Originally Posted by indygreg
As far as jumping all over cell phones - to me that is misplaced. We cannot legislate out distracted driving. Think about it - it would be impossible to really stop.
The following is distracted driving:
On the phone
text/email/blackberry
changing song on ipod plugged into stereo
changing radio station if not on the wheel - if Sat radio it is much worse
trying to get the sleeve back on your starbucks coffee
trying to see where you just spilled said coffee
dropping part of muffin, fries, etc
looking at GPS or sheet of directions
reaching back to give 4 year old their toy
reaching back to give 10 month old pacifier
and the list goes on
We can lobby officials, put bumper stickers on our cars, get petitions signed, toss magnetic stickers on cars as they drive by, flip people off, or come on here and post and these are not going away.
Of the 10 items you mentioned, at least half did not exist as potential distractions prior to about 1990... that means that in the last 16 years, the number of potential distractions to a driver DOUBLED. During that time automakers saw fit to install cup holders as standard items in cars... and air bags... both of which benefit the passengers of the vehicle, but do nothing to increase the operational safety of the vehicle.
So now motorists are driving faster (85 percentile rule), there are more of them, (poplulation increase) many autos are larger (SUVs) and being careless within them leads to less potential damage to the driver.... (airbags) yet nothing has improved the driver of the vehicle, nor their ability to handle the vehicle.
You have a right to be a bit in fear of the "other users" of the road.
Might I suggest that in order to gain a head start on how to most effectively ride a bike on the road you look for a local bike riding course.
The League of American Bicyclists has a web site that has a list of people which offer road courses.
Check it out:
http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/e...e_schedule.php