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Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

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Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#271

Post by mrguyorama »

wahern wrote: post #154
max76 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why people see the possibility of a drivers license suspension as being worse than the increased risk of vehicular manslaughter. One is a few months of decreased mobility. The other is an entire life.

They're not convinced that it impairs their driving. Consider that a plurality, if not a majority of the population is convinced that they're efficient at multi-tasking, and specifically that they can perform each task as well as in isolation. But we know that almost nobody multitasks well, period, and absolutely not with equivalent performance.

Don't forget that a vast majority of the population thinks that they are above average at $TASK, no matter what it is

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#272

Post by DonaldPShimoda »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #264
DonaldPShimoda wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Its tempting to glance at the text and see if they're expecting you/changed plans. My desire to avoid the inconvenience of some extra driving (if I drive all the way to the destination only to leave because plans changed) is not more valuable than other people's lives. There's no good reason to be on your phone while your car is in motion — absolutely none.

But its an explanation of why people are tempted to do just that. You may miss the event entirely if delay is too large.

> You may miss the event entirely if delay is too large.

And yet... that's still a pretty minor inconvenience when weighed against the potential to cause people to die or otherwise be seriously injured. There's no valid justification for it.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#273

Post by glenneroo »

alexktz wrote: post #257
dangravell wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I believe this is true in most of Europe - stay to the right except when passing, which you do on the left.

On the other hand, some cities (such as LA) have off-ramps on both the left and right sides, not to mention many multi-lane freeway interchanges located on both sides... combined with Google Maps telling you at the last minute that you need to be in the left 3 lanes, followed by immediately being in the right-most lane in order to get on the right freeway. Almost every visit to LA requires 1 or 2 retries on a few of these freeways. When I'm not constrained for time, I often opt for much slower side streets to avoid the utter insanity of some interchanges.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#274

Post by glenneroo »

Pharmakon wrote: post #144
jeffdavis wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A citation is nothing. A couple drinks will put you in jail, cost you your license for a while, maybe your job, and thousands of dollars.

My wife got her start as an attorney in the U.S. and her first criminal cases as defense counsel were for drunk divers. It ended up driving (no pun) her away from defense work, because these guys were inveterate offenders and never got more than a slap on the wrist. The penalties on the books for DUI and the penalties actually administered are often miles apart. That may have changed in the last decade though, I can’…

You might enjoy Austria, where being drunk on your bicycle or as of recently electric scooter will cost you your drivers license.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#275

Post by checkyoursudo »

arprocter wrote: post #266
alexktz wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

>undertaking. I know it's not illegal here I believe it varies state to state. Agree that the US test is laughably easy to pass compared to the UK, though. It wouldn't be possible to undertake if folks had proper lane discipline in the first place, although the UK also has it's fair share of Middle Lane Morons I've heard speak of 'the orbit game' - legally pass the MLM on the left, then pull across into the right lan…

I was in a car where the driver was stopped for prolonged driving in the passing lane in a US midwestern or plains state. This was maybe 25 years ago, but this has been a violation in at least one state at some point.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#276

Post by wcarron »

MuffinFlavored wrote: post #207
wcarron wrote: post #164

As others have said, as a motorcyclist, my number one concern on the road is a person using their mobile device while driving. I am less worried about road rage (which is still a top concern for me) than distracted drivers. I see it literally hundreds of times a day. People are driving their cars at over 70mph while texting. They use instagram and facebook at stoplights. They text or call while driving too fast down…

> It is statistically more dangerous than driving intoxicated. It might cause more deaths/accidents, but how many more people are driving distracted compared to driving intoxicated?

If I had to guess, probably 100-1000x more people are driving distracted than driving intoxicated.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#277

Post by jpindar »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #114
everly wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think your test is all that good. If I'm out with friends, I try to consciously avoid using my phone when we're together so that I'm present and so that they know I value their presence. Those 15 seconds at the urinal are often the best time to check notifications before getting back to phone-free socializing. Agree with your other points though.

Why do notifications need to be checked?

The people who give me money might have some work for me to do. Welcome to the gig economy.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#278

Post by wcarron »

i_am_proteus wrote: post #192
wcarron wrote: post #164

As others have said, as a motorcyclist, my number one concern on the road is a person using their mobile device while driving. I am less worried about road rage (which is still a top concern for me) than distracted drivers. I see it literally hundreds of times a day. People are driving their cars at over 70mph while texting. They use instagram and facebook at stoplights. They text or call while driving too fast down…

Amen, brother. I used to be on a white R1200RS and I'd get mistaken for CHP in California. It was amusing to see them try to hide their phones when I'd honk at them. A lot less amusing when they'd wander into my lane, oblivious. Every single close call I've had in the last year of riding has been from a motorist operating a cell phone. I'm nearly of a mind to roll a helmet cam and start a Twitter account with footage…

Ha! I just saw a guy wearing a cop-like getup on a white R1200RS and let off the throttle immediately (because Vance and Hines pipes + cop + overpass == possible $1k ticket). Totally thought he was a cop until I passed him.

I would love it if you started that account, but safety first. I'm about to splurge on a helmet cam, myself.

It __does__ seem to have gotten worse lately. The only cops I've ever seen enforce it are... you guessed it, motorcycle cops. Cops in cruisers don't do shit in my area.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#279

Post by wcarron »

alexktz wrote: post #214
wcarron wrote: post #164

As others have said, as a motorcyclist, my number one concern on the road is a person using their mobile device while driving. I am less worried about road rage (which is still a top concern for me) than distracted drivers. I see it literally hundreds of times a day. People are driving their cars at over 70mph while texting. They use instagram and facebook at stoplights. They text or call while driving too fast down…

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…

Agreed on every count. In LA, where I am, drivers leave only 2-3 car lengths following distance even when traveling over 100/120kmh. It's incredibly dangerous, and one can't really even try to leave proper following distance because someone will just think "that's an open space" and merge in, putting everyone in danger. It's the __default__ behavior and it enrages me.

Social stigma is great; but I write to my state and federal representatives every quarter of the year about this specific issue. I want distracted driving to be treated as an equal offense to driving drunk.

At the very least, real enforcement and stiffer fines need to happen in order for any changes to take place.

Re: Phone Addicts Are the New Drunk Drivers

#280

Post by wcarron »

coleifer wrote: post #227
wcarron wrote: post #164

As others have said, as a motorcyclist, my number one concern on the road is a person using their mobile device while driving. I am less worried about road rage (which is still a top concern for me) than distracted drivers. I see it literally hundreds of times a day. People are driving their cars at over 70mph while texting. They use instagram and facebook at stoplights. They text or call while driving too fast down…

Motorcyclist as well, and yes, I watch for the characteristic head-bob and try to take extra care around people on their phone. I've once or twice made a "hang-up" gesture but who am I kidding, it doesn't make a difference. Now, the worst part: about a month ago I got pulled over for texting and driving. I wasn't even thinking about it. The cop said, "were you texting?" And I said, "I don't think so, let me check"...…

Good on you for admitting your mistakes and making a change to avoid making the same one again.

Sometimes I'll get so fed up with people that, at a stoplight, I'll actually get off my bike and knock on their windows and tell them to put the phone down. All black visor and gear makes one intimidating enough for them to stop for a few hundred yards. Better than nothing, I suppose.

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