I know the cell phone has become an important asset in life and most people think they couldn't live without it. I just wish these people could wear our shoes for a day and go to some of these wreck scenes where the driver was talking or texting on their cell phone. I know this will probably piss some of you off but I wish the law would outlaw the use of cell phones while your driving. It's pretty simple, your driving a vehicle, not a phone booth.
As a driver-pump operator we are not allowed to even have one in the truck. The driver don't even use the radio. That's the co-pilots job, the driver concentrates on driving. I'm just wondering how many fatalities it's going to take for this to stop.
Well Brother that's a start. At least the law is trying to implement something to try to stop this there. I know every firefighter,ems, and law enforcement personnel out in the field have seen way to much of this and it seems to only be getting worse.
Now what do we do about Law Enforcement who seems to be on the cell phone at all times... In most states they usually have a exemption from the law, allowing them full access to their cell phones from texting, to talking, all while driving. How long will it be before they get into a wreck.
Cell phone use is just another excuse to blame for people not taking responsibility for their actions. It is added to the list as DT said to; eating, drinking, reading the newspaper, makeup, etc.
I have made 3 fatals lately where the driver was messing with the stereo/cd player. The last one involving a pretty 16 year old female that died with the cd in her hand. We are not mandating laws to prohibit playing the stereo...yet.
As a pilot, I have to switch radio frequencies, transponder codes, make adjustments for trim, talk on the radio, look for other traffic and obstacles... all while flying the aircraft. But doing all that does not negate my responsibility to fly the aircraft. It is my responsibility. If I were involved in a crash, the FAA would cite pilot error and failure to control the aircraft as the cause , not the cell phone, radio, map. etc.
Oldman,Damnthing you both hit the nail right on the head. It's not always the cell phone, and as both of you have said it is always something pretty much to do with driver negligence. We've had a wreck that the pt. had a big ole greasy hamburger in one hand and the cell phone in the other. Get this, We had a really bad 2 vehicle mva that the driver of one vehicle had a set of binoculars in his hand. Go Figure !!! I know we can go on and on about the distractions of driving and I know it will never stop. But this cell phone thing just burns me at times. On the other hand I guess some would say I'm just as at fault, after-all I am the one sitting behind the wheel in this big ass ladder truck noticing people talking on their cell phone.
"Common sense". How much of that do we actually see on the roads?
We had a call yesterday to an MVA, possible persons trapped. That 'possible person's trapped' bit has us respond everything we can, plus a specialist rescue, multiple police, multiple ambulances. Thankfully the first on-scene report was that the driver was out and walking, virtually unhurt. How did it happen? Straight section of road, 70 km/h limit (about 45mph), dry road, only the one car involved yet he managed to veer over the wrong side of the road then roll three times. Luckily the woman coming the other way took good evasive action. I can almost guarantee that one copper would have been looking for the mobile phone as another was administering a breath test. Phone, alcohol and speed. Yet that guy would always say that "I'm a good driver".
I've read a university report that showed using a phone while driving (no hands free) has a worse affect than exceeding our alcohol limit. People just won't believe it. I abuse people for using the things whilst they drive - several times I've nearly been hit by people doing that one action. And when you're on a motor bike that is no joke.
GPS? We have a new law coming in that states the GPS must be in a purpose-built holder, cannot be hand-held while driving.
As has been said, accountability and common sense. People must acknowledge both. But as with house fires, most of the public will not believe that it will ever happen to them, so they ignore the warnings. The fire services here in my State gave three days of dire warnings just before the bad fires that hit us in Feb this year. Three days of graphic warning in all TV news editions. “This will be the worst fire weather conditions the State has ever faced”. Then after the event we have people complaining that they “weren’t given enough warning”. It’s all the “but it’s not my fault” part of modern life. The refusal to accept any responsibility by all too many people.
I seen that report that you mentioned on the 1st Responder web site. There is also an article on there called "Driving Distractions" thats also a very good piece. It talks about what can happen by being distracted from driving for just 2 seconds, and after you read it there's things mentioned that everybody driving does, and it's things you would never think about. Simple things, looking at bill boards,highway signs. It's pretty interesting.
14 miles north of pampa tx yesterday 14 year old girl driving txting on cell phone head on with truck. 5 dead infant in stable condition with broken arms and legs