<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Drive Now, Talk Later"]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/12203.page Public Action Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
In both cases, the cop had to repeatedly tell the other driver to get off the phone during the investigation questioning.

In one case, the cellphoniac passed me on the right on the shoulder while I was signaling and starting to make a right turn. The driver behind me was turning left, and she passed both cars on the right shoulder.

Sometimes I wonder if they downloaded their brains into their phones, and then deleted the originals.

In the other case, the celladdict turned left from the middle lane of a one-way street (an illegal move) because she saw the restaurant she wanted to go to on a side street. I was in the left lane, going straight (a legal move).
]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#799421 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#799421 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
It could be worse, they could think they drive like Shumaker trying to make his flight in a cab.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#775017 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#775017 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
However, back in the days before cell phones were widespread, I used to work on my Uncle's watermelon farm. (cue wavy flashback lines...)

There were many, MANY times when people would look DIRECTLY at me -- look me in the eye, even -- driving a huge bright red truck stuffed with 20,000 pounds of watermelons... and then calmly proceed as if they saw nothing but blue sky.

I have no idea how I avoided several gruesome wrecks with severed limbs and squashed watermelons flying everywhere. Any truck driver can tell you the same type of story -- narrow escapes from determinedly suicidal car pilots are just a many-times-daily part of the job.

Idiotic drivers are everywhere. Cell phones have just given them another weapon.

I also agree that driver education is a joke in the US. But God forbid we try to keep idiots from driving -- one core idiot belief is that they're all born with the ability to drive like Emerson Fittipaldi. So driver training or testing is obviously a complete waste of time...]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#775015 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#775015 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
"No answering the phone during sex. According to Ad Age magazine, 15% of Americans answer their cell phones during sex. Which is not only rude but dangerous because it interferes with your driving."]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#772623 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#772623 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#771983 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#771983 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
The problems with cell phone conversations are:

1. The conversation has nothing to do with driving (pilots are getting instructions on where to fly to avoid other planes, so the pilot argument is specious).

2. The person on the other end of the conversation is not in the car. (Someone in the car will see a developing traffic situation, and hopefully will shut up.)

The worst case is when the driver's boss is on the other end of the conversation, and is giving business instructions to an employee who is driving. And it is doubly dangerous if the boss is the kind who demands undivided attention.

Almost as bad is a salesman who is trying to make a sale on the cell phone, and is calculating figures for the deal while driving.

]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#870020 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#870020 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
The problem, IMO, is a failure of discipline and prioritization. When I was learning to fly, I was taught: "Aviate, navigate, communicate--IN THAT ORDER!" I use the same philosophy in driving: I've tossed the phone aside (without explanation) when presented with a novel or demanding traffic situation so that I might not be distracted. The problem arises when drivers want to assign higher priority to "not offending" their conversation partner that driving, with predictable results.

I've adopted a version of the "sterile cockpit" rule from aviation, which states all conversation during t/o, departure, approach and landing must be directly related to flight ops. I'll allow myself to talk fairly freely on a lightly-travelled interstate; however, I'd probably just ignore a ringing phone while driving in unfamiliar, urban traffic.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#764032 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#764032 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#763864 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#763864 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later it is always the drive . I even seen them watching a movie on the dash . I hit the air horns and they shit themselfs. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#762427 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#762427 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#713627 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#713627 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later STUDENT DRIVER. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#624019 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#624019 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Only exceptions... policy, firemen, paramedics.

People are STUPID with cell phones!!]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#462617 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#462617 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
But you better 'click it or ticket', so when the cell phone using driver runs into you, you're safe to get hit another day.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#459411 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#459411 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20681742/

illegal to "txtndrv"]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#455443 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#455443 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#435639 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#435639 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#427041 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#427041 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
These were recent high school graduates.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#427039 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#427039 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Those people don't see any problems driving while on the phone.

And why don't they see problems?

Because they're too distracted and unfocused to see the problems they and others like them are causing!!!

If I drive for a half hour in my neighborhood I will see on a typical day - people on cell phones driving and they are-

Stopping at a green light
Going through a red light
Not going when a light changes from red to green
Driving extra slowly and weaving with a trail of cars behind him/her
Swerving and not realizing they are causing someone else to maneuver to avoid an accident
In the fast lane and driving slowly
In the slow lane and driving quickly

to name a few...

P.S. AND why do cell phoneys have to talk on the phone when they are trying to park their SUV's?

Is there a moment in their lives that they might possibly want to stop and think about what they are actually doing in the area they are occupying?

Cell phoneys have a completely opposite philosophy from those who live a normal life.

