Texting while driving

[dzimbric]

Back when I was an active member of the Iron Butt motorcycle community whose initiation requires riding 1000 miles in 24 hours or less I regularly rode and operated my GPS at the same time, plus receiver phone calls via the electronics in the helmet. I got stung by bees on the neck or chin several times at highway speeds too, that requires a certain amount of concentration to pull over and remove your helmet,

Now I look back and wonder how I survived some of those things.

 

[Sysop]

I learned to drive fiddling with all sorts of levers, knobs, and buttons in my 70s era luxo-barge that was my first car and the communications device of the day was a CB radio... After a couple decades, I've pretty-well learned to do most anything I need to with a firm grip on the wheel and both eyes on the road. My current cell phone I can type with one finger and no-looking, and do so as quickly as many folk do using two thumbs and full attention. Also, speech to text is getting much better, but the noise cancelling at highway speeds still creates a lot of errors.

What I find sort of silly is the fact that texting while driving is illegal, but fiddling with your phone's GPS and a few other things is not...

 

[turnkey4099]

Heck my first car had little yellow plastic things that flipped out on either side of the car to indicate turns, (never worked properly)

I had one where you stuck your arm out the windo in various positions.

 

[turnkey4099]

I learned to drive fiddling with all sorts of levers, knobs, and buttons in my 70s era luxo-barge that was my first car and the communications device of the day was a CB radio... After a couple decades, I've pretty-well learned to do most anything I need to with a firm grip on the wheel and both eyes on the road. My current cell phone I can type with one finger and no-looking, and do so as quickly as many folk do using two thumbs and full attention. Also, speech to text is getting much better, but the noise cancelling at highway speeds still creates a lot of errors.

What I find sort of silly is the fact that texting while driving is illegal, but fiddling with your phone's GPS and a few other things is not...

Yep. That big video display screen is a distraction in itself let alone all the things that you can play with on it.

 

[joefromga]

What about the video display billboards that say don't text and drive?

 

[Garycw]

What about the video display billboards that say don't text and drive?

Motion billboards or billboards in general are a big distraction and eyesore on the landscape. One of the many things I liked about Hawaii was the absence of them. Even the McDonalds signs were about the size of s realtor for sale sign and low to the ground. Much nicer and distracting.

 

[Howling]

Out on highway today approaching construction area they had couple of portable message signs. Both included:

Phone Down
Head Up

 

[Deere Dude]

I backed into a Napa parking spot yesterday so I wouldn't have to carry m,y battery so far to get it checked out plus it was very hot out. Less time in the heat carrying a heavy battery.
I did my thing and when done I got into the hot truck and started it up. While cooling down I was rapping on the heat and cool control because the high speed fan didn't come on, and while doing that I felt a bump.

It seems I had it in reverse and eased my foot off the brake while concentrating on the fan control and the truck rolled over a concrete bumper which was 4' in back of me when I parked. The truck bumper was about a foot from an big plate glass window when I reigned it in. Dang that is scary.

 

[Creamer]

Heck my first car had little yellow plastic things that flipped out on either side of the car to indicate turns, (never worked properly)

OK I have to ask - how old are you? Or was this a go-kart?

 

[Creamer]

Or drivers on 2-lane busy highways that don't use cruise control. Constantly varying speed.

I would really irritate you as I haven't used Cruise control in 20 years minimum.

 

[polebarntips]

Somebody once told me texting while driving is 7x as dangerous as drinking and driving....

 

[mark02tj]

Coming home from running some errands around 11:15 this morning... I see an oncoming car that's slowly drifting over the center line. I quickly slow down as I'm watching her get closer. Luckily, she got back in her lane, but I noticed as she went by me.... her phone in her left hand. :thumbdown:

I might have to rig up an air horn to my Jeep. The puny sound from the factory horn won't wake up anyone!


