Texting while driving

[TexasCajun]

The key is to not be an idiot about it. I don't have a problem with people texting and driving, unless they're doing it at a time when they're putting other people at risk (I.E. in traffic, in neighborhoods, etc). It's possible to pay attention to both the road and a phone, but beyond most people's capacity.

Just curious, did you watch the video? The reason I ask is because your thinking sounds much the same as the individuals in the video prior to the point in time that their actions resulted in multiple deaths. The last thing I would ever want to see on this forum is a Driving while Texting post in the Never Again forum section.

I did not, and I don't need to. My texting habits on the road consist of about 99% looking at the road (while writing a text) and 1% glancing at the phone, even while writing a text. I use Swype, which means I can write a word (or multiple words) without having to look at the phone, or use voice to text (which is slightly less reliable and often requires corrections, which usually requires too much looking at the phone). A short glance down tells me if the wording is correct and what changes need to be made. If I do need to make a change, it can usually be made by hitting the word in question and hitting the autocorrected word from the list. All of this is done with one hand, with the other on the wheel. It's not done where there's a chance of missing someone ahead of me braking for an accident, and it's not done in traffic, and with the exception of stoplights, it's not done in neighborhoods or towns where there's even the slightest chance of someone running out in front of me. Look far ahead for possible dangers, obstructions, pedestrians, etc, glance down to check the word or words I've written to see if they need correcting, and have my eyes back on the road WELL before the end of the area that I've "cleared" (I usually spend a max of 1 second looking at the phone, and it's usually held up where I can see the road in my peripheral vision).

However, the majority of the time, the texts I receive aren't something I need to respond to, so I don't. If I receive some sort of pertinent information (such as a change to lunch plans or something along those lines) I'll respond. I won't have a conversation while driving, and I won't just shoot inane bull back and forth with someone. My texting takes about as much concentration or multitasking as doing a gauge scan or finding a radio station. I find using a Bluetooth headset to yak while driving MUCH more of a distraction than texting, because it requires constant concentration.

And that is what I mean by not being an idiot. If you think my method is still dangerous, I recommend that you remove your radio, nav system, CD player, gauges, food, drinks, passengers, makeup, animals, iPod, and make sure you never daydream, see an accident, and make sure to ban billboards and other roadside distractions

now to hear everyone talk about how I'm going to kill someone....

This doesn't look like the method of someone who infrequently texts while driving. But it does read with a certain amount of arrogance and self-deluded over-assessment of your own ability (which is consistent with your first post on this topic).

[jimlongley]

And you are absolutely DEAD WRONG on your last point. You are not just putting yourself at risk. Everyone that you share the road with is at risk whenever you engage in such behavior. Or does your superhuman texting-while-driving ability also include the power to magically insulate the car next to/in front of yours from impact?

Again, it's clear that you didn't read what I already posted. I don't text in traffic.

You stated you wrote a text "on the road." Were you stopped? If you were not stopped, what speed were you going? Were there any other vehicles near? Did you pass any pedestrians, driveways, or side streets? Unless you were stopped, you were a hazard to others while you were not paying attention to driving. No broad brush, just the simple truth.

[MadMonkey]

ETA: Not worth getting more snide and self-righteous comments. Only going to create more bad attitudes if we continue

[jimlongley]

ETA: Not worth getting more snide and self-righteous comments. Only going to create more bad attitudes if we continue [ Image ]

Nothing snide or self righteous in my comments, so your attempt to dodge answering becomes the weakest of ploys. When you text while driving, you are a danger to yourself and others. There is no safe way to remove your attention from driving.

[92f-fan]

doenst matter if its about the definition of intoxicated, or the interpretation of 30.06 sign or whether you can carry after having a beer, or text while driving. There is a core set of members here who live in a binary existence. Black and white. No gray and they are the final arbiter of the line. Both for themselves and for EVERYONE. Not everyone lives the same way. Im not suggesting that texting and driving is recommended just that not EVERY issue is black and white and there CAN be opinons and perspectives that differ from yours that CAN also be valid

[jimlongley]

But this is not about opinions, it is about the simple fact that if you are not paying attention to your driving, then you are not in control of your vehicle. This is not a lifestyle choice, or someone's opinion that they can do it better than anyone else in the world, it's about the driver's obligation to maintain control of the vehicle AT ALL TIMES! If you are not in control 100% of the time, or at least attempting to be, which texting is not, then you are failing that obligation. Texting while driving is a conscious act that removes the driver's attention from driving and concentrates it elsewhere.

