Texting while driving - Page 3

morethanpretty · 08-31-2009, 07:19 AM

I sometimes text while driving, I don't need to look down. I eat frequently, talk ect ect. My worst problem though, is being tired while driving. On my way to work every morning my eyes get heavy, my head gets heavy and so on, and then I'm bargaining with myself "Ok self, just keep your eyes open for 5 more min and then you can shut 'em for 1 second" All the way 'till I get to work. I never actually really let myself close my eyes, its a lie I tell myself.

monster · 08-31-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

I sometimes text while driving, I don't need to look down. I eat frequently, talk ect ect. My worst problem though, is being tired while driving. On my way to work every morning my eyes get heavy, my head gets heavy and so on, and then I'm bargaining with myself "Ok self, just keep your eyes open for 5 more min and then you can shut 'em for 1 second" All the way 'till I get to work. I never actually really let myself close my eyes, its a lie I tell myself.

TG you live a long, long way from me. No offence or anything, but if you are so tired that you have to concentrate on keeping your eyes open, not on what they are seeing, you are dangerous. pull over and rest until you're ready to drive. Get up earlier, Go to bed earlier. get sleeping pills, whatever

morethanpretty · 08-31-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

TG you live a long, long way from me. No offence or anything, but if you are so tired that you have to concentrate on keeping your eyes open, not on what they are seeing, you are dangerous. pull over and rest until you're ready to drive. Get up earlier, Go to bed earlier. get sleeping pills, whatever

Even though I specifically don't live near you, there are probably plenty of drivers that do the same in your area.
Doing something, whether it be eat or drink (tea, not booze of course) helps me be a little more awake and aware. Most mornings I try to have a little something with me. One of the common side effects of sleeping pills: drowsiness the next day. So yeah, those are a worse idea. I take tylanol or advil PM on occasion because they don't linger, but the OTC and prescription ones do. If I go to bed too early I toss around and don't get as deep of sleep as when I just wait until I'm tired.

Shaw- the kid who hit you...wasn't he turning at the same time? I don't do that, even if I want to I can't, I have to change gears. I very rarely text when I drive, I never carry on a conversation and its never when in traffic. I am being honest by sayin I do text, but I'm not any worse than what the majority of other drivers are doin. We all have a bit of distraction while on the road, even if its a bit of daydreamin' cuz we are doin something else. Texting is probably a lot safer than my tiredness in the AM .

Shawnee123 · 08-31-2009, 07:27 AM

Have I got a guy for you. Not sure if he's replaced his car yet, but...

classicman · 08-31-2009, 07:59 AM

giggle

skysidhe · 08-31-2009, 10:04 AM

Well she would have seen the semi turning in front of her if she wasn't looking at her phone.

She was texting her boyfriend. Imagine how the boyfriend felt when everyone was asking how it happened. He loses contact with her then finds out later in the day she is dead. At somepoint he has to confess he was texting her and word gets around in small work places. I should say that the information didn't just get around. Each of us were brought separately into the office to be told. She was precious to us all.

I was somehow mollified there was a logical reason for her slamming into and under a truck. It was wrong but it didn't seem so random. Senseless but not so random.

Shawnee123 · 08-31-2009, 10:44 AM

Uh, and put away the damn phone. We don't want to see anything happen to you (and that could include hurting someone ELSE with which you'll have to live the rest of your life.)

We all think we're the exception to the rule, but the bottom line is being distracted is being distracted.

Yes folks, even with your ear gadgets your yappin' distracts you from the matter at hand, which is to not die in a pile of twisted burning metal or kill me because you needed to find out what kind of condiments are needed at home.

Maybe not so bad in the middle of nowhere but keep your damn asses off I-75 in the hours I am in rush hour traffic, k? thxbai!

dar512 · 08-31-2009, 11:00 AM

Mon and Shawnee,

Thanks for speaking up. You ladies said it much more politely than I would have been able to.

I suppose if you are on open highway and are the only car for miles around, then it's your choice to take such risks. But if you are driving in the city or on a crowded highway, you are gambling with everyone else's lives too.

Shawnee123 · 08-31-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

Mon and Shawnee,

Thanks for speaking up. You ladies said it much more politely than I would have been able to.

I suppose if you are on open highway and are the only car for miles around, then it's your choice to take such risks. But if you are driving in the city or on a crowded highway, you are gambling with everyone else's lives too.

