More Americans talk and text while driving than those in other countries

I have to admit I'm guilty of texting while driving occasionally, not often. I do use the phone often while driving, it's a bluetooth hands free device through the vehicle's radio. I've been accused a few times of talking to myself.
 
LOL. I could see that people thinking that but I don't text much while in the car but sometimes I do use the phone which I try not too. I tell everyone if you happen to call me while I'm in my car I could probably not hear it due to hair bands screaming in the be black ground. I have Bluetooth in my vehicle but never have used it yet. :)
 
I use a 3-letter macro to send, "on the way".
But I generally invoke it sitting in the driveway, just before pulling out.

Stoplights are a place I feel it may be safe to read a quick message.
The intersection of texts and driving is so low (and I'm careful), I don't feel I'm at much risk.

In the car, I initiate a long distance call before leaving the driveway, or at a residential stop sign prior to reaching the freeway.
A bluetooth earpiece gives a good long chat with one friend, and nothing more to touch.

California has had a mandatory hands-free talk law for more than a year.
It's still amazing how many you see holding handset to ear while driving 65+. ! ;)
 
Do you ever really NEED to send a text while driving? The world worked just fine before there were cell phones and text messaging. It truly can wait until after you reach your destination.

It depends on your driving. I drive for work with hours between destinations. It is not like I drive for 10 minutes, and can text back. When I am doing city driving I just wait until I reach my destination, it can wait 5-10 minutes. When out on the open road I will read the text and use Siri to respond back. I do not have to take my eyes off the road to use Siri like I would if I had to type out a message.
 
My new car is Bluetooth and works thru the radio, like most new cars.
If I make a call, it's done hands free.

As far as reading or replying to texts.
I will check at the stop lights, but not while driving.
 
Do you ever really NEED to send a text while driving? The world worked just fine before there were cell phones and text messaging. It truly can wait until after you reach your destination.
good post
texting don't get it. it's like sending Morse code why ? we invented the Phone use it, hands free.
for 1 meesage "i'm late" "where are you " ok but the back and forth duh

It's still amazing how many you see holding handset to ear while driving 65+. ! ;)
this must stop and dislike adding new laws BUT impound car till driver goes to classes if owned by driver.
these people are the worse drivers. at least drunks have a excuse.
 
Sorry, but if you're driving a car you need to focus your attention on that. Eating, drinking, texting and talking on the phone are not something you should be doing.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DebhWD6ljZs

Tell that to the woman putting on her make up while driving down the road ?

Or the guy thats shaving with his electric razor while driving .

Or the person reading the paper instead of looking at the road.

These are all things you see on a daily basis that should be stopped first.
 
Tell that to the woman putting on her make up while driving down the road ?

Or the guy thats shaving with his electric razor while driving .

Or the person reading the paper instead of looking at the road.

These are all things you see on a daily basis that should be stopped first.

I agree.
 
good post
texting don't get it. it's like sending Morse code why ? we invented the Phone use it, hands free.
for 1 meesage "i'm late" "where are you " ok but the back and forth duh


this must stop and dislike adding new laws BUT impound car till driver goes to classes if owned by driver.
these people are the worse drivers. at least drunks have a excuse.

While texting and driving is horrifically dangerous, the difference between holding a handset and hands free is greatly exaggerated by lawmakers. Most studies show the amount of distraction is virtually identical between holding the phone and using hands free. These laws are usually put in place as either a money grab for the state or a "See? We're doing somethng!" law. The real distraction is in the conversation, whether it be holding a handset, hands free or talking to the person sitting next to you.
 
Several reasons more Americans text & drive vs. other parts of the world.

