More on the dangers of texting while driving...

[lunatic59]

Any distraction is a potential accident, from changing the radio, to dropping something in your lap to texting. It's just that texting requires eyes off the road longer. It's the difference between two beers and the whole six-pack. Neither is a good idea, but one is a little better.

 

[Hadron]

Studies consistently show that even hands-free calling significantly increases the risk of accident. Texting - looking at the screen and typing while driving - I think deserves automatic revocation of your license, because doing that demonstrates that you are either too dumb or too irresponsible to be in charge of a moving vehicle, and it doesn't matter which.

 

[dan330]

I don't text while driving, but I could, even with GPS tuned off... so I guess your idea requires that GPS be on before texting anytime, then following your speed requirements?

I guess then the law will also require:
1. GPS on at all times..or
2. GPS on when Texting feature is activated.



in a car with many people or family... there is potential for many many distractions. there are distractions in everyday that we just cant help or stop.
Texting while driving... should not be part of them.

 

[Stuntman]

I use Waze (a mapping/navigation app) while driving. One interesting feature it has is if you are moving and try to input a destination, it will pop up a warning screen and you can cancel or select <Passenger> before you can enter a destination. Waze also pushes additional traffic info on your route or ads. The ads and some traffic info only appears when you are not moving.

 

[lunatic59]

My hands-free system in my car won't let me make any phonebook entries or pairing changes while the car is in gear. (My wife won't let me, either )

 

[bjacks12]

My hands-free system in my car won't let me make any phonebook entries or pairing changes while the car is in gear. (My wife won't let me, either )

What do you drive?

I believe my Fusion has this as well.

It will read me my text messages and has a bunch of preset replies you can send, but you can only send them while parked, lol. If you're going to park, just let me send whatever I want.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

When I was driving home from school today I was being a bit nosey. I kept looking at other drivers and like every time I did, someone was texting. I felt like making a sign that said. "Don't text and drive" and when I see someone honk at them and show them the sign.

Of course when we are at a stop light. I don't want to distract them when they are already distracted.

 

[zuben el genub]

I drive a stick, and I have the music blasting so I can sing along. Can't hear the phone anyway.

My phone, my terms. Friends and family know of these kinks, anyone else doesn't matter.

 

[jefboyardee]

I guess then the law will also require:
1. GPS on at all times..or
2. GPS on when Texting feature is activated.

I'd be okay with #2, #1 would drink too much juice. It does seem like something like that has to be enacted, don't think that the devs intended for people to get killed by using their features.

 

[lunatic59]

What do you drive?

I believe my Fusion has this as well.

It will read me my text messages and has a bunch of preset replies you can send, but you can only send them while parked, lol. If you're going to park, just let me send whatever I want.

Mitsubishi Outlander. It's not a perfect system, but It works. It doesn't have the option to read messages, but then that would be a distraction as well. Besides, i really don't need the thing to read me "pick up milk on your way home."

 

[dibblebill]

Who watches the watchmen?

I've seen state highway patrol swerve and almost hit people using laptops and phones in the car many times. Municipal police as well. Texting or using certain devices in the car while driving IS illegal in this state, last I checked (or at least for <18), but what about the cops? I'm not touching on a lot of what's being said here because I'll be driving it straight into P&CA if I do, where threads go to die a death of extremism and ignoring.

 

[dan330]

I'm not touching on a lot of what's being said here because I'll be driving it straight into P&CA if I do, where threads go to die a death of extremism and ignoring.

that is soo true.. I hate it.. when my posts get moved into there.
I understand why it there.. and why the post gets moved.

but I also know.. it wont get responses.
even I don't go in there often. or remember it is there

maybe it could be changed to a better more interesting title... that still means the same???.

 

[zipred]

My new car came with a feature I never thought I'd use until I tried it. Upon entering the car, it senses my phone via Bluetooth. At that point my phone becomes the hub of the audio, navigation, handsfree phone, and internet control. The moment a text arrives there's an audible and visual alert, then unless I refuse it, my text is read to me, and I can speak my response. It's something I use sparingly, but quite useful when I need it.

 

[olbriar]

All "in transit" communication should be hands free in my opinion. Even those that think they can divide their attention without a mishap are flirting with disaster... Too many accidents happen when everyone involved are giving the road 100% of their attention.

 

[dibblebill]

Except where studies found "hands free" makes little to no difference. What ultimately matters is that your attention is divided.

Hands-Free Cell Phones No Safer for Drivers
National Safety Council poll: 8 in 10 drivers mistakenly believe hands-free cell phones are safer
Hands-Free Texting Is No Safer to Use While Driving - Scientific American
Majority of Americans Wrongly Believe Hands-Free Cell Phones Are Safer Than Hand-Held Devices | Driver Risk Management Solutions | AlertDriving

 

[zuben el genub]

They can put all this new equipment in cars but I'll never use it. I'm still of the opinion that the phone is for MY convenience and no one else. I have ringtones coded for those I will answer - then I pull over. Otherwise, you wait. You also can't leave VM. I don't have it. I'll check the call log when I get to it.

I can also ignore a landline phone. Businesses do not have a Do Not Call, and you are subject to credit card offers, insurance, cleaning companies besides the normal robo dial spam. Hear so much of this, you get very disgusted with the phone.

It's very satisfying to make callers wait.

 

[bjacks12]

I can also ignore a landline phone. Businesses do not have a Do Not Call, and you are subject to credit card offers, insurance, cleaning companies besides the normal robo dial spam. Hear so much of this, you get very disgusted with the phone.

It's very satisfying to make callers wait.

I prefer to answer the phone and rip their heads off myself. Especially the repeat offenders.

 

[lunatic59]

I prefer to answer the phone and rip their heads off myself. Especially the repeat offenders.

Just don't do it while driving. (hint: topic )

 

[bjacks12]

Just don't do it while driving. (hint: topic )

It's ok, I use BT. And driving helps because I'm already angry when the phone rings.

EDIT: And going back to earlier, I love my current job, but I would quit tomorrow if I got to be the official in charge of administering corporal punishment for texting violations.

 

[Stuntman]

My new car came with a feature I never thought I'd use until I tried it. Upon entering the car, it senses my phone via Bluetooth. At that point my phone becomes the hub of the audio, navigation, handsfree phone, and internet control. The moment a text arrives there's an audible and visual alert, then unless I refuse it, my text is read to me, and I can speak my response. It's something I use sparingly, but quite useful when I need it.

I used VLingo briefly to use voice commands to send text messages. After a few attempts while driving, I stopped. I found that the act of composing a message vai voice reco takes a significant amount of my concentration and greatly impacts my ability to drive safely. Voice commands in general tend to distract me a lot because I have to concentrate on the responce from the phone or car.

 

[zipred]

I used VLingo briefly to use voice commands to send text messages. After a few attempts while driving, I stopped. I found that the act of composing a message vai voice reco takes a significant amount of my concentration and greatly impacts my ability to drive safely. Voice commands in general tend to distract me a lot because I have to concentrate on the responce from the phone or car.

In my case I only author an extremely limited number of texts only when needed to communicate with my family. When in the car I never composd a text. I limited my on car activity to responding to important texts only, which ends up being exactly one or two per week at the most.

However now that I've read the report that was linkef to above, I'll cease all communications when driving. The solution is simple, if I truly need to respond, pull over and park, then do my communicating. That's how I've always handled calls, so extending that practice for texts will be easy.