Texting Drivers Causing Accidents....
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: NC
Texting Drivers Causing Accidents....
We all know that the latest teenie fad is text messaging and it has basically made motorcycling WAY more dangerous. A friend of mine had a minor accident that rattled him and left him sitting in a 2 lane low traffic road. A girl came cruising through while texting and ran over him ending his life. So I guess this has become much more of a problem as it seems much more accepted and is basically been overlooked by law enforcement.
I will say that I was happy to hear that in many states it is now illegal to use a cell phone to text while driving. However I have been observing the law enforcement basically ignoring these people. I will be driving or riding down the road behind an officer or the texting driver and the officer can plainly see the driver texting. Not to mention the texting drivers wreckless driving pattern that is the first sign I look for when riding through traffic. Yet they NEVER get pulled over. Now I must say that in my area the LEOs handle the DUIs very well and have weekly roadblocks which I have been through and am proud of them for doing. But this texting/cell phone problem seems to be flying under the radar.
The source of the problem is the texting drivers of course, but what can be done to stop this problem before it takes many more lives? Should the cell phone companies fix the phones so they dont text while in motion? What can Law Enforcement do to assist in penalizing thes idiots? Should insurance companies pull cell phone records and have steep penalties if a cell was in use at the time of the accident? These irresponsible drivers are basically committing murder and are not being dealt with accordingly.
I started this thread to hopefully have some productive input on this huge issue we face as riders. So please leave the keyboard commando responses out and think about something that can actually be done to help with this issue.
I will say that I was happy to hear that in many states it is now illegal to use a cell phone to text while driving. However I have been observing the law enforcement basically ignoring these people. I will be driving or riding down the road behind an officer or the texting driver and the officer can plainly see the driver texting. Not to mention the texting drivers wreckless driving pattern that is the first sign I look for when riding through traffic. Yet they NEVER get pulled over. Now I must say that in my area the LEOs handle the DUIs very well and have weekly roadblocks which I have been through and am proud of them for doing. But this texting/cell phone problem seems to be flying under the radar.
The source of the problem is the texting drivers of course, but what can be done to stop this problem before it takes many more lives? Should the cell phone companies fix the phones so they dont text while in motion? What can Law Enforcement do to assist in penalizing thes idiots? Should insurance companies pull cell phone records and have steep penalties if a cell was in use at the time of the accident? These irresponsible drivers are basically committing murder and are not being dealt with accordingly.
I started this thread to hopefully have some productive input on this huge issue we face as riders. So please leave the keyboard commando responses out and think about something that can actually be done to help with this issue.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: In your head rent free
Texting and cell phone use is a technology that is here today.
Tomorrow it will be different. More and more hands free and voice recognition options are being introduced. Unfortunately, even though texting and cell phone use is a temporary problem, it may be years before it tapers off.
The real problem is the underlying cause. There is a percentage of people that think about nothing but themselves. They honestly don't see how inconsiderate or dangerous they have become. Legislation won't change that, it's up to society, and that won't be happening any time soon.
Tomorrow it will be different. More and more hands free and voice recognition options are being introduced. Unfortunately, even though texting and cell phone use is a temporary problem, it may be years before it tapers off.
The real problem is the underlying cause. There is a percentage of people that think about nothing but themselves. They honestly don't see how inconsiderate or dangerous they have become. Legislation won't change that, it's up to society, and that won't be happening any time soon.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
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Living in a college town, I agree that its a major problem.
It seems that with todays gps technology, it shouldn't be too difficult to automatically disable the texting feature when the internal gps determines that the phone is traveling at a certain speed; perhaps over 10mph
It seems that with todays gps technology, it shouldn't be too difficult to automatically disable the texting feature when the internal gps determines that the phone is traveling at a certain speed; perhaps over 10mph
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 140
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From: Iowa
Almost every younger female driver I meet is busy texting away. Look at their eyes they always seem to be staring down at the horn button, a few are even dumb enough to have both hands draped over the top of the steering wheel with the phone in plain site.
Apparently the cops in my town must need their eyes checked, I don't seem to have any trouble seeing them and we do have a law against it. Not saying that the young men aren't doing it too, I see a few, but the girls just scare the hell out of me.
Apparently the cops in my town must need their eyes checked, I don't seem to have any trouble seeing them and we do have a law against it. Not saying that the young men aren't doing it too, I see a few, but the girls just scare the hell out of me.
I would agree,and if they could not drive and talk on a phone at the same time that is fine with me..Sit at any traffic light and watch the traffic,at least 1/2 of the people behind the wheel are on a phone..
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: NC
When I was younger a buddy of mine had a sister that caused an accident after drinking maybe 3 drinks. She killed another person in this accident. She served almost 5 years in prison for this offense. This was her first offense with the law. She had a spotless record before this accident. Now if texting is illegal and the offending person kills another I also believe the same penalty should apply. I have no problem spotting these texting drivers and I just dont understand why this is not being enforced. My feelings about this subject are fairly strong. I am finding myself driving more than usual and I dont feel this is fair. I want to ride but this problem makes me second guess myself more and more. My life and yours shouldnt be compromised as a result of something that can easily be prevented.
Do you guys think that if a large group got together on this issue that we could get results?
Do you guys think that if a large group got together on this issue that we could get results?
Last edited by parts eeter; Dec 2, 2010 at 09:04 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: B-More ,Md
Bad driving is Just that Bad driving, It was Radios before Texting, it is Eating putting make-up on, Reading the paper . Yes as a father of new driver I'm very concerned but I have taught her how to be a good driver . She knows that she will lose her driving privileges for a number of reasons and texting is only one of them. People have been running down people ever since the car was invented .
My Car is my Office and yes sometimes I'm doing things on the Phones that I shouldn't when I'm driving but I do give myself extra space when doing so. if it's going to be anything not very short then I do pull over.
But again Bad driving is Bad driving and all the laws and law enforcement in the world is not going to stop that. So everyone just keep on focusing on Texting and let the Bad drivers keep running us down. Don't even get me started with the Elderly and the way they drive and nothing is ever done about it.
Oh and as far the the Police go Watch them as well They have personal Phones and are doing the same thing as their Office is their car as well. This is why it doesn't get enforced.
My Car is my Office and yes sometimes I'm doing things on the Phones that I shouldn't when I'm driving but I do give myself extra space when doing so. if it's going to be anything not very short then I do pull over.
But again Bad driving is Bad driving and all the laws and law enforcement in the world is not going to stop that. So everyone just keep on focusing on Texting and let the Bad drivers keep running us down. Don't even get me started with the Elderly and the way they drive and nothing is ever done about it.
Oh and as far the the Police go Watch them as well They have personal Phones and are doing the same thing as their Office is their car as well. This is why it doesn't get enforced.
Last edited by ImNoPrince; Dec 2, 2010 at 09:12 PM.