texting while driving.

[Trekker4747]

Any driver who is texting will automatically be less safe than if they are paying complete attention to driving only. Doing both at the same time means that the driver is less prepared for the unexpected. This has nothing to do with the driver's skill, it's just a fact of how our bodies work.

I still have yet to hear a compelling case for when a text message is so important that it overrides everything else. What if it comes in while one is in the bathroom or in the shower? I doubt there is anyone who uses texts that demands an instantaneous reply. Besides, there was no prevalent text messaging 30 years ago, and people got on with their business just fine.

But, but... doctors! And deaths and accidents! Important stuff!

People need to text to get their twitter page updated! What if that twitter page prevents someone from developing into the next Adolph Hitler! Texting while driving could prevent a WAR!

Texting is IMPORTANT! Fuck the fact that one is dividing their attention between the two-ton mass of steel they're driving at 40 miles an hour down a city street! Forget the fact that some condition could suddenly change that'd warrant full attention or two hands on the wheel!

Text NEEDS TO BE DONE for the good of HUMANITY!

 

[pookha]

You may be better than most people who text and drive. But you're not being the best possible driver since your attention is divided between the road and your blackberry. DRIVE YOUR FUCKING CAR, the text can wait.

Do it before you kill someone.

Oh, now you've totally convinced me.

Tell you what, if I ever kill someone (or even get in a fender-bender) because I'm texting while driving, I'll come right on here and let you know so you can gloat about how right you were.

And hell, I can't afford a blackberry, I have the cheapass free phone that came with my plan.

well you probably will have more serious stuff to worry about.
if you kill someone you will be in jail.
if you are in a fender bender you probably increased your liability since you
were doing something most would consider to be negligent.
prepare to be probably sued.

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

IM n my car, TXtg U noobs!

 

[Trekker4747]

You may be better than most people who text and drive. But you're not being the best possible driver since your attention is divided between the road and your blackberry. DRIVE YOUR FUCKING CAR, the text can wait.

Do it before you kill someone.

Oh, now you've totally convinced me.

Tell you what, if I ever kill someone (or even get in a fender-bender) because I'm texting while driving, I'll come right on here and let you know so you can gloat about how right you were.

And hell, I can't afford a blackberry, I have the cheapass free phone that came with my plan.

well you probably will have more serious stuff to worry about.
if you kill someone you will be in jail.
if you are in a fender bender you probably increased your liability since you
were doing something most would consider to be negligent.
prepare to be probably sued.

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

And I suspect that ALL states have laws against some form of distracted driving.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

And really, there's nothing you can say that will convince me otherwise. Putting things in capitals doesn't count.

I think it's a little back asswards to be arguing that texting is worse than drunk driving, but how about this. What could possibly be so important that you can't wait to text someone or, at the very least, give them a call instead? At least with a phone call, your eyes are on the road 100% of the time.

 

[sidious618]

Wow, we actually have someone defending text messaging while driving. Oh, well done, TBBS, well done.

 

[Guartho]

Well, you can't have a good argument without someone taking up a contrary position. What fun would that be?

 

[pookha]

IM n my car, TXtg U noobs!

punts cell away from bunny

 

[dave_R_treker]

You may be better than most people who text and drive. But you're not being the best possible driver since your attention is divided between the road and your blackberry. DRIVE YOUR FUCKING CAR, the text can wait.

Do it before you kill someone.

Oh, now you've totally convinced me.

Tell you what, if I ever kill someone (or even get in a fender-bender) because I'm texting while driving, I'll come right on here and let you know so you can gloat about how right you were.

And hell, I can't afford a blackberry, I have the cheapass free phone that came with my plan.

well you probably will have more serious stuff to worry about.
if you kill someone you will be in jail.
if you are in a fender bender you probably increased your liability since you
were doing something most would consider to be negligent.
prepare to be probably sued.

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

New York state already ban the use of a handheld cell phone while driving, yet they still have to add this law banning text messaging.

 

[sidious618]

Well, you can't have a good argument without someone taking up a contrary position. What fun would that be?

When it comes to texting while driving I'd like it if everyone was on the same side.

 

[CorporalClegg]

^
Yeah. It's sorta like someone arguing it's no big deal to drive while inebriated.

 

[cultcross]

I completely disagree with this statement. There have been instances of drunk drivers around here pulling onto the (divided) interstate going the wrong way. I have never heard of a driver who was texting doing the same thing (though I obviously haven't researched every single traffic violation ever in the history of driving). In my ever so humble opinion, you are wrong in saying that drunk drivers are not as bad as texting drivers.

And really, there's nothing you can say that will convince me otherwise. Putting things in capitals doesn't count.

And I wonder how many of those drunk drivers were thinking "I've only had a few, I can handle my drink, I know what I can and can't do. I'm a perfectly safe driver when I've had a few."
After all, they're just confident of the skill that they have. After all, they've driven drunk dozens of times and never had an accident. And they'll drive a bit slower to be extra safe!

well you probably will have more serious stuff to worry about.
if you kill someone you will be in jail.
if you are in a fender bender you probably increased your liability since you
were doing something most would consider to be negligent.
prepare to be probably sued.

I wonder if, in the event that JimCasy did have an RTC, lets hope damage-only, while texting, whether they would admit to doing so at the time to insurance/police? After all, if it doesn't increse the danger, what's to be ashamed off?

