Driver's Unfinished Text Is Warning To Others

[dandoolittle]

Driver's Unfinished Text Is Warning To Others


Worth a read http://news.sky.com/story/1076692/drive ... -to-others

 

[Slipperymongoose]

You'd think with touch screen phones that texting while driving is impossible. Good warning. It's just not worth it

 

[Ninjievious]

I kindly signal drivers who are on their phones to hang up and put their phone down when I'm out and I see them. Most of the time they get the message. Other times they get angry at me. Not sure why, it's illegal to drive and txt/talk on the phone. It's even illegal to have it in your hand or in your lap now.

 

[Romans5.8]

I kindly signal drivers who are on their phones to hang up and put their phone down when I'm out and I see them. Most of the time they get the message. Other times they get angry at me. Not sure why, it's illegal to drive and txt/talk on the phone. It's even illegal to have it in your hand or in your lap now.

Not illegal most places here in the US. There was a bill in my state to make it illegal if you're UNDER 23! How ridiculous!

If you want to ride around without a helmet on or lane split (where the only damage caused would be by a driver failing to check their blind spot, a principle reason I WON'T lane split, they DON'T check their blind spots!), then fine by me. You've got a right to put yourself in danger if you feel like it gives you some sort of advantage worth the risk. But, texting and driving, drinking and driving, those sorts of things SHOULD be illegal, because they put other people in direct danger and published, accredited studies have proven that.

Not to get 'too political' but why Helmet Laws exist but texting and driving laws don't baffles me. One is an individuals choice about an individuals safety, the other is a choice that puts the lives of countless others in serious jeopardy.

Oh well, all the more reason to look sharp out there and pay close attention. Doesn't matter how well you can handle the bike around the corner; safety is all about being situationally aware and knowing what's going on around you.

 

[Ninjievious]

Not illegal most places here in the US. There was a bill in my state to make it illegal if you're UNDER 23! How ridiculous!

If you want to ride around without a helmet on or lane split (where the only damage caused would be by a driver failing to check their blind spot, a principle reason I WON'T lane split, they DON'T check their blind spots!), then fine by me. You've got a right to put yourself in danger if you feel like it gives you some sort of advantage worth the risk. But, texting and driving, drinking and driving, those sorts of things SHOULD be illegal, because they put other people in direct danger and published, accredited studies have proven that.

Not to get 'too political' but why Helmet Laws exist but texting and driving laws don't baffles me. One is an individuals choice about an individuals safety, the other is a choice that puts the lives of countless others in serious jeopardy.

Oh well, all the more reason to look sharp out there and pay close attention. Doesn't matter how well you can handle the bike around the corner; safety is all about being situationally aware and knowing what's going on around you.

It's illegal in California and Massachusetts to talk and txt while operating a vehicle. In California it is illegal to even hold a map while driving. It's called "distracted driving" and you can be ticketed and summoned before a judge. The only place I know that it's legal to split lanes in America is also California. I've split lanes past cops with no problems.

 

[Romans5.8]

It's illegal in California and Massachusetts to talk and txt while operating a vehicle. In California it is illegal to even hold a map while driving. It's called "distracted driving" and you can be ticketed and summoned before a judge. The only place I know that it's legal to split lanes in America is also California. I've split lanes past cops with no problems.

Yep, but that's 2 states out of 50! And yes, California is the only state where lane splitting is legal. Lane splitting doesn't bother me. Personally? I wouldn't do it, I'm not in that much of a hurry and I see WAY to many people change lanes without checking their blind spot to be creeping through their blind spot. If they do it when I'm passing them in my own, unencumbered lane, I've got somewhere to go. If I do it with another car to my left? I'm screwed. There's an accident on a major interstate near me 2-3 times a week where a driver hits a driver to their left or right because they changed lanes without checking their blind spot. What if I was between those two drivers? To me, it's akin to putting my life in the hands of a random person I've never met! Of course, some people say you shouldn't ride a motorcycle at all because it's too dangerous, so... to each their own! I don't mind it, I just won't do it!

But, point is, we have laws in 49 states (after all that's what it takes, it's legal in california because there's no law against it. 49 other states have some state law outlawing lane splitting, or 'lane sharing' or 'entering a portion of the lane occupied by another vehicle' or however they'd like to word it), and laws in about half the states governing lane splitting and helmets; individual safety decisions (when lane splitters get nailed it's a two-vehicle collision, but the driver of the automobile WAS in the wrong, so it's not fair to penalize the motorcycle). But we only have laws in TWO states governing something that puts OTHER people in danger. Here where I live, about 6 weeks ago, we had a girl run a red light while texting and T-Bone another teenage girl heading home from work. She was fine, but the girl she hit is dead. She'll likely spend a very, very long time in prison for vehicular manslaughter. People certainly break laws, but if you could get a ticket for texting and driving, then chances are the number of these senseless collisions and fatalities may be reduced.

