Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

blog.zendrive.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

251–260 of 293 posts

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#251

Post by underwater »

ummonk wrote: post #200
mig4ng wrote: post #63

This is extremely bad. In Portugal I don't cross the road if the person is using a phone, unless they fully stop of course. Yet this is a problem so big that even people walking cross roads with their faces glued to their phones. It happened to me more than once almost getting into an accident, both while walking or driving because the other party is distracted by a smartphone instead of paying attention to driving o…

What is the big deal with phone use at a red light? It will, at worst, hold up traffic slightly.

What should possibly need your attention when stopped at a red light?

If it's something frivolous then it can wait. If it's important then are you really able to compartmentalize it? Will you be able to put the conversation out of your mind, or ghost your chat partner as soon as traffic starts moving?

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#252

Post by fqwefqwef341 »

In The Netherlands, even texting while riding your bicycle will likely be outlawed in a few months [1]. Personally I think this is overreach, akin to forbidding pedestrians to use their phone while walking the sidewalk: they're risking (mostly) their own life, not endangering the lives of others. (Yes, I got hit by a distracted bicyclist once in my life, and many many more close calls.)

[1] https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/fiets/vraag-en-antw...

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#253

Post by aicioara »

dasKrokodil wrote: post #249
alexktz wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I emigrated from the UK to USA last September and the number of people I see on the freeway here with their phone in their hands is a constant source of amazement for me. As a keen road cyclist in the UK I actually have bought an off-road bike because I simply don't trust US drivers. In fact, the standard of driving here is frankly appalling. Tailgating and speeding is rampant. Lane surfing is rife. Couple that with…

What is lane surfing?

I assume continuously changing lanes on a 4+ lane road, such that you don't rear bump fellow drivers. This must be done if you're driving at 130 mph, while the rest go at 70. At those relative speed differences, the rest of the cars look stationary. (note the sarcasm)

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#254

Post by austhrow743 »

Phillipharryt wrote: post #223
nojvek wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am guilty of this. What I wish to see is a better device that doesn’t distract the attention from the road. A better voice input so I don’t have to type. The biggest distraction is a notification comes and you want to see what it is. But you are right. The best soln is not to use your phone.

Honest question. Why do you feel you need any device when driving? Other than for navigation I suppose. As a confessed user do you actually feel it's important to have access to a device while you drive?

Navigation and spotify. I wish there was a way to skip tracks using the volume buttons on the side or something like that to get rid of the need to look at the screen while doing it. Presumably that would drop the dangerous level down to that of fiddling with a radio.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#255

Post by westmeal »

aembleton wrote: post #244
phil248 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a million legit reasons a person would need to use their phone while driving a car. But for some bizarre reason, most drivers find it unthinkable to simply pull over for 2 minutes to handle their business. If I need to fiddle with a map or respond to a text, I pull over. It's really super ridiculously easy to do and takes almost no time at all.

Are you allowed to pull over on the highway in the US. Certainly can't do that on a motorway in the UK.

Yes, into the shoulder

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#256

Post by dangravell »

aicioara wrote: post #253
dasKrokodil wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is lane surfing?

I assume continuously changing lanes on a 4+ lane road, such that you don't rear bump fellow drivers. This must be done if you're driving at 130 mph, while the rest go at 70. At those relative speed differences, the rest of the cars look stationary. (note the sarcasm)

I'm not sure what lane surfing is. But aside from the 130mph remark - changing lane to maintain speed is how you're supposed to drive on a motorway/freeway. So long as you're within the speed limit, of course. Braking is a freeway anti-pattern.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#257

Post by alexktz »

dangravell wrote: post #256
aicioara wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume continuously changing lanes on a 4+ lane road, such that you don't rear bump fellow drivers. This must be done if you're driving at 130 mph, while the rest go at 70. At those relative speed differences, the rest of the cars look stationary. (note the sarcasm)

I'm not sure what lane surfing is. But aside from the 130mph remark - changing lane to maintain speed is how you're supposed to drive on a motorway/freeway. So long as you're within the speed limit, of course. Braking is a freeway anti-pattern.

In the UK passing on the right (well left for us of course) is illegal and called undertaking. I know it's not illegal here but it still winds me up!

I think it's actually really quite dangerous to have cars passing you on both sides when you're already going 5 over to "fit in". It'd be much better if like in Europe people pulled out to overtake and back in when done and that lane surfers had a little a patience now and again. A few seconds really does not matter. Especially when you overtake them 5 mins later as they're texting anyway!!

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#258

Post by helloguillecl »

delfinom wrote: post #43
helloguillecl wrote: post #37

I am seeing users on their mobiles very frequently when I see through the back mirror while driving in the city where I live. I assume this is mostly WhatsApp use. Phone and software makers have an unique opportunity to save lives on the road by taking measures to prevent this terrible behaviour. They'll be rewarded by getting some of the public trust back, and seeing they are optimizing around public good as opposed…

The problem is always differentiating between driver and passenger.

I was thinking the same thing, but for example, you could put black boxes recording phone usage for the police to access in case of an accident or random pull-over.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#259

Post by helloguillecl »

dmckeon wrote: post #226

1) front and rear-facing dash cams to defend against damage claims 2) configure cars to track phone usage, time-stamped, and downloadable thru the OBD port. If driver is sole occupant, some use of phone would be provable. No good for off-line activity, like games. Obvious privacy issues like other OBD data. 3) Pedestrians need an app for the “self-walking phone” with sub-1-meter location accuracy that flashes green m…

2) Actually the black box could be in the phone itself. Could be actually be implemented in existing phones via software upgrade.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#260

Post by nl »

markmark wrote: post #204
nl wrote: post #170

Isn't using a phone while driving illegal in most countries now? Here in Australia you can only touch one if it is in one of those GPS holder things, with ~$400 fines for non-compliance. The police put a few plain clothed ppl at traffic lights and raise thousands. Sure it's revenue raising, but the message gets out pretty quickly.

Not sure how quickly that message is getting out, mobile phone use while driving is very common here. It's _really_ noticeable when you're on a motorbike, your view is clearer, but also being a little higher you can see the phone on people's laps as they drive along looking down at them.

I'm a cyclist. I know how bad it is, but ppl know that they are doing the wrong thing now at least.
Post reply on HN