I-459 Accidents (cellphone, driving, around)

[NoleFanHSV]

How is talking on the phone any different than talking to someone else in the car if its hands free?

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

How is talking on the phone any different than talking to someone else in the car if its hands free?

For young or easily distracted drivers, I don't believe there is. My dad forbade me to have anyone in the car with me when I was a teen. I think some people should just shut up and drive, but of course the reality is, we don't always ride alone. Someone in the car with you may or may not keep talking when traffic conditions are particularly stressful or you may or may not be more likely to shush them or ignore them. I personally prefer not to talk on the phone while I drive, even though I have Bluetooth. If my family is in the car with me, I will talk to them, but I will also say, "Hang on, honey." or "Quiet, girls - daddy's driving." When the situation demands it.

[raj kapoor]

I think the difference is that a wise passenger is also watching the road and certainly is capable of pointing out trouble even before the driver is aware of it, whereas a person on the phone can't have this same sense of concern for mutual wellbeing, and in fact would usually not care at all.

Also, how often have you had people walk all over you in a crowded public area because they are on a phone or absorbed in conversation with a companion as if they are not in a crowd.

I think the above suggest that ultimately we have to try to influence people's actions because in our society there is a tremendous sense of entitlement to do as one is pleased without regard for good judgment. (and as usual, the innocent must pay for the offender in so many ways)

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Tourian

For young or easily distracted drivers, I don't believe there is. My dad forbade me to have anyone in the car with me when I was a teen. I think some people should just shut up and drive, but of course the reality is, we don't always ride alone. Someone in the car with you may or may not keep talking when traffic conditions are particularly stressful or you may or may not be more likely to shush them or ignore them. I personally prefer not to talk on the phone while I drive, even though I have Bluetooth. If my family is in the car with me, I will talk to them, but I will also say, "Hang on, honey." or "Quiet, girls - daddy's driving." When the situation demands it.

I say that to the kids when I'm driving in any heavy traffic. People just don't realize how much mobile phone use can really distract you from the road. I'm a hands-free phone user but, even then, I don't call people if I'm driving someplace at rush hour or any time of the day in downtown Atlanta.

[NoleFanHSV]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

I think the difference is that a wise passenger is also watching the road and certainly is capable of pointing out trouble even before the driver is aware of it, whereas a person on the phone can't have this same sense of concern for mutual wellbeing, and in fact would usually not care at all.

Also, how often have you had people walk all over you in a crowded public area because they are on a phone or absorbed in conversation with a companion as if they are not in a crowd.

I think the above suggest that ultimately we have to try to influence people's actions because in our society there is a tremendous sense of entitlement to do as one is pleased without regard for good judgment. (and as usual, the innocent must pay for the offender in so many ways)

I understand what you are saying, but typically I'm pretty rude on the phone anyways so if I have to stop talking to look at traffic, the person on the other end can just deal with it, lol.

I rarely talk on the phone while I'm driving, but when I do, I rarely find it more distracting than talking to someone in the car. The only distracting part is finding the right button on the steering wheel to end the call.

There was an article recently about a guy down in Miami who jammed phones for a year before being caught by the FCC. Of course now he's paying tons of fines and maybe even jail time because he wants those around him not talking on the phone while he's driving.

I guess it goes both ways.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

There was an article recently about a guy down in Miami who jammed phones for a year before being caught by the FCC. Of course now he's paying tons of fines and maybe even jail time because he wants those around him not talking on the phone while he's driving.

That guy is my hero and should be awarded the presidential medal of awesome.

whether you agree with him or not, that's ridiculous to fill jail cells with people like that.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

That guy is my hero and should be awarded the presidential medal of awesome.

whether you agree with him or not, that's ridiculous to fill jail cells with people like that.

Nah, come on -what he's doing - that's just asinine. I'd hate to think some one needing to use their phone in an emergency situation or perhaps even all CB, walkie talkie, and drive thrus stop working just because some jackass drives thru with a microwave oven with the door taken off running in the back of his van (or whatever real jamming equipment he used.) I can usually spot a car with a driver on the phone. They drive slow in the travel lanes until someone tries to pass them, then they speed up. They tend to drift in and out of lanes. I just slow down or pass them when safe. The texters and hand dialers are the worst.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Nah, come on -what he's doing - that's just asinine. I'd hate to think some one needing to use their phone in an emergency situation or perhaps even all CB, walkie talkie, and drive thrus stop working just because some jackass drives thru with a microwave oven with the door taken off running in the back of his van (or whatever real jamming equipment he used.) I can usually spot a car with a driver on the phone. They drive slow in the travel lanes until someone tries to pass them, then they speed up. They tend to drift in and out of lanes. I just slow down or pass them when safe. The texters and hand dialers are the worst.

Ok you're kind of right... but still jail? really?

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

Ok you're kind of right... but still jail? really?

Well...like I say, it depends on how widespread his jammer cloud spread. He's one step away from a domestic terrorist. Someone not being able to use their phone or worse yet, emergency services might also have been affected by it - I don't know. Maybe that warrants at least probation, community service, a couple of nights in jail.

[NoleFanHSV]

Original story here:

Florida man drove around as a cellphone-jamming vigilante for two years | The Verge