Enjoy Changing Your Car Radio Station While You Still Can
from the pointless-legislation-committee dept
We joked last month that following a California accident in which the driver of a car was killed while, police think, using a laptop while driving, that there would be an onslaught of laws aimed at banning the practice. While that may not have happened (yet), legislators have set their sights on outlawing another electronic distraction: driving while texting. The WSJ says the push for such a law in Washington state began after a traffic accident outside Seattle, when a guy was reading email on his BlackBerry hit another car, starting a five-car crash in which nobody was seriously injured. Of course, as the article notes, negligent operation of a vehicle is already a crime in Washington, and carries a $538 fine. Police there say it can be hard to enforce the law, because after accidents, they have to rely on a driver fessing up that they were texting or were distracted by some other activity. With that in mind, it's hard to see how a new law banning "reading, writing or sending electronic messages" while driving will help the situation at all. If existing reckless or negligent driving laws aren't useful because they're so difficult to enforce, why not seek to improve them, so as to help cut down on all driver distractions? This would seem to be much more productive than singling out individual activities after they supposedly become a problem. BlackBerry- or phone-using drivers aren't the problem; distracted drivers are.
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Better Idea...
Oh and the title to this article is really horrible. The government would never ban changing your radio station while driving.
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Re: Better Idea...
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Re: Re: Better Idea...
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Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
Thinking the government won't intervene in a widespread matter is naive-- if there is publicity to be had from passing unnecessary but emotionally volatile laws, someone will run with it.
It's what's called "an example", often employed to relate a theoretical possibility to an already-existing paradigm to make it easier to understand.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
They can try all the want, but in the end if the government makes a stupid enough law to enrage the people, they will suffer the consequences.
And I believe outlawing changing the radio station would be one of those things.
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Re: Re: Better Idea...
Did you just compare changing a radio station to second hand smoke? I'm not sure, but you might just be one of the people that will qualify for my new idiot license plates (If I can get them approved).
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Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
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You AC, are a moron and a coward too (j/k)
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Re: Better Idea...
Personally, I wouldn't be able to say something like that with a straight face.
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Re: Re: Better Idea...
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Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
There are plenty of places that children are banned from (bars, adult shops, etc.) and there are still a few places that women are banned from. Front-line combat positions, for instance.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
They will never ban women and children from setting foot on American soil.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Better Idea...
OK, my mistake. I suppose I should have gotten my facts more straight before posting.
Wow. You sure got your knickers in an awful twist over an honest mistake. Take a chill pill and relax, dude.
Nothing. At least it's better than the left-vs-right bashing that seems to take over so often.
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Re: Better Idea...
I would say that taken literally, looking away from the road to change your station while driving is among the things that you're not supposed to do and probably would be considered illegal under current laws. Changing it while stopped at a light would be another matter. Using steering wheel controls would also be a difference as it wouldn't require you to look away from the road.
I think the substantial difference here is that changing your station doesn't necessarily involve looking away from the road, while texting pretty much does.
And in general, as a driver, runner, and cyclist, I'd just as soon the idiots around me piloting 3000lb vehicles at 30-50 mph are actually looking at the damned road.
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There be some truth there in that there title ther
(that means the radio can display the artist/album/song names)
Technically, looking at your radio to find out what artist is currently playing would qualify as reading an electronic message.
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Send all the politicians home
more than enough laws to cover any happenstance.
If we would just enforce the laws that we have,
difficult or not, maybe we could abolish the congress.
It's far past the point that passing more laws is the
answer to any problem. But still it continues.... god
when will it ever end!