Exactly. I keep glancing at my rear-view mirror wondering if Britney is going to be so busy looking cute and laughing on her cell phone and looking around to see if anyone notices how popular she is that she forgets that traffic stops and starts...

NO CONVERSATION IS THAT IMPORTANT.

What Britney doesn't realize is that, after all the crap I went through with Cell Phone boy, even a minor fender bender would probably cause me to go ballistic. The beauty of it is: all the kids with camera phones can take video and I'll be famous on youtube as a crazed woman! :p

xoxoxoBruce · 08-31-2009, 12:09 PM

What people don't get is, just because you're looking out the windshield doesn't make you safe. It's where your mind is at, and if your talking on the phone or texting, your mind isn't on driving.

This is probably because too many people think driving is only reacting to things that happen in front of you. You should be aware of the vehicles in front, beside, and behind you... in every lane. What type of vehicle they are, and what they're capable of... by that I mean in order to anticipate what any particular vehicle is likely to do, it makes a difference if it's a big truck, a station wagon, or a sports car.
Is the driver drifting in and out of their lane? Are they distracted or paying attention? Are they tailgating? It only takes a few seconds of watching to ascertain those details.

You should be more concerned with the cars ahead than the car in front of you. The chances the guy in front of you is going to suddenly stop are pretty damn slim, unless some one forces him to, so what's in front of him is your real concern. If you're paying attention to what's going on ahead of him, you probably won't be surprised.

Watching for entrance ramps or parking lots on the right, where someone might force the car on your right into your lane.
Is the guy coming the other way going to make a left in front of you without signaling? They give clues if you're paying attention.

But you can't see any of the dangers, you can't drive defensively, if your head is somewhere else. That's what makes phones and texting so dangerous.
Of course there are drivers that don't do those things, even when they are not phoning or texting. Those drivers shouldn't be on the fucking road.

Shawnee123 · 08-31-2009, 01:08 PM

Agreed. I watch for slow-downs way ahead of me on the interstate. If there are a bunch of brakelights a mile ahead, I will be braking, as will the guy in front of me, and behind me.

A guy once told me, when I first started bartending, that good bartending depends on "acute awareness" in other words, knowing what is going on all around you all the time. It's certainly more true of driving. I watch the people on either side for sudden lane changes, I anticipate that Mr Important will feel the need to be ahead of me (after you, buddy old pal), which reminds me of jinx mentioning once "it's not a competition!

I anticipate that Buffy won't notice any of these things, and that Tyler with the three feet high after-market spoiler bolted to the trunk of his 1987 Honda (presumably so it won't fly up off the road as he hits warp speed) and the bad flame paintings on the side will probably disregard the rest of the traffic entirely because he's "just that cool."

Once the road is more open I am more relaxed, but ever vigilant.

classicman · 08-31-2009, 01:19 PM

Don't forget the motorcyclist who gets to pass cars in the middle of twolanes because, well because he can

If you are an inattentive driver or are distracted by shaving, makeup application, kids... just give it up. Hire a driver if you really are that important. If not, then cut it out and drive safely - for everyone's sake.

Shawnee123 · 08-31-2009, 01:22 PM

I saw a guy do that motorcyle thing just the other day. I make a point to watch for motorcyclists...but if he's not going to take some personal responsibility then I don't need all the admonishments that us mean old car drivers don't watch for them.

Spexxvet · 08-31-2009, 02:52 PM

Is talking on a hands free cell phone more or less distracting than talking to someone in your car?

Should texting be regulated?

classicman · 08-31-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Is talking on a hands free cell phone more or less distracting than talking to someone in your car?
More - or so I read somewhere.

Should texting be regulated?

no, it should be illegal. Every friggin car should have a cell blocker <Pissy Overlord attitude>

08-31-2009, 07:19 AM	#1
morethanpretty Thats "Miss Zipper Neck" to you. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: little town (but not the littlest) in texas Posts: 2,957	I sometimes text while driving, I don't need to look down. I eat frequently, talk ect ect. My worst problem though, is being tired while driving. On my way to work every morning my eyes get heavy, my head gets heavy and so on, and then I'm bargaining with myself "Ok self, just keep your eyes open for 5 more min and then you can shut 'em for 1 second" All the way 'till I get to work. I never actually really let myself close my eyes, its a lie I tell myself. __________________ Addicts may suck dick for coke, but love came up with the idea to put a dick in there to begin with. -Jack O'Brien

08-31-2009, 07:27 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Have I got a guy for you. Not sure if he's replaced his car yet, but... __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-31-2009, 07:59 AM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	giggle __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

