Defending the Truth

So yesterday I was sitting at a red light.

Out of nowhere, some idjit slams into me from behind, and rams me into the van in front of me.

Weather was not a factor, nor was visibility.

The guy was mindlessly yapping on his cell phone - going 40 mph in a 30 zone.

Other than a sore neck, I'm fine. But my car is toast (I'm currently driving a brand-new rental car, compliments of his insurance company!).


So anyway... How many of these kinds of accidents - directly attributed to by the distraction of a cell phone - will it take before the ban cell phone use while driving?

Will it ever be illegal to talk on the cell phone when driving?



I have rather mixed feelings on this, as I sometimes answer a call when I'm driving. What are your thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefferson So yesterday I was sitting at a red light.

I have no earthly idea about the cell phone, Jefferson. I mean what about fiddling with a radio, CD player, or one of those nifty gadgets that you can have give you verbal directions where to go?
What of drive-through fast food?
I have had more trouble driving when trying to eat an ice cream cone that was melting, than I ever had talking on my cell phone!

And I also had a guy come plowing into me when I was stopped at a red light! Now com' on!!! He told me that he thought the light would turn green by the time he got up to me! And you know what? He was not even on his cell phone!

But I do believe that they can be a distraction, but am not so sure we should outlaw cell phones when there are other devices available in cars that can be just as much a problem. Not to mention ice cream cones.

OD

P.S. I am glad you and your family are all safe.

Common sense is the rule. I came home last night from picking up a pizza and stopped at a 4-way stop. The lady directly across from me was supposed to go as it was her turn. She is sitting there yapping on her cell phone and the rest of us are waiting for her. Finally, we are waving at her and she realizes and keeps talking as she goes. Not a clue.

Yikes, Jefferson! I'm so glad all you have is a sore neck! Hope nobody else got hurt!

I hate cell phones in cars - they are too hard to use when driving a manual transmission. Even the ear-bud thingee bugs me, as I can't always hear over the sounds of the traffic or engine.

I tend not to play with the radio or tapes too much either. Gotta keep my eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel and stick shift.

And Oh Dear, I cannot recall the last time I had an ice cream cone while driving! Fries is about all I can manage safely, and even then they can be hazardous if I grab a few and one falls.

Anyway, I agree with Alias. We need to use our common sense, although sometimes I think it's handed out unevenly....

To clarify...

I was alone in the car.

And I'm glad I wasn't about to put a hot cup of coffee up to my mouth!

I was rear ended at a light also, only here it was a soccer mom looking in her mirror fooling with makeup. It doesn't matter what the distraction is, there are clueless people who will be distracted. Cell phone or no cell phone.

But, sounds like that was a harsher crash than mine. Good thing you are alright (that is, aside from the sore neck [I had one too ]).

Thanks.

He really jamawled the car. I was driving a HUGE old station wagon - probably a 4,000+ lb car. The really weird thing is that he hit me hard enough, and drove me far enough forward, that my shattered tail-lights were BEHIND the back of HIS vehicle. In addition, he rammed me into the back of a mini-van, and pushed that vehicle forward that far too. It's AMAZING that the impact could have pushed me that far.

Glad to hear you're okay.

Regarding laws about cell phones, this web-site has a pretty good list.

GHSA State Info & Laws

I think one of the big differences between cell phones and a radio is that I can reach down and know how to change the radio just by feel. I don't have to take my eyes off the road.

A cell phone has pretty small buttons, and people typically have to look down and make sure they are punching an "8" instead of a "7" or a "5".

In 2008, California will have a law regarding everything but "hands-free". So with a good ear-piece, you can push one button on your ear, say the person's name you want to dial, and get connected.
But of course that won't stop some from getting really absorbed in their phone conversation, which is another BIG factor.

My wife and I were talking about this, and tend to agree on the following: Women drivers, talking on cell phones, are probably more dangerous then men drivers who are also talking on cell phones. The reason? Women tend to be far more conversational, and become more involved and intense in their conversations.

That's just an opinion based on observation.

Holy Cow, Jefferson, with respect to you and your wife...BUT!!!

I have to disagree, and go on record to say that is such a sexist statement.

First of all, the intensity level of any conversation, if one wishes to stereotype the sexes, would depend on what the topic is.

For an example, wife in traffic in one place in town, husband in traffic in another place in town. On cell phones to one another. Wife very easily and happily reports that she will meet husband at home in 45 minutes. Husband says, "Where were you?" Wife replies that after making a pick up at the cleaners, she went to the mall and found so many good sales...

What she says happily and casually becomes a very intense conversation to husband.

How's that for stereotyping the sexes and intense conversations?

But also let me tell you, for the record...I am a woman.
And whenever someone calls me, I easily pick up the call on my cell phone. Unless I forgot and dropped it in my backpack, and can't go digging around in it to find the phone in time.
But IF I am going to call someone, guess what I do? I pull over and park and make the call.

I would not want to be inattentive to traffic by talking on a cellphone.

I am woman and I am an intense motorist.