4 ms·

I hope they do and I hope they do something about it. Distracted driving is a really bad idea, and you should not be touching your phone while you are driving.

by davidw 8y ago

starpilot 8y ago
How do I stop? I'm full-on addicted.
- davidw 8y ago
  Put it in the trunk or something while you're driving.
- astura 8y ago
  Turn your phone off (or at least on silent/do not disturb) and put it either in the back seat or the seatback pocket before getting behind wheel. Get a Garmin offline GPS for navigation. If you want entertainment like music, audiobooks, or podcasts you can get a cheap, basic MP3 player and load it up before car trips and plug it into the aux input. Though, honestly, this might not be necessary as long as the phone is out of reach and alerts are off/on silent; so a phone with notifications disabled bluetooth streaming podcasts from the back seat should be fine. The important thing is its entirely out of your reach and you don't hear the notifications.
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  Turn off notifications, get it out of your reach.
- Raphmedia 8y ago
  Put the phone out of your view. You are not physically addicted to it. There's no withdrawal. Just put the thing away and break the habit.
- jldugger 8y ago
  Sell your car, use the proceeds for Lyft rides and cellular service.
- katbyte 8y ago
  Maybe try putting on a podcast or audio book to keep your mind occupied so it doesn’t wander to “check Phone” Something funny but captivating like the dollop or a good book and I won’t even check it on transit
- shujito 8y ago
  leave it at home
- superkuh 8y ago
  This recent trend of calling everything addictive and normalizing this misuse is not only stupid but also dangerous to society at large. Addiction is a serious thing with a well defined meaning. By applying it to things that are just actually rewarding, as opposed to things that hijack the reward system via direct manipulation to skew responses to predicted reward, it creates a perception of danger. This perception of danger then allows for the conversation about real issues that need solutions (usually education) to bottom out and begin calls for the use of government violence to prevent people from doing what they want. Encouraging the use of force against people who haven't done any violence or fraud themselves is a very bad thing. The circumstances have to justify it. Misuse of the word addiction helps that false justification.
  - munificent 8y ago
    > Addiction is a serious thing with a well defined meaning. Yes, and that meaning applies fully to smartphone apps for many people. > By applying it to things that are just actually rewarding, as opposed to things that hijack the reward system via direct manipulation to skew responses to predicted reward Again, this applies to apps as much as it does to cigarettes. In both cases, you do get a short-term sensation of reward followed by regret and negative long-term consequences.
    - superkuh 8y ago
      > this applies to apps as much as it does to cigarettes. How you you say this seriously? You are completely ignoring the direct biochemical effect of nicotine on the reward prediction system. A computer application does NOT have this effect.
      - lotsofpulp 8y ago
        Isn’t everything “you” experience due to a chemical reaction in the brain?
      - RussianCow 8y ago
        This is not true; there have been studies showing that the effects of smartphone addiction are similar to those of alcohol/drug addiction.[1][2] [1]: https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-addiction-drug-642320/ https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-addiction-drug-6... [2]: https://www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/new-studies-compare-smartphones-cocaine-addiction/ https://www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/new-studi...
- McDev 8y ago
  In the UK we give you 6 points on your license (reach 12 to get disqualified) and a £200/$250 fine Disclaimer: it doesn't stop people
  - rootusrootus 8y ago
    In Oregon the fine is $1000, or $2000 if you're involved in a collision. We have the lowest distracted rates in the country. But really, people still do it a lot.
  - stordoff 8y ago
    Also worth noting: > You’ll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last 2 years. [Your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.] > The law still applies to you if you’re: stopped at traffic lights[,] queuing in traffic[, or] supervising a learner driver https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
- munificent 8y ago
  Try the suggestions here: https://humanetech.com/resources/take-control/ https://humanetech.com/resources/take-control/
- mattbeckman 8y ago
  Pro tip: just get in an accident while distracted, and you'll never want to do it again.
- megy 8y ago
  Put your phone in your glove compartment, or on the back seat.
- CalRobert 8y ago
  Stop driving.
johnchristopher 8y ago
I was thinking about that today when a android update prompt took my screen view in hostage. I am using the phone as a GPS. Hopefully I knew the road very well but I would have been forced to stop the car in any other situation.
Dirlewanger 8y ago
Aside from highly localized municipal efforts, the only way anything is going to be done about this is a top-down approach from the federal government. PR campaigns need to be conducted, funds for LEO training/equipment to conduct stings need to be allocated, all that. This needs to make going after drunk driving look like a drop in the barrel. As much as I hate wanting to expand the influence of our law enforcement bodies, I don't see any other way out of this epidemic.
kevin_b_er 8y ago
While that might be nice, the insurance companies spying on me is very distasteful. Alas we've traded the governement's unreasonable search and seizure for private search and seizure as time as gone on.
- megy 8y ago
  I disagree. I think every single car should be tracked at all times. They are killing machines, responsible for 40,000 deaths a year in the US directly, more than gun deaths.
  - davidw 8y ago
    Yeah, as someone who sees people drive past, staring at their phones, as I ride my bike around... I don't have a ton of sympathy. It's a privilege, not a right.
    - novok 8y ago
      You need protected bike lanes, not a surveillance state. Even if cell phones did not exist, you would still be at risk as a cyclist.
      - davidw 8y ago
        I drive too, and those idiots might crash into me because they're staring at their phones. I don't really care how they're stopped, but they're a public menace. And yeah, we need protected bike lanes.
      - anonymou2 8y ago
        No, the roads belong to everyone not just motorists, building a cyclist ghetto and kicking cyclists off the roads so that motorists can have them all for themselves is just wrong. Motorists should be responsible for their actions.
        novok 8y ago
sokoloff 8y ago
I don't use it for text-based comms while driving, but I'm realistically not giving up podcasts and internet-connected GPS.
- 3JPLW 8y ago
  You don't need to be touching your phone _while driving_ to do those things. Set them up before you leave your parking spot and use a robust mount so you can safely glance at the GPS without fiddling.

