A little OT-cell phones and driving...

[ClayMcguill]

N.Y. will become the first state to make it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving on Nov. 1st.

I say it's about DAMN time-I just wish Texas would have beat them to it. The vast majority of people out there behind the wheel don't have a f**cking clue, don't pay anywhere near enough attention to what's going on around them in the first place-it's twice as bad (or worse) when they get on the phone.

What's sad about this is the fact that the problem got this bad in the first place-I mean, it's common sense to avoid distractions when you're in control (and I use the term "control" loosely) of 2 or more tons of steel hurtling down the road at 70 mph or so---but then, "common sense", I've noted, is rapidly becoming an oxymoron of the highest order.

Gives those "hang up and drive" bumper stickers a little more meaning, doesn't it?

[campbellcj]

Most new phones now come with a little headset...they are great for driving and really improve the "road hazard factor" IMHO.

If only those damn people would use their friggen headsets (or hands-free mode)!!!

[Saffs]

In the UK it's already illegal to drive using - as we'd call it - a mobile phone. This is Countrywide and means just the phone, handsfree in-ear stuff is OK as both hands are free to drive. If I remember, one of the precipitating incidents to this was a case of somebody being on the phone in their car and having a head on collision with another car killing them. The person on the phone survived and it was proven being on the phone was to blame, hence he got a sentence.
I think it's about time it was made illegal to drive using the phone, I can't believe so many people do it.
(Anyone tried using a handsfree set in a 911 on the motor/freeway? You can't hear a thing with the engine roar!)

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'75 911S Targa
'81 BMW Alpina C1 2.3

[ljonespwc]

It's my understanding that "hands-free" will not solve the problem. The problem is the need to concentrate on a voice which is transmitted using only 4Khz of bandwidth.

My friends say, "what about listening to the radio?", or, "what about talking to a passenger?". My responses are (1) most people do not converse with their radio, and (2) it is much easier to hear someone in person versus on the phone. Speaking on a phone requires a great deal of concentration--that can be (somewhat) likened to being in a roomful of people, and trying to pick out what someone is saying halfway across the room. Ever experience phone fatigue after a very long conversation, in the comfort of your home and favorite chair? That fatigue is accelerated while driving...

Lance
'88 911 Club Sport

[1.2gees]

I don't think everybody is as effected by talking on the phone as you make yourselves believe...

I assure you, a soccer mom in an excursion turning around to shut the kids up is still more dangerous than the avarage person talking on the phone.

However, recognizing that a person talking on the phone is 4x more likely to get involved in an accident, I'm glad to see some action being taken.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[patalive]

It is my strongly felt position that those folks who say their driving is unaffected by cell phone use are probably poor drivers to begin with. These folks don't notice any decrease in their driving skills when using the phone because they are not good drivers.
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Driving, particularly in the city and say the WashDC Beltway, or the freeways of LA, is a FULL TIME job requiring complete concentration.
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I know that all of us on this BBS consider ourselves superior drivers, compared to the masses. We probably are, no doubt. I know I do. Many of us have training on the track which further increase our driving and concentration skills.
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When I drive, (yeah, yeah, I've said this in previous threads ), I keep "the picture" in my mind - - it's a very dynamic picture, ever changing. "passed that blue Honda, truck in right lane falling back, approaching merge, three cars going slower than me, car in front going much slower but I can pass on left because I cleared the VW, etc, etc, etc. When I use the cell phone, I lose this picture! I am aware of a car, but I don't have a feel for its speed or intentions. When I terminate the call, I am ALWAYS surprised that I have completely lost "the picture" - I usually just hold my position for several seconds to determine what's happening. This is marginally OK on the straight, uncrowded sections, but man, when I'm merging with speeding beltway traffic and I have an SUV behind me also wanting to merge, I WANT THE PICTURE.
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Cell phones and driving do not mix. Particularly those folks with the ear pieces who carry on long conversations like they are sitting in their livingrooms. SCARY
Chuck
83SC

[orbmedia]

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I can have several concersations on the cell phone, using full-hands dialing, read the newspaper *and* eat my full drive-thru lunch in my Carrera - all the time weaving thru traffic with great aplomb.

[1.2gees]

patalive, you're basically saying that you're not as good a driver when you're on the phone, as you're when you're not on the phone.

I can't speak for you or anybody else, but I don't think I get as distracted driving using a phone, however granted I haven't driven in LA. I will say this though, driving in New York (or turkey for that matter), I wouldn't even think about talking on the phone except during a traffic jam, so I suppose you may have a point.

Here in NC though, traffic is much less complicated and talking on the phone has not been a problem for me. Maybe that's why it's illegal in NY and not NC (at least not yet).
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[motion]

How many times have you missed your exit while talking on your phone? I have several times - guilty as charged!

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-Richard
'84 Carrera Cabriolet
'74 911 Widebody 3.6 Project

[Planter91C2]

just got in to my office right now. start the day with a quick browse here. topic 1 and i'm still steaming about driving behind this guy who was going 5-10mph below the speed limit and weaving around while talking on a phone. almost caused me road rage! luckily i live in NY

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Daryl 964 Targa

[RarlyL8]

Picture this, if you will:

Heavy traffic, soccer mom in the GMC MeggaHummer full of screaming brats. Barney is full blast on the VCR, kids all eating happy meals and having a fry throwing contest. Fax machine in the passengers seat rings, mom reads fax as it comes off. Fax not right, puts down big mac and picks up phone to call for correction. Kids throw fries at mom, mom tells caller to hold on so she can turn around and holler at the kids.