1) A lot more self-centered idiots in America
2) More automobiles in America
3) More roads in America
 
While texting and driving is horrifically dangerous, the difference between holding a handset and hands free is greatly exaggerated by lawmakers. Most studies show the amount of distraction is virtually identical between holding the phone and using hands free. These laws are usually put in place as either a money grab for the state or a "See? We're doing somethng!" law. The real distraction is in the conversation, whether it be holding a handset, hands free or talking to the person sitting next to you.
Don't know about studies, you can get what you pay for. looked and found this one first googled
hands free cell phone accident statistics
head line
WATCHDOG REPORT: Statistics show hands-free cell phone use while driving is just as dangerous.

but if you Read it hands free is safer was done in New Jersey .......
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/article_dcab06b6-6614-11df-9e65-001cc4c03286.html
"State Department of Transportation’s accident records for 2006-08, the latest available, show that crashes involving hands-free cell phones
injured 1,834 people and killed 10 statewide. Crashes with people using hand-held phones injured 2,317 people and killed 16 in those
three years.
Hand-held cell phones were a part of 738 local crashes, which injured 345 people and killed seven from 2006 to 2008 in Atlantic,
Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties. Hands-free devices factored into 360 crashes, where 137 people were injured locally
and one person killed."

this shows 12 lives saved, well worth it If one was Your mom dad wife etc

but when my wife and i first got cell phones noted that there is a world difference in holding the phone
and not holding it. much more like just talking to some who is in the car. even talking to a person in a car is a distraction.

having studied the brain at University (psychology major) , it can only perform so many tasks at once.
summarized:
holding a phone works the shoulder bicep forearm wrist and all fingers lot's of work. just common sense, not allowed to teach that in school
anymore.

imho > 25% of people should never drive anyway but they do. almost everyone in this country does, can everyone be a doctor. lawyer,
waitress, construction worker,auto tech, etc ? no people have different skills. but everyone can drive and kill 40,000 avg every year
of my 50+ years. over 2 Million lives lost. more than three times the total of American lives lost in all the wars in the past 100 years
(626,000).
just put it down
If the Aliens ever come they will take these death machines from us & give us safe transportion. GOD I HOPE
 
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Tell that to the woman putting on her make up while driving down the road ?

Or the guy thats shaving with his electric razor while driving .

Or the person reading the paper instead of looking at the road.

These are all things you see on a daily basis that should be stopped first.

i have seen most of these especially the ones reading a book or a paper. the ones shaving or putting make up on, just do it at home. get up earlier and DO IT AT HOME. geez!
i'll add another. i have seen this only once but a driver was on his ipad while on the highway. i looked at him a few times and am not sure when he looked up to watch the road. oh and i've always seen these irresponsible drivers do this on the highway.
 
can't outlaw everything

Some things are more distracting than others.
All the following categories are not equal.

--- more dangerous --->

Putting on makeup requires looking.
Texting requires looking.
Reading a book, letter, or paper requires looking.

Drinking or eating don't require looking, unless you spill something.
Then you flinch, and are the most dangerous.

Shaving with an electric razor, if done by touch, should be much safer.

Talking on a phone, if not too spirited, shouldn't be difficult.
Sometimes, if merging onto the freeway, into the setting sun, I'll tell my caller I'm busy and to hold on for a moment.

And, occasionally I ask my passenger to hold their tongue if traffic gets challenging!

<--- less dangerous ---

How would you rate pushing buttons on the radio?
How 'bout inserting a CD while driving?
(first you gotta find the right one)

Not unless you find a way to outlaw stupidity, will laws solve the problem.
Apply a liberal helping of common sense. :)
 
If not for multitasking while driving many would fall to sleep & that happens also. Some are better multitaskers than others & that will always be so regardless of laws restricting distractions. Driving has and always will require doing more than 1 thing at the same time.
 
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If not for multitasking while driving many would fall to sleep & that happens also.
.
those people need more sleep or should never drive take your pick.
or they lack discipline to be able to concentrate on the task at hand.

Some are better multitaskers than others & that will always be so regardless of laws restricting distractions.
.
multitasking while driving ......... no words for this... just take public transportation.

Driving has and always will require doing more than 1 thing at the same time.
no just concentrate on the task at hand.
and put the ______ phone down

ever been rear ended by someone driving 60mph ?

here's what happened
stopped at the end of the line of night time bridge constuction looked into my rear view mirror seen a car coming 3/4 of a mile away
i had enough time to tell the wife and my best friend "this guy is coming very fast " " he's not slowing down" " hold on he going to hit us"
and he did. Don't know what multitasking he was doing but it was not watching where he was going !
 

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