Cops really need to crack down more on cell phone users

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xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
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They should have 2 heartbeat sensors (like they have on exercise equipment) on the steering wheel, and if you're not triggering both of them it should automaticly shut off your engine and call the police. Taking one of your hands off the wheel at any point is degrading your ability to drive and putting others at risk.

You're telling me that you always drive with both hands on the wheel, at 10 and 2 or otherwise? I call shens. Also, issue here is not having your hands on the wheel, it's being distracted.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,706
28
91
I hear where you're coming from Jules, but I think we have enough fucking laws in this country. Government legislates goddamned near everything as it sits right now. You can't even do work in your house without big brother forcing permits up your ass. Give me a break. Soon we won't even be able to work on our own cars.

I say let them text all they want. When they hit you, sue their stupid ass and subpoena their cell phone records to prove they were texting and driving. A couple of law suits will cure a hell of a lot more than a $100 ticket.
 

Numenorean

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 2008
4,442
1
0
It IS a distraction. It does take you attention away from driving. I'm not saying it's the worst thing in the world, or that there are not other equally or even more distracting things that occur during the average drive, but for you to say it is absoluetly not a distraction is a lie, or you are now so great with self-awareness. People's brains, no matter what they think of themselves, are very very very bad at multitasking, as in it is nearly impossible to think of two thing simultaneously, so when you are doing something AND driving, you are changing your attention repeatedly from one to the other. There is some degree of risk involved in that which increases exponentially with speed AND traffic volume.

The point Jules is making is, why should he have to worry about that. I think that people should ALWAYS worry about the other guy on the road, but only to the extent that it changes their own driving habits. I think having police enforce laws over POTENTIAL DANGER is un-American. I think most traffic laws are un-American.

If anything, I would say that driving is a distraction to me when I am talking to someone on the phone. I have to ask people repeat things while I'm driving, because my focus is on driving, not on the phone call. So if most of my focus is required for driving, little is left for the phone call, and in those types of situations all I'm doing is driving and then I have to ask the person to repeat what they were saying because I simply don't pay attention to it. This is why a phone is not a distraction to me. My focus is on driving when I'm driving.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
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I hear where you're coming from Jules, but I think we have enough fucking laws in this country. Government legislates goddamned near everything as it sits right now. You can't even do work in your house without big brother forcing permits up your ass. Give me a break. Soon we won't even be able to work on our own cars.

I say let them text all they want. When they hit you, sue their stupid ass and subpoena their cell phone records to prove they were texting and driving. A couple of law suits will cure a hell of a lot more than a $100 ticket.

I agree with your sentiment, I really do, but you can't sue someone if you're dead. These asshats are putting my life and your life in danger every time they text and get distracted. I'm all for making this illegal.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
It IS a distraction. It does take you attention away from driving. I'm not saying it's the worst thing in the world, or that there are not other equally or even more distracting things that occur during the average drive, but for you to say it is absoluetly not a distraction is a lie, or you are now so great with self-awareness. People's brains, no matter what they think of themselves, are very very very bad at multitasking, as in it is nearly impossible to think of two thing simultaneously, so when you are doing something AND driving, you are changing your attention repeatedly from one to the other. There is some degree of risk involved in that which increases exponentially with speed AND traffic volume.

The point Jules is making is, why should he have to worry about that. I think that people should ALWAYS worry about the other guy on the road, but only to the extent that it changes their own driving habits. I think having police enforce laws over POTENTIAL DANGER is un-American. I think most traffic laws are un-American.

If I wasn't paying attention to what is going on around me I probably wouldn't notice it as much as I do. Still, there's only so much I can control when I'm driving or riding and that is what is happening with my vehicle and respond to what is going on in front of me and to the sides. I cannot control what is going on behind me though and that's where the danger lies.

A car travelling 60mph is covering 88 feet per second. If you are glancing down for 2 seconds at a time to type out a text you've just covered 176 feet completely oblivious to what is going on around you. Considering that most cars can stop in 120' you could literally plow into a stopped car at 60mph without ever knowing that the car had stopped until you hit it.

Traffic laws are absolutely necessary. As for them being un-American...I'm not even sure what that means if it means anything at all.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
I hear where you're coming from Jules, but I think we have enough fucking laws in this country. Government legislates goddamned near everything as it sits right now. You can't even do work in your house without big brother forcing permits up your ass. Give me a break. Soon we won't even be able to work on our own cars.

