Texting

[JESSE1]

I feel that at some point in the future that it will be mandatory that the texting function be disabled whenever the GPS senses movement. I'm not in favor of more laws but too many accidents are happening because of texting. I don't text, never have, don't really see the sense in it. If I want to communicate with someone I'd prefer to talk to them or leave a message. I get tired of seeing people playing with their phones, just can't put them down.

 

[JasG]

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

They have just started cutting these on some of the main roads around here. These are roads that do not have them on the shoulder, so I have wondered if that was the reason for this.

 

[3930dave]

I feel that at some point in the future that it will be mandatory that the texting function be disabled whenever the GPS senses movement. I'm not in favor of more laws but too many accidents are happening because of texting. I don't text, never have, don't really see the sense in it. If I want to communicate with someone I'd prefer to talk to them or leave a message. I get tired of seeing people playing with their phones, just can't put them down.

It seems that many people don't like live 2 way communication, esp. face to face. That says something, at least to me. Or, maybe it's just me they don't want to talk to. :laughing:

I've spent enough time at my friend's shop, doing him a favour answering his business phone, to say that at least half the customers either don't have the included voicemail activated on their cell, or it is constantly full. So I'm beginning to think a lot of people don't like voice communication period - seeing this across many age groups, not just kids/young adults.

As a society, our "communication" skills are definitely changing. Agreed, some of the behaviour, and the direction it's going, I could do without.

I do like being able to hang out here on TBN and chat with people with similar interests; I just don't do this activity while driving down the road.

Rgds, D.

 

[NorTracNY]

Texting won't be disabled when the phone is in motion. You're not thinking about all the possibilities. Why can a passenger not text?

 

[aczlan]

Texting won't be disabled when the phone is in motion. You're not thinking about all the possibilities. Why can a passenger not text?

I agree. There is no way to programatically disable texting on my phone when I am driving but not when I am a passenger (or when I am driving and my wife is texting from my phone).
It all goes back to personal responsibility and the loose nut behind the wheel.

Aaron Z

 

[Whitnel]

I see this everyday while on the interstate to and from work. It really jams up traffic when the person in the fast lane is texting and does not realize they are going 5 mph under the speed limit. That in turn causes the other cars to drive like crazy to try and get around that person.

 

[MoKelly]

[video]http://bit.1y/vo0ral[/video]

I hope this linked worked. It's the Tim McGraw music video "Highway Don't Care". This made 100's times more of an impression on my son than anything I could say.

MoKelly

 

[JESSE1]

Innocent people will have to suffer for the stupidity of others. That will happen when texting will be disabled when the GPS detects motion. If there's no way to distinguish from the driver then no one will be able to text when the vehicle is moving. Too many accidents are happening because of texting while driving.

 

[oosik]

Here in WA state they are considering legislation that would make texting while driving an act of criminal negligence. It would include all types of phone use while driving. Have no idea what sort of punishment criminal negligence would bring but I doubt its a walk in the park. IMHO those texting have not significantly degraded their abilities anyhow - the question is, how did they get a drivers license in the first place. Their driving does not improve even a modicum when they are not texting.

 

[MoKelly]

Its not just texting and its not just teens. I have seen people driving a car also engaged in ... newspaper reading, eating all kinds of food, drinking, smoking (brushing ashes off their lap), putting on make-up, brushing their teeth, shaving, tying a necktie and changing CD's in the radio. It is all distracting and we all know even a few seconds being distracted while driving can and does cause bad accidents. There but for the grace of God.

MoKelly

 

[aczlan]

Innocent people will have to suffer for the stupidity of others. That will happen when texting will be disabled when the GPS detects motion. If there's no way to distinguish from the driver then no one will be able to text when the vehicle is moving. Too many accidents are happening because of texting while driving.

How about passengers on buses, trains, boats and subways?
How long will it take for tech savvy people (or friends of tech savvy people) to get around it? (I would bet well under a month for the exploit and >1 hour per phone to install it)
What happens when I disable GPS to save on battery life?

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

Texting won't be disabled when the phone is in motion. You're not thinking about all the possibilities. Why can a passenger not text?

Why? No one can drink in a car in motion for the same reason..

 

[ericher69]

I feel that at some point in the future that it will be mandatory that the texting function be disabled whenever the GPS senses movement. I'm not in favor of more laws but too many accidents are happening because of texting. I don't text, never have, don't really see the sense in it. If I want to communicate with someone I'd prefer to talk to them or leave a message. I get tired of seeing people playing with their phones, just can't put them down.

Seems just like a guy I work with...too cheap to own a smart phone so gotta hate them!

 

[JESSE1]

Wrong! I don't hate them, in fact when I upgrade that's what I'll get. People just need to use what common sense they have on when to text, and texting while driving is asking for trouble.

 

[mikehaugen]

I don't see why they can't make a device that goes on the steering wheel that will disable texting/talking within say 3' if the vehicle is not on park. They have done much more technologically advanced things.