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Where do you live that this is surprising? I see people putting on makeup and checking email while driving. Not while stopped in traffic, actually being in con

Where do you live that this is surprising? I see people putting on makeup and checking email while driving. Not while stopped in traffic, actually being in control of a rapidly moving vehicle.

ericd 8y ago
Honestly, that kind of thing should lead to the loss of their license after one instance.
- wcarron 8y ago
  I sympathize, but disagree. In CA, distracted driving is a moving violation, but does not have points on the license as a penalty. Going nuclear as a 1st response does not help. Increasing fines, mandatory driver education classes for violations, points on a license, and perhaps a lock box (akin to the ignition lock we install for DUI offenders) are, IMO, better measures to take. Repeated offenders should have their vehicle impounded and license suspended for increasing amounts of time per violation e.g. 1st offense - $250 fine + class, 2nd - $500 fine, 3rd - $1500 fine + impound + 1 month suspension, 4th - $2.5k fine + impound + 1yr suspension. 5th time should be 60 day jail sentence, car impounded, license permanently revoked, $5k fine
  - ericd 8y ago
    Is typing on your phone while moving at highway speeds much less dangerous than a DUI? A first DUI conviction in CA involves large fines, generally a 6 month license suspension, is a misdemeanor, and potentially up to 6 months in jail. A $250 fine plus class is a joke. The fine for accidentally running a red light in SV is double that. Driving and looking at your phone is not a joke, a car traveling at 70 mph is a lethal weapon that can easily kill entire families in an instant, and it should be treated with commensurate seriousness. I know a couple families that have almost been entirely wiped out due to other drivers, with the survivors left as paraplegics. I think serious penalties for what is seemingly very common might be a shock initially, but once people realize how serious it is, I imagine the infraction rate will drop rather rapidly. Drinking and driving used to be much more common than it is now.
    - wcarron 8y ago
      Listen, I agree on most counts. I commute 50 miles every day (even when it rains) in LA on a motorcycle and every day I am put in a dangerous position by idiot distracted drivers. Or people jumping into the HOV lanes. It makes me furious. I've talked with my partner and now she never uses her phone will driving, but did before. I, of course, want distracted driving treated with the same seriousness. It's why every few months I write to my state reps about this issue. It disproportionately affects me as a rider. Ask any motorcycle rider if they know someone injured, maimed, or killed by a car. I've been hit by a distracted driver. Btw, it hurts quite a lot. It is indeed more dangerous than DUIs, statistically speaking, but a shock and awe playbook will never work. We need to boil the frog, so to speak. DUI activity became something that's shameful, over time. So too, can we employ the same tactics against Distracted driving. Another example would be cigarettes. They went from cool to gross. This is why I'm in favor of incremental increases in fines and penalties, instead of a big bang approach. We need to reach out to drivers and educate them instead of making them feel persecuted for what they consider to be "harmless behavior".
      - ericd 8y ago
        Fair enough, I suppose DUI penalties were phased in over time as you say. I used to ride too, sorry you got hit, but I'm glad you're still with us.
so33 8y ago
More anecdata: I have seen: - Someone watching a video on YouTube while driving - Someone on their phone, with headphones on, while driving People are using their cars like they’re already driverless ;)
- rndgermandude 8y ago
  I've seen a driver watching porn on a maybe 20 inch screen while on a packed but still speedy Autobahn. One hand holding the screen while steering with his wrist pressed against the wheel (looked rather elaborate and acrobatic even), kinda, while the other hand was out of sight and "busy" somewhere "below". I've seen another driver having her foot on top of the wheel, cutting her toenails with a clipper, also on the Autobahn. And the amount of truck drivers I seen reading a newspaper (actual-paper one, usually "Bild") while behind the wheel is astonishing.
- InitialLastName 8y ago
  I had a [ride-hailing service that shall go unnamed] driver actually start watching a movie on his car's infotainment system (I assume it was after-market to allow that) while driving us. With subtitles, no less. In moderate traffic (which is the worst kind for distracted driving).
- curun1r 8y ago
  I took a mini-bus while I was in Bangkok to go to a nearby beach area and the driver was literally doing both. He had his headphones on and was simul-watching YouTube videos and talking about them over the phone with what we guessed was his girlfriend. I was almost equal parts horrified/afraid for my life and amazed that he was able to successfully weave through traffic while doing it.
wcarron 8y ago
Not to be that guy, but I can top that. I recently saw a young woman eating pasta in her car. On an actual plate, with a fork and knife and napkin, while driving on the freeway. I'm a motorcyclist, so it causes a bit of rage in me (it's just so damn selfish), but then I remember that they can't hear me or simply don't care and it's safer to just get the hell away from them.
- craigzucchini 8y ago
  I've done this while also drinking coffee and driving a manual transmission car. It was very difficult, but so satisfying, and I got to the beach on time.
  - wcarron 8y ago
    And you're proud of your gross display of selfishness, negligence, and recklessly endangering the lives of others? That is perverse and repulsive. Maybe you should read some statistics on the practical results of distracted driving. Or maybe you should see how the families of people killed by texters feel?
    - craigzucchini 8y ago
      Gotta get that spaghett ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
GordonS 8y ago
> Where do you live that this is surprising? Anywhere in the world. Moving a cup of scaldingly hot coffee around while driving is not very sensible.

