Honest Yes or No. Did you EVER Text while driving?

[sananda]

I see. So, with loved ones you wouldn't call them morons or idiots, you'd appeal to them differently... but complete strangers you don't mind forging rational dialogue and relying on raw white-knuckled defamation of character. --What an exercise in futility.

If that makes complete sense to you, that's fine.

It was worth a try, I guess. Best regards.

~ CB

first, it's not defamation if it's the truth. second, there is very little rational dialogue to be had with someone who doesn't already appreciate the enormous danger of texting while driving.

 

[Schnebar]

I send a text in the car like once a week maybe.

Only to reply to something.

And only if it is on a road that I have driven a lot before and can almost drive with my eyes closed.

And it helps that I don't have to look at the phone to type because I memorized it. I just glance at the end of every word to make sure t9 doesn't have a different word.

 

[megfilmworks]

Funny....well considering that a very large percentage of teenagers crash within the first 6 months of driving i thought it was worth mentioning. I wasnt bragging i was just stating a fact, judging by your less than amused responses im guessing you have had accidents or tickets of your own right?

Just pulling your leg. Good work to get through those dangerous first months.
No, I have driven millions of miles and have only one speeding ticket
(speed contest @ 17 years old).
But I have connections.
But there is no doubt, driving fast will kill you.
I make sure I remember that fact every time I break the speed limit!

 

[Bernie-Mac]

Just pulling your leg. Good work to get through those dangerous first months.
No, I have driven millions of miles and have only one speeding ticket
(speed contest @ 17 years old).
But I have connections.
But there is no doubt, driving fast will kill you.
I make sure I remember that fact every time I break the speed limit!

Lol yeah my father is a retired special agent so if i do wind up going over the speed limit i might be covered

 

[joejoejoe]

yes texting while driving isn't the smartest idea in the world, especially if you look at the screen while you do it, but people who do are definitely not "morons" or "ridiculous idiots" as long as they're smart about it

(this is what i do) if you keep your eyes on the road, text really slowly, what's the difference between that and using something like the ipod control which is considered "okay"?

 

[sananda]

(this is what i do) if you keep your eyes on the road, text really slowly, what's the difference between that and using something like the ipod control which is considered "okay"?

unbelievable.

a few months back a lorry driver ploughed into the back of a car killing a child passenger. the lorry driver claimed his brakes must have failed. on examination, however, his brakes were found to be in perfect working order and, furthermore, it was clear they had not been applied at all. it was discovered that at the precise moment of the accident he was sending a text message. no doubt as he was sending the message he did not consider himself moronic. he probably thought, like you, he had a really good method of texting. but he killed someone.

it is for very good reasons that in my country you are not permitted to touch your mobile at all while driving. if sending a text message, at minimum, you would be considered to be committing the criminal offence of careless driving and more likely the higher offence of dangerous driving.

anyone who considers it ok to text while driving ought not to be in possession of a driving license for their own safety and that of innocent fellow motorists.

 

[Gonzlobo]

yes texting while driving isn't the smartest idea in the world, especially if you look at the screen while you do it, but people who do are definitely not "morons" or "ridiculous idiots" as long as they're smart about it

(this is what i do) if you keep your eyes on the road, text really slowly, what's the difference between that and using something like the ipod control which is considered "okay"?

Actually if you do text and drive, you're an idiot. Pull over if you need to text, idiot.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Never. It's way too dangerous.

 

[Bernie-Mac]

Actually if you do text and drive, you're an idiot. Pull over if you need to text, idiot.

Well then im an idiot i guess

 

[phungy]

Yes I have, only when I'm at a red light though. Texting while the car is in motion is quite scary :X

 

[atropos]

I like multitasking driving

 

[Cloudane]

It's not just texting... ANYTHING that causes you to take your eyes off the road, is selfish and irresponsible, whether it's messing with your iPod, turning around to shout at the kids, or unpacking your McDonalds. (As a British person I could make a huge generalisation about a large group of people here, but I'll refrain). Any form of distraction over here, if spotted by the police, can be attributed the Dangerous Driving and earn a handful of points if not a ban... for good reasons!

