After reading in the paper about a recent accident, I realized that we should have a no-tolerance policy towards people who use cellphones while driving. Anyone who is caught using a cellphone (texting/talking on the phone sans hands-free device) should lose their driver’s licence, period. No fines, nothing, just lose it for good. Keep this in place until people realize that typing OMG is less important than keeping a 2-tonne plus vehicle on the road. —There Aught To Be a Law
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2010.
I seem to recall a particular bitcher defending texting while driving a while back…hmm…I’d find it awfully ironic if said bitcher was the driver of said accident.
The less laws we have, the better. Let Darwinism run its course.
I suppose that’s a possible outcome.
I wish someone had the resources to see what is more distracting while driving.
1a) writing a text message
1b) just reading a text
2) applying your make up as you drive
3) reading your book & driving I’ve seen that many times …( I once saw someone on the Macdonald Bridge with a newspaper across their steering wheel driving in front of me !)
4) eating while juggling your coffee
5)using a handheld radio ( like a cop car or taxi)
6a) talking on a celphone you just answered
6b) dialing a call with your cel
It would be interesting to see the results.
I know for myself, trying to text & drive would be very disteracting & I’d need both hands…so only the side of my hand resting on the wheel & power steering would keep me on the road.
dialing a number wouldn’t be that big a deal if it was one of those in my head…looking it up would obviously be more distracting.
THen there’s talking, I don’t really see a problem with talking, people talk to others in their cars all the time, there doesn’t seem to be any large numbers of accidents caused by those who are using hands free sytems…or at least I’m not seeing it in the news.
Gawd I loved those jamaican rum commercials. The guy on the donkey – “Look, I’m goin ‘ands free”. LOL
Talking to someone who is next to you is not the same as talking on the phone. Two reasons for this. 1- the brain functions differently while on the phone having a conversation, than when the person is with you. Because of this difference, your mind focuses more on the phone call, and you’re unable to respond more quickly to what is going on around you. 2- having someone else in the car with you, gives you a second set of eyes. They know when the road conditions are such that they need to not distract you. They may even help you see a hazard before you do and point it out. That couldn’t happen on the phone without you saying to the person on the other end what’s going on.
As for the other distractions, yes, they’re all stupid things to do, no question about that. But, why cellphones are gettig all the negativity is due to volume. There’s probably only a tiny percentage, that actually do those other things despite how much it may seem that you see it a lot, so their risk is small. However, cellphone use in cars is huge and growing more and more, to the point that it’s a number that can’t be ignored.
Regulation has to be put in place to help deter some of it. It’ll never completely go away, but it’ll help keep the numbers down.
The driver of that SUV on Friday was a woman. and was 100% texting, I had a friend who was at the scene when it happened. The woman mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brakes. The poor girl she pinned is pretty bad in the hospital I guess. This is really sad. I think the fines need to be higher and the penalty should be license suspension just like speeding, or drunk driving. They should make a huge example out of the driver and give her jail time!
Nice over reaction OP, what don’t we blow up the sun because it causes skin cancer? I think we have enough laws, and the ne for cell phones and driving is getting a little more strict, 4 points off your lisence for the first offense and a weeks suspension. Way to look like a right wing retard OP, thank jeebus you will never make it into office.
I would prefer their cellphone be seized, never to be returned. Imagine how many people would panic then. How many of us actually write down all the phone numbers stored in our phones?
Well if they lose their license there will be ALOT of job openings with Metro Transit.
HOLY fuck, sebastard’s right on the mark there.
Also, Bon, don’t you work in a library? You’d think library employees would know how to spell properly. *shakes head*
there is a law o.p., but when cops do it too, who will charge them? you wanna drive yapping or texting on your phone, fine by me. BUT, if you hit me, and don’t kill me, there won’t be a piece of you big enough to charge. like khan said,”with my last dying breath, i will strike back at you from hell”.
I didn’t know supporting laws was so “right-wing”. I support having higher fines for cell-phone use while driving. Or at least some sort of a punishment. People get away with too much with just a slap on the wrist and then you have hippies bitching that it’s so “right-wing”. Yeah, I rarely agree with right-wingers but sometimes… they have it more right.
I love the idea of “if you’re caught using your cell while driving, they confiscate your cell”. That’d get the message across to everyone pretty quickly, more so than any $200 ticket would…
Awesome, especially if they made the offending party drive over the phone as I’ve heard they’ve done with radar detectors in the past.
I said taking your lisence for life is a little right wing. Next time read the comment in the context to which it’s written dumbass.