All Distractions (But Especially Cell Phones) Dangerous To Drivers
from the cell-phones,-for-example dept
Yet another study is out, touting the fact that distractions impair one's driving ability. This should be really obvious to anyone who has ever taken driver's ed, since it's one of the first things they teach you. But of course there has to be something specific to blame, and predictably it's the cell phone. Actually, the study states that every distraction from putting on makeup to drowsiness is quite dangerous, but CNN.com makes it clear that technology is the real villain, by running an ominous picture of a driver dialing a cell phone. No doubt, this will help add to the growing list of states trying to regulate or ban cell phone use while driving. Perhaps the reason that cell phones take so much blame is that their use is visible and verifiable. It's hard to prove that someone was too drowsy to be driving, or that they had just reached their hand into the backseat to spank their kid. Like the regulations they inspire, these studies seem more about publicity and scaring people, than in doing anything to lessen the danger of driving.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.
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I just think you're off on this one
YES, the media tends to use technology as a boogie-man to sensationalize things.
YES, putting on make-up and flipping through the radio can be just as distracting as cell phone use.
But hand-held cell phone use in a car is an obvious and easy-to-legislate distraction. I have no problem making the roads slightly safer, and this is a good way to do it.
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Re: I just think you're off on this one
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Re: Re: I just think you're off on this one
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I still just dont buy it
Looking down at a radio is way more dangerous. There was a NHTSA study a while back that listed the reasons for accidents. The passenger and radios were at the top.
It doesn't matter what you do while driving if your a bad driver or one is near you, accidents happen.
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Re: I still just dont buy it
I know that I for a fact have made myself a bumper sticker that reads across the back of my bumper "Hang the fuck up and drive, you asshole!" If you see this on the road you know its me... Hang up and shut up. Another thing that bites me is the fact that I see people in BMWs and Benzs holding a phone? If you can afford a luxury car use your snob sense and get a headset you idiot then maybe you can learn about those things called turn signals and use them.
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Re: Re: I still just dont buy it
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Re: Re: I still just dont buy it
Hand free is still much safer, but still not the full answer. Checkout our web page on www.actplace.net and click on the steering wheel for the ultimate solution.
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Logically inconsistent
But as mentioned in an earlier thread, this is not about really keeping anyone safe. This is about politicians having something to point to while not really doing ANYTHING significant (except mucking with people): "SEE! I made the roads safer!"
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Re: Logically inconsistent
When you're in the driver's seat, you should be DRIVING.
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Re: Re: Logically inconsistent
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It's a fact, Jack.
distracted. More so than by eating, adjusting the
radio, etc... because you precious brain is also
involved in conversation. It tends to reduce your
visual processing ability when you're all bla-bla on
the phone. Talking to a passenger might be as bad
except for their own survival instinct...
Saying that other things may be as bad isn't much
of an arguement in defense of the practice.
The the facts are in. Get off the freaking phone and
drive.
Cell Phones and Driving
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/
Studies Find Evidence of Serious Driver Distraction
When Driving and Using Cell Phone
http://www.hfes.org/web/DetailNews.aspx?ID=84
Young Cell Phone Users Drive Like Elderly, Study Says
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0202_050202_phone.html
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Re: It's a fact, Jack.
Saying that a cell phone conversation is what makes a person distracted and not the other activities associated with the cell phjone is propoganda by the insurance companies and their paid researchers so they can hike the rate on all drivers (Since the talking is the only thing in common between all drivers with cell phone).
The true data show that >40% of accidents happen when people try to answert a cell phone, >22% when they try to dial and the rest is attributable to multitasking, angry conversations, long conversations etc.
But there's a safe technology solution to this technology caused problem. Please check out our web site www.actplace.net for a comprehensive solution to all these distractors. Now all I need to do is to get NHTSA and the auto/cell phone/insurance companies to adopt it. 88% of the consumers surveyed think it is great and 87% said that they will buy it.
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Every Day
And you know what makes me feel even better after I've almost been driven off the road? To see that the other driver hasn't even noticed that they nearly caused an accident.
