Study finds texting laws don't reduce crashes

[mizzou]

what we need instead of just cameras at intersections, we need sniper robots on the highways positioned with motion sensing cameras to snipe drivers in the head who don't keep their eyes on the road and dart their eyes down for at least 5-10 seconds

 

[1sikbITCH]

I text sometimes when I drive. Sue me.

Thanks to people like you continuing to cause accidents and deaths my job at a personal injury firm is a growth industry even in these hard times, and you can rest assured we will be suing your dumb ass soon enough

 

[caddlad]

I text sometimes when I drive. Sue me.

I will when you smash into me killing my little girl. No, really, DIAF.

I work on a college town and invariably get stuck behind some diaper wearing fuckwit too self-involved to actually DRIVE when operating a vehicle.

 

[OCNewbie]

For me, I don't feel that comfortable texting and driving; it's too cumbersome/distracting. Maybe it's partially because my phone only has T9 texting. I feel very comfortable driving while talking on a hands-free device. When I talk and drive, I still give the driving portion the main amount of focus. Sometimes I may have to tell the person I'm talking to to hold on when I realize my concentration needs to be more on the road (depending on traffic or weather conditions, etc.)

 

[SparkyJJO]

When are they going to come up with reliable voice to text messaging so if people wanted to text we could require them to use a cordless earpiece that converts the voice into a text message? Why isn't this technology available yet!!!

If you're going to talk for a text, why not just call the person? Would be more straightforward.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

If you're going to talk for a text, why not just call the person? Would be more straightforward.

a text sometimes is useful for someone you don't exactly want to bug with a convo.

I have some friends who can't STFU on the phone, and sometimes it's quicker for a text. If you use a phone call for someone you don't regularly keep in touch with then you can easily spend 10 min catching up where if you use a text, you can quickly setup a lunch date to catch up.

 

[ViRGE]

I will not text on a plane.
I will not text on a train.
I will not text here or there.
I will not text anywhere.

MotionMan

It's poetry in motion. That'll be a $200 fine for writing poetry while driving.

 

[dabuddha]

What's the fine? $50? $100?
Legislators don't have the balls to make it a real fine. It's not worth the police's trouble to waste time writing up tickets for $50 or $100 fines. Start nailing people with a significant fine & habits will change. After you know 2 or 3 people who got $500 fines, you'll think twice about the unlikelihood of getting a ticket yourself (assuming you're one of the assholes who texts while driving.)

I use the term "asshole" because it's probably the most accurate term for someone so self-absorbed that they're willing to put everyone else on the road at an increased level of danger.

I'm all for a $10,000 fine and loss of driving privileges. If someone is so god damned stupid to text while driving, they don't deserve their license.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

And this texting thing...can't see how that isn't more dangerous.

I can talk on a phone, but it's difficult for me because I pay more attention to what's going on around me. It's not an issue.

Not looking at the road while I'm driving? Well...

 

[ShawnD1]

That's because people are idiots and they still text while driving. I can't tell you how many fuckheads I see driving on a daily basis who are looking down at their laps...It is probably one out of every ten cars though.

They were getting blowjobs, fyi

 

[BeauJangles]

what we need instead of just cameras at intersections, we need sniper robots on the highways positioned with motion sensing cameras to snipe drivers in the head who don't keep their eyes on the road and dart their eyes down for at least 5-10 seconds

Or we just need to stop handing out licenses like they're candy.

With more stringent driving standards and fewer licenses there would be less traffic. With stringent standards, you wouldn't need "anti-texting" fines, you'd just revoke the person's license after the 2nd offense. With fewer drivers on the road, people would still need to get around which would boost demand / production / construction of alternative means on transportation.

Put a lifetime cap on the number of times you can try and get your license, make penalties for driving without a license harsh, and, IMO, you've solved a lot of problems.

 

[ShawnD1]

Or we just need to stop handing out licenses like they're candy.

With more stringent driving standards and fewer licenses there would be less traffic. With stringent standards, you wouldn't need "anti-texting" fines, you'd just revoke the person's license after the 2nd offense. With fewer drivers on the road, people would still need to get around which would boost demand / production / construction of alternative means on transportation.

Put a lifetime cap on the number of times you can try and get your license, make penalties for driving without a license harsh, and, IMO, you've solved a lot of problems.

This wouldn't solve anything. Where I live, driving drunk causes your insurance to go up to about $10,000 per year, but there is still a major problem with drinking and driving. There's no way to stop idiots other than to round them up and kill all of them. Even that might not work.

