|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
In article W38cb.558849$YN5.383334@sccrnsc01, Chuck Anderson
wrote: Mitch Haley wrote: David Kerber wrote: In article , says... iLiad wrote: http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/mediacoverage/121802.htm From what I've read, in accident statistics, "Alcohol-related" means that the alcohol contributed in some significant way to causing the accident. A drunk pedestrian on the sidewalk who is killed by a reckless driver who loses control on the road and runs up on the sidewalk and kills said drunk pedestrian is not considered an "alcohol- related" accident. In the link above, this definition was given: NHTSA defines an alcohol-related fatality as any that occurred in an accident where a driver, pedestrian or cyclist had alcohol detected in their blood. In most states, it is legal to drive with less than 0.08 percent blood alcohol content. After seeing that definition of the alcohol relationship with the 17,000 deaths, we see this quote on the same page: "We have very little evidence that a significant number of people are dying from cell phones, yet we know that more than 17,000 people died from drunken driving," It's not illegal so no one ever follows up with an investigation (cell phone records could be used to prove it - but there's no reason to). Annnnd ...... as it is now; who would admit to it? In some states, it is illegal, but only to talk on a hand-held cell phone. Hands-free units are fine. But personally, I don't think hands are the issue. I think cell phones are way too distracting, and I'd just ban them from use by a driver, period, while the vehicle is in traffic. Nearly every close call I've had in the last few years has involved a driver with their cell phone clamped firmly to their head and NOT paying attention. My daughter, when driving an Access Ride bus said that bus drivers talk about seeing that inattention due to cell phone usage all the time. Seen many cars changing lanes without a blinker? In my experience, odds are very high that the person is on their hand held cell phone - too busy - too mentally occupied - to reach the blinker lever. I have a friend who was hit by a cell phone toting driver and and suffered a serious back injury. This may all sound anecdotal, but I've seen enough to know that cell phones are a unique hazard and their use while driving should be banned. Well, I don't know if I'd call them unique. I think other distractions while driving are just as bad, and people have to realize just how dangerous they are. You can get in a terrible accident because of refereeing a fight with the kids in the back, arguing with the passenger, switching radio stations to find something you like, eating, or reaching down to get your wallet from your purse. Until people take all these behaviors, as well as cell phone use, seriously as driving hazards, there will continue to be more accidents by distracted drivers. Some people even stop by the mailbox on the way out of the house, open up their mail, and read it while driving. There has to be an attitude developed that even in a world so busy that one is constantly tempted to multitask, driving is one action that should be done completely by itself, without trying to accomplish anything else at the same time. -- Trudi |
Ads |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
|
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
suffered a serious back injury. This may all sound anecdotal, but I've
seen enough to know that cell phones are a unique hazard and their use while driving should be banned. For drivers of motor AND non-motor vehicles. I've seen many inattentive cyclists on cell phones as well. |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
Trudi Marrapodi wrote:
In article W38cb.558849$YN5.383334@sccrnsc01, Chuck Anderson wrote: Mitch Haley wrote: David Kerber wrote: In article , says... iLiad wrote: http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/mediacoverage/121802.htm From what I've read, in accident statistics, "Alcohol-related" means that the alcohol contributed in some significant way to causing the accident. A drunk pedestrian on the sidewalk who is killed by a reckless driver who loses control on the road and runs up on the sidewalk and kills said drunk pedestrian is not considered an "alcohol- related" accident. In the link above, this definition was given: NHTSA defines an alcohol-related fatality as any that occurred in an accident where a driver, pedestrian or cyclist had alcohol detected in their blood. In most states, it is legal to drive with less than 0.08 percent blood alcohol content. After seeing that definition of the alcohol relationship with the 17,000 deaths, we see this quote on the same page: "We have very little evidence that a significant number of people are dying from cell phones, yet we know that more than 17,000 people died from drunken driving," It's not illegal so no one ever follows up with an investigation (cell phone records could be used to prove it - but there's no reason to). Annnnd ...... as it is now; who would admit to it? In some states, it is illegal, I think you mean in some cities. I am unaware of any state that has banned hand held phone usage while driving. but only to talk on a hand-held cell phone. Hands-free units are fine. But personally, I don't think hands are the issue. I think cell phones are way too distracting, and I'd just ban them from use by a driver, period, while the vehicle is in traffic. How do you tell if someone is on a hands free phone? (The same way you can tell when a politician is lying?) Nearly every close call I've had in the last few years has involved a driver with their cell phone clamped firmly to their head and NOT paying attention. My daughter, when driving an Access Ride bus said that bus drivers talk about seeing that inattention due to cell phone usage all the time. Seen many cars changing lanes without a blinker? In my experience, odds are very high that the person is on their hand held cell phone - too busy - too mentally occupied - to reach the blinker lever. I have a friend who was hit by a cell phone toting driver and and suffered a serious back injury. This may all sound anecdotal, but I've seen enough to know that cell phones are a unique hazard and their use while driving should be banned. Well, I don't know if I'd call them unique. I think other distractions while driving are just as bad, and people have to realize just how dangerous they are. You can get in a terrible accident because of refereeing a fight with the kids in the back, arguing with the passenger, switching radio stations to find something you like, eating, or reaching down to get your wallet from your purse. Until people take all these behaviors, as well as cell phone use, seriously as driving hazards, there will continue to be more accidents by distracted drivers. Some examples you cite are infrequent occurrences - fighting with the kids in back. Or are the equivalent of blinking (changing the radio station). I agree there are other dangerous distractions (you