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

Luckily British law includes texting in the 'use of a handheld mobile phone' rule - 'use' can mean anything that involves holding it: phoning without a hands-free, texting, playing 'Snake', anything.

 

[JimCasy]

And I wonder how many of those drunk drivers were thinking "I've only had a few, I can handle my drink, I know what I can and can't do. I'm a perfectly safe driver when I've had a few."
After all, they're just confident of the skill that they have. After all, they've driven drunk dozens of times and never had an accident. And they'll drive a bit slower to be extra safe!

I don't get this whole comparing it to drunk driving thing. Well, I get what you're trying to say, I just don't agree with it. Me taking 30 seconds to bang out a text isn't the same as having my judgment, vision, and reaction times impaired during an entire drive. You're all making it sound like I'm texting the entire time I'm driving. I do it like twice a day, maybe. And it's not like Ames is the most populous city in the world. Most people would call it a small town. It's not like I'm in the middle of traffic all that often. And I'm not stupid enough to do it when the road really does require all of my attention (and don't even say that the road always requires all of your attention. When there's no cars around, you've driven the road a million times, I'm sure no one here has ever been like, "Oh hey, is that a hawk over there?" or something like that and stared for a few seconds.).

I wonder if, in the event that JimCasy did have an RTC, lets hope damage-only, while texting, whether they would admit to doing so at the time to insurance/police? After all, if it doesn't increse the danger, what's to be ashamed off?

Actually, I probably would, because I tend to be stupidly honest. If I didn't, I probably would just have come in here and gone, "Oh yeah, those assholes who text in their cars can go to hell."

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

I have no idea whether it's illegal here. I've never bothered to look it up.

 

[Trekker4747]

And I wonder how many of those drunk drivers were thinking "I've only had a few, I can handle my drink, I know what I can and can't do. I'm a perfectly safe driver when I've had a few."
After all, they're just confident of the skill that they have. After all, they've driven drunk dozens of times and never had an accident. And they'll drive a bit slower to be extra safe!

I don't get this whole comparing it to drunk driving thing. Well, I get what you're trying to say, I just don't agree with it. Me taking 30 seconds to bang out a text isn't the same as having my judgment, vision, and reaction times impaired during an entire drive.

Thirty seconds is a long-assed time to not have your full attention on the road. Your judgement, reaction and vision very much ARE impared as all of them are being partly dedicated to you telling your bestest girlfriend about the cute outfit you just saw at the five-and-dime.

You're all making it sound like I'm texting the entire time I'm driving. I do it like twice a day, maybe. And it's not like Ames is the most populous city in the world. Most people would call it a small town. It's not like I'm in the middle of traffic all that often. And I'm not stupid enough to do it when the road really does require all of my attention (and don't even say that the road always requires all of your attention. When there's no cars around, you've driven the road a million times, I'm sure no one here has ever been like, "Oh hey, is that a hawk over there?" or something like that and stared for a few seconds.).

The road DOES require all of your attention because you never know what can happen. I guess the "good news" is that if you "only do it when you're the only one on the road" the only one you can injure or kill is yourself.

I have no idea whether it's illegal here. I've never bothered to look it up.

Ignorance of a law is no excuse.

 

[JimCasy]

Thirty seconds is a long-assed time to not have your full attention on the road. Your judgement, reaction and vision very much ARE impared as all of them are being partly dedicated to you telling your bestest girlfriend about the cute outfit you just saw at the five-and-dime.

I'm just laughing at the fact that that's about the last thing I would ever text someone. I generally don't give a shit about clothes or other "girly" sort of things. And I know, it was just an example of something frivolous. Just made me chuckle.

Ignorance of a law is no excuse.

Holy shit, this is the first time I've ever heard this phrase. You, sir, have just enlightened my very existence.

 

[pookha]

Oh, now you've totally convinced me.

Tell you what, if I ever kill someone (or even get in a fender-bender) because I'm texting while driving, I'll come right on here and let you know so you can gloat about how right you were.

And hell, I can't afford a blackberry, I have the cheapass free phone that came with my plan.

well you probably will have more serious stuff to worry about.
if you kill someone you will be in jail.
if you are in a fender bender you probably increased your liability since you
were doing something most would consider to be negligent.
prepare to be probably sued.

oh yeah just because your state dosnt specifically ban text you may still be breaking the law.
several states ban the use of hand held cells while driving period.
many more are considering going in that direction.

New York state already ban the use of a handheld cell phone while driving, yet they still have to add this law banning text messaging.

actually they dont.
but some legislatures just dont understand that even when their own
attorney generals try to explain this too them.

 

[sidious618]

JimCasy- pretty much everyone here is saying you're in the wrong. Does that not say that maybe, just maybe you're wrong?

 

[ialfan]

Personally I can txt by feel only and with one hand so I don't see the big deal. And no I'm not arguing further on it in this thread as it'd be a waste of time.

 

[Trekker4747]

Personally I can txt by feel only and with one hand so I don't see the big deal. And no I'm not arguing further on it in this thread as it'd be a waste of time.

DRIVE BY! Everyone duck!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Your judgement, reaction and vision very much ARE impared as all of them are being partly dedicated to you telling your bestest girlfriend about the cute outfit you just saw at the five-and-dime.

Is she texting in 1953?