Constantly On Your Cell Phone In Public?

[flb_78]

I don't talk on my phone and drive unless Im in the middle of nowhere on the interstate with the cruise set and no traffic around me. I'll ignore my phone if it rings while Im driving or if I have a passenger, I pass it to them and ask them to answer it for me. If I am expecting an important call or if I plan on needing my phone, I'll take my bluetooth.

I do believe that the physical act of holding a headset while driving is a hazard. I believe that handsfree devices make driving a cell phoning safer.

I have my Ham Radio license and have a mobile 2m rig and it's not near as distracting to use as a cell phone.

[JJVP]

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

As a pilot, I have to control the aircraft, scan instruments, watch for traffic, read a map/GPS, write, talk on the radio, read written check lists, and I know I'm leaving something out.

I'm not a pilot but As a rule, airplanes don't have kids, dogs, bicycles, other planes, etc. pull out in front, or stopping in front, of them nor are they traveling three abreast, mere feet apart, in the same and opposing directions at the same elevation, do they?

Actually at some airports the answer is yes. I have flown into an uncontrolled airport, announced my approach, lined up to land after flying the proper pattern and announcing at every step my position, only to have another pilot try to land on the same runway in the opposite direction without having made a single announcement or flown the proper landing pattern. You just can't hit the brakes and pull over. Either you are paying attention while doing 100 other things at the same time (scanning, communicating, navigating, checking checklists, adjusting instruments and fly controls, etc. Talk about multitasking) or you are dead meat. Talking on the phone while driving does not take any skills.

Now have you driven for miles and you suddenly realized that you don't remember the last few miles. Try that flying an airplane and you will end up in a big hole in the ground.

Now having said all that, I do talk on the phone while driving. However, my car is equipped with bluetooth technology, so I can make and answer calls with a touch of a button on the steering wheel without having to touch my phone. And yes, I can talk and be a safe driver all the same same time.

[Oldgringo]

Having ridden more than a few miles in the co-pilot's seat of both single and multi-enginge aircraft back when I was somebody, I appreciate the training and skills of pilots and I certainly appreciate that no one, as yet, has crashed their airplane into my house or yard.

All that appreciation notwithstanding, I am yet to be convinced that using a hand held cell phone while driving a land vehicle in traffic; especially high speed city traffic, is either a necessary, safe or recommended procedure. However, if you abosolutely must use your cell phone while driving, please look out for me and mine. We will sue.

[E.Marquez]

I posted a reply that was bound to be seen as argumentative and designed to stir up trouble.. NOT MY Desire so I deleted it.

Suffice it to say..

Everyone gets an opinion.. very few times will all agree.

Nice courteous discussion..

[WildBill]

Suffice it to say.. Everyone gets an opinion.. very few times will all agree. Nice courteous discussion..

If everyone agreed, all of the time, this Forum would be very boring.

[seniorshooteress]

Suffice it to say.. Everyone gets an opinion.. very few times will all agree. Nice courteous discussion..

If everyone agreed, all of the time, this Forum would be very boring.

[gigag04]

You guys should see the inside of (the front seat not the back) a patrol car. Between police radio, good times radio, MDC, lights, looking for violations, not getting hit, reading call notes, running plates....we are quite distracted.

It's not ideal but you get used to it.

[flb_78]

You guys should see the inside of (the front seat not the back) a patrol car. Between police radio, good times radio, MDC, lights, looking for violations, not getting hit, reading call notes, running plates....we are quite distracted.

It's not ideal but you get used to it.

Yup, this happened in Austin. Officer drove right through a stop sign while fiddling with his laptop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L50ScXB8xSs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pbwalker]

You guys should see the inside of (the front seat not the back) a patrol car. Between police radio, good times radio, MDC, lights, looking for violations, not getting hit, reading call notes, running plates....we are quite distracted.

It's not ideal but you get used to it.

Yup, this happened in Austin. Officer drove right through a stop sign while fiddling with his laptop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L50ScXB8xSs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow...

[pbwalker]

According to police documents, Dunn said he was looking at the mobile data computer in his car at the time, and thought he was idling.

http://www.news8austin.com/content/2721 ... -computer/

Thought he was idling? Really? He made a u-turn and was moving towards the intersection. Idling? You'd think he'd come up with a better excuse...

[tacticool]

If he still has a job after running over a senior citizen, his excuse was good enough.

[pbwalker]

If he still has a job after running over a senior citizen, his excuse was good enough.

I wonder what would have happened if it were you or I who was behind the wheel, playing with a laptop...

[flb_78]

I forgot the follow up to it. They were trying to save his leg, but if the muscle didn't reattach, he'd lose it under the knee.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Motorcyc ... 90364.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bdickens]

What I don't understand about people with a phone glued to their ear constantly is: What can they possibly be talking that much about? Even with a broad vocabulary and an exceptional degree of verbal acuity, I can't find that much to say.

[Hoi Polloi]

What I don't understand about people with a phone glued to their ear constantly is: What can they possibly be talking that much about? Even with a broad vocabulary and an exceptional degree of verbal acuity, I can't find that much to say.

I know a person who constantly has a phone to the ear. She has a huge emotional insecurity around being alone so as soon as she's alone, the phone is dialing someone. Anyone. Then the unlucky person who picks up gets to hear about every conversation she's had that day in excruciating detail, every idiotic thought she had, why she chose the clothes and shoes she's wearing which are always inappropriate and requiring a defense from someone or another, a running commentary of whatever TV show she's watching or how traffic is moving, her drive-thru orders and side conversations, and other stupidity.

But if you try to hang up, she'll say, "Hey! I have a really fast quuuuuuestion." Sigh. What could it possibly be? "You know me? You know how I'm, like, deathly afraid of balloons?" Um, no, you've never said anything like that and I didn't notice it when you were playing with those balloons last week... "Well, anyway..." and then a mind-numbing recollection of a conversation she had with someone will be recounted along with all her commentary on how she's treated so unjustly. "Isn't that just horrrrrrible? I mean, who would do that? You know?" And you must weigh which is more important: agreeing and getting her off the phone or disagreeing because you don't want her sharing with others that you agreed with her. Most take the agreement approach. I've found that the disagreement approach moves me to the bottom of her fast-dial list and I don't have to hear it nearly as often.

Speak of the devil, guess what my caller ID says right now. Sigh.