And she is heading right for you.

Absurd as this may sound it is all legal in most states.

[This message has been edited by RarlyL8 (edited 06-27-2001).]

[Mrdi]

Lost my secretary 3 months ago to a cell phone mom in an SUV. Where I live every sixteen year old female has an expesive SUV and it's the rule that you must be on the phone to drive.Sixteen year olds have a tough enough time just driving. Now we give them permission to play with thier favorite toy at the same time. ABSURD!
There is a bid dollar lobby out there fighting legislation to eliminate phone use underway.

[Joe Bob]

HANG THE STUPID PHONE UP AND DRIVE YA MORON....

OK I feel better now.

[orbmedia]

Am I the only one who accesses this forum from a laptop in my car on a cellular modem WHILE I'M DRIVING? Yes, I am going 120 right now. Typing with the laptop in the passenger seat is tricky, I need some technique to prop this up on the dash.

[Saffs]

So it's just teenage girls and "soccer moms" doing the talking on Cellphones? I don't think so. I see all sorts of people doing it and it's a mistake to think only people with "limited attention spans" do it: I see mostly a lot of middle aged business type men are out there swerving about on the phone - in the UK and US.

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'75 911S Targa
'81 BMW Alpina C1 2.3

[Pillow]

I hope cell phones and driving become illegal country wide. Unless they are hands free it is impossible to drive safely with two hands and a mobile neck/head.

petalive is 100% correct about the "picture". Without this picture you are lost and just a victim wiating to happen. I can drive very smoothly and with precision knowing what is going on around me, kind of proactive instead of reactive. Everyone rides shotgun with some person who does not know what is going on around them and does not "read" traffic ahead of them, very scary to me. Yet most people just drive in reaction to the car right ahead of them, pitiful.

An "accident" is a BS term. It was one or two peoples mistakes that created a collision. I strongly believe that most all collisions could be avioded if the victim or moron was paying more attension and knew how to drive... Also it helps to have a capable car, which goes onto an SUV rant which I will avoid for the timebeing.

There are more collisions caused by cell phones than drunk driving. Yet where is the public outrage? I think this information is supressed by the cell phone corporate giants as to not affect business... Think of the advertizing dollars at stake for the local TV companies. It would be like a dog biting the hand that feeds it.

The best solution I have seen is in my wifes car, a Cadillac Catera. The car has a totally hands free built in phone that can be used with voice commands, as long as it is turned on. Just call out 555-5555 and dial and you are done. I think this can be implemented into any car, maybe even portables with a cradle device from Radio Shack.

Personally I do not use a cell phone and think it is a big PITA. Why do I want to be bothered all the time? Why do I want to talk rather than enjoy my 911 in peace and quiet? Think of the money you will save not having a phone... Now if I could get my wife to get rid of hers

End Rant.




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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

[Greg-slant/cab]

My biggest problem with legislation like this is, you cant govern or legislate common sense. Just think if we made a law for everything some idiots do. What about eating, putting on makeup, reading the newspaper, the map, slapping the kids etc.....while driving? The ole saying stands true...Common sense isn't so common!

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Greg-slant/cab
http://www.geocities.com/gregslantcab/

[ras911]

While they are at it can't they ban these thing from airports etc. I for one am tired of hearing half of a conversation that means absolutely nothing to any one but the caller and usually is extremely trivial and boring . .
On a recent club drive every SUV we passed had the driver on the phone, believe me these folks are not that talented, it's downright scary
Bravo to New York , F the phone lobby , make the roads safer!!!!!

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Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region

[paulhagedorn]

Well, I have actually more times than not pulled off the road to answer the cell phone...but that is because most of the time, I am on the highway when it rings and I can't hear a darn thing!

[JEB]

I agree with Greg.

The Friggen out of control government can't legislate every problem away. Just because there is a law - doesn't mean people will pay attention when they drive.

There needs to be more public awareness of proper driving technique. Parents need to teach their 16 year old how to drive - how to have that "picture" (nice analogy - I do the same thing) in their head. Don't just turn them loose with 5 of their friends in potentially lethal 4,000 Lb projectile.

My family business has a fleet of trucks, and when I first started driving I remember my dad giving me articles from trucking magazines on safe driving techniqes - then going over them with me while I was driving. Things like: looking at the exhaust stack of a truck - black smoke means he may be accelerating to pass; never ever stay for a second in someones blind spot; etc.

The government can't control our lives - people need to take responsibility for their own actions (and teach their kids to do the same). I don't wear a seatbelt, wear a helmet while riding a bike, keep time on the cell phone to a minimum while driving because big brother mandates it. I do it because it is the right thing to do.

If I am competent to drive 100 MPH an a road designed to handle the speed in a car so designed - why should big brother limited me to 65? Because some idiot in a Yugo can only go 65 on the interstate I have to be limited also?

My rant - it really disgusts me when everyone thinks the government can fix every problem. If we as a population think that driving and using a phone is bad - start by stopping it yourself, and stopping your family, employees, friends, etc., etc.

Government is out of control IRS, OSHA, DOT, EPA, NHTSA, and on and on. If we had the money we gave these guys - we could all have lots and lots of P-cars.

Vote Libertarian - and get the intrusive Government out of our lives.

Sorry - I just had to vent a little