4 ms·

That would require a complete revamp of US law and culture. As it is now, you are not a criminal if you stop paying attention and run someone over. Your actio

by michael1999 3y ago

That would require a complete revamp of US law and culture. As it is now, you are not a criminal if you stop paying attention and run someone over. Your actions have to rise to a much higher level of wanton criminality before you are ever at risk of a criminal charge. People kill people on sidewalks, in cross-walks, in their living-rooms (!!!) and face nothing more than a $1000 fine for failure to yield. This kind of change isn't impossible. Drunk driving was once in this same category -- I.e. considered an unfortunate accident rather than a crime. Then Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) ran a 30 year campaign to change the law, change enforcement, change prosecution, and finally (partially) the culture. But I guarantee the NHTSA has neither the mandate nor the capacity to lead that change.

merpnderp 3y ago
Is this true? I'm pretty sure being caught looking at your phone while running someone over will get you a criminal charge in most states.
- michael1999 3y ago
  The law might say that (that's step 1 in the culture change). But the police won't arrest. And if the police arrest, the prosecutors won't charge. And if the prosecutors charge, a judge/jury won't convict. Every one of those people along the way think "there, but for the grace of god, go I". They all drive to work, fussing with their phones while doing it, and just can't bring themselves to consider it a crime. It really is very much like drunk driving in that way. https://www.dailynews.com/2014/08/27/no-charges-for-lasd-deputy-who-fatally-struck-cyclist-while-typing-on-computer/ https://www.dailynews.com/2014/08/27/no-charges-for-lasd-dep... https://www.scribd.com/document/237940150/Official-document-Deputy-won-t-be-charged-in-death-of-Calabasas-bicyclist-Milton-Olin https://www.scribd.com/document/237940150/Official-document-...
  - slau 3y ago
    I don’t doubt what you say, but I’m flabbergasted that phone use really is that common. I’ve probably used my phone 5 times while driving in the last two years, and I can’t imagine why anyone would need to do it more than that. I do rely on CarPlay and Siri massively.
    - michael1999 3y ago
      Dunno where you live, but if you are in North America: take a look around next time you are waiting at a red light, or stopped on the highway in traffic. Look for all the people staring at their laps -- they are not contemplating their navels.
- taylodl 3y ago
  Being stupid is not a crime. America doesn't have enough prisons were it otherwise.
danudey 3y ago
Like my wife always says (whenever a cyclist is killed or maimed in an entirely preventable traffic "accident"), "if you want to kill someone, do it in a car".
michael1999 3y ago
We might be in the very beginning of a change like this phone-use while driving. It's already been 10 years of killing by distracted phone use, the laws are starting to change. Enforcement is limited, and the average person still does not give two shits -- in their minds they're just checking their texts, and are totally still in control of the situation. It will take another 10 years of concerted effort to actually change behaviour. It took MADD 20 years just to get the legal alcohol limit down from 0.15 to 0.08.

merpnderp 3y ago

Is this true? I'm pretty sure being caught looking at your phone while running someone over will get you a criminal charge in most states.

michael1999 3y ago
The law might say that (that's step 1 in the culture change). But the police won't arrest. And if the police arrest, the prosecutors won't charge. And if the prosecutors charge, a judge/jury won't convict. Every one of those people along the way think "there, but for the grace of god, go I". They all drive to work, fussing with their phones while doing it, and just can't bring themselves to consider it a crime. It really is very much like drunk driving in that way. https://www.dailynews.com/2014/08/27/no-charges-for-lasd-deputy-who-fatally-struck-cyclist-while-typing-on-computer/ https://www.dailynews.com/2014/08/27/no-charges-for-lasd-dep... https://www.scribd.com/document/237940150/Official-document-Deputy-won-t-be-charged-in-death-of-Calabasas-bicyclist-Milton-Olin https://www.scribd.com/document/237940150/Official-document-...
- slau 3y ago
  I don’t doubt what you say, but I’m flabbergasted that phone use really is that common. I’ve probably used my phone 5 times while driving in the last two years, and I can’t imagine why anyone would need to do it more than that. I do rely on CarPlay and Siri massively.
  - michael1999 3y ago
    Dunno where you live, but if you are in North America: take a look around next time you are waiting at a red light, or stopped on the highway in traffic. Look for all the people staring at their laps -- they are not contemplating their navels.
taylodl 3y ago
Being stupid is not a crime. America doesn't have enough prisons were it otherwise.

danudey 3y ago

Like my wife always says (whenever a cyclist is killed or maimed in an entirely preventable traffic "accident"), "if you want to kill someone, do it in a car".

michael1999 3y ago

We might be in the very beginning of a change like this phone-use while driving. It's already been 10 years of killing by distracted phone use, the laws are starting to change. Enforcement is limited, and the average person still does not give two shits -- in their minds they're just checking their texts, and are totally still in control of the situation. It will take another 10 years of concerted effort to actually change behaviour. It took MADD 20 years just to get the legal alcohol limit down from 0.15 to 0.08.