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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
Ok, here's the deal... Here in the paradise that is Southern California, we are going to have another stupid law go into effect, chipping away just a little bit more at even the simplest of "freedoms" i.e. no more talking on hand held cell phones while driving.
I know, I know there are a lot of you people here on the Café that are in agreement and on the band wagon with this one... but I am NOT. The reasons they give for this do not make sense to me or could be applied to many other driver activities that go on without any deterring legislation ever even considered. A few of the typical reasonings go something like... it is a distraction to the driver if both hands are not free... It's a distraction to the driver if he is'nt focusing or concentrating on whats going on around him or her "on the road"!... or you know the driver can't be engaged in conversation while driving because then he can't drive the car safely anymore blah blah blah! Just about every reason like this can be applied to many other things that people do behind the wheel all the time! Examples 1) Conversing with passengers!!! OMG, better not do that anymore because your not focused if your talking or listening to someone else. 2) Holding anything in a hand other than the steering wheel or shifter (beverage, food, paper, make-up, cigaerettes, handgun, anything)! Got to keep both hands on the wheel at all times! 3) Screwing around with audio equipment of any kind (radio station seeking, cd changing, equalizer adjusting, etc) THIS is a major distraction. 4) You get the idea, the list goes on and on, I have only named a few that are close to being absurd. Ok but here's an even better solution, and it takes the responsibility off the driver and onto the auto maker where it all belongs anyways! First of all, we need more new laws to make this happen. Laws that would require all autos by the year 2008 (same year the cell phone law goes into effect) to have the following... Soundproof plexiglass enclosure for the driver seat (so driver cannot be distracted by occupants). Ban all manual transmissions (so driver can keep both hands on the wheel at all times while driving). Provide headsets for driver to wear that will allow continuous communication with onboard computer. There may be a couple more that I have not thought of that could contribute to ensure driver safety but this is all I have for now (feel free to come up with some of your own and we can petition with this before 2008 rolls around. I know this topic has been covered before but the difference is that now it is actually becoming a law. I think it is just stupid and all the whiners that grumble about "all those people, always tawking on their cell phones, its so annoyyyying" must have the goods on Arnold or something. But it appears they will get their way and make it illegal to talk on a phone in your own car soon. Whatever. I guess I will be getting a lot of tickets in the future or getting a new phone that has voice activation everything! I will NOT be plugging up one of my ears with a freaking phone, not happening. that's all... and talk it up cell phone ban coming your way soon!
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
You know, we live in a country where Joh Public has forgotten how to take responsibility for his own actions.
Consider the motorcycle helmet law. There are good points to be made for wearing one, and bad points. The thing is, in an accident, the only one hurt by not wearing a helmet is the rider himself. I call that taking responsibility, the rider chooses which he prefers and goes with it at his own risk. While I'd like to agree with you Glen, some people do allow a cell phone to take thier eyes off the road. Voice command and blue tooth ought to solve both problems. Banning the cell phones isn't the answer. Like the helmet law, if someone has an accident because thier hands were off the wheel, they need to take respobsibility for it. But in this country, how likely is that?
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
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Noel M Loyal user San Rafael. CA 208 Posts |
The rider is the only one hour if he has health insurance or dies. If he doesn't and becomes a quadriplegic on public assistance we all pay for his stupidity
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Noel M Loyal user San Rafael. CA 208 Posts |
"Hour" should be "hurt"
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Jerrine Special user Busking is work. 629 Posts |
In tribute to the return of Howie's show...Political or not Political?
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I see people every day driving too slow, swerving, dang near hitting me or others, all because they are on the phone. I try to not talk on the phone and will usually tell my wife (no one else calls me on it) that I'll call her back. Since people can't keep off the things and they can't drive while on them then they need to be banned just like drunk drivers. As for people talking to passengers I have a special spot in hell reserved for those that must LOOK at the idiot they are talking to. I see that every day as well. The police should pull those that look at who they are talking to, take their license, then beat them with their night sticks. Oh, and manual transmissions are going away, auto makers don't sell enough to make it worth their time. Sorry bucky.
Steve V |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
I am sorry, and I know it's unlike me (usually a champion of freedom at any cost), but I disagree.