08-31-2009, 10:04 AM	#6
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Well she would have seen the semi turning in front of her if she wasn't looking at her phone. She was texting her boyfriend. Imagine how the boyfriend felt when everyone was asking how it happened. He loses contact with her then finds out later in the day she is dead. At somepoint he has to confess he was texting her and word gets around in small work places. I should say that the information didn't just get around. Each of us were brought separately into the office to be told. She was precious to us all. I was somehow mollified there was a logical reason for her slamming into and under a truck. It was wrong but it didn't seem so random. Senseless but not so random. Last edited by skysidhe; 08-31-2009 at 10:13 AM.

08-31-2009, 10:44 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Uh, and put away the damn phone. We don't want to see anything happen to you (and that could include hurting someone ELSE with which you'll have to live the rest of your life.) We all think we're the exception to the rule, but the bottom line is being distracted is being distracted. Yes folks, even with your ear gadgets your yappin' distracts you from the matter at hand, which is to not die in a pile of twisted burning metal or kill me because you needed to find out what kind of condiments are needed at home. Maybe not so bad in the middle of nowhere but keep your damn asses off I-75 in the hours I am in rush hour traffic, k? thxbai! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-31-2009, 11:00 AM	#8
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Mon and Shawnee, Thanks for speaking up. You ladies said it much more politely than I would have been able to. I suppose if you are on open highway and are the only car for miles around, then it's your choice to take such risks. But if you are driving in the city or on a crowded highway, you are gambling with everyone else's lives too. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-31-2009, 12:09 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	What people don't get is, just because you're looking out the windshield doesn't make you safe. It's where your mind is at, and if your talking on the phone or texting, your mind isn't on driving. This is probably because too many people think driving is only reacting to things that happen in front of you. You should be aware of the vehicles in front, beside, and behind you... in every lane. What type of vehicle they are, and what they're capable of... by that I mean in order to anticipate what any particular vehicle is likely to do, it makes a difference if it's a big truck, a station wagon, or a sports car. Is the driver drifting in and out of their lane? Are they distracted or paying attention? Are they tailgating? It only takes a few seconds of watching to ascertain those details. You should be more concerned with the cars ahead than the car in front of you. The chances the guy in front of you is going to suddenly stop are pretty damn slim, unless some one forces him to, so what's in front of him is your real concern. If you're paying attention to what's going on ahead of him, you probably won't be surprised. Watching for entrance ramps or parking lots on the right, where someone might force the car on your right into your lane. Is the guy coming the other way going to make a left in front of you without signaling? They give clues if you're paying attention. But you can't see any of the dangers, you can't drive defensively, if your head is somewhere else. That's what makes phones and texting so dangerous. Of course there are drivers that don't do those things, even when they are not phoning or texting. Those drivers shouldn't be on the fucking road. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-31-2009, 01:08 PM	#11
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Agreed. I watch for slow-downs way ahead of me on the interstate. If there are a bunch of brakelights a mile ahead, I will be braking, as will the guy in front of me, and behind me. A guy once told me, when I first started bartending, that good bartending depends on "acute awareness" in other words, knowing what is going on all around you all the time. It's certainly more true of driving. I watch the people on either side for sudden lane changes, I anticipate that Mr Important will feel the need to be ahead of me (after you, buddy old pal), which reminds me of jinx mentioning once "it's not a competition! I anticipate that Buffy won't notice any of these things, and that Tyler with the three feet high after-market spoiler bolted to the trunk of his 1987 Honda (presumably so it won't fly up off the road as he hits warp speed) and the bad flame paintings on the side will probably disregard the rest of the traffic entirely because he's "just that cool." Once the road is more open I am more relaxed, but ever vigilant. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-31-2009, 01:19 PM	#12
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Don't forget the motorcyclist who gets to pass cars in the middle of twolanes because, well because he can If you are an inattentive driver or are distracted by shaving, makeup application, kids... just give it up. Hire a driver if you really are that important. If not, then cut it out and drive safely - for everyone's sake. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

08-31-2009, 01:22 PM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I saw a guy do that motorcyle thing just the other day. I make a point to watch for motorcyclists...but if he's not going to take some personal responsibility then I don't need all the admonishments that us mean old car drivers don't watch for them. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

08-31-2009, 02:52 PM	#14
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Is talking on a hands free cell phone more or less distracting than talking to someone in your car? Should texting be regulated? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

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