PSA Distracted Driving month in April heavy enforcement

[VP1]

Which is retarded, because it's not the holding of the phone that's the REAL problem, it's the distracting conversation itself.

This ^

 

[theAmazingKickstand]

Which is retarded, because it's not the holding of the phone that's the REAL problem, it's the distracting conversation itself.

Burn the blasphemer!!!

 

[silversvs]

So, if I can be cited for changing the song on my phone while using it as an iPod, or zooming in while using it as a GPS navigation unit can I similarly be cited for changing the song on an actual iPod or using an actual, dedicated GPS navigation unit?

Not for the cellphone law 23123 VC. As mentioned above, you could be cited for unsafe speed for conditions, with the conditions being you not paying attention because you were busy changing songs or zooming in a GPS.

 

[silversvs]

We both know the left lane is no place for the tree hugging, asshole Prius driver going 51mph to be placing himself and putting down roots in his misguided and delusional efforts to *re-educate* the motoring public. Just because they're not speeding doesn't mean they're not causing trouble. Those douchebags don't belong in the left lane. Period.

You guys have basically validated their idiocy by not pulling them over and telling them to stay the fuck out of the left lane.

Germany is a whole different deal. You will have your ass handed to you if you don't adhere to the keep right/pass left concept. That didn't happen by accident. They enforce it there. California would be a hell of a lot better off if it was enforced here. It's not that hard to do.

What gives?

Asked and answered already.

 

[theAmazingKickstand]

Not for the cellphone law 23123 VC. As mentioned above, you could be cited for unsafe speed for conditions, with the conditions being you not paying attention because you were busy changing songs or zooming in a GPS.

In redwood city court the bailiff tells everyone right away that there are absolutely no excuses for cell phones. You were not getting directions, you were not listening to music, etc. You will be found guilty. No excuses.
No foolin. We were all when he said it.
Doesn't matter what you were doing, lying or not, everyone will be found guilty of cell phone crime.....unless you you argue you weren't even holding a phone/don't even own a phone or something like that.
I keep mine under my thigh by the gear shift. So far that's been working well.....even had cops drive by.
I'll tell you I feel much more dangerous by having to shift gears, eat oatmeal, and text by feel under my ass while looking for cops instead of just holding the phone above the steering wheel and looking ahead like we all did a few years ago.

 

[rsrider]

I was wondering why I was seeing so many LEO's talking on their mobile phones while rolling in their cars today.

 

[originalsturge]

I was wondering why I was seeing so many LEO's talking on their mobile phones while rolling in their cars today.

theyre exempt from the law

the fun one is people using both earbuds on their iphone/whatever while in a sealed container and even more oblivious to the sounds around them.

the whole distraction of having a phone call while driving is why i will never use a blutooth thing in my helmet. hell i never answered the phone when i drove a car either. used to piss the girlfriend off something fierce. its funny how weve gone from never having this issue with phones to now, is this progress?
hell id like there to be a no phones on the bus or train as well cause i dont care that youre babydaddy is a deadbeat and youre gonna go get an abortion cause condoms are nasty.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

In redwood city court the bailiff tells everyone right away that there are absolutely no excuses for cell phones. You were not getting directions, you were not listening to music, etc. You will be found guilty. No excuses.
No foolin. We were all when he said it.
Doesn't matter what you were doing, lying or not, everyone will be found guilty of cell phone crime.....unless you you argue you weren't even holding a phone/don't even own a phone or something like that.
I keep mine under my thigh by the gear shift. So far that's been working well.....even had cops drive by.
I'll tell you I feel much more dangerous by having to shift gears, eat oatmeal, and text by feel under my ass while looking for cops instead of just holding the phone above the steering wheel and looking ahead like we all did a few years ago.

Umm..... maybe you should try *driving* while you're driving instead of pretending you're so special and so important that you can somehow text while driving and not cause a crash or hurt/kill someone.

 

[Entoptic]

The real issue isn't the phone. Thats just the current form of "distracted driver" that the media is focusing on. The issue I believe is the habit that distracted drivers take on. In order to break a habit school should be involved. Instead of fining these people, make them take a driver ed class. Have them pay for the class and the state can make a buck but make sure to take away a weekend from each person that uses their phone and I am sure you will see a change.

What sticks for you? A financial burden or an 8 hour school? I believe the 8 hour school would work much better and like I said, it's a new stream of revenue.

 

[DaveT319]

Umm..... maybe you should try *driving* while you're driving instead of pretending you're so special and so important that you can somehow text while driving and not cause a crash or hurt/kill someone.

I will say that while I believe the whole hands-free law was misguided and possibly/probably a way to generate sales for the companies that make the hands-free devices, I do think that you should NEVER text or surf the internet while driving. While holding a phone takes a hand off the wheel (which might not even be on the wheel regardless), texting and surfing takes your EYES off the ROAD, which is infinitely more dangerous.

 

[mototireguy]

I will say that while I believe the whole hands-free law was misguided and possibly/probably a way to generate sales for the companies that make the hands-free devices,

Hmmm, all mobile phones come with a wired headset included free of charge.

