Texting while driving

[jmra]

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.

[MadMonkey]

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....

[Abraham]

Rationalizing and declaring hypocrisy, great...

[sunny beach]

Some firmly believe they drive better when drunk too or can safely read a book while driving or...and they're all WRONG!

Driving should be just that and nothing else.

It should be illegal to have radios in cars!

[MadMonkey]

Some firmly believe they drive better when drunk too or can safely read a book while driving or...and they're all WRONG!

Driving should be just that and nothing else.

It should be illegal to have radios in cars!

BAN EVERYTHING!

It's hard for people to grasp that texting doesn't have to mean staring at your phone until you hit the rumble strips, look up, adjust your position and look down again, pinballing down the road and hoping you don't hit anything.

[JALLEN]

People were idiots while driving before cell phones and texting, as anyone who has followed a woman putting on makeup using the rear view mirror while driving can attest.

I used to drive from San Diego to Orange County often, and on one occasion on the 405, I was passed by a man in a Lincoln who had the newspaper spread over his steering wheel, a phone in one ear, electric shaver in his hand, all while zipping along in bumper to bumper traffic at more than 60 mph, a miracle in itself.

[Oldgringo]

People were idiots while driving before cell phones and texting, as anyone who has followed a woman putting on makeup using the rear view mirror while driving can attest.

I used to drive from San Diego to Orange County often, and on one occasion on the 405, I was passed by a man in a Lincoln who had the newspaper spread over his steering wheel, a phone in one ear, electric shaver in his hand, all while zipping along in bumper to bumper traffic at more than 60 mph, a miracle in itself.

Right you are, JAllEN. There have always been idiots...of all ages. I recall being passed on I-75 going into Tampa some 17, or so, years ago by a woman looking in her rearview putting on eye stuff with a cigarette in her steering wheel hand. I was probably doing about 70 mph.

[tbrown]

Children can be very distracting. Maybe we shouldn't allow them in cars. You know, "for the children."

[mojo84]

I've been guilty of texting and driving even though I know it is wrong and dangerous. I think it is absurd to try to justify it as not being a dangerous distraction. It's akin to playing with a loaded gun and sweeping people while doing so. It doesn't do any harm until it does.

[jimlongley]

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....

I think your method is still dangerous, specifically because your are purposely removing your attention from driving for more that 1 second at a time, and your peripheral vision doesn't matter, it's not effective, and it's even likely that while you are holding your phone up there and you accidentally lose control of it, you will further concentrate on catching it and completely ignore the car in the process.

I have a better suggestion, would you just let me know when you are on the road in my area so I can be off it?

[MadMonkey]

I have a better suggestion, would you just let me know when you are on the road in my area so I can be off it?

I'm usually on the northwest side of DFW from afternoon to late evening, depending on how I'm feeling, but I usually stay in the Roanoke to Grapevine area of 114.

...of course, if you're that worried about ME, I'm surprised you don't just stay hidden in a dark closet shaking from fear considering how the rest of DFW drives

[jimlongley]

I have a better suggestion, would you just let me know when you are on the road in my area so I can be off it?

I'm usually on the northwest side of DFW from afternoon to late evening, depending on how I'm feeling, but I usually stay in the Roanoke to Grapevine area of 114.

...of course, if you're that worried about ME, I'm surprised you don't just stay hidden in a dark closet shaking from fear considering how the rest of DFW drives

I am worried about you. I merely asked because you are one of the people that I can count on to be doing something dangerous and I can avoid putting myself in your presence reducing my own risk.

The other drivers on the road I look at as risks, but I do not knowingly put myself in the path of danger, I get away from people texting at the wheel, reading at the wheel, even talking on cell phones, as quickly as I can, they are all dangerous beyond the norm, and that is a category you have self-identified with.

[Abraham]

Who else among us text while driving?

Let's hear from you and your reasons you think it not dangerous to yourself and others.

It'll be very interesting to hear your perspective.

[Songbird]

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....

MadMonkey, I pray your theory holds up for you, and that no family ever has to experience the loss of a loved one because of that theory.

[anygunanywhere]

My employer's company provided cell phone policy states that I can be terminated for just answering my phone while driving even hands free. I must pull off the road to a safe location to talk or text.

Pretty severe, but then we take safety seriously.

Obviously others do not.

Anygunanywhere