Texting thread

[woody69]

It's obviously a risk even getting out of bed in the morning let alone driving down the M1 sending a text.
Surely, as drivers, we should be looking to minimise the risks we take?
Leaving aside the legality for a moment, driving at 80 on a clear motorway is a relatively small increased risk from driving at 70 - bearing in mind that of your speedo reads 80 you're probably doing less than 75 anyway.
Texting while driving adds enormously to the multitude of risks involved in driving.
And the one thing that is paramount is your ability to react to something that happens ahead of you.
You might be in perfect control of your car, happily driving along and sending a text.
It's the car that loses control in front of you, has a blow-out and swerves, or the car that's jumping a red light or pulling out when you least expect it or your car having a blow-pot that's going to get you.
In those instances your reaction times increase dramatically if you are distracted by something.
Yes you can get distracted by anything, happens to us all, but shouldn't we me minimising these risks/distractions by not doing some things that potentially distract..?

It comes down to the saying " just because you can, doesn't mean you should"

Indeed, there is a lot of truth and reasoning within your post. I fully understand what you are saying, which is why I don't just do it whatever the situation / circumstances / road conditions and a number of other variables.

 

[woody69]

The difference being that lighting a fag insn't against the law, nor swerving to avoid hitting a crazy badger

You are completely missing the point. Just because something is against the law doesn't automatically mean it's more likely to cause an accident.

 

[guest100718]

You are completely missing the point. Just because something is against the law doesn't automatically mean it's more likely to cause an accident.

The law was specificaly bought in to cover the fact that using a mobile while driving is dangerous and increases the risk of and accident. The roads are dangerous enough without the additional dangers of fools on their phones.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You are of course correct, that such an incident could occur. But it could also happen because said person tries to light a cigarette or fails to check their blind spot and pulls out or swerves to avoid hitting an animal or something in the road. Getting in a car is a potentially dangerous thing and people make mistakes and accidents happen. Perhaps I have an unrealistic view on my driving abilities and coordinated activity of sending a text and driving, but not once have I ever felt out of control.

Basically, you are just trying to justify your actions.

The difference being that lighting a fag insn't against the law, nor swerving to avoid hitting a crazy badger. I'd probably juts stop arguing the toss if I were you. Non one is very likely to come out and say its Ok to text.

Well said paddy :thup:

 

[woody69]

Basically, you are just trying to justify your actions.

Trying to justify my actions or just explaining to you why I do it, what does it matter. I do it and I will continue to do it. I appreciate you don't and you don't like that fact I (and thousands of others) do, but c'est la vie

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Phools on Phones.....could catch on!

Woody.....where are your eyes when you are texting?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Trying to justify my actions or just explaining to you why I do it, what does it matter. I do it and I will continue to do it. I appreciate you don't and you don't like that fact I (and thousands of others) do, but c'est la vie

I think this comment pretty much concludes the thread. As I said before, I sincerely hope you don't end up killing someone.

 

[woody69]

Phools on Phones.....could catch on!

Woody.....where are your eyes when you are texting?

The majority of the time, they are on the road with the occasional glance at the screen for probably a second or there abouts. About the same amount of time it takes me to glance in my rear view mirror I would say.

 

[woody69]

I think this comment pretty much concludes the thread. As I said before, I sincerely hope you don't end up killing someone.

And likewise you too when you get in your car and unwrap a wethers orginal*




*that was a joke based on the fact you live in Christchurch Grandpa**

** Grandpa was also a joke based on the fact you live in Christchurch

 

[woody69]

The law was specificaly bought in to cover the fact that using a mobile while driving is dangerous and increases the risk of and accident. The roads are dangerous enough without the additional dangers of fools on their phones.

They are also thinking about banning eating and drinking because that increase the risk of an accident. I've stated many times that I fully understand that using a mobile is a risk. I've never tried to dispute that.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Mods, I know you closed the original thread because it was getting a bit personal hence I started this one but as far as I'm concerned, this discussion has now run it's course. I'm happy for it to be closed if everyone else is getting bored of going round in circles now.

