AT&T’s Txtng & Drivng Campaign Urges ConsumersThat 'It Can Wait?. This documentary, featuring families affected by texting while behind the wheel, is being distributed to educators, government officials, safety organizations and the public as part of an educational awareness campaign.
Please watch this. MAKE yourself and your family watch this. Please.
AT&T Don’t Text While Driving Documentary
Tight lines,
Paul
Very sad, but a good lesson for all! All the extraneous signs and billboards are bad enough distractions without adding cellphones and texting to the equation! Be safe out there folks!! I have had numerous individuals run stop signs and intersections on me - recently - almost all on cellphones!!! DRIVE DEFENSIVELY!!!
Best regards, Dave S.
They made it Ilegal down here last year, but you only have to drive a couple of miles and you will see idiots on the phone while driving, or worse reading a book or a map!
I once saw a woman in heavy traffic doing her eye make up in the rearview mirror with one hand and a cup of coffee in the other hand, must have been steering with her knees!
All the best.
Mike
Next they’ll make it illegal to eat in the car…listen to your radio…talk to your passengers…HAVE passengers…
If you get into an accident while on your cell phone, and it’s your fault, you are liable…If you get into an accident and you are not on your cell phone and it’s your fault, you are still liable.
I see no need for ANY of these laws.
Millions of folks talk on their cells phones while driving every day without causing an accident. Millions more eat or drink or talk while operating a motor vehicle without causing accidents. Some few of these, either cell phone users, eaters, drinkers, or talkers, WILL cause accidents. So will quite a few who become angry, are in a hurry, are tired, aren’t good driers, or are inexperienced drivers. The numbers are small and the laws in place about liability and insurance and who is at fault already adress ALL of this.
The LAST thing this country needs is more laws.
Making additional laws about things like this is just another method to chip away at our freedoms.
Just a contrary opinion.
Buddy
I was once told, there are aren’t any “accidents” there’s only crashes.
#1 ticket written in my town, according to the cop who comes to my Driver Ed class every 6 weeks.
Remember, it ain’t the phone…it’s the conversation that kills. Don’t mattah if you use Bluetooth.
also…YOU DON’T NEED THE PHONE WHEN YOU’RE FISHIN’
There are devices, currently illegal to use, that will allow one person to interrupt the signal to cell phones in the immediate area. If the authorities are really concerned, install one in every car. Technology exist to handle the problem.
Not trying to argue with ya Buddy, your entitled to your opinion just like anyone else is that’s for sure. But keep in mind…it is not taking away any sort of “freedoms” because driving is a privilege not a right. It has been proven time & time again over the past few years that texting/talking on the phone while driving is just as dangerous as drinking & driving in many cases. Most times when I see someone drifting over the center line of their lane or running a light/pulling right out in front of me 9 times out of 10 they are on their cell phone. If the laws help to prevent even one death due to someone texting/talking on the phone rather tyhan paying attention to the road then it is worth it IMO.
I realize that I’m in the minority here, but I disagree that such a law is not taking away any ‘freedoms’.
It’s keeping folks who use their cell phones safely, and the vast majority do so, from using them. I’ve seen folks doing stupid things while driving and using acell phone. I’ve also seen folks doing stupid things while driving and NOT using one. I’ve used my cell phone hundreds, if not thousands, of times while driving and never had a problem. Well over 99% of those that do so can say the same thing.
It’s allowing law enforcement personel to stop and cite folks for talking on their cell phones, whether or not they are driving safely. Thats an intrusion and a loss of freedom that isn’t needed.
Also, the statement that if the law helps to prevent one death it’s worth it is a slippery slope that we shouldn’t consider going down. Using that argument, I can come up with reasons to make just about anything illegal, including fly casting.
Again, if you are already liable for any traffic collision you are the proximal casue of (at fault), then WHY you are at fault doesn’t matter. Almost all states have mandatory insurance laws, and violation of traffic laws resulting in a death is already a crime everywhere (my traffic enforcement instructor told us that there could not be a traffic collision unless someone violated some law, and that was thirty years ago).
Why this is such a bad idea is that the law isn’t needed. In every jurisdiction I’m aware of, distracted driving, regardless of the reason, is illegal already. It’s just a typical knee jerk response to bad driving. If they make using cell phones illegal, and we accept THAT, what will they decide to make a crime next?
I’d argue that driving while in a hurry is more dangerous than using a cell phone while driving, so should we outlaw running late? How about driving while angry? I’ve investigated dozens of collisions that were caused because someone got mad about how someone else was driving. Lets make it illegal to drive while you are angry. Folks get into crashes all the time because they were tuning their radios…trying to find a dropped cigarette (lets just make smoking illegal everywhere-filthy habit that does no one any good)…looking for an adress…lets make it illegal to go someplace unless you’ve been there before…
Many peace officers, me included, have had collisions while driving because they were using the radio, writing down information about a call, trying to get someplace in a hurry, paying attention to something not related to driving (looking for things like criminal activity and such). Sometimes inocent people die as a result. Should we make police patrol work illegal. We could just have all the officers wait at the station and only venture forth AFTER they get all the info they need. Actual driving around and looking for crimes is a bit too dangerous, right?
Driving is dangerous, and always has been. Not because of cell phones or even because of acohol, but because it’s easy to get a license and many irresponsible people are allowed to drive. You can’t legislate safety on the highways any more than you can legsilate morality. There is no magic wand. People will die, but they always have and will continue to do so regardless of the laws we pass.
