Lets Text While Driving.

[HavBlue]

I have had more than a few issues with folks just talking away on the cell phone while driving. When I caught my wife doing this I got her a hands free unit that pipes the cell phone through the car audio. I too have a hands free but I don't like using a cell phone while driving. As a rider this scares the hell out of me every time I see it and the sad part is that around here the cops do it too.

Today, I was watching the news and heard them talking about a new law that would make it illegal to be text messaging people while driving. What the heck, why not do the right thing and make it illegal to use a cell phone without a hands free while driving too? In all honesty I must say that like many devises their respective use or how they are used is the problem and not necessarily the devise itself. The problem that really gets me is the fact that many states already have distractive driving laws so why do we need laws for this specifically? So, either the police are blind to it or they simply refuse to right tickets for it. Either way, to me it's negligence on their part.

 

[madmanmaigret]

I have to totally agre with you on this Hav. My favorite is when they can't see where they are going because they are trying to hold the cellphone with their head, shift gears, and drink their coffee at the same time.

 

[4fun]

Here in NJ it is illegal to use a phone without a hands free device, enforcement of the law is another issue. Currently it is a secondary offense which means that they have to stop you for something else before they can give you a ticket for using the phone. i believe next month it changes to a primary offense like in NY.

 

[DefyInertia]

People don't take driving a 4,000 pound vehicle seriously enough.

 

[d11gla]

UK Laws

They introduced a total ban on using a mobile phone while driving in the UK a long time ago now.

1. It began with warnings and small fines
2. They then decided to introduce 3 penalty points and larger fines!

 

[reiobard]

Here in NJ it is illegal to use a phone without a hands free device, enforcement of the law is another issue. Currently it is a secondary offense which means that they have to stop you for something else before they can give you a ticket for using the phone. i believe next month it changes to a primary offense like in NY.

Yeah buy NJ is weird, it is illegal to pump your own gas there... What a pain in the a$$

 

[reiobard]

Mass just passed a bill that would make it illegal for anyone to use a handheld communication device (cell phone, PDA, ect...) while driving without a headset, Furthermore the bill would restrict the use of these devices under any circumstances to drivers under the age of 18.

 

[Doorag]

Yeah buy NJ is weird, it is illegal to pump your own gas there... What a pain in the a$$

Really? I'm sure I've pumped my own gas there before.

 

[4fun]

Really? I'm sure I've pumped my own gas there before.

It is hard to believe, but we are only one of two states that it is illegal.

 

[madmanmaigret]

It is hard to believe, but we are only one of two states that it is illegal.

well you should put up signs so we know and they don't yell at me for pumping my gas!

 

[HavBlue]

It is hard to believe, but we are only one of two states that it is illegal.

When I first went to NJ in like 1990 or so I ran into this and I have yet to figure out why?

The thing that really gets me about distractive driving laws is why we need them. If a law isn't going to be enforced then why have it?

 

[4fun]

well you should put up signs so we know and they don't yell at me for pumping my gas!

Whats worse is when i travel out of state and sit there waiting for someone to come pump the gas. :Im With Stupid:

 

[fast blue one]

They introduced a total ban on using a mobile phone while driving in the UK a long time ago now.

1. It began with warnings and small fines
2. They then decided to introduce 3 penalty points and larger fines!

And my company went one step further and even put a ban on any employee using even a hands free device when driving on company business.

 

[dako81]

I think that the company you work for has the right idea. We can resolve problems without just creating a law to "fix" it. I think we have too many laws to know what to do with. People can take care of things by social ostricism, or other ways, but don't just go straight to "We ought to have a law for...".

 

[grommit]

They introduced a total ban on using a mobile phone while driving in the UK a long time ago now.

1. It began with warnings and small fines
2. They then decided to introduce 3 penalty points and larger fines!

But how much effect has it had?
I see people every day on the phone. The police have better things to do I believe, or hope they have. It was always the case that if you were involved in an incident where it could be proved you were not paying attention they would do you for that very offence, "Driving without due care and attention", plus whatever else you did.

 

[fast blue one]

But how much effect has it had?
I see people every day on the phone. The police have better things to do I believe, or hope they have. It was always the case that if you were involved in an incident where it could be proved you were not paying attention they would do you for that very offence, "Driving without due care and attention", plus whatever else you did.

It never ceases to amaze me when I see people driving £30000+ worth of car and wont spend £30 on a hands free.
Forget 3 points; ban them for a couple of months and let them annoy people on the bus with silly ring tones.

 

[4fun]

I think that the company you work for has the right idea. We can resolve problems without just creating a law to "fix" it. I think we have too many laws to know what to do with. People can take care of things by social ostricism, or other ways, but don't just go straight to "We ought to have a law for...".

The sad part is that laws are already there. Nj has ad a law on the books that says you cant do anything thats distracting while driving. I guess that wasn't good enough so the put the cell phone law, then the text messageing, they also want to put one for eating while driving. i guess the legislators have nothing better to do like work on the high insurance rates in this state or figure out why our state is going broke. i think they feel that people vote for them if they sponser these stupid laws.

Sorry for rambling, just needed to vent. Going to Disney tomorrow and can't wait.

 

[madmanmaigret]

Whats worse is when i travel out of state and sit there waiting for someone to come pump the gas. :Im With Stupid:

hahahaha, and the whole station is lookin at you like WTF?

 

[Boneman]

I think a lot of these "driver issues" would be solved if ALL drivers had to take a motorcycle course as part of their initial process for getting their drivers license!! Put the shoe on the other foot! It sure was an eye opener when I took my MSF course. I remember thinking on my way home "man, they should make everyone learn this stuff!". Learning to properly ride a motorcycle has also made me a better driver.

People on phones are one thing...I've seen others with a newspaper in their lap/on the steering wheel and one guy one hand typing on his laptop on the passanger seat.

I would love to get a helmet cam, record crap like that, get their plate number, then report them to the cops. More over, I'd rather pull up next to them at a stop light and read them the riot act.
Won't do any good, but I might feel a bit better unloading on these assclowns!

My brother in law in the UK had a delviery van do something stupid and almost took him off his Triumph. The dude got out, still on his cell phone, so my bro took it out of his hands, threw it against his truck destroying the cell phone and told him to have a nice day, got back on his bike and rode off. My hero!

 

[grommit]

I think a lot of these "driver issues" would be solved if ALL drivers had to take a motorcycle course as part of their initial process for getting their drivers license!! Put the shoe on the other foot!

It sure was an eye opener when I took my MSF course. I remember thinking on my way home "man, they should make everyone learn this stuff!". Learning to properly ride a motorcycle has also made me a better driver.

+1 I agree.:thumbup:

I have said it before and I'll say it again; motorcyclists make better car drivers.