 

[Slab]

Unwrapping a Werther's Original while driving is dangerous and also illegal (driving without due care and attention) but because no ones tracking the accident rate caused by unwrapping boiled sweets it doesn't get a specific mention like phones do but instead is lumped in with the rest like, looking at the pretty girl on the pavement or changing music etc and because we've become fairly skilled at it its only the really unfortunate accidents we hear about

But these distractions still happen thousands of times a day

Yes ideally we should all drive with supreme focus and attention to detail. Phones are one of the things that stop us doing that as well as we can... but it is one of dozens and until they are all treated with the same distaste that phones are its tough to see why some would single one out for special condemnation... while sucking on their caramel sweetie!

 

[chris661]

Mods, I know you closed the original thread because it was getting a bit personal hence I started this one but as far as I'm concerned, this discussion has now run it's course. I'm happy for it to be closed if everyone else is getting bored of going round in circles now.

If you are that bored the answer is very simple. Don't reply to any more posts.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

If you are that bored the answer is very simple. Don't reply to any more posts.

You really need to show some level of consistency in your moderation

 

[Whereditgo]

The majority of the time, they are on the road with the occasional glance at the screen for probably a second or there abouts. About the same amount of time it takes me to glance in my rear view mirror I would say.

I would suggest that a "glance" in the rear view mirror takes a fraction of a second and the road remains in ones peripheral vision whereas a "glance" at a text probably takes up far in excess of a second, you've travelled an awful long way in even a couple of seconds at motorway speeds!

 

[Fyldewhite]

The law was specificaly bought in to cover the fact that using a mobile while driving is dangerous and increases the risk of and accident. The roads are dangerous enough without the additional dangers of fools on their phones.

.....and that's exactly the reason speed limits are there. But it's ok to break them when it's "safe" to do so (many, perhaps most, people would say). Is that not exactly the same scenario? ie it's against the law but I'm making a judgement that, in these circumstances, I'm happy with the risk and I'm going to do it anyway? Nobody on here has said it's ok to just be driving along in busy traffic using their phone so why are most of the answers phrased as though that was the argument? Talk about missing the point.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's obviously a risk even getting out of bed in the morning let alone driving down the M1 sending a text.
Surely, as drivers, we should be looking to minimise the risks we take?
Leaving aside the legality for a moment, driving at 80 on a clear motorway is a relatively small increased risk from driving at 70 - bearing in mind that of your speedo reads 80 you're probably doing less than 75 anyway.
Texting while driving adds enormously to the multitude of risks involved in driving.
And the one thing that is paramount is your ability to react to something that happens ahead of you.
You might be in perfect control of your car, happily driving along and sending a text.
It's the car that loses control in front of you, has a blow-out and swerves, or the car that's jumping a red light or pulling out when you least expect it or your car having a blow-pot that's going to get you.
In those instances your reaction times increase dramatically if you are distracted by something.
Yes you can get distracted by anything, happens to us all, but shouldn't we me minimising these risks/distractions by not doing some things that potentially distract..?

It comes down to the saying " just because you can, doesn't mean you should"

Very good post - very neatly summed up

Whilst driving we should as humanly possibly stay concentrated as much as possible to reduce the risk and to be alert to any other danger on the road - by texting your concentration and focus drops and you are no longer fully in control of the car as your concentration has been split into two separate acts. Your reactions will be reduced which has the possibility to cause harm - we should all be reducing the risk as much as possible - not increasing it

 

[MegaSteve]

For those that use their devices whilst behind the wheel... If you have been 'tugged' a couple of times and paid your penalty accepted your points what would you then do? I only ask as I heard through the grapevine [yesterday evening] that a mate of mine has now been pulled for the third time!!! Potential loss of licence I believe... Apparently the law is an ass and the its all a conspiracy etc etc... I'll be avoiding them for a bit as I don't really need an earache about something avoidable...

 

[Twire]

You really need to show some level of consistency in your moderation

To be fair D4S the first thread was closed due to the direction it was going with sniping and name calling. You then questioned us for being over zealous.

Why was it closed? There was a very pertinent debate taking place.

Mods getting overzealous again?

This thread has been civil with decent debate, but now you think it's run it's course you want it closed.

 

[CMAC]

You really need to show some level of consistency in your moderation

uh oh that sounds like a criticism, if the moderation is consistent you can expect more infraction points, maybe best to edit for a quieter life.