| Author | Message | ||
     Iamike |
to get their attention? http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/update-charges-in -truck-motorcycle-crash-allege-hit-and-run/article _84786096-21a8-11e1-a5d6-0019bb2963f4.html I continually see bad drivers but this texting is out of control. They drive at night, killing their night vision looking at their phones. They can't even look away from their phones while going through intersections. My only hope is that texting is a fad that will die out soon. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It's just a leg. She's 21. She'll get community service. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Texting should carry the same consequences as DWI. Leaving the scene should instantly double any fines/jailtime. I'm sure she's otherwise a sweet girl, good kid, what have you... but we need to start making examples out of people or this isn't going to stop. | ||
| 7873jake |
Just came across the AP wire about an hour ago: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5 iS2C-wNqcs9x9ZkAEJkuU2cAYpuQ?docId=fb2adf38a1c149e d9a75fa186eb82825 | ||
| Pwnzor |
So, let me get this straight. Pickup truck crashes into a trailer in front of him. Now, suddenly... somehow... everything that happens behind him is his fault? WHY aren't we hearing about the big investigation into the TWO school buses that piled into him???? | ||
| Crackhead |
Pwnzor, I think you missed the 3rd buss that was transporting kids to the hospital crashed in the hospital parking lot because the brakes failed. 3 buses with bad brakes!!! The article should focus on the the serious buss safety issues. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I hope they make "NO USE" mandatory... or they will pull your Federal Highway funding. I've been cut off, pulled in front of, come close to being run over way to many times | ||
| Ratbuell |
Either make roadways "no cell zones"...or make a law that drawing a sidearm is justifiable self-defense if you see a phone behind the wheel in a car next to you. A handheld phone turns the car into a deadly weapon. Where's my defense? Oh wait...HERE it is. On my hip. HANG UP ••••••••. And for the record? I have a bluetooth earbud in every cage, with a USB charger. It goes in when the seatbelt goes on, and I never call out. Depending on the caller ID (parents, divorce lawyer), I decide whether to answer, or let it go to voicemail. And for now, the sidearm stays in the safe at home. | ||
| Slaughter |
I have no patience or sympathy for texting. It's a deadly activity. My mother was killed this January by a texting punk-assed kid in a freaking snowstorm in Wisconsin at 10:30 at night. She was doing about 35, he hit her doing 62 (estimated by investigators) It aint over for us. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My God, Steve. I'm so sorry to hear that. I made my post half-tongue-in-cheek...but a situation like yours makes it all very real. I can see smartphones becoming like alcohol or tobacco very soon - age limits, usage restrictions...and hopefully penalized at least as strongly as DUI and attempted murder. There is NOTHING so important. I get on the motorcycle....and I don't miss being "connected" at all. My limbs don't fall off. The world doesn't end. I don't lose my job. I just...pay attention and enjoy the ride. Do I check my Blackberry as soon as my helmet is off? Usually. But am I sweating and drooling and going through withdrawal while I'm riding and not checking? Nope. You and your family have my deepest sympathies. | ||
| Bandm |
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/94185 04-us-calls-for-ban-on-in-car-phone-use-even-with- bluetooth | ||
| Slaughter |
Any such law is just going to be an exercise in impotence. The addicts will still text, talk and find new distractions. (Message edited by slaughter on December 13, 2011) | ||
| Luftkoph |
make phones inoperable while moving except 911 | ||
| Oldog |
tonight the ntsb has recomended banning all phone usage while driving on fox this evening steve sorry to read this... | ||
| Iamike |
My only concern about a big crackdown is that in their usual way there will be overreaction. They already go after sportbikes due to the few idiots that stunt, and now we are all targets. They will make ridiculous fines for minor offenses and we will get tagged when we are the victims. And the real miscreants will go on killing us with little or no consequences. | ||
| Reindog |
This is NOT a Federal issue but a State's Right issue. (Message edited by reindog on December 14, 2011) | ||
| Slaughter |
The NHTSA in its recommendation made the clear statement that it is ONLY a suggestion, that they had no authority. | ||
| Froggy |
How would you differentiate between a driver and passenger? | ||
| Notpurples2 |
This would be easy to catch by motorcycle. Put some cops on unmarked motorcycles; simple standard style bikes of various makes so they are sitting up high and aren't conspicuous. They'll be able to easily identify people texting. Hell, they'd pay for the fleet of bikes in a month with all the tickets. And it would benifit us by put a hell of a lot more attention on bikers. I think people would notice bikers a lot more if they knew there were cops riding around on un-marked motorcycles giving out tickets for cellphone use. (Message edited by notpurples2 on December 14, 2011) | ||
| Kyrocket |
I'm all for it, always have been. That being said I'll offer my .02. My office is on the second floor with a huge plate glass window overlooking the main drag into town. You can stand there and watch the people go by and look right down into their cars and more often than not they're doing something with their phones. Ky. has made texting illegal but it doesn't stop them, they just try and hide it better and will put it farther down in their lap making it more dangerous. I couldn't tell you how many times I've honked at someone when the light turns green and I can see them in the sideview mirror looking down into their laps, oblivious to everything around them. When phones are outlawed, only outlaws will have phones. Oh, and my sidearm is in my pocket, not for this reason but others. | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow- just read this in my normally useless local paper's website... http://www.thedailytimes.com/Focus/story/No-cellph ones-no-texting-by-drivers-US-urges-id-018690 As far as enforecement- I'd say more than half the time I see a LEO driving, he's on his damn cel... I still want to install a real live locomotive train horn on my truck and my GF's car- dunno how I'd fit one on the Buell... | ||