 

[zinfamous]

I text sometimes when I drive. Sue me.

nah, I'd rather take you behind the woodshed and cornhole you with a spiked ball mace.

 

[AstroManLuca]

This wouldn't solve anything. Where I live, driving drunk causes your insurance to go up to about $10,000 per year, but there is still a major problem with drinking and driving. There's no way to stop idiots other than to round them up and kill all of them. Even that might not work.

Yeah and unfortunately, taking someone's license away or jacking up their insurance rates still won't prevent them from driving without a license or insurance.

 

[spidey07]

If you're going to talk for a text, why not just call the person? Would be more straightforward.

Thank you! Somebody finally got my point. It's hilarious all the posters "well my phone can do that!" If you need to communicate with somebody then call them.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I really think texting should be classified as some kind of addiction. Some people seem to be literally unable to stop.

 

[MrDudeMan]

I would be in favor of a serious fine. I've done it once or twice and I always feel like an idiot immediately after. A $1,000 or more fine would put a permanent stop to the behavior for most people.

Site note: It would be amusing if fines like this scaled with your income level. Some people brush off small fines because they make a lot of money while others are more financially troubled and the fines actually cause issues for them. If you make $100k/yr and you get a $200 fine, that wouldn't hurt as bad as a $1000 fine. The current fines should be minimums. More revenue for the state! Everyone wins.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Thank you! Somebody finally got my point. It's hilarious all the posters "well my phone can do that!" If you need to communicate with somebody then call them.

Yeah, there's really no reason not to call or just wait until you can pull over if it's really urgent.

My wife can't take phone calls at work but she can use text messages. So if I want to get in touch with her while she's working I must use a text. But she can't always respond instantly so it doesn't hurt me at all to wait until it's safe to send her a message.

Oh and I'll point out another advantage to text messages - lower chance of brain tumors since you're not holding the phone up to your head!

 

[ShawnD1]

Site note: It would be amusing if fines like this scaled with your income level. Some people brush off small fines because they make a lot of money while others are more financially troubled and the fines actually issues for them. If you make $100k/yr and you get a $200 fine, that wouldn't hurt as bad as a $1000 fine. The current fines should be minimums. More revenue for the state! Everyone wins.

We discussed this before in P&N. The overall consensus was that rich people should be above the law, and that's why scaling it with your income is immoral.

P&N :'(

 

[Cogman]

Probably the stupidest thing the government can do is make unenforceable laws. Next time, build cellphone jamming into the cars and have it turn on when the engine is on.

 

[eits]

the only way crashes will go down is if people become a little more compassionate about the lives of others rather than their own worthless lives.

speech-to-text ftw, by the way

 

[JS80]

lolgovernment

 

[blurredvision]

Thanks to people like you continuing to cause accidents and deaths my job at a personal injury firm is a growth industry even in these hard times, and you can rest assured we will be suing your dumb ass soon enough

People like me? I've never crashed a car in my life, not sure how I fit in with those people.

I will when you smash into me killing my little girl. No, really, DIAF.

You take risks when you drive at high speeds next to other cars. Your little girl is at risk whether I personally text or not, someone could sneeze violently and plow into you just the same as if they were texting. Regardless, I'm more concerned about my own life moreso than you or any of your family, so rest assured I'm not going to hurt myself or your daughter.

 

[Liberator21]

I'm all for a $10,000 fine and loss of driving privileges. If someone is so god damned stupid to text while driving, they don't deserve their license.

I think you're on to something. People, teenagers in particular, need to realize that driving is not some God-given right in this country. You have to show you are capable and rational.

Texting while driving? 1st offense: $700 fine, no BS'ing your way out of paying. 2nd offense or 1st offense with passengers in car: $1000 fine and license revoked for 3 months... right there on the spot. Car towed away and you feeling like a worthless PoS.

We'll start taking more seriously only when some senator's daughter gets killed while texting, even though it will probably be her that caused it. Then laws will probably change. Without enforcement, its just vapor in the wind.

 

[rh71]

Prevent phones from functioning other than bluetooth/voice commands/speakerphone while it is in motion. Yes, we all suffer.

Honestly though, I still see more people with phones up to their ears than looking down punching on some keys. Seriously people, SPEAKERPHONE.

so rest assured I'm not going to hurt myself or your daughter.

Do you think people who've crashed felt otherwise... that they were trying to hurt themself? "Rest assured" doesn't mean jack as far as accidents.