drivers on the phone-

[Scott Douglas]

These will be going on my next vehicle...

[Baz]

I'm getting a horn......ef 'em!

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Agree. For certain talking on a cell phone detracts a bit from the attention you can appropriate to driving. But not necessarily any significantly more than when talking to a passenger in the car.

studies have shown the exact opposite - talking on a cell phone detracts significantly more than when talking to a passenger in the car

dunno why & don't think anyone knows yet either

[motion]

Ahhhh..... had a 30 minute conversation with a client today while driving. No hands-free, iPhone to the ear. 100% legal

[lane912]

Clark Cooper Type 12 SHIP Horn Locomotive Air Steam Nathan Train | eBay

[Hawkeye's-911T]

By RWebb: studies have shown the exact opposite - talking on a cell phone detracts significantly more than when talking to a passenger in the car

I have heard (& to a point share the opinion) a passenger is more aware of the immediate surroundings & will pick up on certain cues regarding their present situation. Thus they would tend to hold their thought & back off in a conversation if they perceive a driving situation which demands the full attention of the vehicle operator. This might explain the difference.

Of course the person on the other of a cell call will have no idea of what's happening & carry on. This is especially dangerous if the parties involved are arguing. I know of many individuals who'll relate their close calls (no pun intended) involving others driving while distracted plus the growing list of my own personal encounters. If my phone rings while I'm driving, I'll wait until I can find a safe & suitable place to pull off the road & return their call. Any person using my cell is aware of this & will usually leave a message.

As far as fines & such for infractions, we all know you can't legislate brains into the public & the laws are proving difficult to enforce. As some have suggested as per DUI - make talking on a cell while driving a form of anti-social behaviour. Some states & provinces have already introduced public awareness campaigns which unfortunately take time & a lot of lives will be altered, for all the wrong reasons, until this awareness becomes second nature.

Cheers
JB

[oldE]

OK Guys, here it is. The truth about cel phones mixed with an activity like driving.

The reason for the problem is the way the brain works when we process information in conversation with another person.
In a face to face conversation, we get information through the choice of words, the tone of voice and the visual clues (eye contact, facial expression, body language).
Studies at UCLA a few decades back placed as much as 55% of the message onto the visual clues in some circumstances.
Our brains are hard-wired to listen for the vocal clues and to watch for visual confirmation of the "message"

Here's the fun part. Studies at U of Toronto using MRIs to determine what part of the brains were utilized, have shown that the part of the brain which normally searches for the visual clues when we are communicating with others is the same part of the brain which is used in searching out potential hazards/threats/action items in the road ahead. If you are speaking with someone who is not present, that part of your brain is already engaged and must dis-engage from that activity before it can deal with any other information. The increase in response time (roughly equivalent to legal impairment) is what gets you.

It does not matter if the phone is hand-held or hands-free, the effect upon the brain is the same.

I suspect this is why some GD idiot almost "merged" into the side of my car yesterday and did not react to the warning blast of my horn.

Stay safe out there
Les

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

These will be going on my next vehicle...

Classic.

Around here you get a nice hefty ticket for talking or texting on a phone while driving. I think they should also get a roadside cavity search. Everyday I see one or two near misses in traffic from people trying to text and drive. If I see someone texting, I just lay on the horn. If I see someone at a stoplight not moving when it turns red, lay on the horn. These people don't understand that they can barely drive a car when they are not distracted. Throw in a distraction and they are an accident waiting to happen.

[Scott Douglas]

I was driving down Beach Blvd this afternoon, sunroof open (I wasn't in my SC), window down and as I took off from a light I noticed movement in my rear view mirror. Saw a motorcycle officer make a sharp right turn to change lanes quickly. Next thing I heard was him on his bullhorn saying 'Get off the phone!'.
Frankly, I think we need more of that around here.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

These will be going on my next vehicle...

Where did you get that? Buy it local?

Do tell!

[Jim Bremner]

I see so many LEO on their phones while driving.

I've driven 1.2 million miles mostly in So Cal and have used around 5,000 minutes a month on my cell. no wrecks, no near misses & only 4 tickets and most of the highway miles at speeds over 80 where safe

Cite the people driving poorly.

I've seen ladies putting on make-up, men shaving, people eating ( some other people) a women putting her contacts, Moms leaning back to feed fries to their kids in the back seat while driving! people reading! a guy playing a guitar etc.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Cite the people driving poorly.

I've seen ladies putting on make-up, men shaving, people eating ( some other people) a women putting her contacts, Moms leaning back to feed fries to their kids in the back seat while driving! people reading! a guy playing a guitar etc.

I head about that on the radio (that I was playing with while driving)...

"We don't need laws against using a cell phone while driving... we already have laws against reckless driving... just implement the laws that are already in place..."

But that would require common sense... crazy talk I tell you!

My fav is rolling up on someone in the fast lane that is cruising 5 to 10 MPH under the speed limit... as I pull to the left to pass them (illegally) 90% of the time they have a phone glued to their head.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Where did you get that? Buy it local?

Do tell!

Sorry, those horns are at least 25 yrs old if not more like 30-35. Inherited from Dad's garage stuff. Don't know when or where he got them.
I had a friend in high school that had a diesel locomotive chime set up on his IH Scout. Now that thing got your attention.

[WolfeMacleod]

Drivers on The Phone

[Joe Bob]

Good luck....I have video of drivers using cell phones, making right turns from the middle lane flipping me off while driving with their knees. The PD says it's a civil matter.

I'd have better luck filming a donut stand during shift change....

[Trog]

I've given up riding the motorbike..... it's just too damn dangerous with all the cell phone users on the road.

[on2wheels52]

Good one Wolfe.
I still ride every day, part of my scan is seeing which of my fellow mororists are are the phone.
Jim

[Paul K]

Ore. bill could fine drivers on cell phones up to $1,000 | KTVB.COM Boise

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

I see so many LEO on their phones while driving.

Ditto. But cops are such a small percentage of the cars on the road and I long ago gave up thinking they aren't above the law. I've been on 15-20 min. long rides where every single car I passed on the hwy. had a distracted driver, either texting or chatting away. Every single car. I must live in an alternate universe, as I don't understand the obsession with being on the phone all the time, especially while piloting a 3k lbs missile. My life was just fine before I owned a cell phone and I never felt bored while driving without being on the phone.

[gr8fl4porsche]

The problem is that modern vehicles are too quiet and comfortable.

Return to the days of manual trans, no power steering, very little sound insulation and loud mufflers and all is well.

I can't have a decent conversation in the '87 so I wait until my destination to use the phone.