FEDS CALL FOR CELL PHONE DRIVING BAN

[conversationpc]

As long as the individual states enact or not enact this, that's fine with me. I don't think the federal government should mandate it, though.

[Don]

I thought this was already the law.

[Ehwmatt]

Retarded. You can't regulate this shit because there's always going to be a need to carve out exceptions.

The "hands-free device" exception is laughable: that shit is just as, if not MORE distracting than just holding the phone up to your ear under some circumstances. If you're using a Bluetooth phone and your car has bluetooth capability to put the phone through your car speakers, the sound kinda surrounds you and you tend to get lost more in the conversation.

[Don]

It's definitely a revenue generator. Half the people I know have gotten a ticket for this over the last 18 months. The 25 dollar ticket is actually around $135 by the time it hits your door because of all of the tacked on fees by the court.

[ebake02]

I thought this was already the law.

Only in Cali I think.

New York too I believe.

[Rockindeano]

The new recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.

It would not apply to hand-free devices or to passengers.

I am all fucking for this ban. Do it yesterday.

You actually cited CNN and not Fox News, Finder? I am impressed. Nice to see you however.

As long as the individual states enact or not enact this, that's fine with me. I don't think the federal government should mandate it, though.

Hello to you too Dave. Just curious as to why you are against a federal ban? As stated above per FF, it is up to individusal states, but I would just as soon have a nationwide law pertaining to this. I seem to recall from the news this morning on MSNBC, some 3100 Americans perished last year in fatal accidents due to texting. I would like to hear your reasoning on the Fed vs states argument Dave. Thanks.

Retarded. You can't regulate this shit because there's always going to be a need to carve out exceptions.

The "hands-free device" exception is laughable: that shit is just as, if not MORE distracting than just holding the phone up to your ear under some circumstances. If you're using a Bluetooth phone and your car has bluetooth capability to put the phone through your car speakers, the sound kinda surrounds you and you tend to get lost more in the conversation.

Matty, I believe Hands Free is also being recommended as a violation too. Now keep in mind this is only a recommendation from the NTSB, as they are not a regulatory body nor a law making body; they are simply saying, and I quote the NTSB Chief- "We know this will be unpopular, but we are not here to win a popularity contest." I commend her with this statement. Their job is to save lives and provide the safest environment possible for the citizens who travel in this country.

Also Matty, you and I differ so vastly politically, but I have to say, I never skip your posts, and actually read them through, and have learned a helluva lot from you. I admire your intelligence and direction of which you look at life. I will see you later this Summer at Jacobs field for the Bruce show. You're in right?


Don, you live here in California with me. You ought to know that technically, we can't text. However, hands free is legal yes? And to your point about revenue for the government? Good. Look, this isn't some bullshit traffic camera operation to get you for sliding through an intersection on a yellow(which by the way are no longer valid Don- do NOT pay a ticket if caught via camera). 3100 lives lost is just too high a cost to pay for a fuckin text message, which is probably "LOL" or "hey."

The news that was reported on news that I saw, expressed the desire to provide a "secure cockpit" if you will for the driver.

I would like to share this story with you all, and due to the unfortunate outcome changes were indeed made.

As many of you know, I worked as an Amtrak passenger train engineer. About three years ago here in SoCal, 2008, Don will know all too well about this, we had a Metrolink passenger train leave a station in Chatsworth, CA, (home of the porn industry), and the engineer, who I knew quite well, was texting little kids who were train junkies...they were always out taking pics and looking at schedules, that type of thing; so we engineers were like rock stars to them. Any information we gave them, they just ate up. I used to give rides to kids, as well as women who I had met in bars and clubs(helluva a date to be able ride something so powerful along the ocean with no roads and beautiful scenery)...this all before 9/11 mind you. So anyway, the Metrolink commuter train departed Chatsworth and a 1/4 mile out, there is a signal. The signal was RED, but due to "Rudy" not paying attention, ie, texting these kids, he blew through it- one half mile away, inside a tunnel, about to emerge was a Union Pacific freight train, traveling roughly 25 mph, going downhill, approaching the Chatsworth station. The Metrolink train was to have STOPPED and waited for the UP frieght to clear, but didn't. Once passed the signal mast, the tracks take a hard left and head up into the mountains and tunnels in order to negotiate Santa Susana Pass. Halfway through the hard curve, the UP train came into view and they collided head on. Even despite the relatively slow speeds(Metrolink was accelerating away from it's station stop, and the UP train was braking downhill, the number dead was 25, with 135 more injured. it was horrific. I knew all the crewmembers from both trains and many of the passengers. Anyway, sorry to ramble about the story, but texting was indeed the cause. Now any electronic devices are prohibited from being powered on in any locomotive in the United States.

