Texting while driving, this has to stop

[Mike Hoxbig]

Maintaining any type of conversation while driving has been proven to be dangerous.
So everyone should string you up from the nearest tree as well?

Does that apply to talking to your passengers as well? It's no different. The difference between this, and holding your phone, is that your hands are free to control the car.

 

[ClintZA]

I do agree with the distraction of talking, even on Bluetooth, while driving. And yes, those talking to passengers are also often dangerously distracted. Just the other day some woman yakking away to her passenger looked in my direction but continued to pull right in front of me almost hitting me. She got the shock of her life when I hooted. She apologised most profusely and mouthed "sorry I did not see you".

A bit difficult to enforce not talking in the car though. But any distractions are dangerous while driving. Even if it is a wandering mind...

 

[Seriously]

Only check while sitting at a red robot? Pull the other leg please! We all drive on the roads, we see people on their cellphones and how they behave. So how long does a robot stay red for? So now you've quickly checked the message, so what if it requires a response? Do you very patiently wait for the next red robot you might come across? I can bet a good few rand on the fact that anyone who is impatient enough to have to check a message at a red robot will also be trying to reply while driving.

Even ignoring that, I have seen more than one person attempting to drive using only their peripheral vision and easing forward at a robot while texting only to look up at the last second and have to brake as they almost hit the car in front.

And I, for one, would not want to choose murder over someone checking an SMS, but I also am flabbergasted how some seem to feel you can pick and choose which laws you want to abide by.

Finally, why the hell are we even having this discussion. It is against the law to use your phone while driving. And, as if necessary, studies have shown the dangers of doing so. Full stop.

I do agree with the distraction of talking, even on Bluetooth, while driving. And yes, those talking to passengers are also often dangerously distracted. Just the other day some woman yakking away to her passenger looked in my direction but continued to pull right in front of me almost hitting me. She got the shock of her life when I hooted. She apologised most profusely and mouthed "sorry I did not see you".

A bit difficult to enforce not talking in the car though. But any distractions are dangerous while driving. Even if it is a wandering mind...

Sounds like a lot of first hand experience right there. Practice what you preach some

 

[GazWrack]

There really should be a way for the general public to assist with things like this and report law breakers. We all moan about there not being enough visible policing but if motorists knew that anyone around them could report them they may think twice about breaking the law to start with. I'm sure if the lady in the photo had seen a cop car around she would have stopped using her phone until she was out of sight. Most people know they are doing wrong but also feel they can get away with it.

I realise the problem with "public" policing like this is that it can hardly be enforced when it is one's word against another. But perhaps just a warning letter or the like might convince them to not do so again. Like this woman finding out about this discussion...

I agree with your sentiment about everyone enforcing the law on the road and elsewhere.
What I have a problem with is when people turn into lynch mobs and want to crucify everyone that transgresses in any way. Especially when they themselves are just as bad.

 

[Seriously]

I agree with your sentiment about everyone enforcing the law on the road and elsewhere.
What I have a problem with is when people turn into lynch mobs and want to crucify everyone that transgresses in any way. Especially when they themselves are just as bad.

Hypocrisy at best!

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I do agree with the distraction of talking, even on Bluetooth, while driving. And yes, those talking to passengers are also often dangerously distracted. Just the other day some woman yakking away to her passenger looked in my direction but continued to pull right in front of me almost hitting me. She got the shock of her life when I hooted. She apologised most profusely and mouthed "sorry I did not see you".

A bit difficult to enforce not talking in the car though. But any distractions are dangerous while driving. Even if it is a wandering mind...

Where do we draw the line though? The main argument behind criticising cellphone use while driving is that you're only operating the vehicle with one hand.

And yeah I understand that the same applies to adjusting your radio volume or whatever, but that's a temporary distraction. Many cars these have steering mounted controls, but it will probably become standard equipment in the near future.

 

[ClintZA]

Sounds like a lot of first hand experience right there. Practice what you preach some

Man, when people do not read it really pisses me off. You specifically say something and they overlook it totally. Here, let me repeat it....

We all drive on the roads, we see people on their cellphones and how they behave...

My nose is not stuck in my phone so I am able to observe what happens around me on the road. I can see people "quickly checking messages at a red robot", only to also see them continue playing on their phone as they pull off. Take your nose out your phone and you'll see it too.

 

[ClintZA]

Where do we draw the line though? The main argument behind criticising cellphone use while driving is that you're only operating the vehicle with one hand.

And yeah I understand that the same applies to adjusting your radio volume or whatever, but that's a temporary distraction. Many cars these have steering mounted controls, but it will probably become standard equipment in the near future.

I'm not sure about one handed driving being a bigger issue than distraction to be honest. Obviously a mixture of the two is without doubt the worst.

I realise a line has to be drawn somewhere and I suppose that line will currently sit where the law says it should (ie chatting ok, handsfree phones ok, texting not ok, holding your phone and talking not ok).

 

[GazWrack]

Does that apply to talking to your passengers as well? It's no different. The difference between this, and holding your phone, is that your hands are free to control the car.

I do agree with the distraction of talking, even on Bluetooth, while driving. And yes, those talking to passengers are also often dangerously distracted. Just the other day some woman yakking away to her passenger looked in my direction but continued to pull right in front of me almost hitting me. She got the shock of her life when I hooted. She apologised most profusely and mouthed "sorry I did not see you".

