b_young

I read the other day that a car load of teenagers wrecked and the driver died because the driver was trying to write a text message on a cell. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

It scares me enough with someone driving by me just talking on the phone. But I have started paying more attention to people driving instead of just looking at the car and it will scare you how many people are looking at the phone, radio or mirror instead of the road and a fat guy on a bike. Whats more, I live in rural Arkansas. I can't imagine what it would be like for you that live in a city of any size.

HANG UP AND DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ornery

Take a poll and see how many minutes (hours) each of your peers spends on the phone each day. It's amazing kids today can't spend a full hour without yakking it up with somebody on their stupid phone.

I finally got a mobile package when my son started college. We share 700 minutes between 5 users and never come close to going over. My phone is with me 24/7 and turned on, but rarely used. Maybe somebody here can clue me in to what I'm missing.

b_young

I'm with ya. I have mine on all the time and maybe talk 1-2 hrs/wk. I don't mind people talking for hours upon end. Just not while they are driving.

robtown

I've been seeing pedestrians - maybe 1 of 3 on the cell phone. Even worse, I've seen more than one cyclist on the cell phone while moving - now that's stupid.

slowjoe66

I admit I've done this When I'm on pleasure rides I keep my phone in an outside mesh pocket of my handlebar bag. Occasionally my wife will call, wondering when I'll be home. If the situation isn't hairy, I will answer and still continue to ride. Not the safest or smartest thing I've ever done, but I don't live in a large city. It would probably be suicide to do that in San Fran or something. A quiet country road is not so bad.

Blue Order

I nearly got run down in the crosswalk a few nights ago when some nitwit focused on on her cell conversation made a right turn without looking right. Naturally, most state legislatures see absolutely NOTHING wrong with the situation.

vrkelley

Yeah crosswalks are super dangerous. There are 2 walks on my route where the MUPs end at a crosswalk (resuming on the other side of the street).

Now rather than risking a right hook. I pull up to the curb and get on the street (getting in line). When the light changes, I go straight through and use the handicap ramp on the other side to get back on. No more "close calls"

Stop the madness by carrying a camera or camera phone. Keep it handy at "the danger zone" get a snapshot of the license plate and turn it into the cops.

markhr

Just, using your bicycle only, right hook(if you're driving on the right) them at low speed. It makes them stop, really annoys them and sometimes actually makes them end the call. It's also slightly less confrontational than grabbing and smashing the cellphone.

Edit - how do I jsutify this - well in the UK it's illegal to be in charge of a vehicle and using a cell phone (unless it's on a hands free earpiece).

Az B

I've been thinking about this a lot lately too. Especially after I saw a guy reading while driving in the fast lane. (And holding up traffic)

We seriously need to start educating drivers in this country. Bikers too.

Az

vrkelley

Get proactive. If you're scared, get off the bike.

AEO

I can't stand cell phones in general, even though I have one. If I could, I'd live without it.

bradl

On the interstate these days it's gotten to the point where my wife and I point out the novelty of cars where there driver is NOT on the phone. I wish I were kidding.

AlmostTrick

I never had a cell phone and still don't want one. Not having immediate phone access 24/7 has never been a problem for me yet.

I often wonder what it is that is so important that it must be communicated while driving. I often see people yacking it up just as they are leaving work or home. Why didn't they make this most important call before they left?

EMT

all this chatter about constant phone use as we sit writing things on internet message boards ...

oh the hypocrisy

(not aimed at those whose complaint is restricted to on-road phone use/phone use as distraction from main activity; but the `oh those technology addicted fools' is not a good look for people in this forum)

srsly

i've totally wandered past where i was wanting to walk to because i was reading email on my blackjack. occupational hazard i guess. if i'm in the car i either don't answer it or hand it to my passenger as i have enough problems avoiding college girls in jeeps swerving lanes while texting. a friend of my mom's, way back when talking on cell phones in cars was a new phenomenon kept a shoe in his car that he would use to mime other drivers he saw on the road.

in the evening on my way home from work i pass by University of Washington and it is crawling with students. i routinely scare the crap out of people yakking on the phone that wander in the middle of the path while there is obvious traffic in both directions, bike and foot, trying to stay to their respective sides. maybe i'm a jerk, who knows, but there's no excuse for being that oblivious. i'm afraid to see what these people are like in their cars...

ax0n

If you were on a bike in the crosswalk (as in, not walking through it) then you just found out why I keep it on the street.

CommuterRun

Cell phone use while driving is just as likely to cause a crash as DUI, therefore the penalty should be the same regardless of vehicle type.

It's okay for me to respond to this thread, as I'm sitting at my desk in the house and not driving.

MikeR

That one probably has an ear bud.

mike

Actually, talking on a cell phone while driving is unlawful in most states.

Ralph

Isn't it only hand held cells that are banned in most states? At least it's a start.

banerjek

They must yak nonstop because there is practically no actual communication going on in many of these conversations. The incessant babble relies on the same principle as panning for gold -- process enough rubbish, and eventually you might get a couple bits of something worthwhile.

Distracted driving is here to stay. A recent poll showed that while most people favor banning texting while driving, 2/3 of 18-24 yr olds do it, and 1/3 of them would oppose such a ban.

That's why I won't ride without mirrors.

bac

I hate to say it, but we really need a law. However, there's simply too much money in the telcom industry for this to happen. Politicians will never allow a bill to be passed if it cuts of even 1 dollar of that money train. Sans a law, this distraction is only going to get worse. I'm not one for adding new laws, but this one would save a boat-load of lives every day. The sad news is that it's not gonna happen - ever.

Keep your eyes open and pray. Those are your choices with today's distracted "drivers".

... Brad

bac

Actually it's not. Allowing "hands free" is a decision made by the telcom industry so that they could sell a truck-load of "hands free" devices. It does nothing to help the distraction issue - which is the real problem. There have been MANY (non-government sponsored) studies that have shown that there is no difference between hands-free and standard cell phone usage relative to safety.

... Brad

dynodonn 

I no longer have an active cell phone, I stopped the madness of paying a monthly fee for only 5 to 10 minutes a month usage, and put the money towards something else. I drove/bicycled for 30 years prior without one, and somehow managed to survive.

robmcl

It's not just cell phones. It's distracted, careless driving and a general failure for some (not all ) to take driving seriously. Like someone mentioned above, I recently saw someone reading a newspaper while driving in the center lane of a Chicago toll way during rush hour. How foolish.

It seems to me that the police are not willing or able to do anything about it. When they do, it tends to be a blanket enforcement for speeding. Since almost all people on the freeways are speeding, I think this does little to get the worse driver off of the road. In fact I would bet that 20% of the drivers cause 80% of the non DUI related problems/incidents.