This new recommendation is a damned good one. I am guilty as Hell for doing it too. Not proud of it at all. I seriously think one should lose their driving license for 3 months if nabbed doing this. The selfishness of texting and taking another's life in return isn't very even is it?

Also, if texting AND hands free usage is curbed, so should be women putting on their fuckin makeup while traveling 75 mph when they can't hardly drive 75 while actually concentrating properly. You know, we have to draw the line somewhere, and I get that, but I confess, when I pull out of Carl's Jr. (Hardees for you easteners), and I got a Super Star to mow, it's tough to do while driving(and I drive an automatic too). I am driving with knees for sure, trying not to get that juicy fucker all over my threads, and also trying to keep the 67 oz Coke from tipping like the Space Needle, as it sits precariously between the e-brake and passenger seat. It really isn't safe, and I am a very good driver(skillfully and lawfully), but let's face it, there are some out there who just can't fucking grasp operating a motor vehicle. I bet Matty or Finder could roll through town with a sixer+ in them, mowing a Taco Supreme, and not even notice a difference as opposed to if they were driving 10-2 seatbelted in and no radio on. However, you just know old fuckers like say, Phyliss, Tragchick Nora, or maybe some of those old hags that mill around in the ghost town forum known as Steve Perry can't drive for shit. How they continue to get a license blows me away.
I will also confess to doing unsafe driving in particular on long road trips. I slip down the jeans and piss in a Gatorade bottle and as soon as i pass through some shithole town like stockton, Fresno or Sacramento, I hurl that fucker flying off into the roadside weeds...all to save 5-10 minutes of slowing, exiting, stopping, getting out of car, pissing, re-entering car, accelerating, etc. Hell, when traveling on I-5, the main north-south interstate here in the Golden State, I usually am good for 2,3 maybe four jackoffs between Bakersfield and Redding. There isn't a thing to do on that 400 mile stretch of roadway. Stevie Wonder could navigate I-5 and not put a scratch on his sled. So jacking off or even getting head from your girl is technically legal, but texting isn't? There has to be a common sense provision in law.

I also wanted to add that I included the railroad wreck because the NTSB was reactionary in cementing the law after the tragedy. This recommedation today comes after a tragic school bus accident last year killed people, kids too I believe. The school bus accident happened after the Metrolink crash. Wouldn't you think the NTSB would have at least some vision, and while restricting the usage of devices for the rail industry, also apply it to the highway division too, especially commercial drivers and in particular bus drivers??!! I've been on connecting Amtrak busses that take you from your train to places the railroad does not go to, and have seen drivers just yappin away for hours on their cell, checking scores and listening to their goddamned mp3 player. After almost careening off the fucking road and down a 200 foor cliff, I offered to get the scores for this guy on my phone. This bastard also drove with his elbows while eating a subway footlong meatball sandwich. Passengers were scared for their lives. Needless to say, when I got back to my home station, I reported him and he lost his job.

[Don]

I'm in agreement with no texting but wearing a bluetooth headset for regular voice calls should be fine as long as it voice dials also. Your phone should never be out of your pocket when you are driving.

[hoagiepete]

Federal ban? The idiots inside the beltway have never driven the rural Interstate highway system in areas such as rural areas of the Midwest. If those morons had to do it once they'd think twice about over regulating everything. These are the same fuckwads that want to ban farm kids from working on a farm. Huh?

