Texting Driver Who Slammed Cyclist: I, Like, 'Just Don't Care'

GameboyRMH wrote:

doc_speeder wrote: "I don’t agree that people texting and driving could hit a cyclist." Haha, what?

There's a culture of denialism among text-n-drivers, they think it's totally safe and that there's some conspiracy to make them stop doing it. It would be a beautiful thing if they were only putting themselves in danger.

Let he who is without sin...

I strongly suspect that there are folks on this forum who use the same reasoning for violating speed limit laws. To wit:

". . . they think it's totally safe and that there's some conspiracy to make them stop doing it."

EvanR wrote: ". . . they think it's totally safe and that there's some conspiracy to make them stop doing it."

Sure... but I'm totally paying attention to what I'm doing at a buck thirty on a public road. Otherwise... something bad could happen.

EvanR wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

doc_speeder wrote: "I don’t agree that people texting and driving could hit a cyclist." Haha, what?

There's a culture of denialism among text-n-drivers, they think it's totally safe and that there's some conspiracy to make them stop doing it. It would be a beautiful thing if they were only putting themselves in danger.

Let he who is without sin... I strongly suspect that there are folks on this forum who use the same reasoning for violating speed limit laws. To wit: ". . . they think it's totally safe and that there's some conspiracy to make them stop doing it."

Everyone here knows that most speed limits and enforcement are revenue generators. There are the rare exceptions (school zones, residential to a degree) where safety is the main concern. But that empty highway 10 in west Texas? That's about as dangerous as a wet noodle.

GameboyRMH wrote:

N Sperlo wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

Will wrote: I don't suppose it would be possible to turn a car into a Faraday cage? I think that needs to happen.

It could be done with the right window coatings...but then passengers couldn't use their phones while riding in the car either, to say nothing of losing the ability to receive any really important calls.

And once they touch that phone to the window they'd go from 0-99 bars because the cage is also a giant berkeleying antenna.

Not if it's grounded as a faraday cage should be.

Especially in a new Corolla, cause they're grounded to the ground.

In reply to Appleseed:

You're thinking of the Camry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKRiCsZfx4k

EDIT: not related but holy crap this is funny:

I almost got hit by some guy texting his girlfriend or something on the DC beltway while I was on my Buell two years ago. I was in the right lane and he came onto the onramp. I naturally glanced over to make sure he was looking up and alert (I do this for my own benefit). He was staring at his stupid phone, both hands on it, texting probably his girlfriend with this stupid grin on his face. "No, I love you more! No, I love you more! No, I love you more!"

It only took a glance to see all of this. I got my eyes back to the road: what's the plan now?

I blared on my horn and started taking evasive maneuvers even before he jerked the wheel to merge into my lane, and without even looking up from his phone ("No, I love you more!") he just sort of came to the conclusion that there must be somebody next to him. He moved back onto the onramp and I dropped behind him so he didn't get behind me.

He was half-way into my lane, about to get his mirror kicked off before he figured it out. HE NEVER LOOKED UP!

I don't text and drive. I don't read and drive. I don't watch TV and drive. I just drive. Things happen too quickly.

In reply to confuZion3:

Hell they don't even have to be on a phone to do that. I've had three similar incidents this week where the person was staring straight ahead, both hands gripping the wheel like they were trying to squeeze something out of it and not once did they look beside them or in the mirror before ripping it into my lane. And I'm driving a big ole white F-250, twice I was pulling a 16' trailer with an excavator on it.

GameboyRMH wrote:

Will wrote: I don't suppose it would be possible to turn a car into a Faraday cage? I think that needs to happen.

It could be done with the right window coatings...but then passengers couldn't use their phones while riding in the car either, to say nothing of losing the ability to receive any really important calls.

You know, there was a time, not so long ago, when people drove around without caring that they didn't have a phone ready at hand at a moments notice. Now we can't even fathom being unable to call someone at a moments notice, or look up that local taco place on google maps.

I look at cell phones this way. The only day they are important to me is Thursday, that is when all the work calls for the next week come in.. other than that my philosophy is.. "I am important so I have a cellphone.. I am -so- important, I do not have to pick it when you call me"

My problem with passing all the laws is that reckless driving laws already exist. Why do we need a new law?

I know in Ohio, when it passed, they had the mother of some teen that drove her car into a tree of something on there bawling about "Parents need this as a tool to show their children the dangers." You need the state to pass a law so your kid won't text and drive? If you can't exert any control over your offspring without the backing of the State of Ohio, you've already failed on raising a useful human being.

IMO the problem with the laws is that they are not enforced whatsoever. I'd like to know how many people in states w/ texting while driving laws are actually being issued tickets for it.

Sure, it falls under reckless driving, but that doesn't draw the attention of the authorities until E36 M3 hits the fan or is about to hit the fan.

Yeah, common sense would dictate that people shouldn't do this. Parents should educate their kids on it. Like it or not though, the world is full of morons, and this will keep happening.

I'm all for cars sending a signal which phones see and do not allow any input via fingers/buttons whatsoever while the vehicle is in motion. Sucks for the passenger, but I'd rather have passengers get inconvenienced than drivers texting.

ProDarwin wrote: IMO the problem with the laws is that they are not enforced whatsoever. I'd like to know how many people in states w/ texting while driving laws are actually being issued tickets for it.

Since it was just made a primary offense in MD the cops are all over it. Monday I watched the city police get ~15 people in about an hour. Two were set up in front of my house and two more about a block down the street. When they saw a driver using a hand held cell phone they would radio the other group who would flag the driver down.

