Cell phones while Driving

[RedHedd]

Anyone else experience this type of stupidity?

Every day on my commute to and from work and while driving in San Francisco. I've even witnessed idiots trying to parallel park while on the phone! My friends know that if they call me and I'm driving, I will not answer the phone.

My car cost me money and I want it to last a while. It would seem silly to damage my car or take a chance on endangering another driver or pedestrian because of a stupid phone call.

[gini]

One of the best bumper stickers I have ever seen said:


HANG UP AND DRIVE!

[wolflady]

One of the best bumper stickers I have ever seen said:


HANG UP AND DRIVE!

Ha ha...that's a good one!

Anyone else experience this type of stupidity?

Oh gosh yes. This has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to bad driving. I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed accidents and near accidents because of people talking on their damn phone!
I don't have a problem with people who can talk and drive at the same time, but unfortunately there are scads of people who can not. In fact, only this week, someone talking on their freaking phone has caused a near accident with me because of their stupidity. There was one guy would completely turned left when his light was red. This was a SOLID red too because the traffic with the green light was already going through the intersection. This idiot was completely oblivious! I had another person practically run me off the road in their bloody SUV while talking on their phone. Just because someone has a bigger car than mine, and can't concentrate while talking on the phone doesn't give them license to run me off the road!

Something equally annoying is women putting on make-up while driving. WTF? This is just as bad as talking on the phone IMO. These women are looking in their rear-view mirrors to apply mascara...and not at the road. That is just too frightenting. It's not worth risking a life to do something so stupid. Either get up earlier and do make-up at home, or do it when you get to work...but not while driving!!!

Sorry, this is just a very sore spot for me because I see it too much.

*sigh*

[Luvin Labs]

its illegal in some places to do so.

The problem is 99% of on-the-phone-while-driving seem to think yapping on the phone is way more important than watching the road and not getting into an accident. They HAVE to answer a ringing phone no matter what. I cannot count the number of times I've been almost rearended or been hit broadside because of these 'people'. If you are merging concentrate on the ROAD!

The other pet peeve with this is driving while on the phone in the left/passing lane. They are going 5-10 miles under the speed limit in a passing lane.

I've got a cell, and the ONLY times I'll answer is if it is my fiancee, mom, dad, or brother. The rest get voicemail until I'm at a stop light or parked. With my mom and dad I'll tell them I'll call them back cuz I'm driving. My bro I'll talk to real quick and mention I'm driving let me get back with you when I can concentrate on the call. My fiancee I'll answer and talk to (I'll actually get into the far RIGHT lane if I'm not already), but he knows I'm concentrating more on the road than the call.

Ooh that felt good

[mugsy]

Once again, I have to agree with Johanna. It's not the phones that are the problem...it's idiot people. I have not had an accident since I have owned a phone and I use it a lot when I am driving. I also make sure that as I am talking I look in all the mirrors and to my side.

I know people who can be doing nothing but driving and still not have a clue as to what is going on around them...

[mruffruff]

Sparks19, you said it all!

10 years ago we learned to make our calls before or after we drove. We did other stupid things while driving, but phone calls weren't one of them. Yes, we had accidents, but now we've increased the probability.

When you are behind the wheel, you should be doing only one thing---driving!

I've always wondered why they couldn't fix either the vehicles or the phone so they won't operate while the transmission is engaged. There are 'zappers" that will disable cell phones, but their use is illegal. I'd love to get my hands on one anyway.

I've seen the bumper stickers "Hang up and Drive". I want one on each bumper and I want to put them under ever wiper blade I see.

[mugsy]

I have more problems with people putting make up on as they drive or yelling at their kids in the back seat (even so far as to be turned around yelling) than people on cell phones (although the oblivious ones make me nuts).

[sparks19]

Sparks19, you said it all!

10 years ago we learned to make our calls before or after we drove. We did other stupid things while driving, but phone calls weren't one of them. Yes, we had accidents, but now we've increased the probability.

