A woman driving down Ashby Ave. in Berkeley, Calif. talks on her cell phone as a large garbage truck passes on her left.
Posted on 12/29/2009 7:48:59 AM PST by SmithL
Caryn Leschen eats sushi, talks on the phone and applies mascara while driving. "I started to reply to an e-mail once and a motorcycle officer pulled up next to me," Leschen said. "He said, 'You know better than that,' " and I said, 'Yeah, I do.' "
Leschen, a San Francisco cartoonist and graphic artist, is not the only driver engaging in extracurricular activities behind the wheel. Drivers are distracting themselves in many ways and are failing to obey laws such as California's mandate against hand-held cell phones.
"The vehicle has turned into a living room on wheels," said sociologist J. Peter Rothe, author of books on driving behavior and an assistant professor at the University of Alberta.
"When you start with that assumption, you realize that you have various entertainments and rituals you usually perform in the home that are now performed in the vehicle.
"It's an extension of your home."
Also, "our mobile society suffers from ADD — attention demand disorder," said Kit Yarrow, a social psychologist at Golden Gate University.
"We all want immediate feedback, and technology has enabled that. We have become a society of people with a perpetual fear of missing out on information. We have to have constant access, so we're texting, shopping online, e-mailing — even when we are driving."
Like an addict who risks injury or even death to obtain a drug, information junkies can end up paying dearly for such access.
People who send text messages while driving are six times more likely to crash, according to a University of Utah study released this month.
It isn't just texting or cell phone yakking that are problematic. All forms of distracted driving caused 515,000 injuries and 5,870 deaths in 2008 nationally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
I’ve seen people driving down the Interstate with books on their steering wheel. A guy with 2 cells phones, one in each hand, trying to dial. A lady with a cat wrapped around her head. It’s a nutty world out there!
Then they sue the county for a “dangerous” road.
>>Caryn Leschen eats sushi, talks on the phone and applies mascara while driving. <<
Let’s just say that when (not if) she ends up in a accident with her being permanently handicapped and on the receiving end of a massive lawsuit, she won’t get any sympathy from me.
Driving is a solemn privilege that needs to be seriously. The human brain can’t multitask that way, especially when using the cell phone. People who do these types of things show contempt for their fellow drivers.
“At times like this, I am so pleased to be friendless.”
#####
My sentiments exactly.
This is the typical, so-critical, cell-phone conversation among “friends”:
What are you doin?
Nuthin. What are you doin?
Driving. I’m bored. So what’s up?
Not much. What’s up with you.
Nuthin. So what’s going on?
Not much. Anything going on with you
No. So, what are you doin’...
My bigger concern is that we have too many distracted citizens, e.g. no one knows what the heck is really going on with the POS Kenyan and his minions.
“My bigger concern is that we have too many distracted citizens, e.g. no one knows what the heck is really going on with the POS Kenyan and his minions.”
I don’t think the two items are unrealated. If you’re dumb enough to drive while doing crossword puzzles while also talking on your cell... you’re likely the kind of person who is totally self absorbed, and pays absolutely no attention to politics and the world around you.
“I honk at every dumbass texting while driving and sometimes it gets their attention.
LOL! I do the same thing and my wife hates it. We car pool to work to save gas but she would rather drive alone and avoid my terror towards other drivers. I have waited at green lights because of a driver ahead of me doing a text message. After laying on my horn they often flip me off!
Illinois State Police Officer...southbound on the Tri-State Tollway (posted 55 mph, avg 70 mph)...sheet music on the steering wheel...recorder in his mouth and occupying both hands.
It ain’t just the civilians who are dangerous.
“Let’s just say that when (not if) she ends up in a accident with her being permanently handicapped and on the receiving end of a massive lawsuit, she won’t get any sympathy from me.”
And if someone like her causes me to have a wreck, I will get out and beat the dog squeeze out of her, if I’m able.
Back in 2007, a 20 year old was reaching for her cell phone and swerved into oncoming traffic and killed a 16 year old girl. She was sentenced over the summer.
She got 5-36 months in jail for it.
Two youngs lives destroyed for something stupid. No phone is worth it.
BUILD SOME F*ING ROADS YOU GOV’T B*TCHES!!!
Then we can drive rather than text in traffic.
This is more proof that most people are idiots.
IMO, some of these anti-cell/texting while driving drama queens are just as bad as the anti-smoking nazis or gun-control crowd. They can dream up all sorts of ways that one person’s freedom affects their freedom. I call BS on all of you....mind your own business. When you actually have an accident that was caused by a cell phone user, then I might lend you my ear. Until then, most of you are a PITA! WE NEED LESS LAWS…NOT MORE!!!!
>>When you actually have an accident that was caused by a cell phone user, then I might lend you my ear. <<
How about a 6 inch miss when a driver was on the damn cell and ran the red? Is that close enough for “your” ear?
Bottom line: Talking on a cell phone while driving is like driving drunk. Texting is even worse. Supporting texting or cell phone talking while driving is the same as supporting drunk driving. Now if you think drunk driving laws are too Nanny State for you, that is another kettle of fish.
Drove with someone who insisted on doing it. That stopped really quick when I got out. It is not safe at all and it is so dangerous.
Multitasking is one thing, but driving and talking on the cell phone is not multitasking. I can drive, eat, drink, put on make-up, discipline children, prepare a bank deposit and search for a radio station, all at the same time, but I don’t drive and talk on the phone. All of the things in the first list are things going on IN the car. When you talk on the phone, your mind is in some abstract space that is NOT in the car. You’re yacking with someone who has no clue what your traffic conditions are. A bus could be about to cross your path, but your co-talker continues to babble on. If there were at least some kind of audible clues that the other person could hear, such as traffic noise or honking horns, it might help to put it into context. Maybe there should be some kind of fake background traffic noise generator required for cell phone use in cars. Only the other person would be able hear it, to prevent the driver from being mislead by false cues.
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