There are already laws for inattentive driving. Enforce them.

Love the make up, food, masterbation, pee on the go, radio examples. What about a car full of screaming kids and a wife bitching at you? I could drive much better with a cell phone to my ear. Thank you very much. On the flip side, how about getting a little " " job? Is that legal? How about finding your tune on an IPod? Good luck with that.

If you can't drive safely while talking on a phone, don't do it. Pretty simple.

This is bipartisan at the state level as far as I can tell. Idiots. All of them.

[Rockindeano]

Federal ban? The idiots inside the beltway have never driven the rural Interstate highway system in areas such as rural areas of the Midwest. If those morons had to do it once they'd think twice about over regulating everything. These are the same fuckwads that want to ban farm kids from working on a farm. Huh?

There are already laws for inattentive driving. Enforce them.

Love the make up, food, masterbation, pee on the go, radio examples. What about a car full of screaming kids and a wife bitching at you? I could drive much better with a cell phone to my ear. Thank you very much. On the flip side, how about getting a little " " job? Is that legal? How about finding your tune on an IPod? Good luck with that.

If you can't drive safely while talking on a phone, don't do it. Pretty simple.

This is bipartisan at the state level as far as I can tell. Idiots. All of them.

Interesting takes Petey.

Firstly, it's masturbation, not masterbation. Please respect this great adjective will ya?

As for your take about maybe allowing the use of a phone on rural interstates is a fair question. It's almost the same thing as say, having a speed limit of 80 mph on I-80 through central Kansas and a more realistic one of 50mph on Los Angeles freeways. The thing is, 99% of the drivers pay NO attention at all to posted speeds. it's almost a waste of money to erect the signage. When I was at Amtrak, passengers always bitched because we followed speed limits to a tee, and cars would sometimes pass us(they were moving far too fast safely, but I digress). If we were to speed on the RR, we lost our job, simple as that. In a car, it's no big deal. And like I said, some of us are just better drivers than others. I can drive better one handed at 70 per than some of these three chinned circus lookin bitches driving two handed, 10-2 position, at 55. Hell, the type of car should also come into question. A 2009 Lexus is far more capable traveling at 70 mph than a 1986 Buick beat to shit Skylark. Brakes, steering, handling, etc is important.

Oh and I was staying away from political talk, but the asshole that wanted 12 yr olds to put in 12 hour workdays on the farm was a republican from the great state of Arkansas. Good luck with getting a 12 yr old to work period, let alone hard work for 12 hours. bet that little cocksucker has a Playstation 4 or whatever the fuck it is, hid under a couple bales of hay in the barn.

[Andrew]

Common bloody sense!

[slucero]

Something to ponder...

The formula for "feet per second" is: (mph) * 1.466666 = (ft/s)
The average reaction time for a human is 1/4 second (225 milliseconds)

So in a situation where one is ONLY driving, and paying attention:

10 mph = 15 fps = 4 feet of reaction distance
15 mph = 22 fps = 5 feet of reaction distance
20 mph = 29 fps = 7 feet of reaction distance
25 mph = 37 fps = 9 feet of reaction distance
30 mph = 44 fps = 11 feet of reaction distance
35 mph = 51 fps = 13 feet of reaction distance
40 mph = 59 fps = 15 feet of reaction distance
45 mph = 66 fps = 16 feet of reaction distance
50 mph = 73 fps = 18 feet of reaction distance
55 mph = 81 fps = 20 feet of reaction distance
60 mph = 88 fps = 22 feet of reaction distance
65 mph = 95 fps = 24 feet of reaction distance


add 1 second to the existing 1/4 because one is looking at a phone texting...