It's been proven time and time again that operating a mobile phone whilst driving (even holding one to your ear) makes you a worse driver than being drunk. Would you lot do that too? I'd be curious to see a poll of how many people drink more than say 6 units of alcohol and then get behind the wheel.

Have you ever been in a supermarket with someone with a phone glued to his ear? It's a sight to behold, they shove the trolley aimlessly from aisle to aisle, realise they missed something and go back all the time, constantly coming close to bumping into people, then they're at the deli counter and they're trying to ask what he wants and he's like "erm erm, oh, hold on a second", or at the checkout and the girl's trying to catch his attention to ask for the money. He's enormously distracted and difficult to communicate with, and it's tedious. Would you really want to get into a car with that person driving still with the phone to his ear?

Get yourself killed, fine, it makes the roads safer for everyone else. But do it on an empty road... don't endanger innocent people's lives.

I mean how difficult is it to pull over for a second or at the very least wait until you're at a red light or in a queue? Would it really spoil your day that much if you got to your destination 30 seconds later, so much that you have to put other people's lives at risk?

If it'd really bother you that much, then make a phone call. It's still not ideal, but at least it's not as ridiculously dangerous as texting. You can say much more in the same time period, and not have to ignore the road.

I hope anyone who texts or does other distracting things whilst driving gets locked up.

 

[miniConvert]

Majorly dangerous, there's no justification despite some of the attempts that have been posted here.

I'm not going to say whether I have or not, but I voted in the poll. The results are alarming!

 

[JBaker122586]

I do so as often as possible.
Mostly only in school zones and near crosswalks though.

 

[mrfrosty]

To all the zealots who never take a hand off the wheel or let themselves get distracted by a beautiful pair of long legs, or don't obey the two second rule....... Did you ever sneeze or blink while driving ? OMG you did ? Your virtually a murderer too !!

 

[njmac]

I know, i dont text like a novel while on the freeway, ill just be like "yeah c u there" or something short like that...you have to be smart if your going to text when you drive and i try to be as careful as i can

It's threads like these that make me feel old

Why on earth would you need to text "yeah c u there" What would happen if you just went there... without the response?

I'm guessing texting while driving is not that different from fiddling with an iPod or other distractions but for the life of me, I can't understand why people actually choose to be in constant communication with each other. It's like your at each others beck and call. I know, I'm old.

 

[mrfrosty]

It's not just texting... ANYTHING that causes you to take your eyes off the road, is selfish and irresponsible, whether it's messing with your iPod, turning around to shout at the kids, or unpacking your McDonalds. (As a British person I could make a huge generalisation about a large group of people here, but I'll refrain). Any form of distraction over here, if spotted by the police, can be attributed the Dangerous Driving and earn a handful of points if not a ban... for good reasons!

It's been proven time and time again that operating a mobile phone whilst driving (even holding one to your ear) makes you a worse driver than being drunk. Would you lot do that too? I'd be curious to see a poll of how many people drink more than say 6 units of alcohol and then get behind the wheel.

Have you ever been in a supermarket with someone with a phone glued to his ear? It's a sight to behold, they shove the trolley aimlessly from aisle to aisle, realise they missed something and go back all the time, constantly coming close to bumping into people, then they're at the deli counter and they're trying to ask what he wants and he's like "erm erm, oh, hold on a second", or at the checkout and the girl's trying to catch his attention to ask for the money. He's enormously distracted and difficult to communicate with, and it's tedious. Would you really want to get into a car with that person driving still with the phone to his ear?

Get yourself killed, fine, it makes the roads safer for everyone else. But do it on an empty road... don't endanger innocent people's lives.

I mean how difficult is it to pull over for a second or at the very least wait until you're at a red light or in a queue? Would it really spoil your day that much if you got to your destination 30 seconds later, so much that you have to put other people's lives at risk?

If it'd really bother you that much, then make a phone call. It's still not ideal, but at least it's not as ridiculously dangerous as texting. You can say much more in the same time period, and not have to ignore the road.

I hope anyone who texts or does other distracting things whilst driving gets locked up.

