Driving and Cell Phones/PDA's

[Charles L. Cotton]

The innocent driver or passenger who is injured or killed by a distracted texting driver might differ with those who say there should be no legislation on cell phones in cars. And I've heard of DWI offenders who claim they aren't really that affected by alcohol.

You paint with far too broad a brush. First you refer to "a distracted texting driver" then generally call for "legislation on cell phones in cars." What do you support; a law against texting and driving, or a law prohibiting any use of "cell phones in cars?"

Chas.

[dicion]

The innocent driver or passenger who is injured or killed by a distracted texting driver might differ with those who say there should be no legislation on cell phones in cars. And I've heard of DWI offenders who claim they aren't really that affected by alcohol.

You paint with far too broad a brush. First you refer to "a distracted texting driver" then generally call for "legislation on cell phones in cars." What do you support; a law against texting and driving, or a law prohibiting any use of "cell phones in cars?"

Chas.

Exactly. Why stop at texting? Let's make ALL of the following illegal, as they all can be 'distracting' to the driver.

- Eating and Drinking
- Applying Cosmetics
- Listening to Music or Talk shows
- Talking to other passengers
- Billboards and other signs designed to get the driver's attention for advertising
- Smoking in cars

Where does it end?

[OldCurlyWolf]

I do not take the operation of a motor vehicle lightly. It is a very large object, moving with great inertia, requiring attention, preparation, and forethought, not something to be done absent mindedly while chatting/texting.

Not that it really matters but inertia means the mass is at rest. What you really meant is MOMENTUM. Or possibly Kinetic Energy. E=M * V^2

[Douva]

Have you ever noticed that studies on the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone always compare the reaction time of someone driving while speaking on a cell phone to the reaction time of somebody driving alone? Why don’t they do a study to determine if driving while talking on a cell phone is more dangerous than driving while talking to a passenger?

As for texting and driving, I think it's clearly dangerous--anything that requires you to take your eyes off the road and at least one hand off the wheel is dangerous--but the real question is where do we draw the line? Lots of things are dangerous. Adjusting the radio while driving can be dangerous. Eating while driving can be dangerous. Trying to sooth a crying baby while driving can be dangerous. At what point do we decide we have enough laws? When it's impossible to legally do anything dangerous?

Personally, I don't have a problem with Austin's current law. It allows you to check and send text messages while stopped at a stoplight, which seems to work pretty well in town. I'm not sure how I'd feel about a state-wide ban.

[lonewolf]

I do not take the operation of a motor vehicle lightly. It is a very large object, moving with great inertia, requiring attention, preparation, and forethought, not something to be done absent mindedly while chatting/texting.

Not that it really matters but inertia means the mass is at rest. What you really meant is MOMENTUM. Or possibly Kinetic Energy. E=M * V^2

I stand corrected. I have slept since Physics.....

Or was that during physics......

[terryg]

I do not take the operation of a motor vehicle lightly. It is a very large object, moving with great inertia, requiring attention, preparation, and forethought, not something to be done absent mindedly while chatting/texting.

Not that it really matters but inertia means the mass is at rest. What you really meant is MOMENTUM. Or possibly Kinetic Energy. E=M * V^2

No, sorry. Inertia applies to objects both at rest and moving at a constant speed. Inertia is the resistance to change in velocity. That velocity may be 0 (which would mean it is at rest) or not 0 (which would mean it is in motion).

From wikipedia:

Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest.

[atticus]

A couple of years ago a young man texting while driving drove into the oncoming lane, and the resulting head-on collision resulted in the death of the other driver. That young texter was prosecuted under Utah's criminal statute. References to prohibition are not particularly apt: you can avoid a lot of criminal activity, but it's very difficult to avoid driving. Texting while driving is dangerous. DWI statutes are not perfect by any means. But those people killed or injured by drunk drivers deserve something more than a pat on the head. And the drunk driver deserves something more than a slap on the wrist. Texting while driving is a dangerous choice, and should be criminalized. Details, details - the devil is indeed in the details.

[atticus]

P. S. I'm happy to limit my comments to texting. I had the impression that texting in cars is done by cell phone, but if there's some other method, my comments would go to any texting apparatus. Sorry to be using that damn broad brush again.