10 mph = 15 fps = 18 feet of reaction distance
15 mph = 22 fps = 27 feet of reaction distance
20 mph = 29 fps = 37 feet of reaction distance
25 mph = 37 fps = 46 feet of reaction distance
30 mph = 44 fps = 55 feet of reaction distance
35 mph = 51 fps = 64 feet of reaction distance
40 mph = 59 fps = 73 feet of reaction distance
45 mph = 66 fps = 82 feet of reaction distance
50 mph = 73 fps = 92 feet of reaction distance
55 mph = 81 fps = 101 feet of reaction distance
60 mph = 88 fps = 110 feet of reaction distance
65 mph = 95 fps = 119 feet of reaction distance


That's a five-fold decrease in reaction time...



I used to consult with Fortune 500 companies in California regarding cellular phone billing and policy...

When number portability became the norm... folks would eagerly (and companies would encourage it) transfer legal ownership of their personal cell phone account to their company - it was a perk. Most of the billing I'd audit would reflect about a 50% usage that was personal (not company related). The IRS see's it as untaxed income... and there's an IRS ruling on it. (Used to provide it to my clients) They just haven't gone after corporations and the individuals for the taxes.

The problem is the liability... and most companies were clueless about it - especially regarding employee use of company owned phones while driving, regardless if the use is personal or corporate. Even when I provided empirical case references and policy language for them to indemnify themselves, they still resisted..

If this law goes into effect... I'd expect most companies will divest themselves of "corporate-owned" cell phones.. and push ownership (and the liability) back to the employees.. at a minimum this will likely accelerate it.

However - I don't see anything passing.. as it's likely cell phone companies and wireless carriers would lobby Congress pretty hard to prevent this passing... as it would eliminate the "Cash cow" they have with corporate contracts...

[parfait]

Doesn't most cars in the states have built in cell and microphone service? Turn on your phone's bluetooth and connect it to the car, and when someone calls they'll just go straight through the stereo.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Doesn't most cars in the states have built in cell and microphone service? Turn on your phone's bluetooth and connect it to the car, and when someone calls they'll just go straight through the stereo.

I have that , I put the phone in the glove box to remove any temptation. I can push one button on the steering wheel to take a call. I have pushbutton numbers on the stereo programmed so only fiver or six important people can be reached by pressing one button.

However in the states, whilst individuals states should be able to make this law, the federal government have no constituional authority to set such a law.

[Archetype]

I will never ever stop texting and driving. I can send a text without looking at my phone, just like typing at a computer without looking at the keyboard. It's just too convenient to give up

[johnroxx]

I will never ever stop texting and driving. I can send a text without looking at my phone, just like typing at a computer without looking at the keyboard. It's just too convenient to give up

Seriously? SERIOUSLY??? You don't get the difference between sitting stationary at a desk, and typing messages while in control of several thousand pounds of steel flying down the road?

Wow...

;^)

[slucero]

2005 study on reaction times... http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognit ... dir489.pdf

Extract from study:

ABSTRACT—Our research examined the effects of handsfree cell-phone conversations on simulated driving. We found that even when participants looked directly at objects in the driving environment, they were less likely to create a durable memory of those objects if they were conversing on a cell phone. This pattern was obtained for objects of both high and low relevance, suggesting that very little semantic analysis of the objects occurs outside the restricted focus of attention. Moreover, in-vehicle conversations do not interfere with driving as much as cell-phone conversations do, because drivers are better able to
synchronize the processing demands of driving with invehicle conversations than with cell-phone conversations. Together, these data support an inattention-blindness interpretation wherein the disruptive effects of cell-phone conversations on driving are due in large part to the diversion of attention from driving to the phone conversation.

Quote from principle author of the study:

“If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, their reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone.

It’s like instantly aging a large number of drivers,” says David Strayer, a University of Utah psychology professor and principal author of the study.

The re-fucking tard who was caused this accident, landing himself and his vehicle under the bus... (and killed a 15 year old kid)



....sent or received 11 texts in the 11 minutes immediately before the crash...


I bet, if he had LIVED... he would say: "I can send a text without looking at my phone, just like typing at a computer without looking at the keyboard. It's just too convenient to give up"



This could be you.



To put strangers, friends or family at risk because "It's just too convenient to give up"... is the stupidest fucking reason I've ever heard of...

[artist4perry]

Shadap and Drive! Thank you. Click on image below.