A bit difficult to enforce not talking in the car though. But any distractions are dangerous while driving. Even if it is a wandering mind...

To Mike: Yes even to passengers, as ClintZa says; anything that distracts you is dangerous. Being in control of the car and having both hands on the whell is ofcourse better than one hand, but if your concentration is elsewhere, you will still have an accident if you don't see it coming.

 

[Seriously]

Man, when people do not read it really pisses me off. You specifically say something and they overlook it totally. Here, let me repeat it....



My nose is not stuck in my phone so I am able to observe what happens around me on the road. I can see people "quickly checking messages at a red robot", only to also see them continue playing on their phone as they pull off. Take your nose out your phone and you'll see it too.

So you saying that you have another problem altogether, You are so preoccupied with what other drivers do that you cannot concentrate on your own driving? That is a major distraction on it's own and you seriously needs some counseling I would say. Dr Phil could help, best contact him. We do not all want to be responsible for your accident like we are with the cyclist and skater.

 

[bdt]

OP, did you get a response from the company to any of your emails?

(and OT, what's your opinion of the Jiayu G3? Worthwhile?)

They appear not to have replied to my (so far) one email to the address I was very definitely assured is watched and responded to. And that's interesting because now I have the distinct impression that THIS outfit have a management culture of "couldn't give a toss"; again, compare this with Imperial and their "i-pledge" campaign and consider where you would rather spend your money. (note:I don't blame Charl (the poor tele-agent) for this, he just tried to make the best of a lousy situation, and handled it well)

That said, I DID send to only that one address and have allowed a mere day and a half for them to notice me/us. I'll take another crack at trying to reach them tomorrow before, I suspect, arriving at an inevitable conclusion of a general "VGA" (is Afr, and comes from army days, work it out..) attitude on their side. For my part I'm not betting on getting a peep out of them.

Which doesn't invalidate the point of this thread as, volumes of hot air notwithstanding, we've all had this issue front of mind and gnashed our teeth quite spectacularly about it too. Which, I contend, serves to at least remind, if not reinforce the merits of good behaviour, and that I definitely see as an overall win.

Aside: I'm digging the phone and getting quite used to it. It's a little rough around the edges in terms of the build finesse you see in a Sony or Samsung, but then it also gives a large percentage of their capability for a small fraction of the price; I call that a win. Oh, and as I was futzing around with camera settings earlier today I stumbled across the HDR setting ..so much for Sony and their much vaunted 'first' with HDR in their new Z series.

Which is CLEARLY a disingenuous attempt to ignore his hypocrisy. And you must get the relevance, seeing as you have already demostrated you have the ability to read?

I really want an answer from him though, since he has just backed himself neatly into a corner of hypocrisy

What's are HIDs?

Your hope that we crash is endearing.

Now answer my question please.

I laugh, long and hard. Your drama, your hypocrisy, your inability to admit your double standards. Your running away. Hilarious.

As for you: my but what a perfectly horrid little troll you have turned out to be. And how you so love to throw around your polysyllabic words and point fingers and demand and rant (so, pretty much like one of our politicians, really) but not respond in kind when asked to. And that's without that backchannel nonsense you pulled and appear to have conveniently forgotten.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

HelloPeter them for not replying to your email.

 

[Splinter]

As for you: my but what a perfectly horrid little troll you have turned out to be. And how you so love to throw around your polysyllabic words and point fingers and demand and rant (so, pretty much like one of our politicians, really) but not respond in kind when asked to. And that's without that backchannel nonsense you pulled and appear to have conveniently forgotten.

Whats that, my righteous hypocrite? What question would you like answered? And my pm to you still stands, I think your behaviour was shocking given the fact that you have admitted you have used your phone while driving and continue to do so!. And my statement still holds true - if somehow required, my lawyer-friends services will be offered to sue the pants of your double standards . Must say that was more to give you a bad nights sleep, seeing as you have no qulams about doing that to other people

And hey, if your definition of a troll is someone who detests hypocrisy and is very willing to highlight it, then I am an uber troll. And will remain so.

 

[Splinter]

HelloPeter them for not replying to your email.

And say what? That my hypocritial bit of vigilantism wasn't responded to? That I'm complaining on HelloPeter even if its not about any service you rendered? That I am excercising my right to be a vindictive chop?

 

[Brenden_E]

And my statement still holds true - if somehow required, my lawyer-friends services will be offered to sue the pants of your double standards .

Spot the small duck, if you know what i mean!

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

And say what? That my hypocritial bit of vigilantism wasn't responded to? That I'm complaining on HelloPeter even if its not about any service you rendered? That I am excercising my right to be a vindictive chop?

That they don't reply to emails! Don't be a knob just for the sake of argument - replying to emails is common courtesy. They can then say whatever they want in their response.

 

[Splinter]

That they don't reply to emails! Don't be a knob just for the sake of argument - replying to emails is common courtesy. They can then say whatever they want in their response.

Or maybe, like some have suggested, they thought it was someone being a bit extreme and ignored it? Which would be great as it would mean bdt didn't stuff up someones job.

 

[Splinter]

Spot the small duck, if you know what i mean!

Nope, only thing I see is the small 'i". But please, elaborate.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Gosh you're like a broken record, going on about this job thing. I'm out, cheers.

 

[Splinter]

Gosh you're like a broken record, going on about this job thing. I'm out, cheers.

You forgot the hypocrisy thing. Cheers man, have a good weekend. Maybe you can bust a granny for littering or something.