Tuesday Channel 7 had a news piece where one of the reporters rode with cops in Montgomery County who were on special assignment to get drivers using hand held phones.

LainfordExpress wrote: My problem with passing all the laws is that reckless driving laws already exist. Why do we need a new law? I know in Ohio, when it passed, they had the mother of some teen that drove her car into a tree of something on there bawling about "Parents need this as a tool to show their children the dangers." You need the state to pass a law so your kid won't text and drive? If you can't exert any control over your offspring without the backing of the State of Ohio, you've already failed on raising a useful human being.

This. The Curmudgeonling and I had a heart to heart about this very subject. If she texts while driving she loses the car and the phone, there is no second chance. I would rather be inconvenienced by driving her around for a few years than to have to follow her hearse once.

Hal wrote: Since it was just made a primary offense in MD the cops are all over it.

I have yet to see it here. Of course, some of the worse are the cops themselves. Part of it is their job, playing with their computers and such while driving. But plenty is simply them yacking and texting while driver 30-50 over the speed limit.

In reply to Hal:

Northern Illinois is nailing cell phone drivers, too.

The bish should be hung by her taint and shot with baby cat excrement!

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Is it too much to hope that she suffers greatly from the same indifference? I mean... if someone was to take pics and text friends about the awesome spectacle they were seeing live in front of them - and too busy watching her bleed out after being partially eaten by timber wolves or savaged by a roving gang of orangutans... instead of calling 911... that wouldn't be too much to wish for, right? Afterall, it's these little life lessons that teach us empathy for our fellow man.

I'm fairly certain that you could probably punch her in the face until your fists were bloody stumps and she would still think "OMG what's the big deal LOL! brb txting my BFF"

foxtrapper wrote:

Hal wrote: Since it was just made a primary offense in MD the cops are all over it.

I have yet to see it here.

I guess Carroll County hasn't figured out it is a easy way to make money.

Driver using hands to use handheld telephone while motor vehicle is in motion will be a primary traffic offense: •1st Offense is an $83.00 FINE, including court costs •2nd Offense is a $140.00 FINE •3rd and Subsequent Offense is a $160.00 FINE If the violation contributed to an accident, THREE (3) POINTS will also be assessed in addition to the fine. Driver using hands to use handheld telephone while operating a commercial motor vehicle, first offense is a $290.00 fine and also a primary traffic offense.

Those fines are rather pathetic, considering the dangers/consequences. I don't see an $83.00 fine deterring people that aren't deterred by the sheer stupidity of it to begin with.

Well, the guy in the pick-up who watched me slam into the road this afternoon at least stopped to make sure I was ok. More pissed/embarrassed than anything else, although my right knee is pretty scraped up. Added to the scar tissue on my elbow as well... Nice (very late) start to the season for me... Awesome.

ProDarwin wrote: Those fines are rather pathetic, considering the dangers/consequences. I don't see an $83.00 fine deterring people that aren't deterred by the sheer stupidity of it to begin with.

In Illinois, its $75, $125, $150, loose your licensee.

Ian F wrote: Well, the guy in the pick-up who watched me slam into the road this afternoon at least stopped to make sure I was ok. More pissed/embarrassed than anything else, although my right knee is pretty scraped up. Added to the scar tissue on my elbow as well... Nice (very late) start to the season for me... Awesome.

Dang dude, what happened?

EastCoastMojo wrote:

Ian F wrote: Well, the guy in the pick-up who watched me slam into the road this afternoon at least stopped to make sure I was ok. More pissed/embarrassed than anything else, although my right knee is pretty scraped up. Added to the scar tissue on my elbow as well... Nice (very late) start to the season for me... Awesome.

Dang dude, what happened?

From what I can figure, multiple things going wrong at once: the tires are my road bike are rock-hard and due for replacement. the road surface is especially smooth with little grip (thousands of cars and trucks making the turn have put down rubber into the asphalt). (and most importantly) I screwed up the line through the corner.

It's a 90 degree right turn under a railroad bridge. Posted 15 mph. Normally when I take the turn, I stay in the road during the short descent, swinging from the double-yellow across the apex. Doing this allows me to basically maintain a speed equal to (usually faster than) what a car does through the corner. It's a blind corner, so 10-15 mph is pretty much what everyone does. If I do it right (I've ridden through this corner hundreds of times over the years as part of my evening training route), I can go through at 20-25 mph and easily hold a nice speed going up the short hill on the other side.

Fortunately, said guy in the pick-up was paying attention because when I fell, I slid slightly into the opposing lane. And there wasn't anyone behind me. I jumped back up, waved to the driver and quickly got off the road to lick my wounds and assess damage: long sleeve jersey & knicker bib-shorts - done, but probably saved me from worse road rash. No damage to the bike. Big hit to my ego...

In reply to Ian F: Good grief, glad you escaped without worse injury. Was the pavement damp at all? One of my worst bicycle accidents was on a greenway. Pavement was dry except for this one spot at the bottom of a steep grade, in a turn. Fun combo.

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

No. Dry, although there may have been some dust. The surface is practically polished smooth from traffic - kinda hard to explain. I just really screwed up the line, taking a line way too far to the right for the speed I was going. Normally I start out far to the left but spaced out for some reason.

People laugh at me when I say road racing is way more dangerous than racing DH. Stuff like this is why. At least when I crash riding DH the armor protects a fair amount.