Do you text and drive?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
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From: Ravensdale WA
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
I worked in a manufacturing facility for 37 years. After I took an early retirement, I wound up diving a delivery truck for one of the "big box auto parts chains" for 5.5 years. YES, I was "driving for a living".
Given the experience I had, while driving that truck, I would NEVER even consider texting or using a cell phone while driving. WHY???
Because I needed to apply 110% of my attention to driving, so I could avoid all of the other azzh**es that WERE texting and yacking, wandering all over the road, pulling out of parking lots, directly in front of me, and running red lights!!!
Le Mans Master
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From: Chester County Pennsylvania
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Truck drivers have a much lower accident rate than other drivers. 70% of truck car crashes are the cars fault. Source is facts for drivers from the ATA.
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811868.pdf
In 2012, large trucks accounted for 4 percent of all registered vehicles and 9
percent of the total vehicle miles traveled. In 2012, these large trucks accounted
for 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes and 3 percent of all vehicles
involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes (Table 2).
percent of the total vehicle miles traveled. In 2012, these large trucks accounted
for 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes and 3 percent of all vehicles
involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes (Table 2).
Last edited by JR-01; May 3, 2015 at 11:24 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Nothing there disputes the ATA facts. Also notice that most fatalities are single vehicle crashes. The top cause of those is weather followed by falling asleep Driver distraction is not even on the list. The fact there was an increase in 2012 is expected. The trucking industry suffered several bad years starting in 2008 due to the Obummr economy. More trucks would mean more crashes. Nothing in the chart shows fault. I just looked at the book again. It is the study gide for the truck driving championships written part. That 70% number is for fatal crashes. There is no overall number there. Also total crashes are down every year since 2012. 2012 was the worst year in recent history.
I supposed the collapse of the housing sector beginning in 2006 was Barry's fault too.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 15
From: Seattle WA
It depends on driving skills. Some people have such low skills they should not be allowed to drive at all. Others can multitask and still drive well. I spend all day on the road and see it all. That is why is is almost always young drives who are in these texting crashes. They have no driving skills yet. I will never send a text but may read a short one. I can talk on my hands free device no problem. I can eat and drive. Not every driver is the same. Look how many people come up an on ramp and don't look at traffic until they must merge. They don't even know my huge truck is right next to them and then they slam on the brakes to get behind me. Those drivers are in my opinion more dangerous than a skilled driver on the phone or reading a short text. I don't think anyone is skilled enough to send a text while driving. Also any text over 2 or 3 words is too long to read. But you look at mirrors and gauges longer than that. Or look at the radio or GPS longer than that. And low skill drivers crash doing that. I think part of the reason you see cops ignoring people holding their phones is they are otherwise driving well. They are saving their time to stop someone they think is a risk. They must use their judgement in those cases. I never had a problem talking on a hand held phone but now it is not legal so I don't do it. Also one must choose to do or not do based on traffic conditions. Some are safe some are not. Common sense is not being used by either side in this debate. The girl who read the one word text and crashed and died had some other factor involved. That takes less time then checking a mirror long enough to know what is there. That was not the main cause of that crash. Just the one they knew about.
Driving is about situational awareness, knowing where you are in relation to other vehicles and obstacles on the road. I am never looking at the same place for more than a moment, whether its down the road, the left mirror, the right mirror, the rearview, the radio, my phone. Each stint where my eyes are is but a brief moment in time, and using all those inputs and plotting other driver's behavior over time you can, and should be, always planning your next few seconds.
I text while driving. I don't do it often, and I am very discriminatory about when I do it; generally straight stretches when there's nobody immediately behind me or in front of me and I can afford the distraction. I also text with one hand (Swype) and I don't hide it in my lap; I use my peripheral vision to text while looking at the road in case of some idiot or a kid moving out into traffic in front of me. This means my phone is up in the air for any cop to see; I've been stopped for it once, even, and given a warning (there was one cop hiding about a mile back on a straight part of the Issaquah-Hobart road watching for 'texters,' and 3-4 cops pulling over almost every car when they hit Issaquah and giving warnings).
