topic Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive in Community Chat

The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Snowpuppy — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:27:32 GMT

I'm at the dealership for service, DS tags along as he's spending the weekend. He decides to test drive a new pickup truck so I hop in for the drive.

Nice pickup truck, right up front is a navigation screen, at least 7" and bright! Oh, don't want a nav screen? How about the backup camera screen? How about satellite radio screen? How about your temp comfort screen? How about 4 USB ports to plug in all the devices you take with you but you shouldn't use while driving?

Couldn't find a logical way to shut it all off. Had to be THE most annoying, attention grabbing distraction, ever!

But don't text & drive. Too distracting!

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

151949 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:34:45 GMT

LOL - we just had our lease run out on our Buick Enclave and the screen you described. DH refused to even consider another car - he was absolutely getting another Enclave because he said he was not going through having to learn a whole new system. The Enclave still had the same screen he knows how to use.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

GCR18 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:35:16 GMT

Texting and driving is bad, but you're right that other things are too. I see people driving and their head is totally turned to the passenger. And that's just one example. I don't know what the answer is. You have to overcompensate and drive defensively.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Imadickens — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:39:02 GMT

@Snowpuppy. You are so right! I test drove a Volvo SUV. Right in the middle of the dash board sat a huge "tv" screen! I asked the sales woman how to get the screen out of the way! After ten minutes she tells me you can't move it! I was shocked! No way I could see the road through that thing! Turns out there was a button that sent it into the dashboard!

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

cherry — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:45:41 GMT

I hear ya But, the back up screen is actually helpful for backing up. My husband says ,all the time ,how happy he is to have it

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:46:16 GMT

I just bought a brand new car. I love it. My late husband had a dealership license so I've driven just about every car out there offered, every brand. They all have little differences.

My car has all of the gadgets you could get (as did my other car). My son-in-law said he could not drive a car that doesn't have a shift (it has buttons) but I love it. I even paid extra to have extra sensors (in addition to the one's on it) in case someone walks near me (it already beeps for car). Ha! Between the beeps and lights going off (if a car is in my blind spot it lights up and if I swerve, it lets me know).

Buying a car is somewhat like buying a purse, it's a personal thing. What I like, you might not like. I've never cared much what I drove. My son-in-law did all of the work on the price. I knew what kind I wanted but I wasn't hung up on the color at all, I didn't even know what color it was until I went to pick it up and he said, "That must be your car ready for you". Ha!

My favorite thing about it is the way when the phone rings it come through my car and I don't have to do anything. I don't carry long conversations, but if it's important, I'll answer it. I never make calls unless I'm sitting at a light (I'm talking about pushing the button to connect). If the light changes and I'm not connected it dies, I don't care. My life and that of others is way more important than anything. I don't have the phone close to me that way I'm never tempted to use it.....not that I would.

I drove myself and my friend to dinner tonight. She said, "Look over there! She's texting while driving!" Crazy people are STILL doing that!

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Gram W — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:06:13 GMT

As we know the laws are for everyone else. I see texting, cell phones/Bluetooth, putting on lipstick, drinking large cup of hot coffee, turning to talk to passengers in back seat, reading paper, etc. Drivers could at least wait until they stop for a traffic light. For me the worst is a dog sitting/standing on the driver's lap and hanging out the window. Each of those are an accident waiting to happen. We have 20,000 students, fewer permanent residents and those who travel a distance to come in to work. All ages do these things. Our mayor wants us to ride a bike or park and ride to cut down on traffic. Our town is not very big when you take out the 2 colleges. Also did you know fire and rescue people have to have special training to be allowed to cut you out of your car should you be in an accident and pinned in your car. If they do not cut the side of the car in the right place they will release the side air bag and hurt you even more. Oh for the days of that hugh tank of an Imperial that later turned into the best demolition derby car ever.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Q4u — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:13:05 GMT

It IS ironic because some of the screens in the cars today are interactive and when you use them while driving the effect is the same as if you are using your Smart Phone.

I remember back in the day when all you had was a radio without push buttons so you had to look at the radio screen while looking at the stations and listening if you got the right one. That was distracting then and all these electronics are distracting now....