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Re: Every Day
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Re: Every Day
Hand free is still much safer, but still not the full answer. Checkout our web page on www.actplace.net and click on the steering wheel for the ultimate solution.
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It's not just Cellphones...
Or Coffee...
Or Hairbrushes...
Or PDAs...
Or Makeup, it's...
DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION (UK)
or
CARELESS DRIVING (US)
Moral: We don't need another law...
WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE!
(sorry about the shouting, but some people just don't get it...)
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relative significance
by gum, anecdotally, its _is_ always someone on a cell phone. It is a stunning, unusual occurance when I can observe who cut me off or didnt start at a green light and they were off the phone. Its always the damn phone. I dont know why that should be, but it is.
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Re: relative significance
Hand free is still much safer, but still not the full answer. Checkout our web page on www.actplace.net and click on the steering wheel for the ultimate solution.
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hmmm
Done.
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Re: hmmm
New York - and a few other places already has such a law. Has it helped? I don't think so...
Like I said elsewhere in this thread, it is not about new laws. If someone is driving dangerously - whether on a cellphone or not, they have already broken the law. Pass a new law and they would have broken two. Would they care?
"There oughtta be a law", while a laudable sentiment, rarely solves the problem. Usually it just gives the legislators a chance to look busy.
"All the laws passed by Congress have not improved on the Ten Commandments"
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Re: Re: hmmm
Government regulate and industry innovate, but the industries involved, Cell carriers, Insurance Companies and Automakers do not want innovations to block their revenues, BUT have no fear, there's a solution.
We invented a safe technology solution to this technology caused problem. Please check out our web site www.actplace.net for a comprehensive solution to all these distractors. The system blocks cell phones when the driver is busy passing or turning or is unfamiliar or stressfull driving condition AND enables full control of the phone right from the steering wheel.
Now all I need to do is to get NHTSA and the auto/cell phone/insurance companies to adopt it. 88% of the consumers surveyed think it is great and 87% said that they will buy it.
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Re: hmmm
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cell? nope, kids
Over the last four years, I have been hit 4 times. In each of these accidents, I was hit when I was at a stand still.. 3 times at a red light, once while waiting for a parking space in the post office lot.
The common thread in EACH one of these cases? A baby or a young child in the other car and the driver had TURNED AROUND to take care of the kid. Luckily, each of thee impacts was under 5MPH and no one was hurt.. altho the property damage has run to a few thousand dollars. In one case I was stopped at a light and a woman two cars back had slowed down, but not stopped, before turning around to see how her baby was doing in the child seat. CLUELESS.
I concur with the poster who thinks this is yet another 'feel good law' to help some ineffective politician get elected. Can you imagine an elected official suggesting babies and young kids should not be allowed in a car?? I know, I know, I'm a man so I can't understand... except one of the guys who hit me was a man as well, giving his child a cookie. I guess the other common thread were the other drivers were driving VERY badly.
Hell with cellphones.. eliminate bad drivers - suspend drivers license a year or so, no 'humor driving schools' and you'll really have fewer accidents.
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Re: cell? nope, kids
Let the flaming begin.
It's also amusing when you are driving behind someone and the driver is turning to the passenger every time that they talk to the passenger. Why?
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Re:
It really is distracting, but you know it is distracting so you really try and pay attention.
With phones, people don't feel as distracted and don't make the effort to remain alert.
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Quick Dial 911 I got ran over by a cell phone.
Do cell phones alter otherwise extremely capable people's driving skill? Yes, unfortunately it does, Zukav makes a good point they just don't notice you. Well, because we don't have arms made of invisible material so we can see our blind spots while holding the cell phone to our head.
There is a solution Hands free kits in cars, then we can talk on our cell phones, put makeup on, shave, drink our coffee, read a map, write down a phone number to the conference call we need to make all while safely adhering to the rules of the road. And not once did we swerve, I'm such a good driv... oops I didn't see the stop sign on that school bus. Its okay kids don't cross the street anyway, they are always on the sidewalks. I wonder what that was I just ran over, I need to get that looked at when I bring my vehicle in the shop.
