Police trap in Keaau

[Punatic007]

I just read an article about the Japanese not considering talking on a cell phone in public as acceptable behavior. They love their smart phones and text often but not while walking and don't talk in earshot of others, it's considered too distracting and blatantly rude. Where did we go wrong? I am so sick of cell phone chatters sucking the ambience out of life.

I digress, the article didn't say anything about talking while driving but it did say eating a snack while you are walking down the street is also considered rude and distracting. They don't think you are focusing or present and will disrupt the flow of other pedestrians etc..

[shockwave rider]

My understanding is that the difference between talking to someone in the car with you, and with someone by phone, is that when people talk on the phone there is an extra activity going on in the brain, we "picture" in our mind the other person. That activity takes place in the same part of the brain that coordinates scanning the road around you and responding to a continually changing environment. This study showed that either hands free or hands on cell phone conversation while driving impairs the average driver the same amount as being over the line for legally drinking and driving: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16884056

This article compares levels of distraction across a variety of activities while driving:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/h...story.html

I recently got rear ended in a multi car crash by the Humane society when the person talking on a cell phone didn't respond when the line of traffic slowed down suddenly. This was an experienced driver in a company rig who was convinced they were such a great driver they didn't need to wait to take their call and 4 other people then had to deal with being in a chain of rear and front end collisions. Using a phone while driving is as selfish as driving after drinking, if the call is that important then pull over.

[MarkP]

This sort of thing always brings out both preaching and rationalization, neither of which are particularly helpful. In one way or another we are all guilty of distracted driving at some times. The courts have singled out things like drunk driving and cell phone use because statistically they are the worst causes, although it is hard to believe that talking on the phone is as bad as drunk driving. Whatever, lines get drawn for the convenience of the law. I personally think that merely talking on the phone is not that bad. It is the looking at the phone required to manipulate it that is 10 times worse.

[PunaMauka2]

personally i find some sort of regulation prohibiting cell phone use while driving to be reasonable; i'd agree the safety factor outweighs any inconvenience. i don't use cell phone while driving, never have. that being said, i can also understand some how Kimo may have been feeling the way he did soon after receiving that ticket. in many cases i think it's not so unusual to naturally feel indignant to a degree after receiving a traffic citation. particularly since it is a fairly recently added regulation and especially given that the fine for first time offense seems to be so high ($297.00!). the fine amount does sound a bit excessive to me.

to those who would simply say "lock them up!" over a traffic citation of the sort, i have to roll my eyes and suggest getting ahold of your sensibilities. yeah, i've heard the "if it saves even one life..." rationale and of course that is the valid goal to a reasonable degree. but not by absolutely any means necessary outside of a repressively authoritarian state. just to illustrate the point of reasonable limitations, would you really actually chop off the hands of shoplifters? ceremonially execute a woman eating bananas or the wrong fish in the presence of men?

[EightFingers]

How did we survive......

Before 1985?

[kalakoa]

In one way or another we are all guilty of distracted driving at some times.

It's just easier to single out "disruptive" technologies, because actual judgement of the circumstances would take far too long.

Note that "some people" are presumed to be able to safely operate a cell phone while driving: police (obviously), commercial drivers, and "licensed radio operators" (I think the no-code certificate is still $35). This suggests that the phone is not automatically a problem, or else it would be forbidden to all.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

presumed to be able to safely operate a cell phone while driving: police (obviously), commercial drivers, and "licensed radio operators"

Presumably those users also limit their time on the phone/radio to short job related communications.

Not, "oh, oh! Crystal! I just saw you driving on Highway 11 going in the other direction. Whatcha doing? Right now? Noooo... he better NOT!"

[VancouverIslander]

Some statistics about cell phone use while driving (Canadian source):
http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/

[snorkle]

Before cell phones were common, I was cited for having a phone booth in my car.

[punalvr]

Well, I personally think you deserved your ticket.
I have seen too many distracted drivers on the road, while on the phone, not giving a darn about others.
It is distracting, It has been in the laws for a long time. Why where you on the phone while driving?
I feel no sympathy for you. We all know it is illegal.
Smartphones have a feature when someone is calling, where you can deny the call, reply with a text, with a simple touch, saying you are busy or driving, etc.
I am glad they caught you.
I see a lot of people with their phones to their head and driving.
Invest on a blue tooth.


punalvr