 

[DaveT319]

Nope, mine didn't. And when the law first came into existence, the phone I had at that time hadn't come with one. And obviously many other people didn't have one either because there was a HUGE increase in sales of those hands-free things.

 

[louemc]

There is a statewide "Distracted Driving Awareness" campaign occurring the entire month of April. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Highway Patrol have teamed up to put the smackdown on distracted driving this month, with their "Its Not Worth It" campaign. They have engaged municipal police agencies throughout the state to join them in the crackdown. The primary focus will be cellphone use and texting while driving as well as any other distracted driving issues.

Good, I hope it is so successful, they see a way to do it everyday of every month.

I've seen Sheriffs and CHP out, so far.

 

[tuxumino]

The real issue isn't the phone. Thats just the current form of "distracted driver" that the media is focusing on. The issue I believe is the habit that distracted drivers take on. In order to break a habit school should be involved. Instead of fining these people, make them take a driver ed class. Have them pay for the class and the state can make a buck but make sure to take away a weekend from each person that uses their phone and I am sure you will see a change.

What sticks for you? A financial burden or an 8 hour school? I believe the 8 hour school would work much better and like I said, it's a new stream of revenue.

that's the most not bad idea I think you've ever come up with.

 

[Phaedrus]

Good. Drive your god damn car, and please don't run over me and my motorcycle.

Fuck around with your phone, text your BFF, and eat your cheeseburger when you get home.

 

[Tydive]

Won't happen <snip good content> a deadly driving habit.

Yeah, I can understand that argument for priority. These safety enforcement programs are focused on saving lives and reducing accidents /cough while generating revenue /cough. I am a big fan The "Look twice for Motorcycles" campaign was very cool.

I was thinking of traffic flow more than my personal annoyance at douchey driving. I only have anecdotal evidence that "staying to the right reduces accidents and makes traffic flow significantly better".

Maybe DataDan or someone of similar encyclopedic data massaging skills could prove or disprove my ragged hypothesis? I can see how hard it would be to normalize across samples, due to differences in drivers training, weather conditions, etc...

If you don't mind my asking... What are some of the other enforcement programs you have in the works?

 

[iehawk]

If I give you video clips from my commute showing drivers talking on cell phones plus their license plates... is that enough to ticket them?

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

The real issue isn't the phone. Thats just the current form of "distracted driver" that the media is focusing on. The issue I believe is the habit that distracted drivers take on. In order to break a habit school should be involved. Instead of fining these people, make them take a driver ed class. Have them pay for the class and the state can make a buck but make sure to take away a weekend from each person that uses their phone and I am sure you will see a change.

What sticks for you? A financial burden or an 8 hour school? I believe the 8 hour school would work much better and like I said, it's a new stream of revenue.

I agree with you.

But then people will be bitching about "lack of freedom" and "police state" like it's being discussed in another thread in KS...

 

[littlebeast]

quote from barf that i have no recollection of where or when:


"If it was up to you….

What would you change?

Not a comprehensive or well thought out list by any means, but a few things I'd do:

Days would be 30 hours long. I usually work about 12 hour days, and I'd love 4 in the morning before work, about 6 at night for catching up and having some fun, and about 8 hours of sleep. The totals could shift around some, but I think 30 would be workable.

I'd replace stoplights with roundabouts. It seems so much more civilized to keep it moving.

And I hadn't planned to add it, but it occurred to me that if violating 'slower traffic move right' was a hanging offense, there would be much less road rage. So I'd enforce that one."

 

[iehawk]

In Germany, the gov. don't even care if people don't wear their seat belts. In fact, it's hardly enforced (except for U.S. DOD). But using your cell phone to text or talk without a hand's free device is a big deal and the fines are very steep.

Edit: Also, forgot to mention that one of the other reasons drivers in Germany are good about pulling over to use their cell phone. Is that most cars over there are stick shift and so it's quite difficult to use the phone and shift at the same time. Hence my suggestion that U.S. auto makers should bring back "stick shift."

Don't you know that drivers there are on average better than in their US counterparts? They have lane speed signs that change depending on the traffic flow. Can you imagine having that here? We have static signs that are not obeyed as they are... pretty much ignored and not seen.

Driving a stick-shift car is generally more involving than driving an automatic one. It's not that you have less hand to hold the phone, people there just usually take driving more seriously than us.

quote from barf that i have no recollection of where or when:

"If it was up to you….

What would you change?

Slower Traffic Keep Right has no law that can prosecute them, well, this thing is more of a road manner than a wrong thing to do. Unfortunately some people are just plain selfish and could care less... if not distracted.

So cops, when available just herd the crowd over, run on the left lane with the lights on, maybe with a sign on the back of the car, so they can see the reason why it's done.

Campaign... put signs, use the amber alert displays, put it on the back of some squad cars, maybe some magazines/newspapers even... "Slower Traffic Keep Right". Make people realize that it is for everybody's benefits.

So what some people won't recognize it, the thing is some will. I would 'politely' gesture cars that are on the left lane slower or doing the same speed as the lane 2 traffic. Some of them actually would move.

I believe we have to keep trying to educate the public. Just like how we should keep learning as we ride every day... (my MSF coach said something like that).