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Re: Quick Dial 911 I got ran over by a cell phone.
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Here is the list:
Here are the top 15 driver distractions, including the percentage of crashes where each was a factor:
Rubbernecking (looking at a crash, a vehicle, roadside incident, traffic, attractive man or woman, etc.) - 16 percent.
Driver fatigue - 12 percent
Looking at scenery or landmarks - 10 percent
Passenger or child distractions - 9 percent
Adjusting radio or changing CD/tape - 7 percent
Cell phone - 5 percent
Eyes not on the road - 4.5 percent
Not paying attention, daydreaming - 4 percent
Eating or drinking - 4 percent
Adjusting vehicle controls - 4 percent
Weather conditions - 2 percent
Unknown - 2 percent
Insect, animal or object entering or striking vehicle - 2 percent
Document, book, map, directions or newspaper - 2 percent
Medical or emotional impairment - 2 percent
A CMA report listed email/chat as the #1 cause (don't new cells have email?) I turn mine off - its a 80min break each day...
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Re: List of Reason
Outlaw:
Attractive men and women
Scenerary or landmarks
Passengers and children
Radios
Then and only then go after the Cell phone.
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Re: Re: List of Reason
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less is more
Or better... spend some time organizing and cleaning up the mess. Who can obey the laws when there are so many, and they are so complex, conveluted and scattered about?
So what about CB's? OnStar? Have you ever seen anyone driving with the DVD player up front, using the remote control? I have. GPS systems? In some ways they make it safer, but they can also distract!
GIVE IT A BREAK BOYS!
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Re: less is more
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cell phones
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Hmm
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You people are nuts
If your phone call is THAT important PULL THE HELL OVER and finish it. There, perfect solution, roads are safe, and you get your precious talk time.
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Re: You people are nuts
Parking on the side of the freeway is also dangerous. Studies show that the shoulder is dangerous because lights or movements in cars attract drivers attentions and they unintentionally swerve into the parker cars. Ask policemen and they'll tell you that this is dangerous.
But there's a safe technology solution to this technology caused problem. Please check out our web site www.actplace.net for a comprehensive solution to all these distractors. Now all I need to do is to get NHTSA and the auto/cell phone/insurance companies to adopt it. 88% of the consumers surveyed think it is great and 87% said that they will buy it.
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No insurance when accident occurs while on cell ph
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Re: No insurance when accident occurs while on cel
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Angry people.
A study should be done on why normal people become homicidal maniacs whenever they get behind the wheel.
Word to the wise; avoid driving in the blind spot of someone who has "Hang the fuck up and drive, you asshole!" as a bumpersticker.
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Re: Angry people.
DONT DRIVE IN BLIND SPOTS!
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At Least...
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Darwinism at its finest
The reason? Many people never give a thought to traffic safety, and simply expect that others will take care of that for them, either in person, or through legislation. My gut instinct says these are the people causing most accidents.
Making all of the distracting, or dangerous acts legal will allow these people to eventually weed themselves out of the world's population--to the benefit of all mankind!
Sure, there will be some unfortunate accidents where some folks would be eliminated that we would prefer not be, but that already happens due to the stupid folks who do not pay attention to what they are doing.
Whenever I see stupid acts, not just accidents, I say to myself, "Well, the world's not going to run out of stupid people today...", and I would love to see that change.
For the benefit of the gene pool....
AC
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Close but no cigar...
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Why be so Narrow?
A few people said it was because it is easy to see when someone is on the cell and not so easy to see when they are drowsy or yelling at their kids.
So what? It always comes down to proof. If there are witnesses who say they saw the driver turn around to yell a the kids right before the accident, why treat that any differently than if they were on a cell? I've seen guys nodding off on the freeway and driven next to them honking my horn until they woke up. If an accident had resulted, I would have told the police the circumstances and it would have been part of their decision as to how to charge the driver.
Either enforce existing laws or beef them up to make it clear that ANY distracted driver will get extra penalties if they cause an accident. Why limit things? Be able to react to whatever the particular circumstances are for a particular incident.
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Solution at hand, NHTSA refuses to evaluate
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