I know people can get pretty challenged while just being on the phone itself, but just how important is it to get that thought of yours out there to your BFF?
I have a terrible instinct when I see people looking at their phones to text or chat while driving. Especially when I’m near them! As far as I’m concerned, you’re not that important. At least not more important than anyone else around you on the road that you are putting in danger.
In California it would seem that the law to ban using cell phones, and the additional law to ban texting (I can’t believe they had to make an additional law for that) hasn’t really stopped people from doing it.
Federal lawmakers have ranked this selfish idiocy as the biggest driving hazard in the nation. Because YOU have to text while driving, federal lawmakers are looking to make these rules even more harsh, for every state.
Cell Phone Law Has Had Its Affect
Since the cell phone law was kicked in at the front end of 2008 in CA, there has been a 20% decline of traffic accidents in the state. The National Safety Council says that just under 30% of all traffic accidents are from idiocy… I mean by people on their cell phones.
Congress wants to get the states involved, and may tempt the states with more road money if they generate stiffer laws.
Can we ever stop this short-sighted behavior?
Probably not. People just do what they do. Heck, even the Governor’s wife was busted for using her cell phone… twice… after the law was enacted! LOL. So much for leading my example.
A Fox News report states that in Europe, they’re basing fines on a person’s income… if you can imagine a nearly $300k speeding ticket!!! Dang! Imagine cell phone fees being comparably as huge? Would that deter you from texting and cell phone usage?
As one statement I’ve seen on the web goes, driving is boring while phone calls and texts can be profitable. LOL.
Heck, even some states send confusing messages. 22 states send traffic updates via Twitter. For you Smart Phone users.
Food For Thought:
When driving, it’s always important to keep your eyes on the road. You never know when someone is going to goof up when using their cell phone! Heck, here locally, some guy crashed his car because his cell phone rang!
But honestly, we need to see things happening in front of us to operate the car safely rather than ferreting around on our tiny keyboards.
When you look down at your cell phone to text or dial a number… it takes a few seconds of time. At different speeds, you cover quite a bit of distance per second.
Consider This:
- At 25 mph, you’re moving at 37 feet per second. (FPS)
- At 35 mph, 51 fps.
- At 55 mph, 81 fps.
- At 70 mph, 103 fps.
Food for thought gang. As far as phone calls go, blue tooth or hands free devices just don’t cost that much.
It might save you the price of a ticket or the price of a memory you may never want to carry with you for the rest of your life. I do know someone who has a horrid memory to carry. One that no number of shrinks seem to help.
~
Inspiration source: San Francisco Examiner.