Remember 'Be Here Now'? or Live for the moment?

Nowadays it is 'Please stand by. I'll get back to here & now when I get off my cell phone'


]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#416612 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#416612 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
They paved the shoulder because cars going around in the dirt caused severe erosion.

But if the driver hadn't been on a cell phone, she would have seen that I was signaling a right, not a left.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#417627 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#417627 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
What ever happened to slowing down and waiting for someone to turn left instead of using the shoulder?

We were on Teton Pass going into Jackson Hole last year (very windy and hilly mtn pass from ID to WY) when a truck pulling a trailer was on the shoulder to allow people to pass him but there wasnt alot of room to pass (2 lane road in most places) and traffic was on the other side and people passed us just to get around him on a double yellow too. Gee too bad they didnt go over the embankment and down into the ravine!!! teton county sheriff doesnt care either so thank god for the WY Hwy patrol. Just imagine if these folks were on the phone and trying to negiotate these turns too.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410653 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410653 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
The word "sent" is supposed to be "went".

(fixed now that it is enabled)]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410643 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410643 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
WHY CAN'T WE FIX MISTEAKS????

(Hey! Now we can! And I did!)]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410642 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410642 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
The only two reportable accidents I was ever in were caused by the other driver not paying attention because she was on the phone.

The first accident was in 1998. I was signaling a right turn from a highway into a driveway. The driveway was about 50 feet beyond an intersection with a side road on the left of the highway. Often, cars went around the cars waiting to turn left onto the side road on the shoulder. But the shoulder ends at the driveway, passing under the driveway in a culvert.

As I started to turn right into the driveway, the other car passed me on the right on the shoulder. Her rear quarter panel hit my front bumper from behind. My van was built like a tank, and suffered no damage. But it destroyed the plastic panel on the other car. I'm still trying to figure how the other car jumped the culvert. The trim strip from the other car was wrapped around the mailbox post of the house I was visiting.

The accident was caused by the fact that the other driver was on the phone, and didn't observe that I was signaling a right turn, instead of a left.

The second accident was in 2003, and put an end to that same van. I was driving straight ahead in the left lane of a three-lane one-way street. The light ahead of me turned green as I approached, and the driver of the other car, which had stopped for the light, turned left from the center lane, right in front of me. There was no way I could stop in time. After we hit, she drove away at high speed ,going the wrong way on the one-way street, and further damaging my vehicle. But she then came back.

This driver was also on the phone. She said that she had been in the left lane, but the position of my undrivable stopped vehicle showed otherwise.

In both cases, the drivers continued talking on the phones until the officers made them put their phones away. And in the case of the second accident, the phone kept ringing during the discussion.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410641 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#410641 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#409423 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#409423 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Going 50 in the fast lane and not getting over.
Making a left turn into oncoming traffic.
Not going when the light turns green.
Merging without looking first.
Lane changes without looking first.

Most of the time I see this stuff it's people on cell phones. Pull over when you have to talk on the phone and quit putting everyone elses life in danger because your to good to pay attention to what you're doing.
]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#400615 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#400615 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
I for one would hang up on someone if I knew they were calling me while driving (except for the rare occasion where they are getting directions to someplace they don't know and then they should dial while parked.).

It should be illegal and it should be prime facie evidence of guilt in an accident. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#399027 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#399027 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
I took the time to drive to the crash scene and noticed that she had a sightline of over half a mile so it would have been IMPOSSIBLE not to see the Suburban.

Yes, she was on the phone when she turned into the path of the Suburban. The police say that if she had turned a half second sooner she would be dead due to the dynamics of the crash. She was so intent on her phone conversation (and she was even using a hands free ear piece) that she could have DIED. If using a hands free phone can make you NOT see a Suburban headed your way at 45 mph imagine what dialing a phone must do!!!]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#399026 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#399026 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later Honey...you slept with who?-- will cause bodily harm
oh Honey, yes ..oh...yes...--- will also cause bodily harm....]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397828 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397828 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#453237 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#453237 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later I no longer drive with a ( Gabber)....
or in public transportation , had a driver of a bus on the phone asking her 5yrold what she did today....
there needs to be some ( not much ) refinement.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397826 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397826 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://www...d=13781479

New York statistics from 2005 attribute less than 1 percent of traffic accidents to cell-phone use. But nearly one-quarter were noted as "driver inattention or distraction." Some studies have it as high as 80 percent. 


