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>Drivers are already the leading killers of children, and more and more people are being killed while walking and cycling. I think more worrisome is the center

>Drivers are already the leading killers of children, and more and more people are being killed while walking and cycling. I think more worrisome is the center console - pedestrian deaths had been going down for 20 years until smartphones became widespread and we've had increases every year since.

mfer 5y ago
With the introduction of smart phones and social media we've seen lots of negative effects increase. For example, teen suicide was decreasing until they were introduced and then started to increase again. Girls especially. I wish there was more discussion and acknowledgement of the dangers here.
- hrktb 5y ago
  You have a point, but I also think we should be thinking beyond smartphones and try to act on what they are used for. Not in a "guns don't kill people way", but because I think smarphone helped spread society's worse effects on girls, but they were already in a very shitty position, and we can't just get back to the status quo before the smarphones and social networks. We can of course also work on reducing sns negative impacts, but I think it will also be a bad, long and thorny way before seeing improvements.
- ccsnags 5y ago
  When I’m on a long trip with friends or family we play a game trying to spot people on their phones by how poorly they are driving. Police are extra points. You would be shocked at how many cops you see looking down at their lap while driving. I would rather drive next to people with .09 blood alcohol than someone on their phone. Social media and cell phones are very convenient, but come with major drawbacks that must be addressed. Phones, for many young people, are just mental disorders with a touch screen.
TypeCaste 5y ago
I ride a motorcycle, and it seems like 30% of the drivers I see on the road have their phones out.
- Dah00n 5y ago
  Me too but the most scary part is that if you are in a truck (a real one) you can see way more phones.
  - TypeCaste 5y ago
    I take extra caution around pickup trucks and young men in muscle cars. The former are more likely to not see you, or be on their phones. The muscle cars are likely to rapidly and erratically change directions into me at a high rate of speed.
rootusrootus 5y ago
That's a tough pill to swallow for many HN participants because our industry directly contributes to this. Easier to just blame cars.
deberon 5y ago
I try to give a "friendly" honk followed by a "hang up" hand gesture. Results range from them putting the phone down and giving a thumbsup to angrily cutting me off and speeding down the freeway.

mfer 5y ago

With the introduction of smart phones and social media we've seen lots of negative effects increase. For example, teen suicide was decreasing until they were introduced and then started to increase again. Girls especially. I wish there was more discussion and acknowledgement of the dangers here.

hrktb 5y ago
You have a point, but I also think we should be thinking beyond smartphones and try to act on what they are used for. Not in a "guns don't kill people way", but because I think smarphone helped spread society's worse effects on girls, but they were already in a very shitty position, and we can't just get back to the status quo before the smarphones and social networks. We can of course also work on reducing sns negative impacts, but I think it will also be a bad, long and thorny way before seeing improvements.
ccsnags 5y ago
When I’m on a long trip with friends or family we play a game trying to spot people on their phones by how poorly they are driving. Police are extra points. You would be shocked at how many cops you see looking down at their lap while driving. I would rather drive next to people with .09 blood alcohol than someone on their phone. Social media and cell phones are very convenient, but come with major drawbacks that must be addressed. Phones, for many young people, are just mental disorders with a touch screen.

TypeCaste 5y ago

I ride a motorcycle, and it seems like 30% of the drivers I see on the road have their phones out.

Dah00n 5y ago
Me too but the most scary part is that if you are in a truck (a real one) you can see way more phones.
- TypeCaste 5y ago
  I take extra caution around pickup trucks and young men in muscle cars. The former are more likely to not see you, or be on their phones. The muscle cars are likely to rapidly and erratically change directions into me at a high rate of speed.

rootusrootus 5y ago

That's a tough pill to swallow for many HN participants because our industry directly contributes to this. Easier to just blame cars.

deberon 5y ago

I try to give a "friendly" honk followed by a "hang up" hand gesture. Results range from them putting the phone down and giving a thumbsup to angrily cutting me off and speeding down the freeway.