I say let them text all they want. When they hit you, sue their stupid ass and subpoena their cell phone records to prove they were texting and driving. A couple of law suits will cure a hell of a lot more than a $100 ticket.

I ride a motorcycle...if they hit me I'm dead.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
I ride a motorcycle...if they hit me I'm dead.

Well then motorcycle's should be illegal. They are clearly unsafe, their very design and nature is unsafe.

Cars go through rigorous crash testing where the rules are getting more stringent all the time. Yet a bike can never be more safe. Crumple zones are irrelevant when nothing separates your ugly face from the pavement.

See, where does it stop? I can create retarded laws too, except at least banning motorcycles makes a hell of a lot more sense and isn't some sort of technical invasion of your freedoms. GTF off the death-cycle if you are really worried about it. Drive a car like a normal person.

There will always be a risk, people are stupid and make mistakes. Hell, lets just keep going - radio's should be banned too, and air conditioning. Anything that could take the drivers eyes off the road should not be included in cars. Lets just see how far we can take it.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
You're telling me that you always drive with both hands on the wheel, at 10 and 2 or otherwise? I call shens. Also, issue here is not having your hands on the wheel, it's being distracted.

And, even if you think you're watching the road with your periferal vision, your brain simply cannot process both activities simultaneously. If something happens on the road, even something you're expecting to happen, you cannot react to it in the same amount of time. (See my earlier post where I proved it to 100% of my physics students.)
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
There must be some way we can make cell phones inoperative inside a car. Do people really need to be this connected? I sure as hell don't.

So now we see why you don't need to be connected, driving a death-cyle and texting would be pretty much impossible.

Cars can hold 7+ people, 6+ of which can be doing whatever the fuck they feel like doing. Text, browse the internet, update their facefuck page as you put it.

As I said, the smartest decision for you would be to get a car. At least if you get into an accident, for whatever reason - the bitch putting on her makeup, texting, simply not paying attention, whatever - your risk of dieing drops significantly.

Or don't, and take the number of idiots that think draconian laws work and are somehow a good idea down. I guess once California falls in the ocean that number will drop significantly any way. Hears hoping thats sooner rather than later.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
And, even if you think you're watching the road with your periferal vision, your brain simply cannot process both activities simultaneously. If something happens on the road, even something you're expecting to happen, you cannot react to it in the same amount of time. (See my earlier post where I proved it to 100% of my physics students.)

I agree with you, but where do the laws stop? Why are GPS's legal then, the simple act of reading whats playing on the radio on that little LCD accomplishes the same problem. Changing the temperature on the climate control. All of these things cause the same concerns.

Basically the only cars that could be legal right now once you start down this slope would be Fords with the Microsoft software where everything is voice activated - or cars like it. And those would have to be changed too because the LCD is still there
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
Well then motorcycle's should be illegal. They are clearly unsafe, their very design and nature is unsafe.

Cars go through rigorous crash testing where the rules are getting more stringent all the time. Yet a bike can never be more safe. Crumple zones are irrelevant when nothing separates your ugly face from the pavement.

See, where does it stop? I can create retarded laws too, except at least banning motorcycles makes a hell of a lot more sense and isn't some sort of technical invasion of your freedoms. GTF off the death-cycle if you are really worried about it. Drive a car like a normal person.

There will always be a risk, people are stupid and make mistakes. Hell, lets just keep going - radio's should be banned too, and air conditioning. Anything that could take the drivers eyes off the road should not be included in cars. Lets just see how far we can take it.

I'm fine with stopping at cell phones. Who's with me? :p

Seriously though, why does everyone always put up this slippery slope hypothetical as an argument? We can't legislate anything because to do so would mean we have to legislate EVERYTHING!!! Please...
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
So now we see why you don't need to be connected, driving a death-cyle and texting would be pretty much impossible.

Cars can hold 7+ people, 6+ of which can be doing whatever the fuck they feel like doing. Text, browse the internet, update their facefuck page as you put it.

As I said, the smartest decision for you would be to get a car. At least if you get into an accident, for whatever reason - the bitch putting on her makeup, texting, simply not paying attention, whatever - your risk of dieing drops significantly.

Or don't, and take the number of idiots that think draconian laws work and are somehow a good idea down. I guess once California falls in the ocean that number will drop significantly any way. Hears hoping thats sooner rather than later.

