Poll: Driving Distractions

[Shru1kan]

Ah, I am struck with a thread idea.

Now in another thread it was being discussed what is really a distraction while driving. (debating cell phones and the like)

So, escapists, where do you draw the line for stuff not to do when driving?

The following assumes that you can drive with one had as well as driving with two.

I personally believe that the only dangerous thing to do while driving is texting. Cell phones (calls) aren't any worse than another passenger. Trust me, from personal experience, people inside the car with you that are talking to you will not yell at you to stop until it is too late. Plus if you draw the line at cell phones, what about singing along to the radio? You may not have your eyes on the road, you may be glancing at the tuner or the volume dials, you certainly are distracted by recalling lyrics or rhythms.

No matter what, as long as something besides the road and the other cars on it diverts some of your attention, you are driving distracted. Even if you watch a brightly coloured bird fly past, that is a distraction that could cause you to miss someone slamming on the brakes in front of you. My only grief is when your hands and eyes and most of your brain is taken over, looking down on your phones. Your only input is sound from the road. It's simply dangerous. I am, however, tentative on accepting people who memorize their buttons and only need a precursory spellcheck before hitting send.

However, a thought is also that people were freaking out when radios were in cars, phones were in cars, etc. Could texting also be a media scare phase?

Poll provided, hopefully adequate. Discuss.

 

[mad825]

I dont drive

however if I did I would slap anything/anybody that dares to distract me..when I'm not driving of course.

 

[falcontwin]

Meh, I'm a good driver. Other people aren't.

I listen to loud music and change cd's all the time. I also text occasionally, but I know I shouldn't. Eating, I have a problem with in the car, so I don't do it. I'm a very defensive and cautious driver so I'm not stupid about that kind of thing. *knocks on wood*

Hope you don't take anybody with you when you find out how good of a driver you really are. Saying you text while driving then saying you are a defensive cautious driver, is like saying I'm really good at playing russian roulette because I haven't ever died while playing it.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

PUT THE GODDAMN PHONE DOWN AND DRIVE. BE FUCKING AWARE THAT YOU ARE PILOTING A 2 TON DEATH MACHINE AT SPEED BEYOND NORMAL HUMAN LIMITS.

I don't give a crap if Johnny needs you to pick up soda. I don't give a shit about your need to check your twitter. I don't care one iota about your need to flirt with the boyfriend you're ON YOUR WAY TO SEE.

The only thing I care about is not being murdered by your complacency and false confidence in your multitasking skills.

 

[DarkPanda XIII]

Texting, I'll run people over for texting. Stupid Text-ers. I don't get the point either, this is the future dammit! Why use the phone for something similar to chatrooms when you can perfectly CONTACT the person and talk to them? I mean, phones now can speak to more than one f-ing person?

 

[ZephrC]

I think that really the problem at its heart isn't what item is doing the distracting. The problem is that humans can get used to anything.

We've simply forgotten that we're directing half a ton of steel hurtling down the road at speeds we weren't designed to comprehend with only a few square inches of rubber providing our control. We think this is somehow boring and thus distract ourselves.

Humanity is... interesting.

 

[Kaymish]

i will make / receive calls but i cant text ive tried it and was all over the road and almost ended up in a paddock

 

[Raikov]

I can easily make calls while driving, mostly because I did it alot when I was working. But in larger cities with lots of traffic, I prefer turning the radio off and not answering the phone until I feel I can spare the attention.
When I really need to text, I stop. And I'd never even dream about eating while driving.

And I've been in a dew accidents, so I know what NOT to do! xD

 

[Marter]

I won't use my phone or listen to the radio loudly. I'll talk with people if the need arises, but I tend to be one of those people that would much rather enjoy the company of myself when driving.

You can never be too careful with all of those people on the road.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Cell phone calls without a hands free device are surprisingly more distracting than with hands free. I read somewhere that's because, with hands free, it IS like talking to another passenger. But when you're talking into a device, its as bad as trying to fiddle with your radio, only you can do it for longer than 30 seconds. Personally, I use hands free only, and only for less than a minute. I may text, but only at stop lights.

As for dangerous behavior... theres too many to list. Recently, I saw someone driving while listening to a MP3 player... with head phones. What the hell?