Unpopular opinion: legalize texting & driving

[pjhawk]

People will come up with a rationalization for something they really want to do, no matter what. It was drinking and driving decades ago, now it's texting and driving. Needs to be demonized and penalized as heavily as drinking and driving.

I'm still thinking of that bicyclist in Coralville who got killed a few months ago. 16 yr old kid going 55 in a 35 and staring at her phone.

 

[iahawks10]

Ummm…he’s chicken feed when compared to @Joes Place

Hey Joe, can you explain to us again how you actually drive safer while texting?

Hey @binsfeldcyhawk2, can you explain how you actually drive safer while adjusting your radio?

 

[win4jj]

I have no links, or a documented study by Harvard, but I am going out on a limb here by saying texting while driving is WAY more distracting than changing the station on your car radio.

 

[pjhawk]

I have no links, or a documented study by Harvard, but I am going out on a limb here by saying texting while driving is WAY more distracting than changing the station on your car radio.

When changing a radio station you're doing a random thing like looking at the horsies outside your car window, it's not taking up a significant percentage of your attention/alertness in contrast to communicating with another human being through an electronic device.

 

[hydro2.0]

I can mess with my radio without taking eyes off the road. I cannot do that with a phone

 

[Joes Place]

When changing a radio station you're doing a random thing like looking at the horsies outside your car window, it's not taking up a significant percentage of your attention/alertness in contrast to communicating with another human being through an electronic device.

Again; it all is based on how you are using that device.

If you're staring at photos texted or long messages, absolutely.

 

[Joes Place]

I can mess with my radio without taking eyes off the road.

No; you cannot if you are trying to tune in some specific station that isn't programmed
And if you're using a touchscreen, there are no tactile buttons to find with your fingers.

You're less distracted with your radio, because you have learned to BE less distracted with it.
You CAN learn to be less distracted with your phone, but it is more difficult for most people because they have habitual norms when using their phones they cannot seem to break from.

 

[TylerJ76]

And that has not been the case since radios existed. Yet, in order to tune in to something you want, you STILL need to look at your "screen" on the dash.

Same thing with your heat or A/C controls.

So now texting and driving is the same as adjusting your heat.

Weird hill for you to die on, but you do you.

 

[Joes Place]

So now texting and driving is the same as adjusting your heat.

Both are distractions that will take your eyes off the road.

The majority of people appear to be incapable of limiting that distraction with the latter, however.

 

[TylerJ76]

Both are distractions that will take your eyes off the road.

The majority of people appear to be incapable of limiting that distraction with the latter, however.

I can control everything from my steering wheel.

comparing the two is idiotic.

 

[Joes Place]

I can control everything from my steering wheel.

comparing the two is idiotic.

Really?

Your steering wheel picks up and sips coffee for you?
Controls your air-vents, defrost and blower speeds?

That's some car!!!

 

[TylerJ76]

Really?

Your steering wheel picks up and sips coffee for you?
Controls your air-vents, defrost and blower speeds?

That's some car!!!

None of those is the same as reading and replying to a text. Don’t be so dumb.

 

[win4jj]

Both are distractions that will take your eyes off the road.

The majority of people appear to be incapable of limiting that distraction with the latter, however.

I could drink one beer and probably be just fine driving. Kind of like changing the radio. Or I could drink a fifth of vodka and not be able to see the road. Kind of like texting and driving. Both are distractions. The first one makes me an impatient radio listener, the second one makes me a potential murderer.

 

[Joes Place]

None of those is the same as reading and replying to a text. Don’t be so dumb.

Again: that depends on how you decide to use your phone.

If you're going to stare at and read a multi-sentence text, I agree.
If you're reading a couple words someone sends you, it's not any different than looking down at your radio dial.

So, just like programming in your radio stations when parked, you cannot do that while driving. And you shouldn't use your phone in the same manner when driving, either.

 

[TylerJ76]

Again: that depends on how you decide to use your phone.

If you're going to stare at and read a multi-sentence text, I agree.
If you're reading a couple words someone sends you, it's not any different than looking down at your radio dial.