[chasfm11]

This may not be a discussion point much longer

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-0 ... -cars.html

[Purplehood]

Perhaps the answer lies in further research into advanced driving technologies.

- A device that advises a driver when they are weaving in a lane
- A device that advises a driver when they are constantly tail-gating

These devices would simply gain the attention of a driver that is demonstrating unsafe driving habits and perhaps "wake them up" to the need for closer attention to their driving habits.
If a driver is ill, drunk or enraged all bets are off.

I watched a woman on my commute north on the West loop of I-610 north and along Hwy 290 going NW last night. She weaved all over the road, constantly hit the brakes with nothing in front of her (I was in another lane as I could not drive safely behind her) and generally gave the appearance that she was drunk, on the phone or messing with other drivers. Yet each time I was close enough to get a good visual on her she seemed to be driving without talking, gesturing or demonstrating any behavior that might distract her from driving.
Her driving just simply appeared to be horribly erratic.
For all I know, the woman might drive better with a cell-phone by her ear.

[idrathernot]

If folks really want safer driver and can't wait for better tech, one might look at why the German autobahn system is so successful. Sure there are parts that are overly congested now, but if you look at Rechtsfahren, it would really go a long way towards making us safer and improving traffic flow. The Rechtsfahren basically says: “Stay to the right, pass on the left, and if someone is faster than you, get out of their way”. That’s it. If you can't comply, you are ticketed. How many times have ya'll seen the "Left Lane for Passing Only" sign enforced? Of course we couldn't do with a 65 or 70 mph speed limit for the passing lane or everybody would be in danger of double jeopardy. If we establish that lane disciple is important, people will be more content to get out of the way when they're talking/eating/threatening children.

Personally, I consider myself a good driver. I have not had nor been involved in an accident and can count the number of citations I've received on 3 fingers. Sometimes I like to drive and I put 100% attention on lane disciple, the flow of traffic ahead, and spotting any county mounties over the next hillside. Most of the time, I'm just driving to get where I'm going. I've driven countless hours in dead silence, no radio, no passengers, no cell phone, no cruise control even, it truly is just me and the road. Generally in this environment, my mind wanders. I suppose you could say that I'm daydreaming, but at the faintest hint of a brake light or a crown vic and I'm more alert than a Deer. On the flip side of this coin, I'm a prolific techie. I have a sizable media collection that is 100% digitized and available on-demand anywhere internet is provided. My phone is a wireless hot spot. I can, and do, steam TV or Movies to my phone while driving and the audio plays through the stereo system. My phone is mounted in such a way that it's almost in a HUD position. It's easier to go from phone to road than road to mirrors. When I do have content playing, I never feel like I'm just aimlessly driving. I can't say that it makes me sharper or benefits my driving, but I i'm not being entranced by that sweet melodic road noise either.

A pilot can travel at speeds greater than that of sound and manipulate dozens of complex systems whilst killing and trying not to be killed using the most sophisticated technology ever produced. Surely humans are not so base that they can't not travel at fractions of that speed, in a lane, and manipulate a hand-held device. There is no reason why anyone with a drivers license should not be capable of such an exercise while maintain a high degree of awareness. If I am reckless and injure another person, I deserve severe consequences

[Kythas]

Interestingly, this came out today. The US Dept. of Transportation is getting a study going to decide if the Federal government wants to ban all use of cell phones in a motor vehicle, whether hands free or not.

I'm sure they can find a commerce clause rationale for this.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-0 ... -cars.html

[terryg]

Interestingly, this came out today. The US Dept. of Transportation is getting a study going to decide if the Federal government wants to ban all use of cell phones in a motor vehicle, whether hands free or not.

I'm sure they can find a commerce clause rationale for this.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-0 ... -cars.html

Umm, chasfm11 beat you to it about 4 hours and 3 postings ago ...

[Kythas]

Umm, chasfm11 beat you to it about 4 hours and 3 postings ago ...

I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!

[chasfm11]

Umm, chasfm11 beat you to it about 4 hours and 3 postings ago ...

I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!

I've found that reading the Drudge Report the first thing in the morning is a lot better than the Dallas Morning Snooze. At least I get ALL the news, not just what the Liberal bias editors think I should be reading.