Drunk Drivers vs. Cell Phoners

[DannyD]

We've probably all had at least one occurance w/ a cell phone driver & a drunk driver by now. A situation in Cincy happend that could have cost a lot of lives. Of course the person who caused it would have just kept driving up the road, oblivious to what she almost caused. Fortunately, this time no one was hurt.

I'm of the opinion that while one drunk driver is worse than one cell phone driver, overall cell phone drivers are much worse of a problem because there's so many more of them.

Agree? Disagree? Any thoughts?

 

[greg334]

Well the BS about cell phones doesn't include all distractions within the cabin of a truck/car which it should.

I mean many are still talking on the hands free ear piece or what ever and their pee size brain can't handle any sort of multi-tasking, which include simple conversations with a passenger. Mothers (and in many cases fathers) are the biggest threat to anyone on the road because their attention is diverted to the brats in the back and their 'care' - the kid can wait until they get home to eat, don't stuff food in their face to shut them up or they'll by 300 by the 11th grade.

But there is another issue, the manufactures of these vehicles, Ford has led the way in distracting drivers and that is now being followed up by GM and Chrysler I mean Fiat. If we are to take anything seriously (come on congress you got better things to do then to think up a national texting ban), it starts with taking the entire subject of safety seriously.

About drunk driving, simple solution would the first time you lose your license and the car, the second time you lose the car and get jail time and the third would be long jail time and forced rehab. Once you take their car, it may be the last time they drive drunk but if they are so inclined to do so, taking the second car regardless who owns it will inflict more problems on them.

 

[dieseldiva]

To the original question....yes, I agree. Once upon a time when you came upon a vehicle swerving or appearing unstable, it was almost assumed that the driver was under the influence BUT that didn't happen daily....NOW, it does...maybe not daily as much as hourly. Like it or not, it's become a HUGE problem out here on the road and truck drivers are not above the problem. What I can and will say for the truckers is that I see more of them using the bluetooth devices than I see John Q so at least they are TRYING to err on the side of safety.

 

[Turtle]

Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone and driving while drunk each exhibit the same reaction times. There's no difference.

Studies also show there to be very little difference between driving and talking on a hand-held device versus a hands-free device, except that a hands-free device at least affords you the opportunity to keep both hands on the wheel.

 

[letzrockexpress]

Studies also show there to be very little difference between driving and talking on a hand-held device versus a hands-free device, except that a hands-free device at least affords you the opportunity to keep both hands on the wheel.

Well now that just depends on who I might be talking to.