Do you TXT message while driving?

[JuicesFlowing]

I often see people text messaging while driving. Darwin must be spinning in his grave. Poll on the way ...






Sorry if repost.

[epitome1170]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

The problem is there is no way to separate the ones who are being smart about it and the ones who aren't. Hell there are some people who drive more carefully when they're drunk than when they're sober, but I don't think we should repeal the drunk driving laws.

So you want to pass a law to stop all texting? Sounds a bit socialistic for a democratic society.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by epitome1170

Where did I say that reaction times get better with age? I stated that a younger person is going to get distracted more easily... that is their nature.

To play devil's advocate then, do you listen to the radio? Look at pedestrains? Think about anything other than driving? All of those are distractions as well.

Some are worse than others, the ones that require the use of a hand or taking ones eyes off the road repeatedly are the most dangerous IMO. I have no problem with someone talking on a cell phone if they're using a hands free device.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by epitome1170

So you want to pass a law to stop all texting? Sounds a bit socialistic for a democratic society.

That was quite a leap, I didn't say that at all.

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by epitome1170

Where did I say that reaction times get better with age? I stated that a younger person is going to get distracted more easily... that is their nature.

To play devil's advocate then, do you listen to the radio? Look at pedestrains? Think about anything other than driving? All of those are distractions as well.

I don't take my eyes off the road if my car is moving. Hell, I watch the surrounding traffic when I'm stopped at a light. Paid off on Friday because some whore in an SUV would have rear ended me. I saw her coming in my rear view mirror and could see she was watching her phone instead of the cars stopped in front of her. I pulled into another lane, she slammed on her brakes and barely stopped before slamming into the guy who was in front of me. Late 30's, early 40's.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Just to satisfy my curiosity, do you look at your phone while typing in your message? If so, how long does it take to type out a two or three line message? A couple of seconds would have to be on the low end, right? In that two seconds you'll travel over 175 feet at average highway speeds. That effectively doubles the distance you need to stop your car in an emergency.

Also, those 17 year old kids have much better reaction times than the balding adults do. Aging doesn't help us in that regard.

I don't have to look at what I'm typing much, and for common words I know the minimum of what I have to type before it fills it in for me, but I never take my eyes off the road for more than a second or two. Again, I don't text if I'm closely following someone, especially at highway speeds.

It's probably more likely that I'd get into a wreck because someone in front of me slammed on their brakes while I was looking over my shoulder to check my blind spot than because of texting.

I'm sure they have better reaction times, but they already don't have much driving experience, and you're reducing their concentration on top of that. If I mixed my 17yo driving habits with a cell phone, I'd be f***ed.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Simplex3

So you get to decide when someone or something pulls out in front of you on the road? You're pretty awesome.

I pay enough attention to know my surroundings....

Originally Posted by Bugeater

The problem is there is no way to separate the ones who are being smart about it and the ones who aren't. Hell there are some people who drive more carefully when they're drunk than when they're sober, but I don't think we should repeal the drunk driving laws.

....the problem is that you can't eliminate all distractions. I might be looking down at my phone for a second, but is that any more/less distracting than a parent yelling at their kids while glaring at them in the rear view mirror, or having a car full of people, or talking on a cell phone, or flipping radio stations, or driving after a big argument, or trying to figure out where you're going?

I know what you're saying... it's not as simple as Darwinism, because they could kill someone else, but if an idiot that doesn't pay enough attention to the road while texting gets his phone taken away, they won't pay more attention tomorrow... they'll probably find something else to do to pass the time while they're driving.

Edit: And I know that doesn't necessarily mean we shouldn't still ban the highest distractions, I just think the whole cell phone/texting debate is overblown. Then again, I'd like to think I'm not an idiot about it.

[Molitoth]

unfortunatly I do. I know, I am a bad person.

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Edit: And I know that doesn't necessarily mean we shouldn't still ban the highest distractions, I just think the whole cell phone/texting debate is overblown. Then again, I'd like to think I'm not an idiot about it.

As much as it may sound like it I'm not for a law banning it. Just another bullshit law that can't be enforced. However, I am all for ticketing the bejesus out of people who are driving like idiots.

[sedated]

I have started a text at a red light, then caught myself continuing the text after the light turns green. I text so often, I can fill a page without looking down at the numbers, so my eyes are always on the road. Doesn't take away from the fact that its a distraction, but I'm a rock-hard badass, I go 100 miles per hour through life on my motorcycle, don't look back, take no prisoners, leave a good looking corpse, bang skanky chicks without rubbers, send money to nigerian princesses, and you can suck my d!ck if you have a problem with it.

[Pablo]

Nah..I gotta have a free hand for my beer..

[Inspector]

No, texting disturbs my naps.

[RJ]

Texting while driving is foolish behavior and inconsiderate of others.

My wife's 20 year old cousin died in a car crash last year. He was texting while driving about 65 mph on I-25. With his eyes not watching the road he drifted on to the shoulder. When he realized what was happening he over-corrected and rolled his vehicle. He was killed immediately, his girlfriend fortunately lived.

He was a good kid, his mom misses him horribly. Stupid way to die, stupid thing to do.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by RJ

Texting while driving is foolish behavior and inconsiderate of others.

My wife's 20 year old cousin died in a car crash last year. He was texting while driving about 65 mph on I-25. With his eyes not watching the road he drifted on to the shoulder. When he realized what was happening he over-corrected and rolled his vehicle. He was killed immediately, his girlfriend fortunately lived.

He was a good kid, his mom misses him horribly. Stupid way to die, stupid thing to do.

Was he wearing his seatbelt? Just curious.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Was he wearing his seatbelt? Just curious.

Good question. I don't recall, maybe my wife will know.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I don't have to look at what I'm typing much, and for common words I know the minimum of what I have to type before it fills it in for me, but I never take my eyes off the road for more than a second or two. Again, I don't text if I'm closely following someone, especially at highway speeds.

It's probably more likely that I'd get into a wreck because someone in front of me slammed on their brakes while I was looking over my shoulder to check my blind spot than because of texting.

I'm sure they have better reaction times, but they already don't have much driving experience, and you're reducing their concentration on top of that. If I mixed my 17yo driving habits with a cell phone, I'd be f***ed.

A second or two is all it really takes. I'm guilty of doing things like that too, but I have looked away for a couple seconds and had to have corrected my steering because I veered off a bit.