NEWS: Driving While Texting

Where do you think we are? Germany?

(I've hoped for too long for autobahn-style road laws. I'm sure I'll have to keep waiting. Those kinds of laws are un-American.)

+1

I saw a girl next to me in daddy's Mercedes, 80MPH, not really holding the wheel, but instead using the heels of her hands to control the car while she furiously messaged someone on her Sidekick.

I wanted to get in front of her and slam on my breaks.

texting, phoning, programming your GPS, eating, yelling at the kids in the back seat, they all distract from driving.

and I do remember when drinking and driving was legal, as long as you weren't actually drunk.

Yes, I worked in the service industry for a long time, and that was really fucking annoying.

"Um, excuse me, how do you want to pay?"

"Yes, sorry to interrupt again, but I need to see your ID."

"Your total is...yes, I'm talking to you..."

Only every once in a while was a person couteous enough to say "I'm checking out right now, I'll have to call you back." And I don't understand people who are compelled to answer their cell phones every single time they ring; that's what voicemail is for.

When people pulled that shit on me when I worked in a deli, I would move onto the next customer on line if they didn't get off the phone after I asked them what they wanted.

I'm not going to deny, because I am guilty of doing this sometimes.

I text while driving. I also ride my bike without a helmet while listening to my iPod. Sometimes I sit up and ride no hands and text while riding without a helmet while listening to my iPod.

I feel guilty about the former, but not the latter.

I don't even like changing cd's when I'm driving. Fuck If I can do anything else.

I've been given shit to people for talking on cell phones and driving since '98!

Ha. I'm actually glad they have it banned in WA now. I feel that much safer on the road/by the road.

I'm not sure that a ban would really help anyway - it'd be really hard to enforce at least. In the UK it's illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving (unless you're using a hands free kit) and you still see plenty of idiots doing it, driving like assholes.

xx x

Thaaaank you. When I worked at Subway, it was the most mind-chafingly annoying this there was, when people would be on a cell phone while I was trying to make their sandwich, and the most response I could get out of them was nodding or shaking their heads at my queries at to what they wanted on their otherwise about-45-seconds-to-make sandwich.

I work in a parking garage and people travel less than 500 ft to get where our (the parking attendants) booth is and some people are involved in deep conversations more important then the money they are spending to park downtown in a city in the northwest of Ohio, just miles from the Michigan border. Its amazing the tips I've gotten from people that have been to busy listening to the people on their cell phones and texting someone for drugs( (I'm not assuming all people are drug addicts, but then you stand 2 feet above them and can easily read their texts asking for $20 green or $50 white, or blair which is a common term for coke up here; I'm sure they aren't talking about paint or any type of coloring products; and I read upside down, a bad habit from college, oh and I make close to $15/hr (just said because people assume parking attendants don't make shit for money)because we are a fairly popular place to hold "special events")) it gets annoying. Luckily I'm in a union, for the very little I actually do, and I treat said customers like shit,don't worry about getting fired, and often don't inform them if they've given me to much money. Hell most of them don't notice they gave me $24 (four ones and a twenty dollar bill) for a $5 parking fee. It's nice to be able to go home and pay for my gas for the week, or a pack of cigarettes and a shit ton of vitamin waters, but to think they don't notice that they gave me too much money (which a lot of people value more than human life); how much more incoherently are they driving down the road? Now I've occasionally looked at text while driving, but never have I texted someone back, even on my 8 hour drive to see my friends in Nashville, Il didn't respond to texts unless I was at a rest station, I even dislike it when people are in the country; I don't care if the roads are empty in the middle of the night an animal might run out in front of you and cause you to swerve in the ditch, and thus possibly end your life, or at least hinder you from completely enjoying it. I am saying this while using a large amount of coke (I know it's hypocritical, so fucking sue me) but I'm at least sitting in my computer room, not endangering anyone except myself. Please if you text and drive learn which letters are where,and at least take the time to watch the road before checking your spelling. Oh and I don't think the government should ban it, it should be a state by state issue. Like gay marriage should be, and like liquor licenses and B.A.C. levels are. And I do think its important but i'd rather not have a republican president enact such a bill...