I have a car...and 90% of the time I'm driving it I'm the only person in it. I choose to ride because I enjoy it, it takes far less fuel to operate, and it helps reduce traffic congestion on the freeways and roadways.
 

jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
51
91
I agree with you, but where do the laws stop? Why are GPS's legal then, the simple act of reading whats playing on the radio on that little LCD accomplishes the same problem. Changing the temperature on the climate control. All of these things cause the same concerns.

Basically the only cars that could be legal right now once you start down this slope would be Fords with the Microsoft software where everything is voice activated - or cars like it. And those would have to be changed too because the LCD is still there

Yes, there are already traffic laws that cover distracted driving but texting and cell phone use while driving needs direct attention is because it's a huge growing problem. In the 20+ years of driving have I rarely ever had to perform a defensive maneuver because someone was eating or messing with their stereos. But just in the past year or so I can't even count the number of times I had to make a defensive maneuver to avoid being hit because the other driver on the phone or texting. I was in a car accident that could have killed me because the lady was yapping on her phone and ran a red light.

Until we come up with a clear cut answer to this problem all we have are laws. It's not going to completely solve it but I'm willing to bet that with better enforcement and harsher penalties we can further reduce this problem until a better solution comes along.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
I agree with you, but where do the laws stop? Why are GPS's legal then, the simple act of reading whats playing on the radio on that little LCD accomplishes the same problem. Changing the temperature on the climate control. All of these things cause the same concerns.

Basically the only cars that could be legal right now once you start down this slope would be Fords with the Microsoft software where everything is voice activated - or cars like it. And those would have to be changed too because the LCD is still there

Texting takes almost all of your attention away from the road. I don't know about you, but my GPS is set up in my line of sight so I don't really have to take my eyes off the road. Also, I'm sure many other people can do this, but when I change the radio/adjust the AC/whatever, I don't need to look because I know the placement of the controls.
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
I see people reading books and the morning newspaper on the way to work every day, see a lot of women putting on makeup in their fold down mirror, and have seen a few guys shaving before, albeit with an electric razor. Shaving with a blade while driving would be nuts. I think reading is way worse than talking on the phone.
 

punjabiplaya

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,495
1
71
Texting takes almost all of your attention away from the road. I don't know about you, but my GPS is set up in my line of sight so I don't really have to take my eyes off the road. Also, I'm sure many other people can do this, but when I change the radio/adjust the AC/whatever, I don't need to look because I know the placement of the controls.

hence the advent of steering wheel mounted controls. Car companies are trying to get your texts to be read to you so you don't have to look at your cell phone. Problem is, I routinely see people in their S-class or w/e talking on their cell phone. Bluetooth and stuff is everywhere, no one uses it.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
I think they would be better off spending their time getting you banned since you are an annoying douche
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
hence the advent of steering wheel mounted controls. Car companies are trying to get your texts to be read to you so you don't have to look at your cell phone. Problem is, I routinely see people in their S-class or w/e talking on their cell phone. Bluetooth and stuff is everywhere, no one uses it.

Strange, because I've found built-in Bluetooth in cars to be extremely convenient.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
I agree with you, but where do the laws stop? Why are GPS's legal then, the simple act of reading whats playing on the radio on that little LCD accomplishes the same problem. Changing the temperature on the climate control. All of these things cause the same concerns.

Basically the only cars that could be legal right now once you start down this slope would be Fords with the Microsoft software where everything is voice activated - or cars like it. And those would have to be changed too because the LCD is still there

Actually, no. Reading a quick text message does not have as large of an impact as composing a text message.
 

MacFatty

Member
Aug 31, 2010
72
0
0
So, to sum this experiment up: even when they KNEW I was going to drop the ruler (within 25 seconds, anyhow), and they were anticipating that the ruler was going to be dropped, they couldn't catch it while texting on a cell phone with the other hand.
I think it’s sad that none of your students had a better reaction time than that. Not saying that this is a good thing, but I know I am capable of driving 100+mph through traffic while texting, never coming close to having an accident. This could be due to the fact that since I was 15 years old I have had a very bad habit of driving way too fast and taking chances. I drive a lot (40k+ miles a year) never leaving the state of Ohio in all seasons. I’d say I have an above average amount of experience driving, but still, the reaction time isn’t directly related. I guess I could blame the hand-to-eye coordination on video games. BTW, I have next to no violent tendencies due to my large amount of FPS playing either.

educate the population on safe driving (already in place), and strictly punish drivers that don't abide. quit wasting legislative time and taxpayer money trying to enumerate each way people can be stupid - you will always be trying to play catchup.
Maybe we should just stop making it legal to drive in a school zone. Let's cordon off the schools and make it so only buses can get in. That will save the children!
School zones are stupid in some ways. There is one here which the light blinks for DURING RECESS. All the kids are BEHIND A FUCKING FENCE. And this is an elementary school. None of the kids are even allowed to leave campus during the school day unless someone comes to get them, etc. But during recess, the traffic on a main road is slowed to 20MPH for NO REASON.


