genec

Yeah, but everyone that drives thinks they are a superior driver and it doesn't apply to them...

rydabent

This is the reason why I believe cell phones should shut down if moving faster than 10 mph. Is a phone call or a text message worth a persons life?

dynodonn 

Before cell phones, a signal light that turned red, I looked upon it with disdain and happened far to often, today with cell phones, the red signal light is now like an old friend that rarely stops by to visit me

Dave Cutter

It's a temporary problem. The uproar against putting radios in automobiles went on for decades..... the dangers of the distraction from AM radio... how could people drive.

Google is giving us driverless cars, and heads-up display glasses. Thought controlled devices are already in development. The technology will progress.

Things like such built-in safety's and limitations will resolve the problem to a great extent.

wphamilton

I have a sympathy with that idea, but here's an even better one I think. Up there beside the red light cameras, place a device that detects cell phone transmissions, direction and distance. Then turn the light red for that direction, and leave it red until the offender is off the phone. If nothing else, peer pressure and road rage would put a damper on cell phone abuse.

daihard 

That wouldn't work. What if you're a passenger? Or if you're on the bus/train? You should be able to use a cell phone as long as you're not the one operating the vehicle.

italktocats

but youre not

they are

and banning cellphones in public woulnt even solve it, they would just move on to the next fad, wheter its reading the paper or playing games

bmontgomery87

hah.
people reading.

not in america.

Number400

I am frustrated with this as well but you/we are not going to change anyone's behaviors. If the Police would more aggressively enforce the handheld cellphone law, it might help. The local paper posts the police blotter and every week it is full of DUI arrests. Every once in awhile someone in blotter is given a ticket for distracted driving but only AFTER they have caused an accident. The same local paper (The Hummelstown Sun) ran a story with photographs and cell phone user counts shortly after the law went into effect and nearly half the drivers counted were on phones.

My phone can be blowing up in my pocket and it stays in there beeping at me sometimes for an hour on my way home. I don't care, I will never look at it unless I get off the road and stop. I don't think many people can control the compulsion to look, it's just human nature. Sucks for us vulnerable road users...

Gothic Sunshine

I use my cell phone on the bus and train all the time, with no danger to others. I don't want my phone shut off because the train is going way faster than 10 mph.

italktocats

"911! this train is being hija.. *beep* *beep* *beep* "

RaleighSport

Ain't that the truth! Although this seems to be becoming a common mental state for americans on most any topic rather than simply driving anymore.. but I digress as that's way OT and the kind of discussion for a subforum with a password.

JoeyBike

It is an addiction. People drive cars stoned on weed, alcohol, and various other illegal drugs. Addicts do not obey laws. Get used to it and change YOUR behavior however you must to keep safe from the addicts.

!!!!!!!!

Just ticket the speeders and motorists who don't use turn signals and the world would be a better place INSTANTLY.

Dave Horne

I think behavior can be influenced by law. My father never liked using his seat belt but the penality for not complying changed his behavior.

Dave Horne

If the following was mentioned in this thread, I missed it.

In the November 2013 issue of Scientific American there was a mention of a study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. In short, they found no difference between texting and hands-free use.

That surprised me as well as the author of the SA article.

contango 

They are right, riding your bicycle in the street is dangerous, largely because of the knuckleheads who can't cope with a few nanoseconds without posting on faceache about how they are stuck behind someone on a bicycle.

contango 

Not really workable unless there's a way to determine whether the person using the phone is the driver or the passenger. Leaving a light red until the driver hangs up their phone is one thing but expecting everybody to wait because the passenger is on the phone is another thing entirely.

When I'm driving I quite frequently ask my wife (in the passenger seat) to call ahead to let our guests know where we are. At the time my own phone is typically downloading data from the internet - I use it in a hands-free mount to provide navigation and it's downloading map details, traffic conditions etc. Should the lights stay red until my phone (that I'm not touching in any way) has finished downloading the traffic information?

rydabent

Cell phones should shut down if traveling faster than 10 mph. To put it bluntly and simply, if the phone call is that damned important, pull over and make it.

As far as cell phones on trains are concerned, tuff bounce. Blame the irresponsible fools that have killed thousands by talking and texting in cars.

wphamilton

We put up with restrictions on the passenger with alcoholic beverages, so why not the phone?

Minor point, I'm proposing a red light on cell voice only not data.

CrankyOne

We need to be clear about one thing; using a cell phone (talking or texting or ??) while driving endangers others, doing so while riding a bicycle or walking endangers only yourself. That's a huge distinction. I am strongly against any cell phone use while driving.

For bicycle riders and pedestrians I think we just need to apply some community peer pressure if they're cell phone is causing them not to pay proper attention. The vast majority of cell phone use while riding or walking has zero impact on anyone. A very minor amount becomes an annoyance. That's about it.

RaleighSport

hmmm just as easy to pass a phone as a beer.. never really thought of it in that context before.

MickeyMaguire

What he said...

daihard 

Do you have any data that supports your claim (especially the bolded part)?

RoadTire 

Ya, even in the office, walking and talking and and bumping into people. I just cannot believe people just don't get it.

daihard 

Just watched a video taken by a cyclist on her helmet cam, where someone looking down at her cell phone almost walked right onto the cyclist's path. The cyclist had to yell at the pedestrian.