This is the only acceptable measure. Hands free DOES NOT HELP. The driver distraction is the killer.

 

That my friend is the best post on this thread, also
one of the ones with the most truth in them!

 

I agree with you, but there is one big difference between cell phone use and all the things you mentioned (except reading, eyesight and attention span). If you are eating or drinking while driving, at least there's a point where the food/beverage is gone and no longer around to distract you. No one has to ever hang up the phone if they don't want to, and from the look of things, no one ever does. Are people really so insecure that they need to be in constant contact with someone every waking minute?

Personally, I enjoy driving. I don't want to be distracted by phone calls or food because driving is fun. Not to mention that I have to be extra careful because of all the other idiots on the road who think that drivingmeans nothing more thanturning on the ignition and hitting the gas. Someone had posted in another thread (don't remember if it was this forum) that automatic transmissions should be illegal unless you have a handicap that precludes your driving a standard. I totally agree. I haven't owned an automatic transmission car EVER and don't want one until I just can't physically manage a clutch pedal and stick any more. With a stick, especially for city driving, you pretty much need both hands free.

Eyespy, you're wrong. I don't delegate my personal safety to anyone else on the road, either, but I've seen situations where a crash is unavoidable. For instance, there have been a number of fatal accidents here in FL where a car has crossed the median at high speed and hit oncoming traffic. In cases where the other drivers have not been badly injured or killed, they have stated that they saw the other vehicle coming, but because of traffic around them, there was no way to avoid the crash without causing another one. At highway speed in heavy traffic, you cannot just slam on the brakes or swerve to another lane. And that's just one example.

 

If you look at history you'll remember the prohibiton era. Prohibition of alcohol didn't (thank goodness) because so many people faught against it and did it anyway and this is the same thing that would and has happened with trying to put laws against driving and talking on a cell phone. Talking on a cell phone and driving will never be completly illegal but hands free devices will be placed in an "effort" to show the government is doing something. I think that a hands free device should be placed in cages and people be made to pay a fee to be able to talk with it and anyone still using there phones in hand should have to pay an extremely harsh fine and be strictly inforced. If it happens twice then suspend their license forever, they would be so nice even though it would never happen especially since I see cops on their cell phones all the time.

 

Hoosierdaddy,.. I'll sum it up for you right quick. Political Will. I was a truck driver for over 25 yrs, and you could not get the same answer out two drivers out of one group of 500... And so it goes sometimes with us riders. The overubundance of distractions, driver fatigue, lack of driving training/skill, carelessness, aggression towards motorcyclists, and yes, aggressive motorcyclists-(y'know, some of the "superbike" crowd, the rice rocket racers) and other factors ... AND the fact that in some ways the media indirectly perpetuates this problem by not acting proactively to promote awareness grinds this cause right in the ground.. With gasoline prices on the rise I guarantee you will see an explosion of bikes of every make out on the roads this season, and beyond.
Guys,... contact your County/Parish Commissioners, Your State House Representatives on both sides, Your State drivers license bureau education curriculum board of directors, Your State School Drivers Education curriculum board, Your Federal Congressmen/Senators. ....Even your Insurance Companies/Carriers.
Lets get real. UNITE... One man is doesn't have a voice anymore; Millions will definitely get someone's attention. Refusing to buy motorcycles for a few days only hurts everyone that depends on that living to keep their homes running. Letting the ones in power and influence know that the senseless deaths/injuries are happening to the ones that vote, and do business in their communities will turn heads. No, you cannot legislate common sense, and just throwing another bunch of laws on the books ain't helping anyone. Write letters, Make phone calls, Start a petition to recall and throw out of office ANY political figure that doesn't believe in safety for motorcyclists everywhere, Refuse to buy insurance from carriers that will not contribute money to Public Service Announcement Commercials on radio and TV, solicit access to funds to make/produce our own PSA's from unions, and Political Action Committees, get a lobbyist or two, solicit contributions from major corporations that expect to sell motorcycle related products to motorcyclists, buy ad space in newspapers;... billboard companies and TV/radio stations are required to donate a percentage of PSA space per year. Your local cable company, by law has to allow anyone with information for the public good air time at no cost...
Don't think any of this works??? Go ask the NRA, AARP, The Susan G Komen foundation, The Muscular Dystrophy assn., American Cancer society, The Red Cross, The Teamsters, THE AFL-CIO, The NAACP, LULAC, The Police Officer's unions in every state, Firefighters unions, The Airline pilots and air traffic controllers, The safety program "let's give 'em a brake" campaign for state highway workers, and the doubling and tripling of fines for infractions in school and construction zones.....and the list goes on and on...

 

We've got a version of that commercial in Florida. Just a single guy in a car, looks left, then right, then starts to pull out and WHAM, a bike strikes his left side shattering glass and the rider goes down. It's pretty fast, and the filmmaker in me wonders how they did it... The announcer's voice comes on saying, "What will it take for motorcyclists to get noticed?" or something like that. Very eye-opening. My wife hates the commercial because it freaks her out and she's more than just a little apprehensive about motorcycles. The fact that I get to ride at all is something of a miracle of God. But I'll tell you this... the commercial sure has the potential to make people think. Only problem is, most people don't. I could go on, but I don't have time this morning to turn on rant mode, and I'd like to start the day on a good note.

 

I still say it's not the cell phones, it's the fact that a lot of people are too damn stupid to do more than one thing at a time.

I'd like someone to explain to me what could possibly be the difference between talking on a hands free cell phone and talking to a front seat passenger.

 

These are all good points, but remember it's not the cell phones, make-up, newspaper,coffee,or anything other than it won't happen to me I'm a good driver and I can do anything I want to. Because it only happens to the stupid people who can't do but one thing at a time. Again it's back to the ME, Me, Me attitude of society today. No one cares what happens to you just them, and it's your fault that they run into you or turn in front of you. It's there road, what are you doing on it in the first place. If you were not on my road I would not have hit you.

 

although I agree with the cell phones being a bad deal, and drunk driving, you all need to learn something here, your riding a motorcycle, you need to be very defensive in your riding, blaming the other guy for your inability to see, understand, and overcome adverse conditions is something you all need to understand, How many of you ride drunk, on drugs, or pissed off at the wife, if so YOUR a accident looking for someplace to have.. I know this is going to draw flack, but it is the truth of the matter, if you see somebody driving impaired, then get the hell away from them, take a different street if need be, but stop all the wining and crying and trying to blame everybody else for it..and yes, I have had dealings with drunk drivers, and riders, guys whacked out on drugs, fools on cell phones, putting on makeup and drinking coffee, pissing in a jar, what have you..I've seen it all, the best way to survive out there is to learn to be a defensive rider..

 

Nice to see that cell phone drivers are just as bad today as they were a year ago when this post was started..

Cell phone drivers or not - just get around them the best you can and be ready for ANYTHING!