From personal experience, I would say being on a cell phone. I'm constantly in the car for biz and even though I have a Bluetooth earpiece, I still am distracted. Once the concentration is lost.....forget it.

 

Same thing for Army helicopter pilots. It takes two hands and both feet to control the aircraft, especially during hovering, yet we manage to do all that, and talk on anywhere from 3 - 4 different radios while carrying on several tactical conversations, sometimes while adjusting indirect fire, reading a map, avoiding detection, small arms fire and dodging trees and other natural obstacles... at night.
Talking a a cell phone while driving.... piece of cake.

 

In CA, they'll pull you ocer & cite you for inattentive driving.
That's why I use my Bluetooth while driving.

 

This sort of thing pisses me off, because these stupid laws are created because people don't know their limitations. If I couldn't drive and use a cell phone, I wouldn't do it.

Although, I need an earpiece, otherwise I don't feel I'm driving safe....sooo, i don't use a cell phone in a car unless i have one.. duh!

In fact, I'm perfectly capable of driving while intoxicated. Been doing it 2-3 times per week for over 10 years. Sometimes a little buzzed, sometimes completely blitzed. Never had a problem. Yet, eventually when I get pulled over, the CHP is gonna throw the book at me. Not because I don't know my abilities, but because of all of the people that drove DUI and didn't realize they shouldn't be....those people affect me for their own stupidity.

Trying to be fair for everyone makes it unfair for the rest of us.

 

And people who write bad checks require all of us to show id.

Those other people think that they are perfectly capable of driving and using the phone too.

I sincerely hope you're being 'funny' with the above. If not, I hope you do get caught and the book is thrown at you before you kill someone.

 

How stupid and ignorant are you? I had a friend who thought and did the same thing. And he didn't get caught for 4 years and still hasn't...instead he just totaled his GT Mustang by spinning it into a gas station while intoxicated. I guess it serves him right for driving a Mustang

 

The UK passed a no cellphone law a few years ago and it was the best move ever.

The problem is perceptions. How many times do people say to you, I tried to call but your phone was off? You are expected to be contactable 24/7 nowadays so the car is easy prey.

When I'm driving the phone is in the glovebox turned off. Thats a good thing because I needto dodge people in the Vegas traffic every morning using their one spare brain cell on the phone. I used to fly fighter jets so my reactions are reasonable. I know for a fact that most of these people don't have either the skill, the capacity or the awareness to cope with multi tasking

Without a doubt cellphones are the most dangerous

 

Steering clear of Orange County

 

cell phones..

 

I was quoted in a street racing article several years ago somewhere...

oh here it is:

=====
Well since I just don't seem to have the social concious and a great way with words, I'm going to cut/paste an article from a guy named Dustin Peglow in Goldsboro, NC.

His paper was about illegal street drags. An interesting side note about this: "Presentation is on December 4th it has to be 5-10 minutes...The day after my court day for my racing tickets i got ...kinda changed my views on alot of stuff, when you got about 6 cops around you and he just writing away at tickets....Learned my lesson its said and done... "