BTW, when we go to Olive Garden we take that electronic thing on the table and turn it away from us... we find it distracting while we're trying to relax and enjoy our food and each other..... while useful (all electronics are useful) it totally dectracts from the ambiance IMHO....

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

sidsmom — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 23:16:04 GMT

@Gram W wrote:
As we know the laws are for everyone else. I see texting, cell phones/Bluetooth, putting on lipstick, drinking large cup of hot coffee, turning to talk to passengers in back seat, reading paper, etc. Drivers could at least wait until they stop for a traffic light. For me the worst is a dog sitting/standing on the driver's lap and hanging out the window. Each of those are an accident waiting to happen.

@Gram W

You bring up many good points.

Distraction is waaaay more than a modern day cell phone.

I live near a dog park. It's kinda cute when you see a little doggy in the driver's lap, but then you go....waitaminute!

Talk about distraction.

Worst distraction is the cigarette.

If it drops, watch out...the car's a swervin' to prevent the leg burn.

Talk about distraction.

As early as the day of Henry Ford, men loved to look at pretty women on the street....and the first distraction accident occurred.

It's an Age-Old Problem.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

willdob3 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 23:48:21 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I hear ya But, the back up screen is actually helpful for backing up. My husband says ,all the time ,how happy he is to have it

@cherry - I like the backup screen, too, but it is important to use it as a tool and not depend on it completely. Used as the tool it is meant to be it is great!

- A friend who used to work for a car insurance company warned me about the backup camera; she said she saw many claims regarding accidents that happened because people were depending 100% on the camera/screen and not looking themselves.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:07:27 GMT

@willdob3 wrote:
@cherry wrote:
I hear ya But, the back up screen is actually helpful for backing up. My husband says ,all the time ,how happy he is to have it

@cherry - I like the backup screen, too, but it is important to use it as a tool and not depend on it completely. Used as the tool it is meant to be it is great!

- A friend who used to work for a car insurance company warned me about the backup camera; she said she saw many claims regarding accidents that happened because people were depending 100% on the camera/screen and not looking themselves.

Exactly.

That's why I don't like all of the electronic devices in vehicles today.

Think about it. We are controlled by electronic devices.

We use them at work, at home, and now in our vehicles.

We're too dependent on them.

How did we mange to drive before the inventions of these "must haves"?

We are slowly allwing ourselves to forget the basics of how to drive, and are allowing the vehicle to do the thinking for us.

No, when it comes to backing up, I trust myself. I use my mirrors, I look over my shoulder.

No technology can beat that.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Shorty2U — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:36:00 GMT

I thought the same thing when I see these brand new vehicles are set up to go on the Internet and all.

I guarantee there will be more and more accidents as time goes on.

We have a 3 year old Subaru. The rear camera isn't distracting, its helpful (at least ours is, its on the mirror no buttons to hit). Satellite radio/cd player check, works like a regular radio. Heated seats button between the seats, no issue. Etc.

But surfing the net while driving? (which our car can not do), RIDICULOUS!

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Sooner — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:51:59 GMT

The new devices in my new car are a Godsend to me! I am short, but now the side and back cameras make it much safer for me to change lanes by letting me whether something is in a blind spot or not.

I LOVE being able to answer the phone without looking at anything or call someone through the voice command on the steering wheel.

The map helps me not get lost maybe in a bad neighborhood and alerts me to traffic slow downs, letting me get off and take another route many times that saves me a lot of time.

It also gives me road hazard alerts and weather information--which can be life or death where I live.

And the seats warm or cool me! The bluetooth lets me listen to MY music when I drive! Sirus gives me the watercolors chanel that plays great light jazz while I drive and I love it, and a lot of the other channels.

The keyless entry is the best thing since sliced bread!

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Snowpuppy — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:36:22 GMT

It seems like distracted driving is a relevant thing dependant on who is preaching the sermon.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Isobel Archer — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 13:27:04 GMT

I like the backup camera too. In my car, Toyota hybrid, you can't enter any data into the navigation system unless you are completely stopped and the car is in park.

