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Re: Study: Distraction Behind Most Car Crashes Posted by nuysSAAB [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Study: Distraction Behind Most Car Crashes, JohnA ![]() ![]() |
They should have done the research in Los Angeles, not in a city where there are cell use laws in effect.....
Every time I'm driving , and I mean every time, I have at least one close call with someone using a phone. Typical day yesterday: I was third in line to make a left turn at a signal... there was no opposing traffic and the first car in line wasn't turning... I honked and the guy woke up and turned - he was on his phone, focused on his call and oblivious to the affect he was forcing on other drivers. On another left turn, a guy in a jeep started to make his right turn and I started my left turn... I had to stop mid turn while he used one hand to turn, of course his car would try to go straight everytime he let go of the wheel to complete his turn. He was on his phone and wouldn't put it down to drive his car. Connect the dot turning? Third incident: I was sitting at a red light when I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw a car coming up fast behind me.. I gritted my teeth and held on. At the last minute, the car swerved into the curb lane, missing me literally by inches. The woman was on her phone and just kept talking and laughing, apparently unphased by potentially totalling my car as well as her own.
It's true that in a car, it only takes a split second to have an accident and any distraction can be the cause. My problem with phones in cars is that the car has become an extension of the living room couch and phone calls increase the length of distraction time, thereby increasing the duration of risk time for everyone on the road. Cell phone use in L.A. has redefined defensive driving.... back in the day, one watched what other cars were doing, now ya have to also check to see if the other driver is on a cell. Phone use has made risk recognition more complicated and reaction time to risk suffers as a result.
Maybe licensing of cell users would be a good idea, at least a test to determine who can walk and chew gum at the same time. The problem with laws controlling cell use in cars is that it would be nearly impossible to enforce, considering the number of users involved.
Maybe if insurance companies could use phone logs as a means of determining fault in an accident, things might be better but I doubt it... people who don't seem to mind putting themselves and others at risk are probably oblivious to the possibilty that they could ever be in an accident, let alone cause one.
Sorry for the long venting rant but it chaps my hide to think I might loose my car or worse because somebody just couldn't wait to get home to make that call.
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