Illegal street racing is becoming a big problem in towns and cities after the production of the import-racing movie The Fast and the Furious. Since the release of the movie, car accidents caused by street racing have been on the rise. It is not longer a hobby for people with hotrods; it has become more of a game to the younger generations. Racing cars that were not even meant to be racing causing accidents, and hurting and killing innocent people or themselves. Police have started to try to stop street racing. Instead of going and doing a drug bust police would rather break up a group of organized street racers. There is a time and a place for street racing, the local drag strip, NOT THE STREET. The consequences for street racing can be greatly devastating. Included in this paper, will be direct quotes from owners of hotrods and their thoughts on street racing. And also quotes from newspapers on accidents, busts and deaths due to street racing. There is also a group called S.M.A.R.T.S, Sports Machines Against Racing on The Street, that is organized to reduce street racing.
There as been a lot about Illegal Street racing being written in newspapers. Racing went on a rise after the release of The Fast and the Furious. It in a sense set examples for teenagers as to what street racing is. But with these kids have no clue, as to how to drive there cars, just cause problems. They all gather at a local hangout and go and race their cars that were not meant to be racing. (ie: Civics, Camrys, Saturns, Neons, and Family Cars). They have no idea how handle car at excessive speeds, and choose the wrong places to attempt these stunts. These kids always seem to try to race in town on busy streets where they’re putting everyone’s lives in danger. What ends up happening during one of this organized street races is two people line up at a starting point and agree on a finishing point. A person lines both cars up evenly, and flags the drivers to begin. The first person to the finishing point wins, who ever has the faster car. People these days are doing this in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also they’re taking the races to speeds excess of 100 MPH and putting the drivers and spectators in danger. If you are to lose control of a vehicle at a speed over 100 MPH is almost a guaranteed death. Teenagers are getting little family compact cars and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars modifying the car to make it faster and look better. Although it is a safer hobby to get into, there just ‘testing’ there hobby at the wrong place. It is better for someone to spend money on a car than drugs or alcohol. The consequences of street racing can carry a heavy charge. In North Carolina when you are caught Street Racing you are charged with Willful competition of speed between two motor vehicles which is a first class misdemeanor and four points on your license, and your charged with Careless and Endangerment to persons or property which is a second class misdemeanor and another four points on your license. Which is then followed by a huge increase in insurance price and the possibility to lose your license for three years and loss of your car. All of this is definitely not with the risk.
There are a lot of car enthusiasts that share the same opinion on street racing. Here are a few quotes from members Stangnet.com on the thoughts and views of street racing. “I do not condone street racing at all anymore. When I was younger, yes I would have "**** the police" decals on my windshield, etc. But the magic was lost for me when there was just too many idiots out and about. I have NEVER liked racing on open public streets, being a totally different thing in my books, the last thing in the world anyone should be doing is seeing who’s car is faster weaving in and out of families coming home from church. My biggest beef is how street racing is now treated. When I was a kid, street racing was accepted as a taboo thing, but also held a certain level of respect by car enthusiasts... a couple of guys out cruising, run into each other, nice little race to see what the other has type of thing. Now, street racing is on the same level as rape and murder, to me, there is more important things to be worried about. My advice to kids that participate in organized street racing... is it’s just not worth the consequences. I'm sure you love the adrenaline and the excitement of running cars out on the street. --But that all goes away when your pulling a girl from a rolled over WRX that is covered in blood while she screams at her boyfriend that has his head smashed between the steering wheel and roof.” This was written by a well-known member and moderator of Stangnet.com (JadeFalcon (5.0_CJ) Stangnet.com). These are his personal views of street racing. Also another member says “There is Illegal Street racing in Detroit and it has been getting real dangerous over the past few years. People don't show respect and are very careless. Over a year ago some guy in a mustang killed a lady that was watching when he lost control of his car. It made huge headlines over here. The last time I went to the races, someone fired off some shots because he got beat in a race. Let me tell you that was the last time I will ever go down there.” (Lefty44278 Stangnet.com) With just these two quotes, it gives you an idea of how big street racing really is. And also how dangerous it can be.
Since street racing has been becoming such a big problem, there has been a group formed called S.M.A.R.T.S., which stands for, Sports Machines Against Racing on The Street. Their goal as a club is to minimize street racing, and try to save lives that have been lost due to careless driving and racing. S.M.A.R.T.S. has an oath and guidelines you’re asked to follow to be part of the club and their motto is “Take it to the Track”. Taking racing to the drag strip minimizes the risks of racing. It is done in a controlled environment where everyone has a good head on his or her shoulders when the racing is taking place. To help take it to the track, on their web site www.streetsmartsusa.org, they have a list of local tracks to go to. (Street S.M.A.R.T.S.)
With Street racing on the rise, it has been in the news headlines more and more often. Below is just a brief article that appeared on news channel 11 on September 2nd, 2003. “Police in Spalding County believe street racing caused a crash that killed two men early Monday morning. An investigation revealed that the driver of a red Pontiac Firebird and the driver of a red Nissan 300ZX were racing at speeds above 100 mph. The two cars collided and the drivers lost control. The Firebird hit a telephone pole and flipped, killing the driver and a passenger. The 300ZX also crashed, but the driver escaped serious injury. He is behind bars charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and DUI.”” (Tracey Chirstensen, News 11). This just shows how people can be killed street racing, and other charged for manslaughter.
Street Racing is just not worth the risks you take to participate in racing on the street. As started above, you are charged with a class one and two misdemeanor and a chance of loss of license for three years and loss of your car. You heard the opinions of owners of muscle cars and the views on street racing. Yes, everyone might have a quick sprint to see who can reach 60 MPH or so first, but no excessive speeds or great dangers are brought into play. The news article that was quoted shows how one person was killed in a racing accident and left the other person to be charged with vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving and DUI. With the group Street S.MA.R.T.S. being on the rise hopefully it will help lower street racing and its risks and having more people that it to the track.



Thank you to everyone for the quotes and websites...
=====