AT&T: Stop Texting Behind the Wheel!

[WyomingKnott]

Texting while driving makes as much sense as reading a book while driving. I tend to agree with the folks who compare this to warning labels on coffee cups.
Talking on the cell while driving seems more grey to me. After all, when my family is in the car with me I talk to them. If I'm using a handsfree phone to take the call (not dial out!), what's the bloody difference whether they are in the car with me or at home?

 

[mlopinto2k1]

[citation][nom]climber[/nom]Here's a simple fix, which should be mandated by the government for wireless carriers and cellphone/smartphone companies to comply with. Use either or both accelerometers/GPS within these devices to detect motion/speed and automatically disable texting, IM'ing, or access to the keyboard/touchpad accept for a button which activates hands free calling via voice prompt to dial from the address book.[/citation]That is a freakin AWESOME idea.

 

[antilycus]

Impossible to enforce, so it will continue to happen. Until the police are required to be passengers in our car. Just like the seatbelt law. Get legally tinted windows. Problem solved.

 

[antilycus]

[citation][nom]climber[/nom]Here's a simple fix, which should be mandated by the government for wireless carriers and cellphone/smartphone companies to comply with. Use either or both accelerometers/GPS within these devices to detect motion/speed and automatically disable texting, IM'ing, or access to the keyboard/touchpad accept for a button which activates hands free calling via voice prompt to dial from the address book.[/citation]

Unless you are a passenger in car or on a train...

 

[Guest]

They need to enforce distracted driving laws, and give them MUCH tougher penalties.

You text while driving, you lose your license for at least a year. Same for using any mobile device while driving.

When you are driving you should be driving that's it. You can listen to music, and talk as long as you don't have to hold something to talk. But ANYTHING that takes your eyes off the road should NOT be tolerated, PERIOD.

Its not about restricting freedom, when you are driving you are behind the wheel of 2-3 tons of mass going 30-60mph. If you are distracted you are very likely to kill someone else. Don't care if you kill yourself, but plowing into a family and killing them because you had to read your email, or text your friend about nothing is just beyond stupid.

This should be common sense, but people are WAY too self centered these days. ME ME ME with zero regard to what your actions do to others. I don't care what you do as long as your actions don't affect others. But if you take an action such as driving a car, which has the very real possibility of killing someone else, you need to take every step you can to make sure you don't accidentally kill someone else.

 

[etichi]

amen adfj29*

 

[omnimodis78]

[citation][nom]fulle[/nom]I wish people would stop fucking with natural selection, and stop putting warnings on everything. "Rat poison, do no eat.", "Objects may be closer than they appear", "No running" (around a pool)... "DON'T DRINK TOILET WATER". Pretty soon I won't be able to buy scissors without some kind of disclaimer warning me NOT to impale and kill myself with them.Lets just get rid of the warnings on everything, and let nature run its course.[/citation]
I don't want my life to be taken during the course of someone's "natural selection" event. If they would just damage their own cars, or injure only themselves, or only kill themselves, then I wouldn't care less (just like I don't care if they smoke, or eat rat poison, etc), but I sure do care if their stupidity affects me or my loved ones.

 

[Guest]

This would be easy to stop. Phones have gps in them. If the phone sees you're traveling faster than you could walking, disable texting.

yes it would effect passengers, but oh well.

 

[jellico]

[citation][nom]jojotheclown[/nom]This would be easy to stop. Phones have gps in them. If the phone sees you're traveling faster than you could walking, disable texting.yes it would effect passengers, but oh well.[/citation]
What about a passenger on a boat? How about a train? What about someone who is being kidnapped, but still has their cell phone? What about a passenger in a car being driven by a drunk driver who wants to signal for help discretely? That's what I came up with in 30 seconds. Given time, I'm sure we all could come up with even more exceptions.

Better idea: enforce the existing laws and cite drivers for distracted driving; then you don't have to come up with new laws yielding unintended consequences.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I had a GPS system in my car that seemed to detect whether i was changing routes as i was driving and seemed to tell the difference whether my husband (passenger) was typing in names of streets while i was driving. It let him type in anything, and didnt allow me to type in anything if i was the one in the drivers seat. If this type of technology could be implemented with cell phones it would be fantastic.