Where do you live that this is surprising? I see people putting on makeup and checking email while driving. Not while stopped in traffic, actually being in control of a rapidly moving vehicle.

ericd 8y ago

Honestly, that kind of thing should lead to the loss of their license after one instance.

wcarron 8y ago
I sympathize, but disagree. In CA, distracted driving is a moving violation, but does not have points on the license as a penalty. Going nuclear as a 1st response does not help. Increasing fines, mandatory driver education classes for violations, points on a license, and perhaps a lock box (akin to the ignition lock we install for DUI offenders) are, IMO, better measures to take. Repeated offenders should have their vehicle impounded and license suspended for increasing amounts of time per violation e.g. 1st offense - $250 fine + class, 2nd - $500 fine, 3rd - $1500 fine + impound + 1 month suspension, 4th - $2.5k fine + impound + 1yr suspension. 5th time should be 60 day jail sentence, car impounded, license permanently revoked, $5k fine
- ericd 8y ago
  Is typing on your phone while moving at highway speeds much less dangerous than a DUI? A first DUI conviction in CA involves large fines, generally a 6 month license suspension, is a misdemeanor, and potentially up to 6 months in jail. A $250 fine plus class is a joke. The fine for accidentally running a red light in SV is double that. Driving and looking at your phone is not a joke, a car traveling at 70 mph is a lethal weapon that can easily kill entire families in an instant, and it should be treated with commensurate seriousness. I know a couple families that have almost been entirely wiped out due to other drivers, with the survivors left as paraplegics. I think serious penalties for what is seemingly very common might be a shock initially, but once people realize how serious it is, I imagine the infraction rate will drop rather rapidly. Drinking and driving used to be much more common than it is now.
  - wcarron 8y ago
    Listen, I agree on most counts. I commute 50 miles every day (even when it rains) in LA on a motorcycle and every day I am put in a dangerous position by idiot distracted drivers. Or people jumping into the HOV lanes. It makes me furious. I've talked with my partner and now she never uses her phone will driving, but did before. I, of course, want distracted driving treated with the same seriousness. It's why every few months I write to my state reps about this issue. It disproportionately affects me as a rider. Ask any motorcycle rider if they know someone injured, maimed, or killed by a car. I've been hit by a distracted driver. Btw, it hurts quite a lot. It is indeed more dangerous than DUIs, statistically speaking, but a shock and awe playbook will never work. We need to boil the frog, so to speak. DUI activity became something that's shameful, over time. So too, can we employ the same tactics against Distracted driving. Another example would be cigarettes. They went from cool to gross. This is why I'm in favor of incremental increases in fines and penalties, instead of a big bang approach. We need to reach out to drivers and educate them instead of making them feel persecuted for what they consider to be "harmless behavior".
    - ericd 8y ago
      Fair enough, I suppose DUI penalties were phased in over time as you say. I used to ride too, sorry you got hit, but I'm glad you're still with us.

so33 8y ago

More anecdata: I have seen: - Someone watching a video on YouTube while driving - Someone on their phone, with headphones on, while driving People are using their cars like they’re already driverless ;)

rndgermandude 8y ago
I've seen a driver watching porn on a maybe 20 inch screen while on a packed but still speedy Autobahn. One hand holding the screen while steering with his wrist pressed against the wheel (looked rather elaborate and acrobatic even), kinda, while the other hand was out of sight and "busy" somewhere "below". I've seen another driver having her foot on top of the wheel, cutting her toenails with a clipper, also on the Autobahn. And the amount of truck drivers I seen reading a newspaper (actual-paper one, usually "Bild") while behind the wheel is astonishing.
InitialLastName 8y ago
I had a [ride-hailing service that shall go unnamed] driver actually start watching a movie on his car's infotainment system (I assume it was after-market to allow that) while driving us. With subtitles, no less. In moderate traffic (which is the worst kind for distracted driving).
curun1r 8y ago
I took a mini-bus while I was in Bangkok to go to a nearby beach area and the driver was literally doing both. He had his headphones on and was simul-watching YouTube videos and talking about them over the phone with what we guessed was his girlfriend. I was almost equal parts horrified/afraid for my life and amazed that he was able to successfully weave through traffic while doing it.

wcarron 8y ago

Not to be that guy, but I can top that. I recently saw a young woman eating pasta in her car. On an actual plate, with a fork and knife and napkin, while driving on the freeway. I'm a motorcyclist, so it causes a bit of rage in me (it's just so damn selfish), but then I remember that they can't hear me or simply don't care and it's safer to just get the hell away from them.

craigzucchini 8y ago
I've done this while also drinking coffee and driving a manual transmission car. It was very difficult, but so satisfying, and I got to the beach on time.
- wcarron 8y ago
  And you're proud of your gross display of selfishness, negligence, and recklessly endangering the lives of others? That is perverse and repulsive. Maybe you should read some statistics on the practical results of distracted driving. Or maybe you should see how the families of people killed by texters feel?
  - craigzucchini 8y ago
    Gotta get that spaghett ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

GordonS 8y ago

> Where do you live that this is surprising? Anywhere in the world. Moving a cup of scaldingly hot coffee around while driving is not very sensible.