cell phone social anthropology experiment

shovelstrokeed · 03-03-2003, 11:49 AM

Do not try this at home!
Went to my local watering hole last night and was in conversation with the owner/manager, a long time friend. Mentioned the level of idiocy in re cell phone usage and driving. She, and the other 4 women who happened to be in the place, nearly took my head off! All claimed that talking on the cell phone had no effect whatsoever on their driving as witness the fact that they were all still alive and so far, accident free. Jeez, no amount of quote of statistics, studies, first hand observation could convince any of these people. It is not just estrogen either, 3 guys who came in during the debate agreed with the girls. None of these people ride or are even remotely sympathetic to motorcycles in general. If this is the prevailing attitude, I'm going back to working on my remote cell phone exploding device as a defense. Sheeh!!!
Ed

03-03-2003, 12:06 PM

Let's hope they only kill themselves then

Jeff Williams · 03-03-2003, 12:15 PM

Maybe they eat their young.
Jeff

"Stupidity is no excuse for being an idiot." me

Flatbutt1 · 03-03-2003, 12:59 PM

If I was God, the first thing I would do is make stupidity painful.

Josey · 03-03-2003, 01:30 PM

Unfortunately, you cannot legislate intelligence; you also can't fix stupid.

I drive an old Geo Tracker as my "beater". Whenever I see one of these cerebrally-challenged individuals yakking away (usually balancing the wireless in one hand and a double latte in the other), I pull in front of them (legally, mind you - signals & everything!), then look for an intersection. I'm hoping that, if I stand on the brakes hard enough slowing for the right turn, I'll get a new car...
Have not succeded yet - but I usually get them to spill the coffee all over themselves and the wireless

Rootboy · 03-03-2003, 03:14 PM

Unfortunately for us on bikes, people on cells phones are just another potential hazard we have to watch out for....If cages saw what I see when I ride, they would thow down their phones in shear embarrassment! I stear clear of anyone on a phone...

Daniel Restrepo · 03-03-2003, 03:17 PM

i'm guilty. i dont own a car but i know that in my past i have been guilty of using a cell phone in a car while driving. i'm so embarrased. a change is being made as of now!!! no more driving under the influence of a cell phone.

Malc · 03-05-2003, 05:13 AM

I've only ever seen the results of one study on cell phone use while driving. Apparently you have the same reduced ability as a person who has had three units of alcohol. A unit is equal to a glass of wine, half a pint of beer or a measure of spirit.

Not sure how things stand in the US, but there have been a couple of successful prosecutions here (UK) for dangerous driving.

Apart from people on the phone the two biggest things that really piss me off are cigarettes thrown from cars and people using their windscreen washers when I'm behind.

03-05-2003, 07:20 AM

Not only ciggies, I got chewing gum in the face on one occasion and torn up paper thrown at me on another.

People just don't seem to realise how much of their screen wash is taken by the airflow over the car. When my car screen needs a clean I try to wait till I'm at a standstill.