Some people on here would want to hang me from the rafters by my *********, but I still believe that I'm a safer driver than most of the generally geriatric Corvette driving community. The fact is, I have never once been in an at-fault accident (despite years of texting while driving). Can everyone here who is saying they would 'never' text say the same thing?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
I just reread it and don't see that anywhere. Also texting in a commercial truck is a serious federal offense. They are talking about holding the device or sending texts. I don't think much of that is happening. But hands free phone use and CB use is legal and common. The next 2 causes of 1 vehicle truck crashes are avoiding other vehicles in not yielding right of way and excessive speed for condition. As a shop steward and non management co chair of our safety committee we stress this a lot. We stress not using a hand held device as well as keeping speed down and making sure you don't drive when tired. Weather is not often a serious condition around here. Most truck fatalities are roll overs. A seat belt wont help much when the cab denigrates. We have had 2 at our terminal over the years. 1 fell asleep and 1 was too fast down an off ramp and could not make the turn. Lucky for them they both went over on the right side. Anyone on that side of those trucks would be dead or critical. But they had their seat belts on and were not hurt. Both kept their jobs with an unpaid vacation. If we found text use they would have lost their appeal. Both have learned their lessons and have not had any more problems for several years.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
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From: Anaheim CA
Substitute "drink" for "text", and I'll bet you've heard that exact argument used by people with DUIs on their record.
It translates into English as, "I've been lucky...so far."
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
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From: Wisconsin
A lot of dead people out there probably thought the same thing right up until their last second on earth.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 209
From: Lincoln Nebraska
sometime an accident (even if it isn't your fault) can be or could have been avoided if your full attention was on driving and not that all so very important text message or phone call. Distractions of any kind while driving is DANGEROUS!!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 118
From: San Gabriel Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Spot on. Someone who is holding the wheel at 10 and 2 and staring straight ahead may not actually be the best 'driver.'
Driving is about situational awareness, knowing where you are in relation to other vehicles and obstacles on the road. I am never looking at the same place for more than a moment, whether its down the road, the left mirror, the right mirror, the rearview, the radio, my phone. Each stint where my eyes are is but a brief moment in time, and using all those inputs and plotting other driver's behavior over time you can, and should be, always planning your next few seconds.
I text while driving. I don't do it often, and I am very discriminatory about when I do it; generally straight stretches when there's nobody immediately behind me or in front of me and I can afford the distraction. I also text with one hand (Swype) and I don't hide it in my lap; I use my peripheral vision to text while looking at the road in case of some idiot or a kid moving out into traffic in front of me. This means my phone is up in the air for any cop to see; I've been stopped for it once, even, and given a warning (there was one cop hiding about a mile back on a straight part of the Issaquah-Hobart road watching for 'texters,' and 3-4 cops pulling over almost every car when they hit Issaquah and giving warnings).
Some people on here would want to hang me from the rafters by my *********, but I still believe that I'm a safer driver than most of the generally geriatric Corvette driving community. The fact is, I have never once been in an at-fault accident (despite years of texting while driving). Can everyone here who is saying they would 'never' text say the same thing?
Driving is about situational awareness, knowing where you are in relation to other vehicles and obstacles on the road. I am never looking at the same place for more than a moment, whether its down the road, the left mirror, the right mirror, the rearview, the radio, my phone. Each stint where my eyes are is but a brief moment in time, and using all those inputs and plotting other driver's behavior over time you can, and should be, always planning your next few seconds.
I text while driving. I don't do it often, and I am very discriminatory about when I do it; generally straight stretches when there's nobody immediately behind me or in front of me and I can afford the distraction. I also text with one hand (Swype) and I don't hide it in my lap; I use my peripheral vision to text while looking at the road in case of some idiot or a kid moving out into traffic in front of me. This means my phone is up in the air for any cop to see; I've been stopped for it once, even, and given a warning (there was one cop hiding about a mile back on a straight part of the Issaquah-Hobart road watching for 'texters,' and 3-4 cops pulling over almost every car when they hit Issaquah and giving warnings).