Like what ? Whistling ? Humming ? Laughing ? Talking ? Operating your sunroof ? Self righteous people make me sick ! I propose that when self righteous people get caught out (as they inevitably do) that they get the chair for the first offence.

 

[calvy]

Like what ? Whistling ? Humming ? Laughing ? Talking ? Operating your sunroof ? Self righteous people make me sick ! I propose that when self righteous people get caught out (as they inevitably do) that they get the chair for the first offence.

I agree. I hope everone here who's called someone a moron gets arrested in the airport for toe tapping while trolling for gay sex. You just know it's coming.

Yes, I've texted while driving. Crap, maybe I was at a stop light that stayed red for 10 minutes. Maybe, just maybe, my car rides so damn smooth it barely recquires me to touch the steering wheel, and it's not so hard to send off one of the template text messages that may cell phones have (not the iPhone of course).

To blanket call someone a moron for picking one of two options in a poll when you've got no clue about the person or their circumstances makes you just a big a moron.

PS, I also drink and drive, I shoot heroin while speeding alone the freeway at speeds greater than 80mph, and I carry a loaded 40 cal pistol on my dashboard, all this with my 6 month old baby in the back.

I'll let you morons decipher the truth from the made up on this one. Good luck!

 

[atari1356]

Like what ? Whistling ? Humming ? Laughing ? Talking ? Operating your sunroof ?

Perhaps you didn't read his first sentence

It's not just texting... ANYTHING that causes you to take your eyes off the road

Someone who worked at a local school died recently in a car accident - and while I don't know the full details, it's clear that the accident could have been avoided had the person not been fiddling with an iPod at the time. Thankfully no other cars were involved.

It's one thing to say "I'm my own person, I'll do what I want and take the risks"... but when there are other people on the road, you're risking their lives too.

 

[gkarris]

I did once on my old phone which had only a phone keypad.

IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...

Never again, even with my iPhone. I don't even make calls on it driving - too much heads down time. I do answer calls with it though...

 

[The Menacer]

Look...anyone who texts while driving is an irresponsible *******, however there have been a few times where I did it because it wasn't convenient to pull over and there weren't many other cars near me.

Way to drive your point home...

 

[mrfrosty]

Perhaps you didn't read his first sentence



Someone who worked at a local school died recently in a car accident - and while I don't know the full details, it's clear that the accident could have been avoided had the person not been fiddling with an iPod at the time. Thankfully no other cars were involved.

It's one thing to say "I'm my own person, I'll do what I want and take the risks"... but when there are other people on the road, you're risking their lives too.

Actually i did read the first sentence. Not having both hands on the steering wheel of the car is considered to be "not in control of the vehicle" (in the UK at least, hence why people are "advised" not to smoke at the wheel).

 

[Bernie-Mac]

It's not just texting... ANYTHING that causes you to take your eyes off the road, is selfish and irresponsible, whether it's messing with your iPod, turning around to shout at the kids, or unpacking your McDonalds.

Man.....i must be a real irresponsible idiot cuz i do all of that...well except yell at my kids of which i have none...ive texted, took out my debe-cheebe and ate it, messed with my ipod, messed with my radio, yelled at my sister in the back seat...among other distracting things....In my opinion, as long as you are smart and safe about it, its ok to do it...and its not really you its other people you have to watch for, half the people on the road shouldnt be driving anyway so basically all i do is keep away from the people that obviously do not know how to drive and ive been fine so far

 

[mets1125]

Oh no, you can definitely use the phone while driving in most states, if not all, I don't remember.

In NY you must be on a hands-free device otherwise its a $90 ticket.

 

[mrfrosty]

yes, it's usually 4x4 drivers like you. and when you crash because you're not paying attention you'll cause terrible damage to a normal car and occupants.

Well if we are making sweeping statements i'd like to say 2 things.

1. "Normal" car ?
2. I don't think it's really possible to cause "terrible" damage to someone who uses the phrase "normal cars", damage certainly......whether it's terrible or not would be a matter of opinion.

Sorry if i appear to be biting too hard, but self righteousness really gets my dander up lately !