Re: New Trend For Waiting At Traffic Signals

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I just came back from running several errands. I had been thinking about this thread and wondering who all the posters are who can actually see in other peoples' cars to see that they are holding a phone and texting while driving. I tried to look but could see nothing.

The only time I can actually see into another car is if I'm stopped at a light and can see the person next to me, only if I turn to stare at them, not in front or behind me.

So how do you all know for sure that everyone is texting?...or is this just an assumption?

lgfan · ‎10-19-2012

You can tell that they are texting because their heads are positioned down looking at the empty passenger seat. Once the traffic light turns green and someone honks at them you see them lifting their heads and they continue to drive. If they are not texting what is occupying their time on the empty passenger seat.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@haddon9 wrote:
I just came back from running several errands. I had been thinking about this thread and wondering who all the posters are who can actually see in other peoples' cars to see that they are holding a phone and texting while driving. I tried to look but could see nothing.

The only time I can actually see into another car is if I'm stopped at a light and can see the person next to me, only if I turn to stare at them, not in front or behind me.

So how do you all know for sure that everyone is texting?...or is this just an assumption?

@haddon9 We have trucks that are pretty high up, like almost as high as a tractor trailer cab. I can look down and see them thumbing away texting like frantic monkeys.

Not an assumption. I always wonder, if they have that much to say to someone that they have to type a conversation, why not just call? Or is calling passe?

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@Lucky Charm I can understand seeing when you are up high in a truck...but for most of us in a car or small to average sized SUV, it's next to impossible to see into another car.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
If I'm first in line at a red light, once it turns green I will always wait until I make sure traffic coming the other way stops before I go ahead.

They can blow their horns behind me until the cows come home, I'm not going until I'm sure I'm not going to get broadsided or killed.

@CelticCrafter

Well, the real point here is how long do you wait? 5 seconds? 15 seconds?
@Tinkrbl44 if me waiting 5 or 10 or even 15 seconds is going to make someone else late because I value my life then maybe they should have left earlier. Sorry, not sorry.

@CelticCrafter

??? Uh, I wasn't criticizing you. I was just curious.

I live in an urban area (Greater Los Angeles) and we have PLENTY of traffic. I have never had to wait for 15 seconds to see if any cars were coming. Since all cars at any intersection are right there in front of you, when the light changes, I find it peculiar that you need up to 15 seconds to figure out if cars at the intersection are moving. No idea what region you live in, but maybe your traffic is different?

Have a nice day.

@Tinkrbl44 you're the one that brought up the 15 seconds...

Trailrun23 · ‎05-31-2022

I rarely know if the person is texting or not...but am hesitant to honk since there is so much road rage! My bigger concern is the disregard for red lights and stop signs; on the way home today, DH and I observed three different red light and stop sign runners.. within three miles of each other. One flew past a school bus that had its stop sign out and the driver never even slowed down. Right after the car passed, two little girls came around the bus to cross the street. If we and the other cars had not observed the stop sign that the busdriver had out, those little girls would have been killed. It was such a close call it was horrifying.