Distracted US drivers 'a menace'

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The top US transport official has said that people driving while distracted - including by making phone calls and texting - are a "menace to society".

Speaking at a summit on "distracted driving", Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood described it as an epidemic.

The Obama administration says nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than 500,000 injured last year in crashes involving drivers who were distracted.

Transport officials are looking at new measures to curb phone use by drivers.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8283666.stm

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In the UK, using a hand-held phone while driving became illegal in 2003.

[Kingofalldems]

1. Absolutely agree

[maddezmom]

2. as a US citizen using a GPS to get around in the UK

I find them just as much or more distracting.

[madinmaryland]

3. A GPS more distracting than texting?

Can you explain?

[maddezmom]

16. to clarify, more distracting than cell phones

[dipsydoodle]

5. I have a feeling

that eventually they might be made illegal here too unless the manufacturers figure a way to put them where the speedo is. I agree that they're distracting having seen some halfwit weaving down the M1 whilst looking at a Tomtom on his windscreen.

[LisaM]

4. People have just got to stop doing this.

I was just reading a story about a 19-year old who killed two people, and tearfully said he didn't know he couldn't do both (text and drive). I'm sorry, I talked on a cell phone ONCE while driving. It was awful. I never did it again (it wasn't my choice, I was driving my friend home and she stuck it in my ear).

[MineralMan]

6. I've been doing a casual survey.

When I see a car wandering in its lane, sometimes crossing the lines, I check to see if there's a cell phone. So far, it's running over 90%. I've upped my defensive driving techniques lately.

[DJ13]

7. Here in California cellphones without a handsfree kit are illegal

But unless the police enforce the ban it means nothing.

Im seeing as many drivers with a phone in their hands now as I saw before the ban.

[WriteDown]

8. Same as NY.

Not enforced at all.

[Ron Green]

10. "Hands free" doesn't really mean much.

It's not where the hands are, it's where the mind is.

[TrogL]

9. I almost got creamed last week

I'm pulling up to an intersection on an advanced green, meaning the light has been red the other way for at least 5 seconds. The advanced turned yellow, so I slowed down 'cause I wasn't sure if I was going to get a green or a red.

A guy in a pickup truck blabbing on a cell phone blew through the intersection across six lanes of traffic. The only reason he made it was 'cause I waited and everybody else hadn't started into the intersection.

[Indy Lurker]

11. $30 Cone of Silence

Cell phone jammers are illegal to use in the US, but if you do use one (perhaps in another country) my understanding is that you want to make sure the phone user is a safe distance from other cars when you activate it, as their cars tend to weave when their calls get dropped.


http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4355

[Stevenmarc]

12. Yes let's stop people driving around distracting children too.

[triple point]

13. I'm looking for a good used tank.

I have to drive 8 miles on a narrow 2 lane road twice a day (because it's the only route to my house) and once or twice a week I have to do some avoidance/cautionary maneuvering because some dipshit is trying to talk or text (I can see them looking down and I assume they're not inspecting their crotches...which would be just as bad come to think of it) as they barrel down the road.

[flvegan]

14. Agreed.

Shut up/stop typing and drive.

[TheKentuckian]

15. I think the problem is the texting

talking is a little distraction too but little more than having a conversation with someone in the car, tuning out kids, or finding some music.