Thread: Cell phones and driving

Way

This all reminds me of a scene in a book I am reading -- one of Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms books (for those in the know).

For those who don't know, Serge Storms is a "lovable psychopath" (sort of) who has a very active imagination.

Serge decided to wear a fake blue tooth on his ear so people around him don't freak out as he goes around town talking to himself.

When you are driving that is all you should be doing. It requires 100% attention. You shouldn't be telephoning, eating, drinking or anything else that prevents you fully concentrating on the road. If you need to use the telephone, park the vehicle.

the fact you're driving in a car and you can do some serious harm is just scary, everything happens so quick
dont cellphone and drive for your own safety but also for others, you don't wanna risk hurting yourself or someone else really bad knowing you have to live with it the rest of you're life, that is if you're lucky enough to even still have a life

Originally Posted by welshwizard

When you are driving that is all you should be doing. It requires 100% attention. You shouldn't be telephoning, eating, drinking or anything else that prevents you fully concentrating on the road. If you need to use the telephone, park the vehicle.

I was riding a motorcycle to work one day (when I had both a job and a motorcycle) when traffic slowed to a crawl. I slowly rode along between the two lanes when I passed a guy who was using one hand to hold a girly magazine to his steering wheel. Guess what he was holding in his other hand. Hint: it wasn't his cell phone. I've heard folks say the were "pulling off the road" but never pulling off on the road.

The province of Ontario has recently banned cell phone use here, as well as eating and any portable device including GPS and MP3 player use while driving. You can still use handsfree phones however.

Originally Posted by livingontheedge

The province of Ontario has recently banned cell phone use here, as well as eating and any portable device including GPS and MP3 player use while driving. You can still use handsfree phones however.

Well banning GPS use is a big mistake. A GPS actually allows you to pay *more* attention to your driving. I have taken a number of trips using a GPS and it makes things *much* more relaxing.

Banning a GPS is a bit like banning the instrument panel on your car so you won't be distracted by looking at the odometer or gas gauge or speedometer or clock etc...

That is nanyism gone wild. (Maybe we could make a video!)

[QUOTE=TexasBob;502659]Well banning GPS use is a big mistake. A GPS actually allows you to pay *more* attention to your driving. I have taken a number of trips using a GPS and it makes things *much* more relaxing.

I am sorry, I ment playing with a GPS while driving, if you want to enter a location you have to pull over, not attempt it while driving.

I'm sure if you were to think of all the people you know, you'd be able to name some who are very good at multitasking and some who are terrible at it. Accordingly, I think there are probably many people who can safely use a cell phone while driving and many people who cannot. Maybe it should be something people are tested for when getting their liscence, with different liscenses depending. Then, if someone looked unsafe while using a phone, police could pull them over, instead of just pulling people over for using them. If you are unsafe while on the phone, you get a ticket or whatever, and if you are pulled over without the proper liscense, the penatly is much more severe. Knowing that you must be driving safely while using a phone may be an incentive to pay more attention to the road than the phone.

I have driven while using a phone, before it was illegal, and I didn't find it overly distracting. That said, I don't know if I would pass a safe driving test while using a phone. I do, however, think the whole phones while driving example is a case of a few ruining it for everyone.

how many times have you and your family been in a nice restaurant having a nice meal and there is some idiot on the phone? many of those people forget or don't care where they are. the words are obscene and most are very loud in their conversation. i always try to be nice, but my favorite thing to tell them is "this is not a phone booth and we are not interested in your conversation, we are trying to enjoy a nice meal in quiet"
one time i took the phone away from the caller and politely dunked it into her drink because of her cursing...i got thrown out of the place, but it was fun. i bet she will think again about calling while in a nice restaurant...

Originally Posted by 59caddy

how many times have you and your family been in a nice restaurant having a nice meal and there is some idiot on the phone?

On the radio the other night. Suggestion for a new I phone app - drives a metal spike into your ear if you talk too loudly on the train or in a restaurant.