Drunk Driving Safer Than Texting While Driving

[Disneyphile]

Interesting Study (http://jalopnik.com/5302414/)

Personally, I have always felt that texting while driving is blatantly stupid and selfish, putting others' lives at risk just for "staying connected". To me, it's no different than having quite a few drinks and choosing to drive.

There have been at least two very serious mass-transit (train (http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0152835520081002) and trolley (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/08/Official-Trolley-driver-in-crash-texting/UPI-91841241836611/)) and fatal car (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19764563/) accidents due to the drivers texting someone.

I really don't see how texting is any different than being intoxicated behind the wheel, yet the former seems to be "socially acceptable", but in the latter case, most people will take the keys of someone who is drunk.

My beef is why do people appear to be ok with one and not the other? And, why the hell can't people just "disconnect" for a bit? Why is it so important (at the risk of lives) to be in touch 24/7, just to relay stupid crap like "just passed a caravan of ice cream trucks" which the majority of people don't give a flying rat's ass about anyway? To me, it all translates to, "Look at me! I'm being an idiot instead of watching the road! I'm awesome in my own mind!" If it's really that important, pull the hell over and text it, or wait until they get to their destination. Or, even stuck at a train crossing, just as long as they're not moving.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but it's been a "stupidity rant" of mine for quite some time, and the "study" article just fueled that fire.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[innerSpaceman]

I'll admit I've tried to text a response when someone else texts me while I'm driving. Did that exactly twice ... which was one more time than it took for me to realize this was almost as stupid and dangerous as driving with my eyes closed.


Nowadays, if this happens ... and thankfully it rarely, rarely does, I will pull over when convenient if I must text them back. Not to chat, mind you. This has to have something to do with where I'm going and when I'm going to be there ... otherwise I feel no need to respond at all while driving.

But, of course, it's when I'm supposed to be somewhere and am - d'uh - likely in the car getting there, that people tend to TEXT me about when I'm going to arrive.


WTF?

Meanwhile, I love modern cars that translate incoming texts to voice messages ... and hope one soon day the reverse will be possible (though I'm not due to buy my next new car for a good 8 or 9 years. Want a flying car by then!)

[Moonliner]

Meanwhile, I love modern cars that translate incoming texts to voice messages ... and hope one soon day the reverse will be possible


My phone already does this. Look for a device that has a feature for making a "phone call".

[BarTopDancer]

Twitter has opened up a new case of "texting while driving", since people tweet while driving about the scenery, traffic, where they are going, anything. What's worse than texting (in my eyes) is reading other stuff. At least texting can be done 'blindly' if you're good. Not that I think it's less dangerous, just a even worse idea. Twitter, Facebook and email are the same as texting. None should ever be done while the car is moving.

[katiesue]

I can't read a text without my glasses on anyway. I have a feature that my phone will "speak" the text but it doesn't work when the blue tooth is on in the car. And the car has a read the text feature but it's not compatible with my phone. Maddie makes me nuts cause she only texts me messages while I'm driving, and she knows I'm driving. So then I call (using hands free voice activated) and explain to her once again that I can't read a damn thing while I"m driving.

When Maddies in the car with me she reads and responds to all texts for me. I just dictate.

[BarTopDancer]

Wow, the video is really compelling in its results.

[Alex]

Read Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) (http://www.amazon.com/Traffic-Drive-What-Says-About/dp/0307277194) by Tom Vanderbilt for a very interesting examination of how we delude ourselves as drivers and the many counter intuitive results traffic research has produced (road safety measures in many cases appear to increase risk in many cases).

[Disneyphile]

Wow, the video is really compelling in its results.
Yeah, it's quite the eye-opener. I wish everyone with a license and a cellphone would watch it.

But, sadly, a lot of people have the "it won't happen to me" attitude.

[Tref]

According to the study, both are preferable to driving while wearing ice skates!

[Alex]

Unless you're paraplegic in which case it is a wash.

[€uroMeinke]

I've done it. Mostly at at stop lights or in stopped traffic. Mostly to read instead of write, but I've done it.

[Disneyphile]

I've done it. Mostly at at stop lights or in stopped traffic. Mostly to read instead of write, but I've done it.The key here is "stopped", not while moving. ;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Mostly.

[€uroMeinke]

The key here is "stopped", not while moving. ;)

I've done it while driving as well - My mostly isn't an always

[Disneyphile]

I've done it while driving as well - My mostly isn't an always
Well, maybe the article will offer a bit more thought, even if just for a moment. Just don't want to lose you to something dumb, ya know.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I text at lights, I type a letter here and there while I'm driving, but I certainly do not concentrate the majority of my attention on the keyboard while in motion. Anyone with half a brain who has tried to do so understands immediately that it is not safe.

I remember my first attempts at such. Yeah, I don't need someone to tell me it's not smart. Sure, I can send a yes or no response, or glance to read. There are lines that can be drawn.

[Morrigoon]

Yeah, lights are good for that. Sometimes it'll take stopping at a few lights to crank out one text/tweet, but definitely easier to do while stopped.

[BarTopDancer]

Federal Employees have been banned from texting while driving.

Linky (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/technology/02distracted.html?hp)

Federal employees will no longer be allowed to send text messages while driving government vehicles or when driving their own cars and using cellphones paid for by the government

Kinda pathetic that we need any laws about this, but that's what happens when people can't self regulate and think they are special and exempt.

[Disneyphile]

Kinda pathetic that we need any laws about this, but that's what happens when people can't self regulate and think they are special and exempt.Some laws purely exist to protect innocent lives from the actions of stupid people. Not surprised, really.

[CoasterMatt]

What if you're texting bible verses to your cheerleader daughter just before the big game?

[Moonliner]

With all the stupid things the Government (sate & local) makes laws about in the name of "safety" it's almost hard on an emotional level to support anything they do anymore.

However a law against texting while driving is a pretty good law.

My only concern is that it will be used as a wedge by the Fraidy Cat Coalition to reach their goal of banning all cell phone use in cars.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

What if you're texting bible verses to your cheerleader daughter just before the big game?It's legal, encouraged even, in Texas. :evil:

[BarTopDancer]

What if you're texting bible verses to your cheerleader daughter just before the big game?

Only if she's the product of an extra-marital affair.

My only concern is that it will be used as a wedge by the Fraidy Cat Coalition to reach their goal of banning all cell phone use in cars.

Then what will I do when I'm driving and bored?

[Tref]

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z1/Tref_foto/crying-indian_fullhead80p.jpg

... another one of our precious freedoms lost.

[Mousey Girl]

I have a special way ot texting when I'm driving. I hand the phone to The Boy and dictate what to say.

[Moonliner]

Only if she's the product of an extra-marital affair.



Then what will I do when I'm driving and bored?

Take a nap?

[Moonliner]

I have a special way ot texting when I'm driving. I hand the phone to The Boy and dictate what to say.

I have an even better way. I have no social life and thus, don't get any text messages.

[Tref]

By the way, what say the law on 'sex-ting' whilst driving?

[Kevy Baby]

By the way, what say the law on 'sex-ting' whilst driving?It's encouraged.

Mandatory in certain states