Big Cars are killing Americans

[Citydude]

We had a tragic accident in our little town involving a friend of mine. He was sitting in the left lane making a turn and a local HS girl was putting on makeup in the visor mirror (they should be illegal, too). She slammed into the back of his pickup truck at highway speed. She was killed instantly.

Tragic.

 

[MossRoad]

I bet there is a way that they could install circuitry in the phones that makes them unusable after it detects that the phone is being used by a driver with the phone in hand.

Several features on car’s menus aren’t available when the car is in motion. It might be doable. But you also use a cell phone when sitting in a passenger seat or on a train, bus, or plane. How’s it going to differentiate between a driver or passenger?

 

[5030]

(Or 100,000, hauling wood up here.)

Or 163,000 pounds GVW here in Michigan.

 

[MossRoad]

Or 163,000 pounds GVW here in Michigan.

Yeah. I’ve never seen so many axles on a trailer as I’ve seen in Michigan. How do they turn a corner?

 

[Oaktree]

And jogging has to be the dumbest thing on the planet. Wasting energy accomplishing nothing while paying someone to mow your lawn or pick up your leaves or tend your garden.

I used to jog for many years, kept me in very good shape. I mowed my own lawn, raked my own leaves and tended my own garden. Those activities are not mutually exclusive. I can think of any number of activities, some of which are popular among TBNers that I'd consider equally dumb.
I will say, I didn't do my knees any favors though...

I bet there is a way that they could install circuitry in the phones that makes them unusable after it detects that the phone is being used by a driver with the phone in hand.

Several features on car’s menus aren’t available when the car is in motion. It might be doable. But you also use a cell phone when sitting in a passenger seat or on a train, bus, or plane. How’s it going to differentiate between a driver or passenger?

Not a big loss IMHO.

 

[tshep]

Couple of peeves...

Big cars and big drivers, who expect to be able to cut the corner in a parking lot. I'm lined up, in my half of the lane, waiting to exit, while a fat person who apparently cannot turn the wheel past their belly, expects me leave so they do not have to turn their wheel to make a 90 degree, 25 foot radius turn - they want to turn the wheel 15 degrees and make a 90 foot radius turn across all the lanes.

Parking an actual car in the land of SUVs means on exit, I have to pull out a bit blind. I come out 4 feet or so to gauge and listen, and get horn blasted like I closed of both lanes to all traffic.

When backing out, to get to my correct traffic lane as soon as possible, someone who pulls into my empty parking 'street' horn blasts me as though I have taken their right of way. If I'm using it BEFORE they turn in, it's already mine!

WHEW! Out for now!

 

[Tinhack]

My phone links to my radio when I start the truck. The vehicle has a remote microphone and plays the phone through the radio speakers. When the phone rings, I have choice to accept or decline the call by pushing a button on the dash. It's no different than carrying on a conversation between the passenger and driver. If you want to block conversation between a driver and passenger, take a plane.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's no different than carrying on a conversation between the passenger and driver.

It is different though... at least according to studies.

Drivers make more errors when talking on cell phone than to a passenger

Drivers make more mistakes when talking on a cell phone than when talking to passengers, new research shows.

medicalxpress.com

Granted, you can find a study to support any point which you want to make.

 

[ualjack]

i know many here will not agree with this article, but just to stir the pot.... inho increased size of the pickup over the years to the now monstrous has posed safety hazards for pedestrians. add all the small vehicles now on public roads (i hate scooters, etc) only increases risk.
we have a voracious appetite for power/size/creature comfort, which is ok in iteslf. but there are blind spots on these larger trucks, & the increased power & creature comfort sometimes makes us unaware of our surroundings...add our thirst for social media while driving & it makes a recipe for disaster

(this comment is not intended for those who depend on larger pickups for their trade, etc. just for the mall cruisers in crowded areas)
your thoughts? the link should work

Getting and electric car that is fueled by electricity fairies that is non polluting! Ha ha electric cars use more fossil fuel than your combustion engine does.

 

[lman]

It is different though... at least according to studies.

Drivers make more errors when talking on cell phone than to a passenger

Drivers make more mistakes when talking on a cell phone than when talking to passengers, new research shows.

medicalxpress.com

Granted, you can find a study to support any point which you want to make.

My dad used to say that he couldn't drive with the radio on as it distracted him. So as Dirty Harry said you've got to know your limitations. Everybody has different limitations.