To the woman that nearly ran me off the road today!!!!

[007]

To the woman driving the Silver Town and Country with a line of rust along the rear hatch. You were driving up Gage Blvd toward 29th street and you decided to switch lanes without taking the time to notice I was driving right beside you. By some miracle I was able to slam on my brakes fast enough and hard enough that I managed to avoid YOU HITTING ME!!! I was very fortunate that there was nobody behind me or I would have been rear ended.

When you turned onto 29th Street heading east I passed by you and sure enough you were chatting it up on a cell phone completely oblivious to what you had done.

To all people that try to talk on their cell phone while driving, STOP IT. I am sick of this crap!!!!

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Phil, you know I like you and have the utmost respect for you, but that's bullshit. Driving while on the phone - jabber or complex conversation - has been proven again and again to cause tunnel vision and impaired reaction time similar to driving drunk. And hands-free devices, while they free up your hands to supposedly help you drive, do nothing to improve reaction time.

I've not seen any studies comparing talking on a cell and talking to a passenger.

I don't give a rip about studies unless the study included me. Really. We're talking about aptitude and personal responsibility. When we're talking about such things, you can't show me a study comprised of random strangers and show me how it equates to my own aptitude.

I realize there are idiots on the road. I realize we're talking to a man with a big ego. I've analyzed my own phone habits. I know that I shouldn't be discussing a client's bid while I'm on the cell phone driving. I know I can answer a few questions from the wife or from my workers. I know I can set up an appointment or listen to directions to my next stop.

I don't know why you're so sure people can't talk on the phone and drive. If you can't then don't. If you can't dunk a basketball then don't file for the NBA draft. If you can't swim, then don't become a Navy Seal. If you can't bake a cake don't fill out a job application at a bakery. If you're not a rocket scientist, then do not enter into a debate about talking on a cell phone while driving a car.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I don't give a rip about studies unless the study included me. Really. We're talking about aptitude and personal responsibility. When we're talking about such things, you can't show me a study comprised of random strangers and show me how it equates to my own aptitude.

I realize there are idiots on the road. I realize we're talking to a man with a big ego. I've analyzed my own phone habits. I know that I shouldn't be discussing a client's bid while I'm on the cell phone driving. I know I can answer a few questions from the wife or from my workers. I know I can set up an appointment or listen to directions to my next stop.

I don't know why you're so sure people can't talk on the phone and drive. If you can't then don't. If you can't dunk a basketball then don't file for the NBA draft. If you can't swim, then don't become a Navy Seal. If you can't bake a cake don't fill out a job application at a bakery. If you're not a rocket scientist, then do not enter into a debate about talking on a cell phone while driving a car.

Why are you being so defensive? I'm sorry if you think it was some kind of personal attack, because it wasn't. I said up front I have a lot of respect for you, and your response and the vitriol in its tone takes me by surprise.

The fact is: talking on a cell phone IS a distraction. Like it or not, man. And I don't care if you were a Navy Seal, a CIA undercover operative or a rocket scientist, the physiology is no different for you than it is for someone else.

I'll not argue that it may affects you less than others - that may be perfectly true; I'd even say the same of me - but I'd bet all the money I have that your reaction time is slowed and your awareness is impaired when you're talking on a cell phone.

And seriously... WTF does being a rocket scientist have to do with entering into a debate about talking on a cell phone? Are you a rocket scientist? Then don't argue, I guess.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Phobia

...If you're not a rocket scientist, then do not enter into a debate about talking on a cell phone while driving a car.

WTH?

[Donger]

Anyone with an IQ below, say, 120 shouldn't drive and use their cell phone at the same time.

[RJ]

I think most people believe they are better divers than other people.

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Why are you being so defensive? I'm sorry if you think it was some kind of personal attack, because it wasn't. I said up front I have a lot of respect for you, and your response and the vitriol in its tone takes me by surprise.

The fact is: talking on a cell phone IS a distraction. Like it or not, man. And I don't care if you were a Navy Seal, a CIA undercover operative or a rocket scientist, the physiology is no different for you than it is for someone else.

I'll not argue that it may affects you less than others - that may be perfectly true; I'd even say the same of me - but I'd bet all the money I have that your reaction time is slowed and your awareness is impaired when you're talking on a cell phone.

And seriously... WTF does being a rocket scientist have to do with entering into a debate about talking on a cell phone? Are you a rocket scientist? Then don't argue, I guess.

Didn't realize I was being defensive. Just saying it how I feel. I'm not mad. I agree that cell-phones are a distraction. But I also know that different people handle distractions better than others.

I've had half a dozen accidents in my lifetime. Never on the phone.

Originally Posted by Lzen

WTH?

Just a silly joke. You know me.

Originally Posted by RJ

I think most people believe they are better divers than other people.

I leave nary a splash.

Originally Posted by Donger

Anyone with an IQ below, say, 120 shouldn't drive and use their cell phone at the same time.

It's aptitude, not intelligence but we agree on principle.

[Bugeater]

I love it when people claim THEY drive good while on the phone. As if you even know since you're not paying attention to a goddamn thing around you, I'd be willing to bet that the other drivers around you feel differently. And I'd like one of them explain to me how you manage to turn your head to check your blind spot with a phone plastered to your ear. Oh wait, I already know the answer...you don't.

[luv]

I take it people in here have NEVER talked on the phone while driving?

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I love it when people claim THEY drive good while on the phone. As if you even know since you're not paying attention to a goddamn thing around you, I'd be willing to bet that the other drivers around you feel differently. And I'd like one of them explain to me how you manage to turn your head to check your blind spot with a phone plastered to your ear. Oh wait, I already know the answer...you don't.

Simple. You turn your head and look at your blind spot.

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I love it when people claim THEY drive good while on the phone. As if you even know since you're not paying attention to a goddamn thing around you, I'd be willing to bet that the other drivers around you feel differently. And I'd like one of them explain to me how you manage to turn your head to check your blind spot with a phone plastered to your ear. Oh wait, I already know the answer...you don't.

Here's what I do - it's an advanced technique so follow carefully.

I move the phone, turn my head, and check. Crazy, I know. Then I can always ask the individual on the other line to repeat if I've missed something. See, driving and talking isn't difficult. You just have to make a commitment to the driving part of what you're doing. I know there are millions of people who are incapable of doing so. Understood.

I can't juggle. I can't finger-whistle. I can't keep a hula-hoop in the air. I do not attempt those things. I can drive and talk. What can I say? I'm gifted.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by luv

I take it people in here have NEVER talked on the phone while driving?

Oh, I was guilty of doing it years ago when cell phones were first gaining popularity, but judging from what I saw from other people who were also doing it, it didn't take me too long to realize it was a significant distraction. No one knew better back then, but now we do and there's no excuse for it.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Here's what I do - it's an advanced technique so follow carefully.

I move the phone, turn my head, and check. Crazy, I know. Then I can always ask the individual on the other line to repeat if I've missed something. See, driving and talking isn't difficult. You just have to make a commitment to the driving part of what you're doing. I know there are millions of people who are incapable of doing so. Understood.

I can't juggle. I can't finger-whistle. I can't keep a hula-hoop in the air. I do not attempt those things. I can drive and talk. What can I say? I'm gifted.

I'm sure there are a few people who are capable of safely driving 100 mph on the interstate, so how about we let everyone do that too?