And as to the satellite radio, etc., people used to get just as distracted trying to manually find stations on the radio (when they weren't preset - or when out of town and looking for stations.) And as already noted, dealing with passengers - especially children, eating, putting on makeup, etc. is also very distracting.

Actually, it wasn't but a couple of years ago that we were rear ended while stopped at a traffic light by a woman who was trying to read a paper map in her lap.

I don't know how you get people to understand how dangereous it is to take your eyes off the road to attend to all these different things.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

willdob3 — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:55:47 GMT

@Isobel Archer -

GPS is one thing I feel is important. I don't use the one on my car but I keep my iPhone connected via Bluetooth and the GPS on my phone goes through the cars speakers. I always hated driving places with printed out directions and a map next to me. Driving and reading don't mix well.

I don't answer phone calls or text while driving. People I talk to the most have their own ringtones so I can tell who is calling by that. I recently activated the option on my phone to have the caller announced so anyone on my contacts list is announced when the call comes in. No need to look at the phone or answer it. If I think it is important I just stop somewhere, check voicemail, and call the person back. It is rare that anything is so important it can't wait until I get home.

I listen to Pandora radio while driving and really enjoy having that. It is another reason I like having my cell phone connected to the car.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Isobel Archer — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 16:34:52 GMT

@willdob3 wrote:
@Isobel Archer -

GPS is one thing I feel is important. I don't use the one on my car but I keep my iPhone connected via Bluetooth and the GPS on my phone goes through the cars speakers. I always hated driving places with printed out directions and a map next to me. Driving and reading don't mix well.

I don't answer phone calls or text while driving. People I talk to the most have their own ringtones so I can tell who is calling by that. I recently activated the option on my phone to have the caller announced so anyone on my contacts list is announced when the call comes in. No need to look at the phone or answer it. If I think it is important I just stop somewhere, check voicemail, and call the person back. It is rare that anything is so important it can't wait until I get home.

I listen to Pandora radio while driving and really enjoy having that. It is another reason I like having my cell phone connected to the car.

@willdob3

I like GPS too. I could never try to read a paper map while driving - seems very dangerous to me.

One thing I also like about the GPS map is that not only does it tell me when to turn, etc., but I can also see the streets - which at night are often easier to see on the screen if the street signs are not well lit. (I look at it when I'm stopped - not while I am driving.)

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

CrazyDaisy — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 17:05:35 GMT

@Shorty2U wrote:
I thought the same thing when I see these brand new vehicles are set up to go on the Internet and all.

I guarantee there will be more and more accidents as time goes on.

We have a 3 year old Subaru. The rear camera isn't distracting, its helpful (at least ours is, its on the mirror no buttons to hit). Satellite radio/cd player check, works like a regular radio. Heated seats button between the seats, no issue. Etc.

But surfing the net while driving? (which our car can not do), RIDICULOUS!

This is for the passangers not the driver. Just like the DVD players installed in cars for years.

Re: The Irony of Don't Text & Drive

Susan Louise — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 23:27:05 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
I'm at the dealership for service, DS tags along as he's spending the weekend. He decides to test drive a new pickup truck so I hop in for the drive.

Nice pickup truck, right up front is a navigation screen, at least 7" and bright! Oh, don't want a nav screen? How about the backup camera screen? How about satellite radio screen? How about your temp comfort screen? How about 4 USB ports to plug in all the devices you take with you but you shouldn't use while driving?

Couldn't find a logical way to shut it all off. Had to be THE most annoying, attention grabbing distraction, ever!

But don't text & drive. Too distracting!

@Snowpuppy That's exactly why I still drive my 1989 white firebird and DH drives his 1996 Dodge Avenger & his Dad's 1997 Chevy truck...

We just can't see ourselves using all the extra tech stuff. One would think of coarse it's too distracting...and why oh why is it even necessary?!

And don't forget...all those vehicles on the road now that are 'driverless'...yes, it's true. I saw a clip on a news station showing there was a truck driver in the passenger seat...nobody in the driver's seat and the 18 wheeler going down a busy highway...

Honestly, wouldn't that freak anyone out if you looked over to the next lane and see a car passing you with no driver?

Seems more like a made for tv movie becoming 'reality tv...coming to your favorite streaming station to you soon...