[Cedar Park Dad]

People like madmonkey will do what they do, falsely believing that they are more skilled at their risky behavior than the rest of us mere mortals

*sigh*

I had a long post written out, but decided it's not worth it. I'm no different from you, I don't think I have Godlike driving skills (except on the autocross course ) or am anything special. However, many people have a tendency to put everyone else into broad groups without taking into account that those groups contain a vast range of behavior. For example, one person might hate people that drink, regardless of whether they have a special glass of eggnog once a year or drink heavily every day... or a person might hate gun owners, regardless of whether the person is a grandma who happens to have a .38 she never touches in a drawer somewhere or a person who shoots up street signs for fun.

Painting people with a broad brush is one of the big problems that we have today. I've had 3 or 4 driving trips since I last posted on here... guess how many texts I've written while on the road.

1.

That's a far cry from someone who is barely able to function because they have their nose buried in their phone for the entire trip. However, those same people who paint with a broad brush will be saying "NOPE, STUDIES SHOW TEXTING IS DANGEROUS YOU'RE GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF BUT WHEN" and so on, throwing out what-ifs the same way that lefties do to show why gun owners are dangerous. I've already stated my case on my methods. If I'm putting anyone at risk, it's me, and I wouldn't have it any other way, and I'd hope everyone else would do the same.

Whats awesome is how you spiralled in an answer but actually defend your position with support.
Agreed you are not a special snowflake.
Also agreed that others get mad when people drink and drive.
I have no problem putting BOTH drunks and texters under the jail.

[mojo84]

How would one respond if someone came on here and said, its no big deal, I only play Russian roulette occasionally? It only takes as long as it takes to pull the trigger and for the hammer to fall and it hasn't killed me yet. Therefore, its not all that dangerous.

Like I said, I'm not perfect in this area but I don't believe trying to justify it as not being dangerous is wise.

[anygunanywhere]

When people apply subjective reasoning to justify their behavior, this reasoning often applies to other behaviors. When someone subjectively justifies unsafe driving I can't help but think that they also subjectively justify unsafe weapons handling as well. Safety applies to many, if not all aspects of our lives. We often speak here of the four rules of firearms handling and many times discuss events where the end result, often tragic, is because someone broke one or more of the rules.

Insisting that there are gray areas is subjective reasoning. Lambasting others for only applying black and white, right or wrong to behavior shows that one really has no standards.

Anygunanywhere

[Charles L. Cotton]

The trouble is that you do it and get away with it, until you don't.

For some reason, doing something stupid and getting away with it is prima facie authority for doing it again. We see this quite often in flying airplanes in dubious weather.

If you keep doing it, eventually the stupid wins.

Absolutely correct! "I've been a scud runner before and lived, so I'm capable of doing it again." "I've driven while texting before without a problem, so I can do it again." As JALLEN said, you can --- until you buy the farm or kill someone on the road.

All the hype about talking on the phone while driving is just that, hype. But texting is an altogether different physical activity that forces you to take your eyes off the road, often for several seconds. I need to play this video for the high school kids in our student ministry.

Chas.

[Tic Tac]

"I carried a .380 and I'm still alive."

[SewTexas]

The trouble is that you do it and get away with it, until you don't.

For some reason, doing something stupid and getting away with it is prima facie authority for doing it again. We see this quite often in flying airplanes in dubious weather.

If you keep doing it, eventually the stupid wins.

Absolutely correct! "I've been a scud runner before and lived, so I'm capable of doing it again." "I've driven while texting before without a problem, so I can do it again." As JALLEN said, you can --- until you buy the farm or kill someone on the road.

All the hype about talking on the phone while driving is just that, hype. But texting is an altogether different physical activity that forces you to take your eyes off the road, often for several seconds. I need to play this video for the high school kids in our student ministry.

Chas.

have you ever had a teen tell you what a great driver they are..."I've never gotten into an accident!"
"yeh kid, and you've been driving what, a year? maybe two? and hopefully mom limits your driving time and range still. Just wait."

I don't care if you SWYPE, I swype, I can keep up with my teens, but it still takes attention....no texting....of any sort.

[ghostrider]

All the hype about talking on the phone while driving is just that, hype. But texting is an altogether different physical activity that forces you to take your eyes off the road, often for several seconds.

I agree.
As a motorcycle rider I am appalled and annoyed at the sight of someone texting while driving, or putting on makeup or shaving or reading a newspaper that covers half the windshield or driving (up north) without clearing snow off the windows....

and then there are the people who switch lanes without looking or signalling (unfortunately, that includes some bikers as well)

then there was the time I saw a guy on a motorcycle.. talking on his cell phone :-0

[MasterOfNone]

For the LEOs: Do your departments prohibit operating the laptop while driving?

[carlson1]

For the LEOs: Do your departments prohibit operating the laptop while driving?

Tyler PD. Doesn't. It is nerve racking to ride with my son on the computer and phone while driving. I guess that is the reason I have not enjoyed the ride along.

I know there is a PD here in the DFW area that their computers shut down at a certain speed which I personally think is a great ideal.