.

I was going to say exactly the same thing LOL. I mean seriously, we had car accidents before cell phones so it doesnt matter if they are happening more frequently because accidents happen anyway?! I just can't see justifying something that has OBVIOUSLY caused a lot of problems for a lot of people. Yes there are accidents without cell phones but there are just too many that involved cell phones to simply ignore that it might be a problem, IMHO.

CatsinDenver, you also make a very good point. Just because some people have been lucky to have not been in an accident that involved a cell phone does not make it OK for others who are incapable of doing so to endanger peoples well being. Like it was pointed out before, a vehicle can be a very dangerous thing when you are fully concentrating. Why are we trying to promote adding in a distraction that could possibly impair your judgement and reactions? it has been pointed out on this thread that people have been involved in accidents without distractions. obviously we have difficulty with our vehicles and other drivers as it is. We don't need cell phones to make it a more frequent occurance.

[GreyhoundGirl]

The phones I don't mind as much as the peole who really try to multi-task.

I see people talking on the phone, eating and (supposubly) driving. I see them drive with their knees, their elbows, I see them with computers on their laps. Typing away! And most of this is on the highway! You don't see it so much in town... I see them with headphones on their ears, (which I know for a fact is illegal) I see them with those little TVs on, I see them with magazines open. I see people doing their hair, their make-up. It just... URG!... Seems like we are having less and less responsible drivers out there by the day.

[rant over]

It drives me bonkers, too.

Another road pet-peeve of mine is people passing on the wrong side of the road. I see this all the time

Example: Car 1 is turning left. Car 2 is TOO DAMN BUSY to wait 2 seconds for car 1 to finish turning, so Car 2 decides that it would be a good plan to make an illegal right-side pass.

[Kfamr]

People are becoming worse and worse with driving. Who knows if it's because of thier cell phone.

One thing that bothers the heck out of me about cell phone users is when they come thru my drive-thru at work and tell ME told hold on because they need to finish their conversation. I have to sit at the window register waiting for them to order while listening to their conversation reguardless of wether I wanted to or not.

And then when they come to the window talking on thier cell phones and pay NO attention to what I am asking them and I have to repeat myself 10 or so times to get an answer from them.

Yeah, thanks for wasting my time, holding up my line, and giving me more work!

[Catlady711]

I think it honestly comes down to being just plain rude and irresponsible. I don't blame the cell phones themselves, as has been pointed out above that accidents have happened because of inattentiveness (whether or not a cell phone was involved).

Some people think they need to have a cell phone glued to their ears and be rude to cashiers, drive up window clerks, doctors (we had one client brought a dog in and we never did get to talk to the owner, he was on the cell phone the ENITRE time and never even acknowleged us!!).

This behavior whether on cell phones, driving in general, shoving past people in a store, lack of 'please' and 'thank you's' or (my worst pet peeve) 'my little child couldn't have possibly done anything wrong''; all stems from the same causes: rude and irresponsible behavior, lack of ethics, morals, and plain and simple curtesy!

As long as the courts continue to let people sue for their own stupidity (ie. spilling hot coffee on yourself, getting fat eating fast food, etc.) and as long as the general public allows or excuses the behavior, then this will all not only continue, but get much worse. Just in my lifetime (and I'm not that old) I've seen a DRASTIC change in how people interact with other people whether in public or their own families.

Lets face it, the days of 'Little House on the Prarie' and the 'Waltons' is history, simply a fond memory, gone with the wind!


***and for the record, the only time I'm on my cell phone while driving (and that isn't often) is if I'm on a straight, low traffic road and not making any turns/parking etc. Otherwise, my voicemail can get it, I'm busy!***

[moosmom]

The State of Connecticut has a "hands free" law which requires you to use an ear piece while driving. Personally, I like the ear piece. It let's me chat away while keeping both my hands on the wheel.