So, just like programming in your radio stations when parked, you cannot do that while driving. And you shouldn't use your phone in the same manner when driving, either.

Keep repeating yourself, it won’t make you any less wrong.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

This idea is OK. I have wanted to take a driving test (while texting) that can demonstrate my skills. There’s lots of work I could be getting done in the car

 

[Joes Place]

Keep repeating yourself, it won’t make you any less wrong.

Again: looking away from the road for 1-2s to adjust a radio or heating control isn't any different from looking at your phone for 1-2s.

The problem is people get engaged with their phones for 5-10s, not 2s. Keep any distraction when driving for <1 to 2s, and only engage that distraction when you're driving in conditions that aren't hazardous, and you're fine. When I'm in stop/go traffic on the freeways, I NEVER mess with my radio, heating or phone. Things are way too dicey. Busy traffic demands 100% of your attention.

Driving out in open areas w/o much traffic and when I have no cross-streets or hazards, it's pretty easy to briefly check an alert on your phone. But that's it. 1-2s of checking, and if it's too long to understand/comprehend at a glance, then it waits.

It's called "discipline". And all too many folks these days have the attention spans of gnats, so they are all too easily dragged in to writing long messages when driving, which is utter stupidity.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

But if they're messing with radio presets and shit, "that's all good".... 👀

If you have to look at your radio while driving to adjust it then you either aren't bright or drive a vehicle from the 1980s or earlier.

This is not remotely the same.

You also said it's how we use things between the radio and phones. We are again proving that we are not a smart species given all we have done. Sometimes we have rules to save us from ourselves.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Again: looking away from the road for 1-2s to adjust a radio or heating control isn't any different from looking at your phone for 1-2s.

The problem is people get engaged with their phones for 5-10s, not 2s. Keep any distraction when driving for <1 to 2s, and only engage that distraction when you're driving in conditions that aren't hazardous, and you're fine. When I'm in stop/go traffic on the freeways, I NEVER mess with my radio, heating or phone. Things are way too dicey. Busy traffic demands 100% of your attention.

Driving out in open areas w/o much traffic and when I have no cross-streets or hazards, it's pretty easy to briefly check an alert on your phone. But that's it. 1-2s of checking, and if it's too long to understand/comprehend at a glance, then it waits.

It's called "discipline". And all too many folks these days have the attention spans of gnats, so they are all too easily dragged in to writing long messages when driving, which is utter stupidity.

We don't have self discipline as a people and is getting further and further away from that mentality.

 

[hydro2.0]

No; you cannot if you are trying to tune in some specific station that isn't programmed
And if you're using a touchscreen, there are no tactile buttons to find with your fingers.

You're less distracted with your radio, because you have learned to BE less distracted with it.
You CAN learn to be less distracted with your phone, but it is more difficult for most people because they have habitual norms when using their phones they cannot seem to break from.

You do realize (you don’t) that you’re a complete retard, right?

 

[Joes Place]

If you have to look at your radio while driving to adjust it then you either aren't bright or drive a vehicle from the 1980s or earlier.

Not sure how your hands-free steering controls work, but mine have to scroll thru 10-15 channels if I'm trying to switch between two specific stations.

Far easier to reach a hand over to punch the buttons for that.

I also do not have climate controls or defrost controls for front/rear/heated seats on my steering column. Have to look down to adjust/control any of those. Which, again, isn't any different than glancing at my phone screen. So long as it is glancing at a screen, and not attempting to read a paragraph of texts or videos.

 

[Joes Place]

We don't have self discipline as a people and is getting further and further away from that mentality.

I agree; if people used the same discipline with their phones they do on other distractions they have when driving, they'd be fine. But they don't. Or they can't.

 

[pjhawk]

Again: looking away from the road for 1-2s to adjust a radio or heating control isn't any different from looking at your phone for 1-2s.