I hope they do and I hope they do something about it. Distracted driving is a really bad idea, and you should not be touching your phone while you are driving.

by davidw 8y ago

I hope they do and I hope they do something about it. Distracted driving is a really bad idea, and you should not be touching your phone while you are driving.

starpilot 8y ago

How do I stop? I'm full-on addicted.

davidw 8y ago
Put it in the trunk or something while you're driving.
astura 8y ago
Turn your phone off (or at least on silent/do not disturb) and put it either in the back seat or the seatback pocket before getting behind wheel. Get a Garmin offline GPS for navigation. If you want entertainment like music, audiobooks, or podcasts you can get a cheap, basic MP3 player and load it up before car trips and plug it into the aux input. Though, honestly, this might not be necessary as long as the phone is out of reach and alerts are off/on silent; so a phone with notifications disabled bluetooth streaming podcasts from the back seat should be fine. The important thing is its entirely out of your reach and you don't hear the notifications.
SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
Turn off notifications, get it out of your reach.
Raphmedia 8y ago
Put the phone out of your view. You are not physically addicted to it. There's no withdrawal. Just put the thing away and break the habit.
jldugger 8y ago
Sell your car, use the proceeds for Lyft rides and cellular service.
katbyte 8y ago
Maybe try putting on a podcast or audio book to keep your mind occupied so it doesn’t wander to “check Phone” Something funny but captivating like the dollop or a good book and I won’t even check it on transit
shujito 8y ago
leave it at home
superkuh 8y ago
This recent trend of calling everything addictive and normalizing this misuse is not only stupid but also dangerous to society at large. Addiction is a serious thing with a well defined meaning. By applying it to things that are just actually rewarding, as opposed to things that hijack the reward system via direct manipulation to skew responses to predicted reward, it creates a perception of danger. This perception of danger then allows for the conversation about real issues that need solutions (usually education) to bottom out and begin calls for the use of government violence to prevent people from doing what they want. Encouraging the use of force against people who haven't done any violence or fraud themselves is a very bad thing. The circumstances have to justify it. Misuse of the word addiction helps that false justification.
- munificent 8y ago
  > Addiction is a serious thing with a well defined meaning. Yes, and that meaning applies fully to smartphone apps for many people. > By applying it to things that are just actually rewarding, as opposed to things that hijack the reward system via direct manipulation to skew responses to predicted reward Again, this applies to apps as much as it does to cigarettes. In both cases, you do get a short-term sensation of reward followed by regret and negative long-term consequences.
  - superkuh 8y ago
    > this applies to apps as much as it does to cigarettes. How you you say this seriously? You are completely ignoring the direct biochemical effect of nicotine on the reward prediction system. A computer application does NOT have this effect.
    - lotsofpulp 8y ago
      Isn’t everything “you” experience due to a chemical reaction in the brain?
    - RussianCow 8y ago
