After We Ban Driving While Drowsy, Can We Just Ban Legislating While Stupid?
from the please dept
Let's just face it: driving is a dangerous activity. Doing other things that suggest your full attention is not on the road makes it that much more dangerous -- but it seems ridiculous to ban each and every potentially dangerous thing you might do while driving. There are already laws on the books for reckless driving, and it seems like making use of those would be a lot more effective than some of the other proposals. Of course, we've talked about rules on yakking while driving (which may soon be accompanied with similar laws for pedestrians crossing the street while yakking). Then there are attempts at banning things like using OnStar while driving. Then, of course, you can going through the long list of possible distractions. Some have looked at banning smoking while driving and John writes in to let us know that New York has been looking at a bill to ban drowsy driving. Yes, you absolutely should not be driving while drowsy -- but the point is that there's an almost infinite number of possible things that can be done to make driving even more dangerous than it already is. It's never going to be possible to ban each one. Instead, why not just enforce existing laws that suggest that if you're doing something dangerous behind the wheel (and that includes driving while distracted or drowsy) you can get in trouble for it.
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ha
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Re: ha
problems include:
drink
have sex
commit crime
get pregnant
timeframes on any human act (as apposed to acts of nature) are irrelivent and illogical. stop using them
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Just as effective as Prohibition
The politicians just want to be seen as doing something. I have a feeling that this law, along with the "no talking on the cellphone while driving", and all those other "Protect us from being stupid" laws will be just about as effective in stopping people from doing those things as Prohibition was in stopping people from drinking alcohol, and will probably be enforced just as much.
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Self driving cars
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Self driving cars
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Lazy Journalism
In Texas, we have a speed limit. Say you hit another drive and kill them. Well, the other driver's estate could show the statute stating what was considered a safe speed on that road by showing the speed limit. Will this prove you were negligent? No. Will it add credence to a claim you were negligent? Yes.
Same could be said with laws against these activities. Although, in the hands of unscrupulous cops it can give them probable cause in a greatly expanded number of situations, it also shows what society considers normal, responsible driving.
If you are going to rail against such laws, please try to think through the possible reasons for passing such a law. When discussing outdated business models when it comes to the impact of the internet, you seem to be on more solid footing. When it comes to talking about the law, you become just another talking head spouting off kneejerk reactions.
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wait..
Who gets to sue who?
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Re: wait..
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huh...
I have an idea that can get rid of any and all of these silly laws. It's simple: outlaw car accidents. No one would ever have car accidents then.
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Isn't this already the case?
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Money
Under the new law you could fine them for reckless endangerment AND drowsy driving which would mean more money for the state.
The law simply being on the books, even if never enforced, might be enough to make some people think twice about driving while dangerously tired; in that case it would have already done its job.
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C-O-N-T-R-O-L
"Your papers please..."
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Drosey Driving
one way streets, Jersey wall's on all streets - both sides, work torward's {Legistration} 100% use of mass transportation.
In suburban areas remove car's from our mind set. There would be no streets in front of houses, lawns touching lawns, with a pathway down the middle. Millions of free golf carts to use from mass-transit to your home.
In urban areas all mass transportation, Mono-Rails, Mag-Level, electric trolleys, moving sidewalks,
subways, buses, golfcarts, bicycles. WE DO NOT NEED CARS
Charles Boyle
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Re: Drosey Driving
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Re: Drosey Driving
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Re: Drosey Driving
In urban areas all mass transportation, Mono-Rails, Mag-Level, electric trolleys, moving sidewalks,
subways, buses, golfcarts, bicycles. WE DO NOT NEED CARS"
And in your non-suburban, non-urban (i.e. RURAL) areas? Those of us who do not live in a city would still appreciate the ability to visit occasionally. Or am I expected to hitchhike a ride on somebody's golfcart?
That's gonna make my commute a whole lot longer in the morning, given that 20 miles on a golf cart's gonna take a lot longer than half an hour, I'm sure.
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Already a law
DUI (Driving under the Influence.)
Influence can be cover drugs, being tired, beer, ect.
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Turn your cell phone off in Bronx...
Crazy taxi cab in Harlem, iPod Zombies are in fright
Peds love iPods they're so proud, but the volume is too loud!
Car 54 where are you?
(With apologies, based on the theme from the "Car 54 Where Are You?" TV show, 1961-63)
I don't mean to make light of a bad situation (pedestrians getting killed while crossing the streets of New York City), but the reaction of lawmakers can border on the ridiculous.
Stupidity should not be rewarded with laws that inhibit our personal liberties. Lawmakers and the police have better things to do with their time and our tax dollars.
Tony
Tony Bove's iTimes
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"feeling a little tired, are we ma'am?"
"don't know about you officer, but i'm actually painfully alert at the moment."
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Other offences
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Re: Other offences
It makes sense to ban obvious distractions such as phones in my opinion as they are definitly extraneous to driving and not part of the normal human condition. More importantly they are an either/or condition - either you are using the phone or not so it is easy to legislate into a law police can issue immediate penalties for
Sleep apnoea although a major problem (UK research actually points to it causing more crashes than alcohol) is however a more subjective issue - at what point is a person *too* tired?
This is the sort of thing that should really be decided in a court rather than by a fixed penalty
We had a major derailment a few years ago caused by a tired driver who drove off the road and onto a train track killing 10 people - he was sucessfully prosecuted using existing dangerous driving laws: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1754336.stm
It would make more sense to append this to existing dangerous driving legislation to state that driving whilst drowsy can constitute "driving while impared"
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keeps you safe on road
Can you prevent this from happening to you? Yes! By using NoNap
No Nap is a inexpensive automobile safety device, that prevents drivers falling asleep at the wheel. This intelligent device is designed to detect when the driver is in danger of DOZING off and immediately alerts him / co passengers. Prevents a potential crash. The light weight gadget fits over drivers left ear and triggers alert buzzer observing the drivers drowsiness. No Nap is a essential safety device a MUST HAVE on all road travels. Online purchase at www.thenonap.com delivered free by courier to your address
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