The problem is people get engaged with their phones for 5-10s, not 2s. Keep any distraction when driving for <1 to 2s, and only engage that distraction when you're driving in conditions that aren't hazardous, and you're fine. When I'm in stop/go traffic on the freeways, I NEVER mess with my radio, heating or phone. Things are way too dicey. Busy traffic demands 100% of your attention.

Driving out in open areas w/o much traffic and when I have no cross-streets or hazards, it's pretty easy to briefly check an alert on your phone. But that's it. 1-2s of checking, and if it's too long to understand/comprehend at a glance, then it waits.

It's called "discipline". And all too many folks these days have the attention spans of gnats, so they are all too easily dragged in to writing long messages when driving, which is utter stupidity.

Why are you dying on this hill?

 

[Joes Place]

Why are you dying on this hill?

I'm not

I'm agreeing that most Americans do not have the discipline to mess with their phones while driving.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Not sure how your hands-free steering controls work, but mine have to scroll thru 10-15 channels if I'm trying to switch between two specific stations.

Far easier to reach a hand over to punch the buttons for that.

I also do not have climate controls or defrost controls for front/rear/heated seats on my steering column. Have to look down to adjust/control any of those. Which, again, isn't any different than glancing at my phone screen. So long as it is glancing at a screen, and not attempting to read a paragraph of texts or videos.

It's the same thing as a remote for your tv for my heat or ac in my car. You don't even have to look, you know where the buttons are.

My controls for my radio are all on my steering wheel and my car is from 2009 but I'd still make the same argument above.

 

[Joes Place]

It's the same thing as a remote for your tv for my heat or ac in my car. You don't even have to look, you know where the buttons are

But you do look

Anytime you're controlling stuff, you glance down to know which control you've got.
People also glance down while driving to monitor speeds and look for any warning lights on their dash. And you're taught in driver's ed to make short glances down at your controls. Apparently, most are unable to apply that teaching to things like phones.

 

[dirtypool]

Which, again, isn't any different than glancing at my phone screen. So long as it is glancing at a screen, and not attempting to read a paragraph of texts or videos.

this is the problem. In this thread you are talking about glancing.

This thread is about texting and driving. In the other thread i linked, you were advocating texting and driving even if its just typing 1-2 letters at a time and it takes 5 minutes to send a message (your words).

texting even 1-2 letters is more than a glance. Just the act of looking at your phone to unlock it is the “glance” you are talking about in this thread.

im not messing with my radio or controls for 5 minutes

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Why should the government be able to tell us that we can't text and drive? Stay away from my personal freedums!

 

[Joes Place]

this is the problem. In this thread you are talking about glancing.

This thread is about texting and driving. In the other thread i linked, you were advocating texting and driving even if its just typing 1-2 letters at a time and it takes 5 minutes to send a message (your words).

texting even 1-2 letters is more than a glance.

No; that's a glance
No more than looking down at your climate controls or radio buttons.

You could practice at home and see that is is actually possible to operate your phone, albeit rather inefficiently, in ~1s glances. Give it a try sometime

 

[Joes Place]

Just the act of looking at your phone to unlock it is the “glance” you are talking about in this thread.

Yep

That's exactly right
You unlock your phone with one glance; no typing or anything else.

Again, try it at home on your couch. You can do it. Really.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Again: that depends on how you decide to use your phone.

If you're going to stare at and read a multi-sentence text, I agree.
If you're reading a couple words someone sends you, it's not any different than looking down at your radio dial.

So, just like programming in your radio stations when parked, you cannot do that while driving. And you shouldn't use your phone in the same manner when driving, either.

 

[QChawks]

I’d be more in favor of BJs and driving

 

[Joes Place]

I’d be more in favor of BJs and driving

Never heard of anyone wanting to drive and give a BJ at the same time, but you do you....

 

[dirtypool]

Yep

That's exactly right
You unlock your phone with one glance; no typing or anything else.

Again, try it at home on your couch. You can do it. Really.

you have advocated for texting while driving at 1-2 letters at a time, even if it takes 5 minutes. Thats more than a glance and thats more than looking at your radio or clinate controls.

