acknowledge sending and reading text messages while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

The number of teens who are dying or being injured as a result of texting while driving has skyrocketed as mobile device technology has advanced. Researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park estimate more than 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide from texting and 300,000 injuries.

The habit now surpasses the number of teens who drink and drive -- a hazard that has been on a dramatic decline in recent years, researchers say.

 

[NorTracNY]

Generally there is a parent that is behind the purchase of a cell phone for a teenager as well as aiding them getting a car and license. There is a reason that you need to be 18 to do most things in this country. It's believed that a "responsible" adult would know the child enough to make the proper choice for them.

I had a neighbor that had a teenage daughter. She pulled up in the driveway one day when we were talking. She was on her cell phone. Months later the topic of teens and cell phones came up. He made a comment how his teen didn't talk on the cell phone while driving!!!!!

Also keep in mind that they believe "hands free" talking on cell phones really doesn't help much, but some states will explicitly outlaw talking unless it's "hand free."

 

[JasG]

Generally there is a parent that is behind the purchase of a cell phone for a teenager as well as aiding them getting a car and license. There is a reason that you need to be 18 to do most things in this country. It's believed that a "responsible" adult would know the child enough to make the proper choice for them.

I had a neighbor that had a teenage daughter. She pulled up in the driveway one day when we were talking. She was on her cell phone. Months later the topic of teens and cell phones came up. He made a comment how his teen didn't talk on the cell phone while driving!!!!!

Also keep in mind that they believe "hands free" talking on cell phones really doesn't help much, but some states will explicitly outlaw talking unless it's "hand free."

Even though my links are mostly for teens, I see people of almost all ages doing this.

 

[grsthegreat]

Personally i have disabled texting on all of our phones. its an incideous evil that has stupefied an entire civilization. But i digress.

Heres proof that texting doesn't affect anyone s concentration

Guy Walks Into Giant Bear While Texting - YouTube

 

[NS Gearhead]

its an incideous evil that has stupefied an entire civilization.

Yup, that and Facebook. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[Mace Canute]

Sometimes karma gets it just right!

Girl Falls In Mall Fountain While Texting - YouTube

 

[rd_macgregor]

...and wants to sue the mall because the security guards laughed at her (when she could have been hurt). No doubt it was against policy for the video clip(s) to be released to the internet, but nobody would have known who fell in the fountain if the lady hadn't come out with a plan to sue. Self abuse, I'd say.

 

[Brimfield]

And more and more cars come out with distracting screens and toys. Now cars have automatic braking, just watch people count on that and drive like bigger idiots.

 

[Don87]

I came up behind a farm tractor, while driving my tractor trailer on a two lane road a few weeks ago. I had to follow him for about a mile or so. He kept swerving from the ditch to over center of the roadway. Two cars coming the opposite direction had to swerve to avoid him.

As he was turning into his driveway........I saw him texting away on his phone.

 

[Dr Dave]

After work one night at 11:30, I was at a red light, the guy next to me was texting. When the light turned green he sat there and kept texting. The car behind him honked, he ignored the car and kept texting. Then the car behind him, turned on his red lights and siren. He then went through a red light and was pulled over, I laughed so hard, I just had to pull over and watch, him get a ticket.

Dave

 

[3930dave]

This problem goes way beyond active use of a phone.

I've noticed many people walking off sidewalks in front of a car, or doing the same in a parking lot. Some are young, wearing hoodies, but also many older folk too. 60+ years and older, most still seem to retain the basics from Grade 1 in school - Look Both Ways.

Most of this problem comes from refusing to make eye contact. Won't get into what that says about our "evolving" society now, but I believe it does tie into all the modern "communication" technology that most use - it definitely has changed behaviour, even when the phone is off.

The people I'm talking about are not using a phone at all. Of the hundreds+ I've seen, perhaps one or 3 individuals were using a bluetooth device I didn't notice, and were listening to a call w/o speaking. But I doubt it.

Walking in front of a fast moving multi-ton object w/o looking - strikes me as lemming like behaviour.

Rgds, D.

 

[oosik]

I never have wondered about folks who were texting, talking etc while driving. What I always wonder is how so many people who can't walk & chew gum could get a drivers license. And then they drive and text - its no wonder. I know they can put devices in cars that will deactivate cell phones while the car is in motion. It must be that the cell phone companies & auto manufacturers do not give a SH-T about human life. I'm 71 so when I was young we did not have any of these modern electronic devices - - lord, its really strange that we made it to adulthood without these devices.
How many will die needlessly before we wise up and see the light.

 

[Midniteoyl]

My Nokia Windows phones have an option to go silent and disable texting when the GPS detects the phone is moving in a vehicle, or once its connected to a cars Bluetooth... Believe ALL phones should have this enabled by default.

I believe 'textblock' does the same for Android..

 

[dave1949]

We've had a rash of head-on collisions where the driver has drifted across the center line. People of all ages, mostly women, although that may be coincidental.

It's getting scary out there.

 

[big bubba]

i have a theory that over the years there is a correlation between driving behavior (road rage, running a just turned red light, and general impatience/inconsideration to others) and "advancing" communication technology. as the microprocessor continues to speed up, so does the public's general impatience on the road. we want it now whether communication or where we're going. the vehicle continues to become more & more insular to one's environment...everything is about the driver. no wonder we see more reckless, impatient, and rude behavior on the road. i don't envy teens (or anyone) learning to drive these days.

 

[foreman Etexas]

The company I work for has a No text/talk on phone while driving or is immediate Fire if caught No warnings done deal. Just the other day,didnt find out til the second day that my best friend was in ICU cause neither me or wife facebook,the friend in ICU finally told someone to text me cause I didnt.

 

[Dr Dave]

We've had a rash of head-on collisions where the driver has drifted across the center line. People of all ages, mostly women, although that may be coincidental.

It's getting scary out there.

Around here all the newly resurfaced roads have rumble bars cut in the center of the road, must be for the texters?

Its a good idea , they have had them on the shoulders for years.

Dave