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Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
I'm sick of people who can't drive when they have 100% focus on the road, trying to drive while talking or doing their hair. While some people will say it is sexist to single out a gender, I feel it is necessary to point out the fact that many of the worst ones I deal with on my commute are women. I have actually spoken with some of them, and they claim they are multitasking. The problem with that idea is that they are doing several things at once and none of them well. I have been known to talk on the phone while driving, but I dedicate almost no real focus to the conversation. Most of my answers are "yeah", "sure", "ok", and that's about it, but common sense also plays a role. When you are talking on your phone, you should be in the SLOW LANE AND STAY THERE! Just this morning on my way in to work, a lady in an SUV was chatting away in the fast lane, holding up 15-20 cars. After the guy a couple cars a head of me flashed his brights for the fifth time, she finally moved. No more then 20 seconds after she moves to the slow lane, she cuts back into the fast lane (without signaling), and still traveling 15-20 MPH slower then our lane of traffic. Needless to say this caused some interesting braking and lane changes. Now, if you asked her, I'm sure she would say that the problem was that the rest of the driving world was just driving to fast, and that it had nothing to do with her inability to operate a motor vehicle.
Kind of wandered off with my rant, but people like that are the reason I feel Natural Selection isn't working well enough any more. The world would be a much better place with stricter driving tests and mandatory performance driving school. I also think you should have to take a special course to qualify for certain dangerous vehicles such as SUV's... maybe then people will be able to figure out that they have blind spots and stop running over children, pets, cars, building, street signs, parking dividers, mail boxes, light posts, etc... just to name a few.
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Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
At least we can multi-task and better than men who can barely talk and play video games at the same time.
But the problem with women is that they think the only time they have to fix their hair or chat on their cell phone is while driving to wherever they need to be. Take some advice from me, NEVER answer you cellphone in the car or if you have to pull over to the side of the road. Also as far as hair and makeup, it takes like a minute to do while driving, but only 20 seconds while parked. AND you can avoid the lipstick smudge across your cheek. Use some common sense people.
And men aren't perfect either. The next time I see some guy roll down his window to spit out of his car while going 20 mph over the speed limit I will just scream. And stop tailgating for crying out loud!
Okay, I'm done. :)
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Re: Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
My wife and I debated over whether women or men are better at multitasking for a long time, so as part of her college project she used it for a paper and we did a few experiments. We figured out that women can do multiple things at once better, but none of them are done as well. It directly relates to driving, if a person can stay focused on driving and just kind of gleam info over the phone, they can do fine. Women just tend to get more involved in their conversations and divert more attention to it.
Just for the record, men can talk and play video games at the same time (we choose not to) :) It's like when we "are not listening", we actually are, but it's more of a selective hearing feature.
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Re: Re: Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
I agree to some extent, but I can't count the number of times some idiot has tailgated me on the freeway when there is a car directly in front of me and I simply cannot go any faster. Do these idiots expect me to move over so that they can get a single car length ahead of me? Guess what? During commute hours you sometimes have to go slower than you like because there is so much traffic, and being a rude tailgating jerk doesn't help you go any faster, it just makes people angry and makes the roads less safe.
And Europeans do have a better way of doing it. I lived in Italy for a while, and if you are overtaking someone on the freeway, if you turn on your left blinker, they are required, by law, to yield to you-- they have to move over and let you by. People just do it and no one gets upset.
Anyways, besides all of this, the original "laptop" story is idiotic. There is no way to prove that he was using the laptop, they just know that it was on at the time of the accident. Also, this wreck happened in an area that I'm familiar with, and it is a stretch of road notorious for its accidents. Top that off with poor weather conditions, and you have all of the ingredients for an accident, laptop or no.
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Re: Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
In response to this stupid post...I've actually seen guys using electric razors in the car. That kinda goes along with the makeup thing huh. You say you use your cell phone while driving BUT you don't devote any real attention to the conversation....I don't care, the point is you're distracted no matter what. If you WERE PERFECT, you wouldn't even answer it. Pull over to the side of the road. If you don't, you're no better than the women putting on lipstick in my opinion. Also, if you want to bash women drivers, why is men's insurance higher, especially as teenagers...huh, answer that one smarty pants.
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Re: Re: Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
Oh and Casper, I could definitely see where you need to keep up with the flow of traffic on the interstate or freeway, but I live in a state where freeways are non-existent and the interstate is used for traveling between cities, not general commute. So when people tailgate me on city streets I get a little peeved.
As far as selective hearing, does that apply to posts? It seems a lot of people use "selective reading" when responding. ;)
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Re: Stupid + Driving = I HATE YOU
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Banned smoking
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Re: Banned smoking
As I understand it, one of the major groups to push for a ban on smoking in bars was the bartenders and waitresses that work in the bars. Go figure.