Today it’s cell phones.
They’ll find something else to make illegal tomorrow.
Each new ‘law’ makes us all less free.
Buddy
Buddy, does that mean I should be allowed to drink and drive as long as I don’t hit anyyone(this time) I heard on a recent radio program that the effect of texting on driving skills on a closed testing course was found to be about the same as driving with a blood alchhol level in excess of the legal limit.
These are not illegal everywhere. Many places allow them, if there is notification that they are in use. I sure wish I could use one in my class, to stop the students who think they are getting away with it.
Rainbowchaser,
I’m not saying that it’s not irresponsible to text while driving. I’m not saying that it’s the right thing to do, or that it should be encouraged. I’m saying that if you do so, and have an accident, then you are already ‘liable’ for any and all damages, including criminal prosecution if it’s warranted. Why do we need a law to adress that specific action when there already exists laws that adress that one as well as dozens of other things that can effect how well you can respond while driving.
As far as the driving under the influence laws, I believe that if you are driving safely, without violating traffic laws or causing injury or loss to others, then it shouldn’t matter what you’ve consumed. If you cause injury or property loss while under the influence of anything, then you deserve to be prosecuted.
I see no need to make it illegal to SAFELY use a cell phone while driving just because it MAY cause a problem. If it does, then you are responsible for any damages or injuries under existing statutes. If it doesn’t, then there isn’t an issue.
Making it illegal to safely use a cell phone, and mind you, almost all cell phone use done while driving is ‘safe’, punishes the innocent majority because of the irresponsibility of a very small minority.
I’m against that.
Buddy
Legal responsibility for damages cannot compensate for many injuries. I don’t think anyone who has lost a loved one to a drinking or otherwise incapacitated driver feels that they were made whole by the punishment of the driver. The same goes for those who have been crippled physically of suffered brain damage. The fact that you put others at risk without their consent is sufficient to justify outlawing dangerous practices. If only the driver was endangered; if they could truely fix what they damaged then your position would be reasonable.
Buddy,
I don’t want to start a huge disagreement but this is where I need to draw a line in the sand. When I read your above quote about “driving under the influence and doing it safely”…my God what are you thinking. Try telling those parents who lost a child or the brother, sister, husband, wife and friend who lost a love one to DRUNK DRIVER it’s OK to drive while your under the influence of alcohol or as you put it “shouldn’t matter what you’ve consumed”…I think you lost your mind…Lord give mercy…Buddy I hope you never lose a love one to a DUI driver.
It’s time to get back to the real post Fly Fishing 
Most every time I read one of Buddy’s views on things that runs contrary to most, I think to myself. He’s a bright guy, maybe a little bored, whose just trying to encourage some spirited debate and maybe have some fun along the way.
But then when I read something like this, it gives me pause.
“I’m saying that if you do so, and have an accident, then you are already ‘liable’ for any and all damages, including criminal prosecution if it’s warranted.”
No amount of money, property or time served can ever replace a human life. You can’t make a dead person whole again.
Buddy knows that and I believe he’s got a pretty healthy respect for human life. Your stringers full Buddy, time to reel them up and head for the dock.
Best, Dave
Personally I believe that if you text while driving and get caught, you should be SHOT on the spot. AND , if I knew THAT was the “punishnment”, rather than bitch about the law, I’d cease texting while driving…Buddy???
Mark
Shooting is pretty severe, can’t we just cane them? No necessary to use a real bamboo, willow will be fine or solid fiberglass.
Guys,
I realize my position on things like this is in the minority. I decided long ago that I would always support freedom and personal responsibility, regardless of the issue. That can be an unpopular stance in this day and age, but I can’t intelectually chose freedom in one area and then abandon the stance on another just to fit in with the current popular opinion of the day…
I believe that freedom is precious, more precious than human life itself, and many, many of our forefathers died to give us the freedoms we enjoy. I’m not willing to blindly say that protecting the safety of someone is worth giving up any of those freedoms, because I don’t believe that it is.
I know I can’t win this argument. That’s okay. We are all entitled to our opinions.
Thanks for playing along, though. It was a good discussion.
But, as Dave suggested, I’m going to head for the dock.
Buddy
Please just don’t ask me what I think about abortion, social security, or dry fly purists ;). BS.
I think I see where Buddy is coming from.
We do have laws on the books for driving left of center, crossing a double yellow, Exiting or entering a roadway from place other than road way, assured clear distance, Duty to yield, Impeding the flow of traffic, Speed, Speed in schools zone, Driving on sidewalks / tree lawns, oh and Failure to control / weaving / full time and attention. These are just a few off the top of my head that contribute to accidents.
These laws were written over time and oh if I had to bet someone had to loose their life for these good ideas to become law. Now before you string me up with Buddy hear me out.
Over time these laws were made, Time being the key word. People don’t drive left of center, speeding, exit a roadway, drive on a sidewalk, run over a second grade class at the local school on purpose. They were distracted. And over time it has been the hot girl, the cigarettes, sleep, the radio, the coffee or the Mick something, et al that caused the distraction. But none of these even come close to TALKING / TEXTING ON THE PHONE WHILE DRIVING.
The laws I mentioned are reactive and the result of past carnage. Banning the use of cell phones while driving is proactive; they are made to avoid a distraction that contribute to laws that already exists to prevent death and serious physical harm.
Thanks for playing,
Respectfully,
Sean
just pull over to the side of the road. Ez!