Spending 5 minutes sending a text 1-2 letters at a time is not “a glance”

 

[Joes Place]

you have advocated for texting while driving at 1-2 letters at a time, even if it takes 5 minutes.

I haven't advocated "for" it.

I've explained that IF you are going to use your phone, you need to do so in a manner consistent with the other distractions in your vehicle.

If that's "too slow" for you to complete a task, the the simple answer is don't mess with it. Easy Peasy.

 

[dirtypool]

I haven't advocated "for" it.

I've explained that IF you are going to use your phone, you need to do so in a manner consistent with the other distractions in your vehicle.

If that's "too slow" for you to complete a task, the the simple answer is don't mess with it. Easy Peasy.

If you have to text, you type one letter at a time, and that means it might take you 2-5 minutes to reply to a message

The correct response instead of posting this should have been “if you have to text, pull over or wait til you get home”

the quote above (your words) is not consistent with other distractions in your vehicle. Nobody is distracted with controls or radios for 2-5 minutes in a vehicle.

 

[goldmom]

Keep repeating yourself, it won’t make you any less wrong.

He does this on purpose and it's our fault for participating. Tomorrow he'll be on a different subject just for fun. And because he believes it keeps him sharp.

 

[win4jj]

He does this on purpose and it's our fault for participating. Tomorrow he'll be on a different subject just for fun. And because he believes it keeps him sharp.

And to top it off, he’s typing this debate while driving.

 

[Jan Itor]

He does this on purpose and it's our fault for participating. Tomorrow he'll be on a different subject just for fun. And because he believes it keeps him sharp.

Anyone else notice what @ping72 did here?

Well done sir.

 

[Hawkman98]

@Hawkman98 have any interesting stories on this subject matter?

distracted driving is a huge issue. Iowa's electronic device law doesn't work. It still allows for people to dial and put in GPS information while driving. That makes it almost impossible to pull someone over unless you can see them texting or on the internet. However, it's not just phone issues while driving, there are many other things that are just as distracting.

@Moral don't forget you wanted a story. I was following a vehicle on a 4 lane highway. It was primetime for intoxicated drivers and on a weekend. I started following a old conversion style van. Like the free candy kind, but only brown. The van was touching/crossing the center and fog lines several times, but not enough to pull it over. I took the next exit and as I did I watched the van continue north around a curve and watched it really cross the centerline. I decided to get turned around and catch back up to the vehicle to continue to monitor the driving. When I caught back up to it, it continued to drive poorly and I activated my emergency lights and stopped it. I walked up to the driver's side window and it's a scurvy guy driving. I get his identification and start talking to him and he is acting very nervous. I asked him to step out of his vehicle, so I could speak to him in my car. He agrees and gets out of the vehicle and starts to walk back with me. He starts to put his hands in his pockets and I stop him and tell him to keep his hands out of his pockets. He again tries to reach in his pockets and I tell him to stop a second time and ask what he's reaching for. He says nothing and goes to put his hands in his pocket for a third time. I grab his hands and placed him against the van and asked for consent to search him and he agreed. I reached into his pockets and pulled out a wired remote. I asked WTF is this and he said nothing. I follow the wire and figure out it's going into his ass. I asked him WTF was going on and he reached back and pulled a large vibrating egg out of his ass. It even made a suction noise when he pulled it out. I'm scurving out and putting my gloves on and tell him to put it on the bumper. He does, and the egg just sits there vibrating all around on his metal bumper. He has a bunch of meth on him too, so I arrest him and search his vehicle. I asked why he had that in his ass and he said he was bored driving, so decided to masturbate. In his cup holder was a large bottle of lube. The pump kind. He also had a video camera recording himself as he was driving and two large duffle bags of sex toys and videos.

I could tell stories of death or serious injuries including someone being paralyzed by someone texting and driving. It happens all the time. I will tell you that we will seize your phone and apply for a search warrant if we have reason to believe you were distracted. When we do, we can tell everything you were doing before and at the time of the accident. Best thing to do is hand free texting or wait until you're stopped.