As part of my part-time job, I work with cops. Texting while driving seems to be involved in most of the accidents around here, in our rural area. Kids on their way to school end up in a corn field after driving off the road. Of course, it's usually blamed on "a rabbit ran out in front of me" or more recently "there was a bee in the car." The cops generally know the real story. I asked them about looking at the phone and was told that they generally don't ask kids to show their phones because technically the kids can't give consent since the phone often belongs to the parent.

NOTE: I'm not trying to start a conversation on the legality of searching cell phones after an accident!!

 

[turnkey4099]

I would really irritate you as I haven't used Cruise control in 20 years minimum.

Once you get used to using one you'll never go back.

 

[RandyT]

Coming home from running some errands around 11:15 this morning... I see an oncoming car that's slowly drifting over the center line. I quickly slow down as I'm watching her get closer. Luckily, she got back in her lane, but I noticed as she went by me.... her phone in her left hand. :thumbdown:

I might have to rig up an air horn to my Jeep. The puny sound from the factory horn won't wake up anyone!


As part of my part-time job, I work with cops. Texting while driving seems to be involved in most of the accidents around here, in our rural area. Kids on their way to school end up in a corn field after driving off the road. Of course, it's usually blamed on "a rabbit ran out in front of me" or more recently "there was a bee in the car." The cops generally know the real story. I asked them about looking at the phone and was told that they generally don't ask kids to show their phones because technically the kids can't give consent since the phone often belongs to the parent.

NOTE: I'm not trying to start a conversation on the legality of searching cell phones after an accident!!

Avoiding a rabbit was the excuse given for a semi running off of a 2 lane highway and overturning yesterday a few miles from my house.

 

[ovrszd]

Once you get used to using one you'll never go back.

I have no problems with a driver not using CC. That is if they are actually driving their vehicle and maintaining a relatively constantly speed. Which would be hard to discern since you might not know whether they are using CC to maintain speed or actually paying attention. The non CC users that I hate are the ones that speed up after you pass them, then slow down when in the lead, repeat, repeat.

Brings back my Iraq days. Shadow me very many times and you'll find yourself in the weeds because I "bump" you off the road. But then, we can't do that here, because we are a kinder, gentler nation.

 

[Creamer]

Once you get used to using one you'll never go back.

Sorry. No Dice! I used to use it but got away from it because I would rather be in control of my vehicle. No Tesla for me.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I have no problems with a driver not using CC. That is if they are actually driving their vehicle and maintaining a relatively constantly speed. Which would be hard to discern since you might not know whether they are using CC to maintain speed or actually paying attention. The non CC users that I hate are the ones that speed up after you pass them, then slow down when in the lead, repeat, repeat.

Brings back my Iraq days.

Shadow me very many times and you'll find yourself in the weeds because I "bump" you off the road.

But then, we can't do that here, because we are a kinder, gentler nation.

I am curious as to how you could manage that considering the other car is behind you. I have seen police do that to another coming from behind, but never the other way around.

 

[TomSeller]

My wife and I were driving home from Sunday breakfast when she let's out a shrill "WATCH OUT !!". I brake like there is an avalanche coming across the road only to notice a squirrel running from one side to the other. Discussion followed about some things you just don't try to avoid. We'll see if that sticks.

 

[turnkey4099]

I have no problems with a driver not using CC. That is if they are actually driving their vehicle and maintaining a relatively constantly speed. Which would be hard to discern since you might not know whether they are using CC to maintain speed or actually paying attention. The non CC users that I hate are the ones that speed up after you pass them, then slow down when in the lead, repeat, repeat.

Brings back my Iraq days. Shadow me very many times and you'll find yourself in the weeds because I "bump" you off the road. But then, we can't do that here, because we are a kinder, gentler nation.

Or the non-cc users who slow down for every corner. Followed one for almost 60 miles lasst week, slowing down from 65 by 5mph on corners that my 90 yoa grannie coul have taken at 80.

 

[ovrszd]

I am curious as to how you could manage that considering the other car is behind you. I have seen police do that to another coming from behind, but never the other way around.

Shadowing as in driving beside us or getting between us in a convoy.