Blame The Mobile Phone? Or The Cocaine, Pot And Speed?
from the cocaine-and-speed-had-nothing-to-do-with-it dept
Matthew T writes in with the latest effort to place much more of the blame on a fatal accident on mobile phones than was probably deserved. As Matthew notes, the story's headline is "Fatal crash blamed on cell phone user," which pretty much sets the tone for the story. It's only well into the story, after focusing in on the phone, that we're told that driver was also found with "cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines" in his system. Seems like that might have played a pretty big part in him crossing the center divide and slamming head on into another car. However, after mentioning the drugs, the rest of the article focuses almost entirely on how dangerous phones are and how political action needs to be taken. To be honest, though, neither the phone nor the drugs should be "blamed" for it -- but the driver who stupidly took the drugs, got in the car and got on the phone. Either way, though, it seems like if people are trying to drum up support for driver distraction laws, they should be able to pick better examples than this one.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
So of course cell phones are dangerous. You should have to forfeit your driver's license when you buy one (from a government-run store).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
And don't mind the extra antenna...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
and without exception see distracted drivers
who are yaking on the cell phone. It's their
driving that attracts my attention. Obviously
some people cannot drive in a safe manner and
talk on the phone at the same time and they will
cause accidents.
The human factor study compared put it this way,
talking on the phone while driving reduces a
young person's response to that of an old person.
I'll add that they don't have either the experience or
realization that their responses have deteriorated
that an older person usually has.
You're a danger... shut up and drive already.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Agreed...on all points actually. I love Mythbusters.
But the point of the article was that the drugs in the guys systems were downplayed, or barley even mentioned.
Operating while under the influence = dangerous. Operating on the phone = more dangerous. Simple math shows: operating under the influence + on the phone = even more dangerous.
But lets make sure we don't blame this one all on the phone, since it was just one variable in the equasion.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
It might be better expressed as operating under the influence * on the phone = even more dangerous.
In any case, it's quite a cocktail. The article doesn't mention whether the driver also had the radio on or a DVD playing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Cars should be equipped with breathalizers and devices that emit signals that automatically turn off cell phones (inside the car, of course).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
so how come truckers who talk on thier CB's all day and night don't wreck all the time, oh right, they were actually paying attention.
its just another stupid law to protect the knucke-draggers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Typical...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cell Phone danger
I would say more distracted... In my state ,Texas, teenagers are only allowed to have a single passenger in thier car till thier 18yrs old unless the passengers are siblings. This indicates that the state feels that the distraction of having passengers is severe enough to warrant the law.
Should we start giving tickets to drivers who are seen talking to passengers? do you know anyone who has been ticked for distractions other that phones? I don't!
Get a hands free voice activated phone for petes sake....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Cell Phone danger
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hands-Free
All of this malarkey is just trying to relieve individuals for responsibility for their actions. If I'm talking on my cell phone and have an accident, it's clearly my fault! Pretty soon the world will be 100% safe because we won't be allowed to leave our homes, and all the sharp instruments at home will have been Confiscated.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Hands-Free
"All of this malarkey is just trying to relieve individuals for responsibility for their actions. If I'm talking on my cell phone and have an accident, it's clearly my fault! Pretty soon the world will be 100% safe because we won't be allowed to leave our homes, and all the sharp instruments at home will have been Confiscated."
I heard on the news this morning that the government (I think just state gov't in AL) is thinking about requiring children to sit in booster seats after they outgrow their childseats until they are 4'9" tall or 12 years old. Now, personally, I wasn't over 4'9" until I was in the ninth grade in high school, but that story made me feel the exact same way. We're going to all be living in bubbles soon.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Hands-Free
I'm not against cell phones while driving though, but I always use a hands-free devise. I also run with scissors.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Wakeup call
I've seen people driving, jabbering away on their cell phones, and BARELY slam on the brakes to avoid rear ending people. I even followed a young lady the other day (wearing a H.S letter jacket) that was talking on her cell phone, adjusting her lipstick in the rearview mirror, and driving with her elbows. Can I hear you say, "accident waiting to happen!" ?
Seems like people lose sight of what it is they're driving. It's a several thousand pound killing machine if not used with the proper respect.
DON'T become complacent and think you're ten foot tall and bullet proof just because you're in the comfort of your vehicle. You'll get yourself killed, or worse, you'll kill someone else (like ME!)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Wakeup call
go to the link below.. your government at work, also check the national auto insurance safety boards website...so until you have the facts...
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Wakeup call
I'll call your cell phone, tell you im sleeping with your wife, and watch you get into an accident.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Statistics
This is just another piece of evidence to my mind that instead of legislating against any particular object, we need to simply ban stupid people.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cell Phones
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
I have never been in an accident on my cell phone but I pass tons of accidents from idiots that do not know how to drive.... Hmmm maybe if they could dive then it might help when they are on the phone.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]