downwardspiral 0 #1 June 30, 2006 I tell you what... for those of you concerned for my health, constantly telling me that smoking will kill me, please shut up and drive. http://health.msn.com/healthnews/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100138628>1=8211www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #2 June 30, 2006 reminds me..... (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #3 June 30, 2006 Pardon my spelling erqors, shnce i am textimg thhs repky on the qoad. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
champu 1 #4 July 1, 2006 The problem does have a lot in common with drinking and driving, if you take two people (even at the same weight) and make each of them chug a few beers and then drive home, one might make it and the other might wrap their car around a light post or run over a group of school children. Likewise if you give two people a cell phone, one might get home fine and the other will run a red light and broadside a family of five. The problem is that people, in general, don't understand and/or fail to embrace their limitations (which are unique to an individual) and in doing so put others at risk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #5 July 1, 2006 Perhaps we should have special licenses for such things. If you prove that you can drive just fine after blowing a .3 on the breathalyzer, then you get a license to drive while drunk. If you prove that you can talk on a cell phone and go through a 4-way stop without forgetting whose turn it is to go, you get a license to drive while talking on the phone. (The 4-way stop is one of my big peeves. It's almost always someone on a cell phone who has no clue whose turn it is.) QuoteThe problem is that people, in general, don't understand and/or fail to embrace their limitations (which are unique to an individual) and in doing so put others at risk. Yep. And because of this, unfortunately, I think it should be illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #6 July 1, 2006 QuoteYep. And because of this, unfortunately, I think it should be illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving. Yep. Creating laws that inhibit everyone in order to correct the behavior of some seems to be the popular approach these days. The UK is having great success with that formula. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #7 July 1, 2006 QuoteQuoteYep. And because of this, unfortunately, I think it should be illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving. Yep. Creating laws that inhibit everyone in order to correct the behavior of some seems to be the popular approach these days. The UK is having great success with that formula. So you don't think there should be laws against drunk driving? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #8 July 1, 2006 QuoteSo you don't think there should be laws against drunk driving? Oh, of course not. And I think we should legalize murder too. NOBODY can drive drunk safely, even if they say they can. OTOH, plenty of people can drive safely while talking on a cell phone. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #9 July 1, 2006 QuoteNOBODY can drive drunk safely, even if they say they can. OTOH, plenty of people can drive safely while talking on a cell phone. According to the law right now, I'm over the limit if I've had two beers within an hour. I can assure you that I am a safer driver after two beers than if I'm distracted trying to call someone on my cell phone while driving. I've had far too many close calls with people on their phones who were not paying attention. Sure some people are capable of driving safely while talking on the phone, but there are too many who are not capable. A vehicle is meant to get you from point A to point B; it's not the place to eat your dinner, put on your makeup, talk on the phone, or do anything other than drive. Anyhow, I know I'm in the minority on this topic, so I won't waste my time arguing about it on here. I think that champu summed it up pretty well... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #10 July 1, 2006 QuoteAccording to the law right now, I'm over the limit if I've had two beers within an hour. I don't want to argue about it either, especially the part about being considered a lawbreaker at .018 blood alcohol or whatever it is these days. Draconian BS surrounds us. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #11 July 1, 2006 QuoteQuoteSo you don't think there should be laws against drunk driving? Oh, of course not. And I think we should legalize murder too. NOBODY can drive drunk safely, even if they say they can. OTOH, plenty of people can drive safely while talking on a cell phone. Are you saying that talking on your cell phone while YOU are driving has absolutely no effect on your ability to drive?www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #12 July 1, 2006 This thread made me start thinking about what it would be like if it did become illegal to talk on the phone while driving, and I guess it doesn't seem all that practical. While I do think it's dangerous, I'd rather see traffic cops spending their time dealing with people who are actually driving unsafely (for whatever reason). And the folks who do stupid things while driving and talking will probably do stupid things anyway... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #13 July 1, 2006 In Ireland its an offence to have mobile phone turned on in your car or so I'm informed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #14 July 1, 2006 QuoteAre you saying that talking on your cell phone while YOU are driving has absolutely no effect on your ability to drive? Me personally? I'd say it doesn't affect me much. But then, I don't sit and yammer away. If I simply must talk, I intentionally prioritize the driving over the conversation. But this is indeed a difficult subject. Example: the one accident I caused in my life was when I blew through a stop sign and hit another car. Injured only myself. The reason I blew through the stop? Emotional distress over a girlfriend. My mind was on our problems, and I just failed to see the sign. There was no phone or fast-food hamburger in my hand. No alcohol in my blood -- just emotional distress. Driving represents an opportunity to make better use of one's time and it seems a shame to waste it, especially for people who have long commutes. But, I do see the hazards as well. It's a matter of where to draw the line. Shall we outlaw picking one's nose while driving? Wait . . . maybe that isn't such a bad idea . . . . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,158 #15 July 1, 2006 QuoteQuoteSo you don't think there should be laws against drunk driving? Oh, of course not. And I think we should legalize murder too. NOBODY can drive drunk safely, even if they say they can. OTOH, plenty of people can drive safely while talking on a cell phone. Do you have data to back up that claim?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #16 July 1, 2006 QuoteDo you have data to back up that claim? None whatsoever, and I realized that when I posted. Just an opinion. Have there been studies? . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #17 July 1, 2006 Its a distraction, as is doing make up, eating, smoking. (never understand why people do that in their cars) It is impossible for someone to not be affected as they arent giving driving their 100% attention, especially if not hands free. In the UK you get £30 fine at the moment, I personally would rather see people being issued penalty points on their licence and that definately goes for professional drivers like HGV drivers or delivery vans. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #18 July 1, 2006 QuoteIts a distraction, as is doing make up, eating, smoking. (never understand why people do that in their cars) It is impossible for someone to not be affected as they arent giving driving their 100% attention, especially if not hands free. In the UK you get £30 fine at the moment, I personally would rather see people being issued penalty points on their licence and that definately goes for professional drivers like HGV drivers or delivery vans. Yeah... £60 & 3 points for using a cellphone while driving. I'd score it at least as bad as speeding. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #19 July 1, 2006 QuoteIt is impossible for someone to not be affected as they arent giving driving their 100% attention, especially if not hands free. Oh, I agree with you there. But I'll disagree that anyone with something more than just a brain stem actually NEEDS to devote 100% attention to their driving, 100% of the time. Sure, there are conditions that require 100%, but not usually. Safe driving just isn't that hard. Distraction is an assessed risk, just like everything else we do. Maybe we should ban music in cars. If anything distracts me personally while driving, it that hard-assed rock i favor. Quote. . . and that definately goes for professional drivers like HGV drivers or delivery vans. Ask any trucker if all they do is sit there and pay 100% attention to the road, 100% of the time. Hell no they don't -- trying to do that might even cost you your sanity. Nope, they listen to music, talk on CB (at least here in the U.S.), think about their girlfriends, finances, upcoming couple days off, and run through the classic mental grocery list. Driving probably hardly ever occupies anyone's mind 100% when driving. Shall we next outlaw THINKING about anything non-traffic related while driving? . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #20 July 5, 2006 QuoteI tell you what... for those of you concerned for my health, constantly telling me that smoking will kill me, please shut up and drive. http://health.msn.com/healthnews/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100138628>1=8211 No problem - but if we outlaw cell phones, let's outlaw smoking, eating, reading and putting on makeup. NOW, how shall we enforce all of this? ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #21 July 5, 2006 QuoteQuoteI tell you what... for those of you concerned for my health, constantly telling me that smoking will kill me, please shut up and drive. http://health.msn.com/healthnews/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100138628>1=8211 No problem - but if we outlaw cell phones, let's outlaw smoking, eating, reading and putting on makeup. NOW, how shall we enforce all of this? Profiling?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #22 July 5, 2006 While I absolutly agree that driving with cell phones is dangerous, I disagree with the conclusion of study that Driving with a cell phone is more dangerous then driving drunk. The methodology is not very solid.... QuoteIn the study, 40 people followed a pace car along a prescribed course, using a driving simulator. Some people drove while talking on a cell phone, others navigated while drunk (meaning their blood-alcohol limit matched the legal limit of 0.08 percent), and others drove with no such distractions or impairments. There were three accidents among those talking on cell phones -- all of them involving a rear-ending of the pace car. In contrast, there were no accidents recorded among participants who were drunk, or the sober, cell-phone-free group. Okay, so first of all three simulated accidents is enough to draw conclusions from?? Not a very good sample set if you ask me. Next, the "drunk" people all had a BAC of exactly 0.08 Yes, that's the legal limit, but it is the very lower end of what most states consider drunk. Personally, I think the .08 DUI limit is too low and the result of petitioning and lobying by MADD type groups. 0.08 is not what most people would consider "Drunk", a bit tipsy maybe, but far from drunk. Bump the drivers up to the 0.15 to 0.20 range and see how they react.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #23 July 5, 2006 I never said outlaw it. I never said the study wasn't flawed. My point is that everyone should be more responsible and ACTUALLY concetrate on what they are doing when operating heavy machinery. Trying to justify not concentrating on your driving by saying that there are other things that cause us to not concentrate on our driving is hogwash. This is surprising considering the level of intelligence I've come to expect here.www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #24 July 5, 2006 On an intersting side note you can be arrested if you have an accident and found to be on medication, whether its prescribed or over the counter. Even paracetemol has a warning on the back about drowsiness. In UK offence is 'unfit through drink or drugs' - S4 Road Traffic Act I believe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #25 July 5, 2006 QuoteThis is surprising considering the level of intelligence I've come to expect here. Good one. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