Yakking away, passing you in the right line with kids in the back seat -- makes me wonder. Yet, here in MA some of the drivers are horrible enough without cell phones. I personally never do, too distracting, even with the headset.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397811 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397811 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397436 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397436 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397125 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397125 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
On the other hand, pilots are a self-selecting crew, and drivers mostly aren't. It's not much different from K12 ed. I used to teach community college, and I will never forget spending 20 minutes on "What is a noun?" I mean you'd think this is simple, right? Person, place, thing? Half the class couldn't get it. Point to a chair. "Noun, yes or no?" Silence. "Is it a person?" Silence. "Is it a place?" "No." "Is it a thing?" "No." All native English speakers, mind. They'd all graduated high school.

The DMV people understand that there are limits to what you can expect from people who don't care.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#800064 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#800064 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later Please! Talking while driving, cooking, or any other activity is not multi-tasking because your brain is constantly working. When you talk you are simply vocalizing your thoughts. Now when someone stops to think...that is when problems arise. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#772620 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#772620 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#426435 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#426435 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#712615 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#712615 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Anyone know if you can talk on the phone and drive in Europe? ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#425821 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#425821 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#425817 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#425817 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Clowns on cell phones are just yabbering (or worse, trying to do business, with all kinds of facts and figures).]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#417626 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#417626 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
I only do it out in the open areas, where no cars are within maybe 30 seconds of me, and there are no nearby traffic risks.

Again, mindless, inflexible rules equally applying to all conditions are nonsense.

Anyone who eats; talks on the phone; fiddles with the radio; or any other distraction while driving in a close group of cars or trucks is engaging in dangerous practices. When the highway is wide open, you are pretty much alone, and you can see a mile ahead and a mile back, minor tasks are not dangerous at all.
]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#622457 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#622457 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#416464 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#416464 GMT Re: Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Also, pilots have autopilots and collision warning alarms to help them when they are not near airports.

What you are hearing on that scanner is not pilot talk over air traffic control frequencies. Such talk is banned.

You are hearing the airport maintenance, luggage, and plane towing crews on their frequencies. You will hear them identify with the planes they are servicing at the time, for location purposes. These people are often waiting to be used at the time they are yakking. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#870018 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#870018 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later Airplane pilots have a fairly concentrated subject matter to talk about 

You've never fired up a scanner down at the local airport have you? ;)

and can do that with hands free equipment, 


I have a bluetooth headset for my phone. Check.

no telephone numbers to look up 


No, they just have to flip through frequency books (or a flight computer if they're lucky enough to have one) to look up radio frequencies, and they have to change those frequencies quite a bit. 3-7 times within 20 minutes of takeoff.

and are talking to people who are also limiting their subject matter, not to mention that an airliner has a copilot. 


A cessna does not necessarilly have a copilot, and many's the time I've heard both airline and private pilots chatting about lunch, the football game, etc, over the radio.

Car driving requires intense concentration all of the time to stay between the lines and to avoid random unexpected events.  


And flying an airplane doesnt? You're on the radio the most where your concentration must be the highest - takeoffs, landings, and transiting airport airspace.

Auto drivers on cell phones with a variety of things to discuss and airplane pilots on radios, in my view, are not similar enough to make this a valid comparison. 


We disagree. The primary difference between the two activities is that the pilot has been highly trained and is thinking about flying first, talking second. The driver has been barely trained and probably is thinking more about the conversation than the car.

It's not the cell phones' fault, it's the idiotic way in which they're used.
  ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#400026 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#400026 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#398245 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#398245 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397086 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#397086 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396811 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396811 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Cells phones, like everything else require some common sense. I spend about 6-700 hours per year driving and I talk on the phone when it's safe. There is a big difference between talking while driving in city rush hour traffic and driving on a deserted interstate. Trying to regulate specific types of distractions is silly, just enforce the current laws.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396620 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396620 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
Look at pilots. They can talk on the radio while *flying*. No one suggests they should put the radio away until they land. I have never read an FAA post-crash report that said "pilot was gabbing on the radio and crashed." The difference is that pilots are well trained and must prove it in order to get their pilots license.

We have a lot of fun in this country blaming scapegoats in a desperate attempt to fool ourselves into thinking we're doing something about the problem while not actually having to change things we don't want to change. Having to actually learn how to drive would take effort. Much easier to scapegoat the phones - that'll stall it for a few years, right?

Banning cell phones won't solve anything, and it is 100% possible to talk while NOT driving like an idiot.

Ask the pilots. They do it all the time.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396432 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396432 GMT Re: Drive Now, Talk Later
We all need bumper stickers that say shut up and drive or have a law like NY that doesnt allow you to talk and drive unless its hands free (still somewhat dangerous)]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396427 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/296611.page#396427 GMT