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Re: Banned smoking
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Just a thought
I realize this is going to annoy the privacy people, however for someone who was in an accident because someone was not obeying the cell phone law. I would have no problem with this.
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Re: Just a thought
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Worse than drunk driving
They had an epsiode where they tested talking on a cell phone vs. driving drunk. And talking on a cell phone was worse than driving drunk...
Just something to think about!
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RE: Worse than drunk driving
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Re: RE: Worse than drunk driving
Wow. That's harsh. :-)
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Ha Ha Ha
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Re: Ha Ha Ha
States use the DMV as a source of state revenue, so making it harder to get a drivers license is out of the question.
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exactly and that's why states will continue to pass idiot laws that don't really protect anyone or change anything...they pass meaningless laws to generate revenue. idiots will continue to be idiots no matter what laws are passed...they'll just be able to fine the idiots more money now...
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Take away the temptation ...
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Re: Take away the temptation ...
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Why is it so easy to get a license?
Now I know everyone is going to get all upset (especially all those eager 16 & 17 year olds) saying that if road tests are harder to pass and take longer to perform then waiting lists at DMVs will become even longer to get a road test in the first place. And all I can say to that is "too damn bad!" perhaps you should use that time to perfect your skills and ensure that you will pass the test the first time around and be a safe and responsible driver once you are allowed out on the road by yourself.
Furthermore, in regards to the moron mentioned in the article that was using his laptop while driving, we don't need a law banning laptops from use while driving, that is already covered by the laws of common sense. If you are too stupid to understand that then you are too stupid to have a license or own a car!
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Re: Why is it so easy to get a license?
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Re: Why is it so easy to get a license?
I don't know, they can ban anything and it's not like it will stop people from doing it. As for ideas for a more strict driving test, instead of 6 months on a permit it should be a year, so that kids learn to drive in all weather conditions. And as for multi-tasking, women may statistically do that better than men, but not from what I have seen, especially in stressful situations. But I guess that's just a gift I have.
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The camel's nose
more than enough laws to cover any happenstance."
Welcome to my world. Law abiding gun owners have been saying these things for decades. There are laws against murder, assault, etc., yet the clamor for more and more gun control laws continues unabated.
Then there's the "Twinkie tax" and various other proposals to punish people for poor diet habits.
All hail the Mommy State!
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Drive while stupid
Our "its a free country I can do what I want" is all out the window. we can make tons of stupid laws for that.
The same thing comes to mind when I was in high school, and the drivers ed teacher would rant about YOU SHOULD NEVER listen to the radio while driving its too distracting. They guy sent home letters with "contracts" that parents had to sign and gave them the idea about getting all of us new drivers to drive with no radio. All this is the same thing, don't talk on your mobile phone while driving, or at least get a hand free kit.
It seems more and more people have wireless headsets for their phones, make it mandatory for them to be used while driving, then at least people aren't fiddling with these tiny phones, and trying to drive. Or better yet make hands free kits to the cars universal, like getting a jack for your ipod.
I would love for their to be cars that drove them selves, and get all the crazy idiots out of the control seat of the 2 and 3 & 4 ton battering rams going 70mph, I would love the 45min commute time to read the paper, eat breakfast, with out having to drive myself to work, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
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GREAT! Now if only they could enforce it.
I'm a Fedex driver and in a normal day I probably see more than 100 drivers that are reading, yapping on their cells, typing on a laptop, and yes, texting. It's become a much larger deal the last couple years and I can't tell you how often I see this.
Cars are for DRIVING people, not socializing.
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Re: GREAT! Now if only they could enforce it.
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We give out drivers licenses to people with the most lame-duck tests of skill and then wonder why there are so many idiots on the road? Making the ability to obtain a drivers license more difficult through stricter testing of operator ability and knowledge and periodic retesting of existing licensed drivers (perhaps every 5 years) would help to improve the number of responsible drivers on the road.
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BS...