didn't mention applying makeup in the AM commute). However, many people seem addicted to their cell phones - they are unable to leave home without talking to someone the whole time they are "out." I have to repeat and emphasize, my experience is that there is a new, common, and dangerous distraction out there that has significantly increased the number of near encounters I have with autos. I could make money by betting that every encounter involves a cell phone. Yes - I mean that in most of my encounters* I spy with my little eye - a cell phone. (*Encounter - often the motorist never even becomes aware of the encounter, like when I stop to let them out of the driveway they are exiting, one hand on their ear and too busy to look both ways. Rolling a stop sign, violating my right of way. They often never even notice my presence. This happens to me more frequently - and is most often a cell phone user. Statistics and distracting arguments aside - cell phone usage while driving needs to be banned. Some people even stop by the mailbox on the way out of the house, open up their mail, and read it while driving. There has to be an attitude developed that even in a world so busy that one is constantly tempted to multitask, driving is one action that should be done completely by itself, without trying to accomplish anything else at the same time. I couldn't agree more. -- ***************************** Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO http://www.CycleTourist.com Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is common. ***************************** |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:05:13 GMT, Chuck Anderson
wrote: Hands-free units are fine. But personally, I don't think hands are the issue. I think cell phones are way too distracting, and I'd just ban them from use by a driver, period, while the vehicle is in traffic. What I want to know is how talking on a hands-free phone is any different than conversing with passengers who are actually in the vehicle. How do you tell if someone is on a hands free phone? (The same way you can tell when a politician is lying?) Sounds like a valid formula. -- Rick Onanian |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
Tanya Quinn wrote:
suffered a serious back injury. This may all sound anecdotal, but I've seen enough to know that cell phones are a unique hazard and their use while driving should be banned. For drivers of motor AND non-motor vehicles. I've seen many inattentive cyclists on cell phones as well. I see more and more all the time - still not near as many as cars - but I agree that it is also a real problem. Pedestrians often present the worst hazard. Everyone has paced back and forth like some CEO when talking on a cordless phone. Nothing like playing hit the monkey with someone pacing back and forth across the bike path (sometimes a major thoroughfare in Boulder), head down, talking to someone somewhere else. When I get close to these oblivious people, I hold my head to my ear and firmly say, "Hello?!, can you hear me now?" Flagstaff Mountain, here in Boulder, is a common excellent workout - 3.5 miles and 1500 feet of climbing - grades from 4% - 12%. One day in the middle of the switch backing ascent, I heard someone ahead talking "to me," so I looked up and saw a cyclist descending, talking on his cell phone (this is a *serious* descent). What made me laugh out loud, though, was that as he slowed to a stop he said, "are you trying to kill me? I'm on my way down Flagstaff." He'd answered his phone on the descent. Bo-Zo. -- ***************************** Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO http://www.CycleTourist.com Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is common. ***************************** |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:18:43 GMT, Chuck Anderson
wrote: people, I hold my head to my ear and firmly say, "Hello?!, can you hear Neat trick; then you can hear the noises your head makes. G -- Rick Onanian |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
Chuck Anderson wrote:
They often never even notice my presence. This happens to me more frequently - and is most often a cell phone user. Statistics and distracting arguments aside - cell phone usage while driving needs to be banned. So we have established, anecdotally, a correlation between cell phone use and inattentive, idiotic driving. The remaining question is whether the cell phone makes the idiot, or if the phone users were idiots before they picked up the phone. Mitch. |
#29
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
Rick Onanian wrote:
What I want to know is how talking on a hands-free phone is any different than conversing with passengers who are actually in the vehicle. It rarely takes much effort to hear those sitting beside you. Cell phone deciphering can be intense work. The passengers in the car can see what's going on and know when they have to shut up and let you drive. Mitch |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver
....stuff deleted
Well, I don't know if I'd call them unique. I think other distractions while driving are just as bad, and people have to realize just how dangerous they are. You can get in a terrible accident because of refereeing a fight with the kids in the back, arguing with the passenger, switching radio stations to find something you like, eating, or reaching down to get your wallet from your purse. Until people take all these behaviors, as well as cell phone use, seriously as driving hazards, there will continue to be more accidents by distracted drivers. Insurance actuaries have known for years that smokers have more accidents than non-smokers. The cause is the same as for cell phone users, divided attention or inattention during driving. Nobody has banned smoking while driving, though it is nearly as likely as cell phones to cause accidents. Some people even stop by the mailbox on the way out of the house, open up their mail, and read it while driving. I routinely observe some pretty bizzare activities done while driving including such things as blow-drying hair (using both hands, of course, since you must pat your head or use a comb when doing same), reading (again, with both hands, sometimes with the newspaper blocking the view ahead, but don't fear, the driver does usually drop the paper every few moments to see if things have changed - real confidence builder, that one), and even playing games on electronic devices. Driving is not considered a serious activity by most people, especially when traffic is heavy and slow moving. Frankly, these folks are downright frightening. Rick |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver | mrbubl | General | 50 | October 6th 03 05:38 PM |
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver | mrbubl | Social Issues | 40 | October 4th 03 07:48 AM |
Great Cycling Advocate Killed by repeat Drunk Driver | Robert Haston | Recumbent Biking | 44 | October 4th 03 07:48 AM |
Missouri Bike Advocate Killed by Drunk Driver | Kerry Nikolaisen | General | 3 | September 16th 03 09:36 PM |