One of the biggest complaints I hear from people---friends, family, acquaintances, and even pure strangers is that drivers these days have many more distractions than in the past. Case in point: the downright explosion of cell phone usage. All one has to do is to watch (if you're a passenger) at the vehicles that are passed---and, more often than not, one will see cell phones to many people's ears, if not worse.
Though there have been recent studies that have confirmed that distracted driving is very dangerous, at least five out of every ten drivers these days can't seem to keep their cell phones away from their ears while operating a vehicle! What's especially dangerous is that some of these same cell phone users not only talk on their phone while driving, they may also text while driving---a bigger distraction to the driver's abilities than talking!
There are other driving distractions that I've witnessed: a truck driver reading a newspaper (yes, I've actually witnessed this!), a driver putting on make-up, a driver eating, the list could go on and on. However, the cell phone distraction is honestly one of myTOP PET PEEVES. First and foremost, there is NO PHONE CALL or TEXT MESSAGE that is so damned important that it can't wait until one is done with their DRIVING RESPONSIBILITIES. These "driving responsibilities" include being alert to the traffic ahead of you and behind you, road conditions, weather conditions, and most of all---the responsibility to get to your destination without harming yourself, your passengers, or other people who are out on the highways. Yet, I have witnessed countless times where a cell phone has impaired another's driving abilites in some form.
Second, the last thing I want to become is a victim of an accident caused by these types of irresponsible drivers. Every accident that I have endured within the last 10-15 years has been the fault of other drivers---not paying attention, not looking, etc., etc. I don't want my body damaged (or worse) due to somebody's shortened attention span which was caused by a damn cell phone!
With all of the terrific techno gadgets that have come out within the last fifty years, why is it that we can't invent something that disables a cell phone's use (other than 911 calls) while the vehicle is in gear? I understand the need to be able to contact someone in an emergency situation---but, most cell phone users are chatting it up on their phone and driving just because "they can" and because "they pay for the right to make phone calls and receive phone calls wherever". This does not give any of these users the right to threaten me with gross bodily harm should they become too distracted while driving and talking or texting, no matter the convenience!
Finally, I must say that I don't hate cell phones: they are a great invention, and, when used WISELY, they can be a terrific help. I just hate the drivers who believe that they can drive with no problems while using a cell phone. They are too distracted while driving, and, sooner or later---they will learn this in a bad way. Let's just hope it doesn't kill someone else other than the fool who believes they can do both.
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Comments: 4
I was pregnant and had my daughter in the car too. Some guy was trying to hit me because I didn't let him over when the lane ended (there was fair warning that his lane ended AND he was BEHIND ME in the other lane- I didn't even see him until he started screaming at me and trying to push his car into mine!). I had nowhere to go (people to my right and people stopped in front of me. His lane was at an end but he was still slightly behind me) and he didn't seem to understand it so he just kept screaming and trying to hit me so I called the police and he called me something and backed off. But then he got agressive again once two lanes were open. I was still on the phone with them and when he veered at me then cut me off in front I was able to grab his license plate to tell the police but they said there wasn't much that could be done. But at least the crazy was reported.
I would support a disabled cell phone for anything but 911 unless the car was parked. I'm sure it would make some peoples lives difficult, like people who drive all day for work and have to make lots of calls. But most people don't NEED to talk on the phone while they drive.
I am guilty of talking on my phone while driving but usually I pull over to the nearest parking lot and pull over until done. IN THE PAST when I had a boring straight stretch of road for an hour and a half commute I had to do at 6am I would call and talk to friends to help keep me awake for the drive and there was usually no traffic around when i did it - once I entered traffic I would hang up as that was enough to keep me alert.
I can understand the pet peeve though - especially having been damaged by others carelessness as the result of what you are ranting about! Good rant!
well, an emergency is defined usually as the "force or violence or the emminent threat of force or violence. I dont mean to offend anyone.. but your putting everyone else in danger when your on the phone.. no matter how in control you think you are!