Texting drivers

[xelasnave]

I know I am getting old and try so hard not to be grumpy and intolerant.
But lately I notice some folk texting while driving.
Sitting behind someone at the lights when the light changed and they don't move until someone blows their horn you notice they were texting.
I worry when I look in the rearvision mirror and the driver has their head down presumably texting. I become conscience of keeping out of their way.
I find all this somewhat annoying...is it just me or do others, have others noticed and been annoyed by this behaviour.
It seems dangerous which is really what gets to me.

[deanm]

It's bloody stupid, completely selfish and the stats show that it's also very dangerous:

"Distracted driving is a leading cause of serious car crashes in South Australia. Inattention is reported to be the primary cause in nearly 30% of fatal crashes and 45% of serious injury crashes each year. Research shows that using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of crashing by at least four times. The most common types of crashes associated with mobile usage are 'run-off-the-road' crashes and 'rear end' crashes.

http://www.mac.sa.gov.au/driving-distracted

I'm sure the numbers would be similar nationwide.

Dean

[AstralTraveller]

Try texting cyclists. I've seen one with headphones in, helmet hanging off handlebar, texting while crossing a busy road. Temporary citizens.

[FlashDrive]

No... your not old .... but you may be ' old school ' like me.
I to get ' peeved ' off with this sort of behaviour ... you can see it as plain as day when they are ' playing ' with their phone....I hope there is a ' copper ' nearby and catches them.

I know ...I'm a ' kill joy ' aren't I :P .... they deserve to get caught.:D

Col.....:)

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Oh man, don't get me started... one of my "friends" on Facebook actually takes photos and uploads them while she's driving!
There should be a system of some sort where if you're in your car and the ignition is on it disables calls/messaging.
I don't know if it's because I have kids, or just because I'm an old lady trapped in a young person's body, but it really gets my blood boiling. Haha it's times like that when I wish I could be an undercover cop and just pull over everyone I see using their phone on the road.

[deanm]

I wouldn't get hot under the collar if the only injury (or worse) victims of texting + driving were the texters themselves.

Darwinian selection is a fine thing.

Sadly, texters run down innocent pedestrians & collide with other vehicles because they are distracted.

I saw a report recently that indicated mobile phones recovered in around 10% of fatal road incidents in the US revealed that the driving texter was doing so at the time of the crash.

"Hey, Honey! I'll be home with the kids real soo......."

Dean

[pgc hunter]

I once saw a driver pull up to an intersection right outside a cop shop while texting.

Genius, no?

[Larryp]

The law seems to have no effect-I see so many drivers using mobiles.
Also sick of dodging clowns about to walk into me in the street-texting and not looking where they are walking.

[Rob_K]

People who see these idiots should immediately text the cops.

[pmrid]

Alex, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it isn't working!!

I look forward to reading your posts for that very reason.

Peter

[ZeroID]

They are having a Police blitz over for the very same problem. I see it all the time driving home at night. My phone just gets ignored, not that it rings that much anyway. People are just too addicted to them.

[lazjen]

I take a small revenge here by deliberately staying my path and if necessary stopping right in front of them. I'm fairly solid, so if they run into me, they're likely to get the worse end of the deal. Also, you can only hope the phone goes flying too. :p

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Haha I hope there is sarcasm involved in this, as most of us see them while we are driving :P



It would be ok if they actually got results. Instead people will just learn how to be sneakier with their phones.

[Hagar]

Don't forget to get a photo to send as well Rob, You need proof, you could include your speedo in the shot to prove you were driving.

[AndrewJ]

Not a good idea,
as if its not reading zero ( your speedo ), the wallopers will have proof that you were actually driving whilst using your own phone.:P
2 Fines for the price of 1

Andrew

[Jason_FJ_Djamm]

Surely a few deaths is a small price to pay for the ability to share pictures of cats and argue with strangers while driving/walking/operating heavy machinery?

[FlashDrive]

:rofl:

[xelasnave]

Billie your idea should be adopted.

I see an irony in texting given one can actually talk in person.
I guess is the way because of forums etc.

The powers saw fit to legislate for in car phone holders so why not something like Billie suggested.
That is a million dollar idea If you could sell it.

[AstralTraveller]

I don't stop, I just hold my speed and direction on my side of the path or corridor. No collisions so far but I've seen some very nifty side-steps. Everyone apologises, so they know the near-collision is their fault. [I suspect that if there was about to be a collision I would actually stop. I'm not as heartless as I appear.]

[ZeroID]

They seem to be getting quite a bit of revenue from it so far ... :thumbsup:
Hit'em in their pockets where it hurts .. before they kill themselves. Dead people don't pay taxes ... :rolleyes:

[BilliGoatsGruff]

So true! :screwy:

[Neutronstar]

I often notice bobble heads, people who are looking up/down as they are driving and its clear what they are up to.

I am way over on one side with this. I feel even talking on the phone while driving is a distraction. I refuse to have anything to do with my phone while driving, often I will turn it off and leave it in a bag.

A mate of a mate was fined for plugging his phone into a charger while stopped at the lights so you really have to know the rules if you must use it.

[louie_the_fly]

Years ago, my wife's car was rear ended by a guy who was dicking around on his phone and didn't realise the traffic had stopped. Our daughter, then 2 (24 today), was in the back of the car. They were lucky to get out without serious injuries. Totally wrecked our car and his. The guy had his young boy in the front, who didn't fair as well as everyone else. He suffered some pretty nasty facial injuries. Doesn't pay to do the wrong thing.

[Glenhuon]

My nephew in the UK has a Go Pro on his bike helmet, if he spots someone on the phone in traffic he pulls alongside and looks in the drivers window. Seldom videos them, but they don't know that. :lol:

[sil]

you could hold up a notepad and pretend you are filming an offender. would love to just be able to shoot them, especially cops driving/texting. confiscate/smash their phones would be fun too for inconvenienced bystanders.

[Rob_K]

Yeah Doug, but I usually find it difficult to get a good selfie with the speedo & their car in the same shot, especially while texting. Maybe it's just me... :shrug:

[pmrid]

Who, would you say, is the greater menace on the roads - the texting driver or the driver with a GoPro trying to film the driver of the car beside him and their speedometer? Trick question!
Peter

[Rob_K]

I resemble what you are incinerating and if I was twenty years younger I'd give you a good texting! :P There's a big difference - one stands for the forces of evil, the other for truth, justice & the American Way. :D

[pmrid]

Ahhh! Of course!! Silly of me not to see that sooner. Thank you for opening my eyes to the wonder of your rapier-like insights.
Peter