I posted these together because they are related. Driver’s education does exist and is very comprehensive. The problem is that people don’t retain the information. As stated previously, I have a spotty driving record and as a result I took the normal driver’s education class and then it was a condition to getting my license reinstated that I take a defensive driving course, which is the same as the driver’s education course without the driving portion. According to the law in Ohio when I took the class seven years ago: A school zone is active when there is activity on the school grounds on the sides and/or front of the school when the school is within a certain distance from a road. Not just during normal school hours and while the lights are flashing. So the flashing lights may not be on but you may still be in an active school zone. Technically an officer could pull you over for driving over 20mph while there is a class standing outside the school after school was over. The school here has separate entrances and exits for busses and cars so as to avoid students getting run over.

Driver’s education is severely lacking as well as enforcement of minor violations that turn into big problems. Part of the reason I have stayed accident free is I never change lanes or make a turn without using my signals. I turn my lights on before the automatic lights come on because I don’t feel they are sensitive enough. I may be driving “recklessly” but at least I’m doing it right! I make sure my intentions are clear, I can be seen easily, my brakes are in perfect working condition and my tires are in good shape (and not the Wal-Mart specials either). I would be more than happy to see officers not sitting on the highway, talking on their phones, waiting for me to come along doing 20+ over the speed limit and out giving monetary tickets (non-point violations) for all the idiots driving in the rain/dark with no lights on changing lanes left and right with no signals.

Here is Cleveland there is a law against talking on your cell phone without using a hands-free device. The cop’s cars are equipped with jammers and they will cut your signal and pull you over. I am yet to see this in action or hear of any first hand accounts.

All in all, texting and driving is stupid, should be illegal and I am guilty of doing it, frequently. I would support a law for it and also for the use of cell phones without a hand-free device. Although I have gotten out of a ticket for being on my phone and blaming running the red light on my boss yelling at me. Thank you Officer of the Aurora Police Department.
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,828
37
91
I hear where you're coming from Jules, but I think we have enough fucking laws in this country. Government legislates goddamned near everything as it sits right now. You can't even do work in your house without big brother forcing permits up your ass. Give me a break. Soon we won't even be able to work on our own cars.

I say let them text all they want. When they hit you, sue their stupid ass and subpoena their cell phone records to prove they were texting and driving. A couple of law suits will cure a hell of a lot more than a $100 ticket.

its cause there are too many stupid people and those who try to take advantage.
you don't understand why permits exist? mainly its a safety thing, otherwise you'd have retards doing unsafe addons then sell the house to an unsuspecting family, this is why construction codes exist, to prevent hillbilly shacks...
This is designed to ensure that all construction in the city is safe. The permit keeps everyone (homeowner and contractor) on an honest playing field. There won't be any shortcuts by the contractor that might affect the owner's investment or safety. Upon inspection of the work by the code enforcement officer, any shortcuts or safety issues would be identified.You get free inspections of the work the contractor does.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,081
10,883
136
how about teaching drivers not to be assholes?

novel concept, i know.

driver education in the US is *terrible*
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,706
28
91
You can make laws and more laws but people are still going to do it. We have speed limits, readily enforced on our roads. Do people no longer speed? Yeah...right.

I think the one thing the American people have forgotten how to do is to protect themselves. Stop expecting someone else to come along and arrest Mr. Crappy Cell Phone Driver. You need to look out for your own ass. If you want to ride a motorcycle you should be fully cognizant that there are reetees driving around with you out there and you had better be extra alert and extra friggin' careful. Same thing goes when you're driving in your car.

They can write tickets till they're blue in the face and every budget deficit has been erased and people are still going to do stupid shit in their cars. Stop expecting someone else to protect you, drive defensively and live your life as safely as you can. You live in suburbia and that comes with suburban idiots. Don't like it? Move to Montana where you can ride your bike for miles without seeing another human.