| Sifo |
This is NOT a Federal issue but a State's Right issue. States sell their rights when they take federal highway funds. So, let me get this straight. Pickup truck crashes into a trailer in front of him. Now, suddenly... somehow... everything that happens behind him is his fault? WHY aren't we hearing about the big investigation into the TWO school buses that piled into him???? I read about that accident and wondered the same thing. The connection between the texting and the school buses wasn't clear to me at all. Pwnzor, I think you missed the 3rd buss that was transporting kids to the hospital crashed in the hospital parking lot because the brakes failed. 3 buses with bad brakes!!! The article should focus on the the serious buss safety issues. I doubt they all had bad brakes. I can only speak for the laws in IL, but nationwide school buses have the best safety record of any form of ground transportation. In IL school buses have to be safety inspected every 6 months or 10K miles, which ever comes first. A bus is typically out of service about 2 days when they go for inspection. For our company that comes to about 500 bus days per year spent just on inspections. The driver must also fill out a DOT inspection form daily that has about 80 safety items that must be checked. These forms do get audited periodically too. Speaking only for our company they won't let a bus go out in the daytime with a headlight out. I have never been told to take out a bus that I have found to be unsafe. Not saying it can't happen, but I find the school buses surprisingly safe. Also in IL they have recently passed a state law prohibiting cell phone use by any driver in a school zone. It doesn't sound like a big deal until you look at how many school zones there are in the suburbs. It makes a legal phone call very difficult in some areas. Also cell phones are illegal for the school bus drivers. We are told if we need to make a call, park and get off the bus or take a seat in the back of the bus, and only when the bus is empty. | ||
| Hootowl |
"States sell their rights when they take federal highway funds." Correction, "States sell their rights when they take federal highway funds that have been sucked out of that state's citizenry, had strings attached, several percent taken out for administrative costs, and then sent back." A bit more accurate, don't you think? | ||
| Sifo |
There may be a slight bit of coercion in the sale.  | ||
| Oldog |
This would be easy to catch by motorcycle. I VOLUNTEER ! a pov or similar lipstic camera and a setup that the court can down load video, I ride up on you texting or messing with the phone look at the car the plate and the driver in the act, NEXT this goes to the LEOs you gets a ticket I like it! last fall I would see a yellow mini with CA plates, the little blond gal had a BIG PHONE every time I saw her, I watched the administrator who announced the recomendation on Fox, she said it would not be popular but it is the right thing to do.. Also if the phone is built in (MS Sync ala Ford, that may be exempt, for now expecting that it would be discontinued if the majority of states pass a law ) +1 on Leos on phones } | ||
| Scottorious |
I may get flamed for this and I honestly wish there was a good way to make everything "safe". I truly wish that. now, I dont want to sound like some crazy tea party advocate or anything like that but it frightens me that we just ask for more and more laws that are supposed to make my life "safer". Our population is begging for "safety" and our governments response is the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act). Do we want every action of our life Governed? Does the presence of a law make us feel safe? We have seen that numerous times that a law doesnt really mean much. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
You guys are way behind, there's already plain clothes bike cops in France, they observe & report to colleagues in uniform lurking close by. Another thing is that mobile phone logs are being checked at the scene when officers feel it may be a factor in the accident. Also if you run into someone from behind FOR WHATEVER REASON it's YOUR FAULT, you were driving too close for the circumstances. The only exceptions to the above rule are when somebody pulls out in front of you or overtakes, cuts in front then slams on the brakes to make an inflated claim when you rear end them. The last has become so prevalent in UK that insurance companies are offering dashcams to combat the fraud. | ||
| Pwnzor |
insurance companies are offering dashcams to combat the fraud. Insurance companies here are offering up GPS units, and your rates depend on how "safe" a driver you are. If you speed, your rates go up, etc. Some areas now, cops are grabbing phones and downloading all the data from them. No way in hell I'm giving a cop my phone unless he is arresting me, and then I really don't have much choice in the matter. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
They can't just grab your phone here, they ask for it to confirm that it wasn't being used at the moment of the accident, if the request is refused then they have to choose what further action to take. | ||
| Ratbuell |
we just ask for more and more laws that are supposed to make my life "safer" I just want a way to defend myself against these techie morons who HAVE to be connected every single second of every single day. If I can't do it with a .38 (local defense) ...I'll do it with a law (global defense). Because the techie morons obviously don't know (or care) how to police themselves (and therein lies the problem). |