This is BS. Cell phone and Crackberry users ARE INDEED the BIGGEST cause of poor driving and accidents on the highways. I have seen more accidents and idiots driving like crap thanks to their CELL PHONE/Crackberry use while driving than any other "distraction." Carlos, I think you are jumping the gun a bit here. I can easily change radio stations without being distracted. Most cars have volume and preset buttons right on the steering wheel and I can press such buttons without looking or taking my eyes off the road.
But idiots who cannot handle talking (or texting or reading txt messages) and driving SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A CELL PHONE WHILE IN THE CAR. I am all in favor of laws that ban cell phones and crackberry s in cars. Of course, enforcing them will be near impossible...unless of course...we set up little sensors along the highways that can detect if your cell phone is turned on...and can then quickly take a snapshot of the car's license plate and...a week later, you've got a ticket in the mail for being an idiot.
I also agree with whoever suggested we have color coded "idiot" plates. This way all I need to do is notice that the person in front of me has an idiot plate...this gives me plenty of time to pass him and get far, far away.
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Don't you get it?
BlackBerry- or phone-using drivers ARE distracted drivers!
Okay, when driving an automobile we need to be drivng the automobile, not being all caught up in our wonderful multi-tasking life, be it texting, shaving or whatever.
Remember "Arrive Alive?" Somebody out there love you.
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Thats called selective listening :)
I personally think we can have all the laws we want but if they are not enforced then they do us no good anyway. I do not talk on my cell or even think of opening my laptop while I am driving because I understand the damage I can do with my vehicle if I were to hit another vehicle. I will never understand this new thing where we always have to be talking to someone, my ride to and from work is when I just like to relax listen to some music and concentrate on the road. Nothing is that important it can’t wait. How did we ever get along before cell phones/ Oh yea I would call my friends when I got home go figure.
As far as the smoking in bar law, I am against it, I think they should have smoking areas or something but not ban it all together. What makes me mad is we spent so much time getting this passed then I have to watch some idiot parent drive their kids to school in car seats while they puff away inside the vehicle with a small crack in the window. Oh yea it’s ok to give the second hand smoke to your kids just not other adults.
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Re:
No, it's not OK and should be illegal.
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Re: Re:
Should it be illegal for the parent to get drunk all weekend and call their kid worthless? I mean, if you're looking after the children, you should be more dedicated than just to second hand smoking. Am I right?
Laws aren't there as a list for everything you think is wrong and hurtful. A lot of hurtful things are choices we make, that really can't even be enforced properly. What are you gonna give the kid the power, tell him if he sees mommy smoking he can call 911 and send her to prison. Yeah, that'll be great for when he doesn't get the toy he wants. You're an idiot, YOU should be illegal, idiot. The minute the public starts forking over freedoms, is when the government capitalizes. For every freedom we revoke ourselves, the government will find a way to take 100. So it may seem wrong to you, but that's why you just need to worry about you and your own. Don't go running to big daddy gov't, cuz if he even DOES anything, in the end it's never in your best interest.
Oh, but wont somebody think of the children. Screw you. Tool.
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A problem with convenience culture (mobile phones being one of many examples) is that people dont realize a) it's a privilege, and b) their abuse of it infringes on the well being of others
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Why Bother
Hell, it's illegal here to have tinted windows and you see them everywhere. No one worries that they're going to get pulled over and fined, because the CHP has better things to do than actually patrol the freeways.
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YOUR TITLE SUCKS
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a) run her down
b) hoot your horn, curse her ancestry, and swerve around her, or
c) stop and allow her to cross
A police officer is standing in the middle of an intersection giving hand signals. Do you:
a) ignore him
b) obey his hand signals
c) follow the car in front
All real questions from MD in 1996. Fail that test.
If women want to do the same roles in the army, they shoukd have to meet he same physical fitness requirements.
About smoking in cars, jay was being sarcastic, AC51.
I personally believe that that would be a good thing to ban, at least in cars with chilren in. Not too hard to enforce, and worthwhile. what gets me is when you see smokers drive by with thier window open, to let out the smelll of thier smoke to pollute other people's surroundings.
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use a different title
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Driving Test
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Tailgaters are troublemakers on the road!!
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