      This is not true; there have been studies showing that the effects of smartphone addiction are similar to those of alcohol/drug addiction.[1][2] [1]: https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-addiction-drug-642320/ https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-addiction-drug-6... [2]: https://www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/new-studies-compare-smartphones-cocaine-addiction/ https://www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/new-studi...
McDev 8y ago
In the UK we give you 6 points on your license (reach 12 to get disqualified) and a £200/$250 fine Disclaimer: it doesn't stop people
- rootusrootus 8y ago
  In Oregon the fine is $1000, or $2000 if you're involved in a collision. We have the lowest distracted rates in the country. But really, people still do it a lot.
- stordoff 8y ago
  Also worth noting: > You’ll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last 2 years. [Your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.] > The law still applies to you if you’re: stopped at traffic lights[,] queuing in traffic[, or] supervising a learner driver https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
munificent 8y ago
Try the suggestions here: https://humanetech.com/resources/take-control/ https://humanetech.com/resources/take-control/
mattbeckman 8y ago
Pro tip: just get in an accident while distracted, and you'll never want to do it again.
megy 8y ago
Put your phone in your glove compartment, or on the back seat.
CalRobert 8y ago
Stop driving.

johnchristopher 8y ago

I was thinking about that today when a android update prompt took my screen view in hostage. I am using the phone as a GPS. Hopefully I knew the road very well but I would have been forced to stop the car in any other situation.

Dirlewanger 8y ago

Aside from highly localized municipal efforts, the only way anything is going to be done about this is a top-down approach from the federal government. PR campaigns need to be conducted, funds for LEO training/equipment to conduct stings need to be allocated, all that. This needs to make going after drunk driving look like a drop in the barrel. As much as I hate wanting to expand the influence of our law enforcement bodies, I don't see any other way out of this epidemic.

kevin_b_er 8y ago

While that might be nice, the insurance companies spying on me is very distasteful. Alas we've traded the governement's unreasonable search and seizure for private search and seizure as time as gone on.

megy 8y ago
I disagree. I think every single car should be tracked at all times. They are killing machines, responsible for 40,000 deaths a year in the US directly, more than gun deaths.
- davidw 8y ago
  Yeah, as someone who sees people drive past, staring at their phones, as I ride my bike around... I don't have a ton of sympathy. It's a privilege, not a right.
  - novok 8y ago
    You need protected bike lanes, not a surveillance state. Even if cell phones did not exist, you would still be at risk as a cyclist.
    - davidw 8y ago
      I drive too, and those idiots might crash into me because they're staring at their phones. I don't really care how they're stopped, but they're a public menace. And yeah, we need protected bike lanes.
    - anonymou2 8y ago
      No, the roads belong to everyone not just motorists, building a cyclist ghetto and kicking cyclists off the roads so that motorists can have them all for themselves is just wrong. Motorists should be responsible for their actions.
      - novok 8y ago

sokoloff 8y ago

I don't use it for text-based comms while driving, but I'm realistically not giving up podcasts and internet-connected GPS.

3JPLW 8y ago
You don't need to be touching your phone _while driving_ to do those things. Set them up before you leave your parking spot and use a robust mount so you can safely glance at the GPS without fiddling.