 

[Ninjievious]

Yep, but that's 2 states out of 50! And yes, California is the only state where lane splitting is legal. Lane splitting doesn't bother me. Personally? I wouldn't do it, I'm not in that much of a hurry and I see WAY to many people change lanes without checking their blind spot to be creeping through their blind spot. If they do it when I'm passing them in my own, unencumbered lane, I've got somewhere to go. If I do it with another car to my left? I'm screwed. There's an accident on a major interstate near me 2-3 times a week where a driver hits a driver to their left or right because they changed lanes without checking their blind spot. What if I was between those two drivers? To me, it's akin to putting my life in the hands of a random person I've never met! Of course, some people say you shouldn't ride a motorcycle at all because it's too dangerous, so... to each their own! I don't mind it, I just won't do it!

But, point is, we have laws in 49 states (after all that's what it takes, it's legal in california because there's no law against it. 49 other states have some state law outlawing lane splitting, or 'lane sharing' or 'entering a portion of the lane occupied by another vehicle' or however they'd like to word it), and laws in about half the states governing lane splitting and helmets; individual safety decisions (when lane splitters get nailed it's a two-vehicle collision, but the driver of the automobile WAS in the wrong, so it's not fair to penalize the motorcycle). But we only have laws in TWO states governing something that puts OTHER people in danger. Here where I live, about 6 weeks ago, we had a girl run a red light while texting and T-Bone another teenage girl heading home from work. She was fine, but the girl she hit is dead. She'll likely spend a very, very long time in prison for vehicular manslaughter. People certainly break laws, but if you could get a ticket for texting and driving, then chances are the number of these senseless collisions and fatalities may be reduced.

I'm sure there are more states that outlaw telephone usage while operating a vehicle. And you'd be surprised about the lane splitting. Most drivers are aware because motorcycles are so common here. More often than not, cars will move out of the way for motorcyclists. I'm not saying that there is that one or two idiots that don't look. You just have to remain vigilant when splitting. I've seen more cars be rear ended by people not paying attention in traffic conditions than run into from the side from blind spots at a stand still or crawling speeds. I would not want to be behind a stopped vehicle in traffic conditions.

When splitting lanes in California, you shouldn't be doing it traffic is going faster than 25mph and you should not be traveling faster than 10mph above what the traffic is traveling. I'm not saying that I do this or that I go faster, but there are people who do. Again, at speeds that are 25mph or slower, the chances of you being crushed to death by a distracted driver is far less than if you were sitting behind a stopped or slow moving vehicle and you get rear ended by a distracted driver. I cover my brakes when I split in case of the unpredictable cager and if you pay attention, you can stop faster than you think and it's always good to have footage in case they try to contest.

Here's a site with a lists of states that outlaw cellphone usage:
http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx

 

[Romans5.8]

It's illegal in California and Massachusetts to talk and txt while operating a vehicle. In California it is illegal to even hold a map while driving. It's called "distracted driving" and you can be ticketed and summoned before a judge. The only place I know that it's legal to split lanes in America is also California. I've split lanes past cops with no problems.

Yep, but that's 2 states out of 50! And yes, California is the only state where lane splitting is legal. Lane splitting doesn't bother me. Personally? I wouldn't do it, I'm not in that much of a hurry and I see WAY to many people change lanes without checking their blind spot to be creeping through their blind spot. If they do it when I'm passing them in my own, unencumbered lane, I've got somewhere to go. If I do it with another car to my left? I'm screwed. There's an accident on a major interstate near me 2-3 times a week where a driver hits a driver to their left or right because they changed lanes without checking their blind spot. What if I was between those two drivers? To me, it's akin to putting my life in the hands of a random person I've never met! Of course, some people say you shouldn't ride a motorcycle at all because it's too dangerous, so... to each their own! I don't mind it, I just won't do it!

But, point is, we have laws in 49 states (after all that's what it takes, it's legal in california because there's no law against it. 49 other states have some state law outlawing lane splitting, or 'lane sharing' or 'entering a portion of the lane occupied by another vehicle' or however they'd like to word it), and laws in about half the states governing lane splitting and helmets; individual safety decisions (when lane splitters get nailed it's a two-vehicle collision, but the driver of the automobile WAS in the wrong, so it's not fair to penalize the motorcycle). But we only have laws in TWO states governing something that puts OTHER people in danger. Here where I live, about 6 weeks ago, we had a girl run a red light while texting and T-Bone another teenage girl heading home from work. She was fine, but the girl she hit is dead. She'll likely spend a very, very long time in prison for vehicular manslaughter. People certainly break laws, but if you could get a ticket for texting and driving, then chances are the number of these senseless collisions and fatalities may be reduced.

The majority of those states referenced only outlaw talking on the phone while using a learners permit or intermediate license; else under a certain age. It's ludacris really, older drivers are just as dangerous (if not more) than younger drivers when distracted.

 

[Ninjievious]

The majority of those states referenced only outlaw talking on the phone while using a learners permit or intermediate license; else under a certain age. It's ludacris really, older drivers are just as dangerous (if not more) than younger drivers when distracted.

Yes, but the debate isn't whether texting is more dangerous than talking on the phone. I think both are equally dangerous, but if a driver is talking, they are at least looking at the road and not down at a phone or other device.