Some people on here would want to hang me from the rafters by my *********, but I still believe that I'm a safer driver than most of the generally geriatric Corvette driving community. The fact is, I have never once been in an at-fault accident (despite years of texting while driving). Can everyone here who is saying they would 'never' text say the same thing?
At the end of the evening, always, it's only the drunk guy, who doesn't know he's too drunk to drive !!!
False bravado, the blindfolds of fools !
Don
Last edited by donald4972; May 3, 2015 at 06:09 PM. Reason: spelling
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 15
From: Seattle WA
The really funny thing about you guys comparing me to a drunk driver is that I have never, ever driven when I have had a drink. That means even a single drink; if I have anything at all, I will not drive until the next day.
It's a personal rule. I don't even have a 'good' reason for it, never lost a loved one to a DUI or anything, but I do know that driving drunk is incredibly dumb and would never do it.
Comparing a texting driver to a drunk driver is about the stupidest comparison. A drunk driver is drunk all the time they're behind the wheel. As a texting driver, I can make the decision of when I can afford to be a little distracted. 99% of the time that I'm driving, I am not distracted, and in the 1% when I am, I'm still aware of my surroundings.
All of you geezers can get off your high horses now; I know it feels good up there, but you just look like jackasses.
It's a personal rule. I don't even have a 'good' reason for it, never lost a loved one to a DUI or anything, but I do know that driving drunk is incredibly dumb and would never do it.
Comparing a texting driver to a drunk driver is about the stupidest comparison. A drunk driver is drunk all the time they're behind the wheel. As a texting driver, I can make the decision of when I can afford to be a little distracted. 99% of the time that I'm driving, I am not distracted, and in the 1% when I am, I'm still aware of my surroundings.
All of you geezers can get off your high horses now; I know it feels good up there, but you just look like jackasses.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
The really funny thing about you guys comparing me to a drunk driver is that I have never, ever driven when I have had a drink. That means even a single drink; if I have anything at all, I will not drive until the next day.
It's a personal rule. I don't even have a 'good' reason for it, never lost a loved one to a DUI or anything, but I do know that driving drunk is incredibly dumb and would never do it.
Comparing a texting driver to a drunk driver is about the stupidest comparison. A drunk driver is drunk all the time they're behind the wheel. As a texting driver, I can make the decision of when I can afford to be a little distracted. 99% of the time that I'm driving, I am not distracted, and in the 1% when I am, I'm still aware of my surroundings.
All of you geezers can get off your high horses now; I know it feels good up there, but you just look like jackasses.
It's a personal rule. I don't even have a 'good' reason for it, never lost a loved one to a DUI or anything, but I do know that driving drunk is incredibly dumb and would never do it.
Comparing a texting driver to a drunk driver is about the stupidest comparison. A drunk driver is drunk all the time they're behind the wheel. As a texting driver, I can make the decision of when I can afford to be a little distracted. 99% of the time that I'm driving, I am not distracted, and in the 1% when I am, I'm still aware of my surroundings.
All of you geezers can get off your high horses now; I know it feels good up there, but you just look like jackasses.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk
Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).1 The federal agency reports that sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent -- when traveling at 55 mph -- of driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded.2
Texting while Driving Even More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk or High on Marijuana
Distracted Driving: Dangerous Distractions
Texting in cars and trucks causes over 3,000 deaths and 330,000 injuries per year, according to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study.3
Texting while driving a vehicle has now replaced drinking while driving as the leading cause of accidents and deaths of teenage drivers.4 Texting in traffic isn’t simply a problem among teens and 47% of adults admit that they text while driving.5 Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than non-texting drivers.6
Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).1 The federal agency reports that sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent -- when traveling at 55 mph -- of driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded.2
Texting while Driving Even More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk or High on Marijuana
Distracted Driving: Dangerous Distractions
Texting in cars and trucks causes over 3,000 deaths and 330,000 injuries per year, according to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study.3
Texting while driving a vehicle has now replaced drinking while driving as the leading cause of accidents and deaths of teenage drivers.4 Texting in traffic isn’t simply a problem among teens and 47% of adults admit that they text while driving.5 Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than non-texting drivers.6
Last edited by JR-01; May 3, 2015 at 06:36 PM.