It's illegal in Australia already. You are not allowed to have your phone in your possession in any capacity while driving, though you can use a hands free device. Provisional license holders (first three years of having a license) are not allowed to use their phone in any capacity. There are also speed and passenger number limits imposed on learners/provisional drivers and a mandatory 100 hours experience for learners. Although I'm glad I never had to go through this I do think it's a good thing. It might sound harsh but compared to other countries it's not so bad. Look up Germany's requirements some time...

I think we all agree texting while driving is bad, but how many accidents have occurred when people are distracted doing other things instead of driving? We don't make those things illegagl. If you ever sat in bumper to bumper traffic you know that there are lots of other things that people do while driving. I have seen people shaving, putting on make up, reading textbooks, doing homework (carwork?), eating,changing CDs, looking for a CD, reading newspapers, handjobs, picking their nose, etc. I say make anything that takes your concentration from driving for any extended period illegal, not just texting. The problem with making all of this illegal is enforcement. How can that be accomplished?

seriously, ban everything but driving ! I mean, I'm an awesome multi-tasker but behind the wheel, I wouldn't even dare do something else than driving. Being in control of a car is something that requires all your attention, pretty much all your senses (except perhaps smell) but yeah... when I drive I usually don't even bother changing the radio stations or anything unless I'm stopped at a red light.

and I'm one that love riding a bike too, so I can totally understand the guy who replied at the beginning... I've been on busy boulevards, and I'm less scared of riding next to an 18 wheeler than somewhere near a multi-tasker driver !

I hear "I'm so pro at <blank> while driving" all the time. Getting high, talking on the phone, texting, etc., and without fail, the people who say these things are fucking terrifying behind the wheel even when they're not being total assholes. As a result there's only a couple of people I will get into a car with when they're driving, otherwise I either drive myself or I walk.

How is 'driving without due care and attention' (which would include texting) not an offence already? Honestly.

That may be the third dumbest thing I've ever heard on this web site.

I've added emphasis so people know where to start reading.

WOW you just have to read the bold statement for the rest of it to make sense.
Either coke is cheap in OH or parking attendants make WAY too much money.

Wow. Did I sound like that when I did coke?

I can remember when drinking and driving was legal (at least in Texas). Why shouldn't it be? It is OK to stop at a bar after work, have a (as in one) beer, and then drive home. Why shouldn't it be legal to drink my one beer while I drive home?

Of course thanks to a bunch of kneejerk knuckleheads we now have an open container law there too.

Now DWI or DUI - that is a whole different kettle of fish.

Worse.

Wow... where to start replying...

Hush, you... I can yell at my kids and watch the road at the same time

BIG FAT +1 - I work in a bank, and I hate when people do that when I'm trying to help them!!! Is talking about your weekend really more important than making sure I'm dealing with your finances properly??? Or just being polite or courteous?

(On a side note here, I also get fucking angry when I am at a grocery store or any other store, and the person who is ringing up my stuff sits there chatting with their co-workers or buddies or whatever while serving me. Last week I actually had a girl talking to her friends, who were standing behind me, so I kept moving to block them, and they finally took the hint and left. Fucking morons)

I don't know how you do things down in the States, but in Canada all of those things are illegal - they fall under the category of Careless Driving. I know this one gets enforced because one of the girls I work with got busted for putting on deoderant while driving. Dumbass. Surely the States must have similar laws, right?

I remember a couple of years ago when I was at a party and got completely trashed, then the party got broken up, and my friend hopped in the car next to me. He was supposed to have been a designated driver, but of course, he decided just to knock a few back anyway.

So he was driving drunk, then started driving with his knee and text messaging while turning the radio station.

Scariest two block ride of my life, where I proceeded to get out of the car, and walk home.