The life I saved might have been mine

[Chrisj CMA]

Saturday I took Judy out on the bike for a nice ride to the beach to get some shells for her hermit crabs.

So we're waiting to turn onto the highway and this car is going through the intersection at half the normal speed and not even close to being centered in her lane

After she goes by I pull out and go to pass her when we see she is ALL IN with both hands texting.  Well, I wasn't going to stay behind her but who wants that behind....so I lay on the air horn (her window was half way down). Her eyes got real big as she, with a startled look turned to see Judy shaking her head and telling her to "put it down"

The woman looked like a kid caught with hands in the cookies, she stopped texting.  Judy told me when we stopped, the woman seemed appreciative that we shocked her to her senses.

Score one more for the Stebil

[Hooter]

This is getting old!   

[dreamaker]

I suggest a solution to some of the problem, legally ! When on the bike or in a car, when there is a distracted driver of another vehicle. I suggest that a “Passenger” in your vehicle take a picture or video of the distraction or violation, In a discreet way to avoid any retaliation, then take a picture of the violator’s license plate and turn it over to the Police.  Now if you have media evidence of a violation, it seems they can be ticketed, or at least Police warning, and you help the Police.  What do you think!!

[Wizzard]

I see it every day on I94 Even semi drivers doing it.

[Pappy!]

All too true!
More and more I see drivers not catching when a light turns green because they are busy texting while stopped at the light.

[Romeo]

Dreamaker, do you really want the general public doing the policing. I can see the scammers coming out of the woodwork. Taking pictures of someone texting and a license plate of someone they don't really like or just some defenseless passerby.

[Chrisj CMA]

It doesn't bother me near as bad if the person texting is also driving safely.  Not that it's ok, its not! But its way more troubling when they are texting and NOT controlling their vehicle.

When it was just talking, I used to say "If you aren't coordinated enough to drive and talk on the phone at a same time you should not be driving"

This time the outcome was the best I could have hoped for.  Hopefully she stays off that phone.

[Robert]

There is no safe driving and texting no matter how good a driver you are. We can cheat a bit but its not safe things change to fast and you have to be too aware to concentrate on texting the same time as driving. In a split second everything can change the problem is also time judgement. If we concentrate on a text we may not be aware of how long we are actually on that text further compounding the problem.

[dreamaker]

Dreamaker, do you really want the general public doing the policing. I can see the scammers coming out of the woodwork. Taking pictures of someone texting and a license plate of someone they don't really like or just some defenseless passerby.

Ya!! Your probably right!! My area, we have only two Police officers per shift, so it is hard for them.

[GiG]

All too true!
More and more I see drivers not catching when a light turns green because they are busy texting while stopped at the light.

That's when I go around them - blowing the horn!

[John Schmidt]

It's been illegal in Fla. over a year now.....no texting while at the wheel. A trooper told me that includes sitting at a light because you're not paying attention to anything but your phone. I've seen youngsters(and older folk as well) at the light actually creeping forward while texting, not paying attention to the car moving. Then the light changes and it often will be 5-8 seconds before they realize it and take off. My opinion is if it takes you that long to react to a green light, you're either asleep at the wheel or doing something you're not supposed to be doing....like on that cussed phone. 

[Chrisj CMA]

Lol.  It used to be, long long ago, making something illegal actually stopped people from doing it

[GiG]

Lol.  It used to be, long long ago, making something illegal actually stopped people from doing it

Ever hear of Prohibition? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Lol.  It used to be, long long ago, making something illegal actually stopped people from doing it

Ever hear of Prohibition? 

Or even the oldest profession ?

[cookiedough]

Interesting this came up,  just a little while ago our long time police chief in this one horse town I caught texting or what looked like texting on his cell phone while going down one of the in town streets.  He may not have been texting, but maybe looking down at his cop laptop or something but was moving and typing something away could tell that much.  

with all the gizmos and gadgets the police officers use in their squad car,  I wonder how easily distracted they can get while driving as well?

[Chrisj CMA]

I suppose it's proven, you cannot control with laws peoples drink, sex and now, apparently texting while driving

[art]

It bothers me a lot, there is no reason to be texting while driving. Just shut up and drive. It was just a few years ago that a dump truck ran over bikers in Az. during bike week and killed 9 riders. I think he found to be using his cell phone. NO EXCUSE.

[fudgie]

Hard for me to text while driving with a whiskey in my hand. 

[Bighead]

Hard for me to text while driving with a whiskey in my hand. 

Hard to do and not spill it huh?

[NW roller]

Dreamaker  never happen. Most states say law enforcement officer has to see you commit the act. That is why lawyers are fighting the speed camera and red light cameras because law enforcement officers are not writing the tickets. You would have kids turning in parents and vice versa. I do not believe in the texting and driving I am in law enforcement.But its like anything out there some can do it and some cant. I drove trucks before I was a cop what was the difference between me talking on a CB radio and driving or a cell phone. As a law enforcement officer I talk on the radio all the time and drive my motorcycle and squad car. Distracted driving has always been there but I think texting has  brought it to the fore front. Stiffer fines don't work people do it anyway. one of my first fatalities was caused by a young girl talking on a cell phone and she had been drinking. it made national news she killed the ambassador of England's son. She only got 3 years with all but 6 months suspended. 

[dreamaker]

All most seems like the violators and criminals have more rights than the people that just want to live a decent life. Its like these people think it is your fault because you were in front of them.  Its a shame these air headed people get away with it.