When I had two good arms (nowadays my right arm only SORTA works) and talked on the cel phone while driving, I knew good and well that I'd get into more 'close calls' and 'shoulda seen that' situations, hands-free or not. I knew it ... and rationalized until I'd break a sweat (next time I'll be more careful, but I really HAD TO take that call...). I've heard many others report the same thing. I liken it to the laws (in some places) against new teenage drivers carrying a bunch of their pals around without a more experienced adult in the jump seat - "but Dad, I'll be really careful, really /// well, we were playing the radio and my friends were all talking to me and this car just came out of nowhere..." Sometimes (as bad a principle as it is) we really do need a little protection from ourselves. |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
Glen, I don't necessarily disagree with your rant. I hate things that legislate things that possibly lead to infractions or crimes that already have laws. But almost daily, I see someone driving out of sync with everything around them, while talking on the phone.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
There have been bad drivers and people asleep behind the wheel with their eyes open long before cell phones were even an idea. It's not the phone. Are you going to allow people putting on make-up while driving to continue to do so? Or guys shaving and checking their mugs in the mirror? What about heads turning due to auto-response when checking out the babes? I am sure there are many many reasons that accidents occur that have nothing to do with a phone. Again, it's the people and their not taking it seriously when they are driving.
That's just my opinion
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
Quote:
Again, it's the people and their not taking it seriously when they are driving. So how do you ensure (enough to make the rest of us comfortable) that people take their responsibility seriously? You can beg, cajole, shame, but until you threaten you won't make a dent in this behavior. |
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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
So is taking hand held cell phones away going to eliminate car accidents?
I don't think so. You still have to deal with the aftermath of automobile accidents, as long as there are cars on the road driven and controlled by people. But I understand, whats good for society must win out. Hit with the biggest stick (figuratively speaking) to make everyone conform. They can make the cost of the ticket higher and higher until all those pesky hand held phones are done away with. Anyways, I said what was on my mind, and like I said, originally, the distraction factor can apply to anything that takes the drivers attention off the act of driving. Why stop at cell phones?
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Research shows that 20% of accidents now involve a cell phone. Talking on a cellphone reduces the drivers reaction times and attention level to the same point as a drunk driver. Based on your opinion then drunk drivers should not be illegal because they are no more a threat on the road than someone talking to their spouse or someone trying to change their radio station. People don't need to talk on phones in the car, we went decades of driving w/out them and survived.
Steve V |
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hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
GlenD...it is already a Law over here. punishable with a £1000 fine.However you still see people negotiating a roundabout with one hand on the wheel the other holding a mobile to their ear. You aren't telling me this is safe are you?
We have had several high profile accidents caused by the driver using a mobile. Also if you drove with only one hand on the wheel whilst taking your Test..you would fail. Do you also disagree with wearing a crash helmet whilst riding a motorbike? Howard |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
This is just one more freedom being taken away...it also relieves people of taking responsibility for their own actions.
For those that agree that helmet laws are a good thing and should be forced upon individuals, please answer me this.... The number one fatal injury in CAR accidents are head injuries...so how would you feel if you were required to wear a helmet while in a car? Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
My studio is located in a warehouse. I have seen people on high-lows (tall fork-lifts) moving down and backward while on the phone. Very scary.
Glen, how does driving with open alcohol fit into your beliefs? I know of a town in Indiana where this is legal, as long as your blood alcohol is within a limit. Kevin, I think the number one cause of injuries in cars would be helmets.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Josh....
Maybe you are on to something....NASCAR should get rid of helmets. Naw...maybe you are just on something...LOL Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Kevin..Hence the introduction of air Bags !
Are you saying helmets are a bad thing then ? Howard |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Helmets are a good thing...and personal freedom and personal responsibility is an even better thing.
So for drivers of older cars with no air bags, I assume you are for helmets? Kevin P.S. If possible, please answer the specifc question about your feelings of being required to wear a helmet is a car. Also, there are no air bags in buses, so lets throw in wearing helmets on buses too.
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
Nascar doesn't have any sharp turns or intersections. And look at the amount of crashes they do have.
I would still think this way if I wasn't on something. I know, I was off it once before.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
Josh, I am not talking about driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. And I sharply disagree with comparisons to being drunk or high as equal to talking on a cell phone. What is that ??? Come on, you cant be serious about that.
Yeah, I see no reason why helmets are not required by law. Based on seat belts, no cell phones and everything else, why not? You know, people drive one handed all the time, whats the big deal over someone holding a cell phone as opposed to a soda or burger, whatever? People tool around eating and talking all the time, what is it with you guys? Also I always question statistics when they are tossed out as if they are factual. I reserve the right to question the origin. Glen
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
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