I wonder what would happen if guns were treated this carelessly? A travelling car is the same as a bullet. If its not directed properly, its going to hit something it wasn’t intended to hit.

I wonder how many of the 12.2% who think the current fine rate is OK are those who call or text while driving.

What amazes me is the amount of people who blatantly use their phones . Not trying to text while on their laps. Like they are mocking our safety to save a few minutes time.

It’s impaired driving. I’ve driven behind “Them” on numerous occasions. They are all over the road, speed is up and down, don’t seem to realize the red light turned green some time ago, and on and on! Give more has it “DEAD” on!

Have a great, safe week everyone

Taxi

“Last year there were 51 thousand tickets issued in BC for distracted driving.”

Let’s see drinking and driving is a criminal offense and rightly so because it is done on purpose and it can kill people. Distracted driving is done on purpose and it can kill people so make it a criminal offense too!
Impound their phone and their vehicle as far as I’m concerned. ICBC needs more money, if you get a distracted driving charge you are a risk! Bye bye 40% discount!

Why does everyone equate “cell phone” with “distracted driving” automatically? I was rear ended by a lady who was turned around tending to her kid in the back seat. She was charged with distracted driving. I have yet to see a stat seperating out accidents caused solely by cell phones… I would like to.

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/shareddocs/electronic-devices-while-driving.pdf

Above is a link to what is allowed and what isn’t. What is interesting is if you are changing songs on your IPod with it in your hand you will get a ticket. If the IPod is attached to your body you won’t.

What folks fail to realize is you can’t talk or text at a stop light. Pull over people!

There’s all kinds of distracted driving, interceptor. None of it is acceptable.

I agree with taxi, I still see people all over town gabbing on their cell phones while driving. Most of the time, I get stuck behind these morons who lost in their meaningless conversations.

While waiting at the light at 17th and Queensway on Friday afternoon, I saw three different drivers using their phones while driving. One guy in a black SUV was driving about 10 KMH under the posted speed. When I went around him, he was charring away on his phone.

When one opens the door and sits down behind the wheel the first thing that one really ought to do is relax and start thinking about the task ahead.

When one has gotten rid of arguments, worries, remembering the three places you have to go, or trying to get to a place for an appointment, or recalling the not so glowing medical report you just got from your doctor …. then one is ready to drive.

Anything that can take you from focusing on driving is a distraction. Whether one is worse than talking on a phone, or a passenger, or holding onto a steering wheel with one hand, or dinking a coffee, or opening up the sun roof depends totally on the person and the timing.

Picking up something that has dropped, or trying to find something in the glove compartment, or turning sideways or backwards to talk to your passenger, or anything else that causes you to take you eyes off the road, are the worst kind of distractions.

Interceptor has it right, there are many more distractions than just cell phones. Decades ago, before the invention of cell phones, I used to dictate into a cell phone sized recorder while driving. Distraction with operating the recorder, reversing the tape while driving, and thinking about the job …. all while driving.

Distracted driving is no a new invention. We are becoming safer drivers with safer roads and safer cars. As with anything safety related, as we get safer, the focus changes to different priorities.

When cars all have blue tooth access for their cells, and no one uses hand held cells anymore, most of the distractions I mentioned at the start will still remain and they will have to implant thought monitors hooked into warning signals, including external lights which will flash to warn others that they are driving behind a distracted driver.

;-)

I think the only solution is to let robots drive. People are incapable of governing themselves. Most of us believe we are the center of the universe, and everything around us is a nuisance. “I want to go 120, how dare that guy go 108, I’ll tailgate and get him to move over. Oh, I got a call, better take this, might be important – crash.” Guy in front stopped for deer, you didn’t stop at all.

Ever notice when people do pass, they run within ten feet of your bumper before moving into the next lane. So what happens if I have to stop??? I swear, one day I’m going to buy a 1 tonne with a massive back bumper and wreak havoc out there – I jest of course, but some days it would be worth it.

“When cars all have blue tooth access for their cells, and no one uses hand held cells anymore, most of the distractions I mentioned at the start will still remain and they will have to implant thought monitors hooked into warning signals, including external lights which will flash to warn others that they are driving behind a distracted driver.”

Not exactly true Gus! Talking hands free is just as distracting as holding it in your hand. It’s called inattention blindness.

Interesting study!
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/what-clown-on-a-unicycle-studying-cell-phone-distraction/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
Hands free is no better!
http://unews.utah.edu/old/p/031506-7.html

I wish there was a way to report these drivers that would be difficult to abuse. I saw a lady the other day driving erratically. I passed her and she had a cell phone to her ear held by her shoulder and was steering while trying to eat a bagel or doughnut and she had a coffee in the other hand.

Moose, phone the cops on your cell.

” i’m following this guy using a cell phone”

So is it OK for the RCMP to be using a cellphone while driving.

No way. There is also something called inattentive reading. I think you are guilty of that.

If you had read my post for content, you would have read the following at the start:

“When one opens the door and sits down behind the wheel the first thing that one really ought to do is relax and start thinking about the task ahead.

“When one has gotten rid of arguments, worries, remembering the three places you have to go, or trying to get to a place for an appointment, or recalling the not so glowing medical report you just got from your doctor …. then one is ready to drive.

“Anything that can take you from focusing on driving is a distraction. Whether one is worse than talking on a phone, or a passenger, or holding onto a steering wheel with one hand, or dinking a coffee, or opening up the sun roof depends totally on the person and the timing.”

You wrote: “Talking hands free is just as distracting as holding it in your hand”

I think I went a bit further than just dealing with the cell phone.

But thanks for trying to make a point you thought I had not made before going into a science fiction scenario.

;-)

There are cell phone blockers available for vehicles. They will block your cell phone if “The Ignition” is on. Why is this not becoming law to have these installed? When you go to renew your insurance you should have to prove this device has been installed on the vehicle. Seems pretty easy to me. It would solve the cell phone issue Gus!

Was waiting fo rmy kid a his bus stop last thursday and Watched a fully loaded semi-truck come screaching to a halt with his cell phone glued to his ear. As I’m waving at him to get off his phone he just flipped me the bird and yelled “I stopped didnt I”. I will be sending a nasty email to Bandstra very soon.

The problem with Gus’ original post is assuming that Joe Q Public has the ability to think.

It gets demonstrated every day how much thinking Joe Q Public thinks. All those drivers or transportation vehicle operators of any sort continue to flaunt the law and good sense.

I have observed cyclists pedaling along, no helmet, squeaky chain and missing break parts while using the speaker phone.

I have observed similar behavior for economy cars, luxury cars, pick-ups, and commercial vehicles, and even pedestrians.

Did you even read the studies Gus? The point I was trying make is the fact the talking on a cell phone hands free or not causes the same inattention. That same study said talking to a passenger or listening to music did not. So my point on your comment was hands free would not remove the cell phone inattention.

They need to start hitting these car companies that put all this useless, life ruining crap in the newer vehichles today. Bought a new 2013 vehicle and this thing will back up, park, look for a parking spot, basically tells me everything I need to know,,,,about being behind {It’s Wheel} but,,,I am a cautious driver of 32 years, never been in a crash, or near one, this shit just pops up to correct your driving. I just want to drive to and from work without the technology.

Just My Opinion.

My thought ,,, get caught with a phone in your hand while driving ,,,, public stoning ,,,, rock please :)