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Blame The Mobile Phone? Or The Cocaine, Pot And Speed?
from the cocaine-and-speed-had-nothing-to-do-with-it dept
Matthew T writes in with the latest effort to place much more of the blame on a fatal accident on mobile phones than was probably deserved. As Matthew notes, the story's headline is "Fatal crash blamed on cell phone user," which pretty much sets the tone for the story. It's only well into the story, after focusing in on the phone, that we're told that driver was also found with "cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines" in his system. Seems like that might have played a pretty big part in him crossing the center divide and slamming head on into another car. However, after mentioning the drugs, the rest of the article focuses almost entirely on how dangerous phones are and how political action needs to be taken. To be honest, though, neither the phone nor the drugs should be "blamed" for it -- but the driver who stupidly took the drugs, got in the car and got on the phone. Either way, though, it seems like if people are trying to drum up support for driver distraction laws, they should be able to pick better examples than this one.
Reader Comments
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No Subject Given
Well, I'm sure he, uh, wouldn't have been able to get the drugs, if, er... umm... he hadn't been able to call his dealer with the phone! Yeah! Also, he probably felt like he had to use speed and coke to deal with all the multitasking that those phones make you do, since they include the ability to send text and take pictures and stuff.
So of course cell phones are dangerous. You should have to forfeit your driver's license when you buy one (from a government-run store).
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Re: No Subject Given
So of course cell phones are dangerous. You should have to forfeit your driver's license when you buy one (from a government-run store).
And don't mind the extra antenna...
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Re: No Subject Given
What didn't get fully addressed in the story is the fact that the idiot driving the car made some bad choices prior to getting on the cell phone. Driving while under the influence is going to make him a worse driver, aside from that, yeah, talking on a cell phone probably distracted him, but why blame the cell phone? it does not have the ability to think on its own, nor the ability to willingly put others lives in danger. When i see a cellphone hit the market that has a built in gun that can be targeted and fired by the cellphone with no help from an outside source, then I will start blaming otherwise inanimate objects for the stupidity of others! of course, if we didnt have frivolos lawsuits, we wouldn't have lawyers. Imagine what a world we would have if there were no lawyers........
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Re: No Subject Given
Young children should also be banned from riding in the back seat as well since we are on the subject of driver distractions. Anyone who has 2 or more kids under the age of 5 knows that they are much more distracting than a cell phone and all the drugs your body can consume.
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No Subject Given
I drive two hours every day on the interstate
and without exception see distracted drivers
who are yaking on the cell phone. It's their
driving that attracts my attention. Obviously
some people cannot drive in a safe manner and
talk on the phone at the same time and they will
cause accidents.
The human factor study compared put it this way,
talking on the phone while driving reduces a
young person's response to that of an old person.
I'll add that they don't have either the experience or
realization that their responses have deteriorated
that an older person usually has.
You're a danger... shut up and drive already.
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Re: No Subject Given
I agree! Turn off the cell phone and get your butt out of my way!
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No Subject Given
Mythbusters, the most reliable source of modern science, did a study of the effects of alcohol vs. cell phones. They found talking on a cell phone was more dangerous while driving than being legally drunk.
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Re: No Subject Given
"Mythbusters, the most reliable source of modern science, did a study of the effects of alcohol vs. cell phones. They found talking on a cell phone was more dangerous while driving than being legally drunk."
Agreed...on all points actually. I love Mythbusters.
But the point of the article was that the drugs in the guys systems were downplayed, or barley even mentioned.
Operating while under the influence = dangerous. Operating on the phone = more dangerous. Simple math shows: operating under the influence + on the phone = even more dangerous.
But lets make sure we don't blame this one all on the phone, since it was just one variable in the equasion.
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Re: No Subject Given
Operating under the influence + on the phone = even more dangerous.
It might be better expressed as operating under the influence * on the phone = even more dangerous.
In any case, it's quite a cocktail. The article doesn't mention whether the driver also had the radio on or a DVD playing.
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No Subject Given
Of course, the drugs present in his system bears no correlation to the time he took the drugs. drug metabolites remain in the system long after consumption, often long after the 'high' has passed.
Cars should be equipped with breathalizers and devices that emit signals that automatically turn off cell phones (inside the car, of course).
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Re: No Subject Given
....or people could just pay attention to the road, now there's an idea.
so how come truckers who talk on thier CB's all day and night don't wreck all the time, oh right, they were actually paying attention.
its just another stupid law to protect the knucke-draggers.
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Typical...
People are always trying to use drugs as the scapegoat. I see dozens of people each days who are slamming on their brakes, drifting over the lines of their lane, or obstructing traffic because they are not paying attention. About 9 out of 10 have a cell on their ear when I get a look at them. I seriously doubt that percentage of them is on drugs. Cell phones are hazardous. I feel safer with pot smokers on the road that cell users.
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Cell Phone danger
I have seen people eat, read the paper, put on make up, smoke, and drink whilst driving down the turnpike at breakneck speeds. If I have a passenger in the car and I am having a conversation with them, constantly turning my head to see thier expression/body language, am I more or less distracted than talking an hands free cell?
I would say more distracted... In my state ,Texas, teenagers are only allowed to have a single passenger in thier car till thier 18yrs old unless the passengers are siblings. This indicates that the state feels that the distraction of having passengers is severe enough to warrant the law.
Should we start giving tickets to drivers who are seen talking to passengers? do you know anyone who has been ticked for distractions other that phones? I don't!
Get a hands free voice activated phone for petes sake....
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Re: Cell Phone danger
The United States Air Force just passed a "law" making the use of a cell phone without a hands-free device on a military installation a "primary offense"--i.e. they can pull you over for that. The plan is to levy three points against your driving license...I can assure that the base security will attack this one with glee.
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Hands-Free
How about hands-free operation? Why is that different than talking to your passenger? Actually, since you probably look at the passenger once in a while, it's probably less dangerous.
All of this malarkey is just trying to relieve individuals for responsibility for their actions. If I'm talking on my cell phone and have an accident, it's clearly my fault! Pretty soon the world will be 100% safe because we won't be allowed to leave our homes, and all the sharp instruments at home will have been Confiscated.
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Re: Hands-Free
I absolutely agree, John.
"All of this malarkey is just trying to relieve individuals for responsibility for their actions. If I'm talking on my cell phone and have an accident, it's clearly my fault! Pretty soon the world will be 100% safe because we won't be allowed to leave our homes, and all the sharp instruments at home will have been Confiscated."
I heard on the news this morning that the government (I think just state gov't in AL) is thinking about requiring children to sit in booster seats after they outgrow their childseats until they are 4'9" tall or 12 years old. Now, personally, I wasn't over 4'9" until I was in the ninth grade in high school, but that story made me feel the exact same way. We're going to all be living in bubbles soon.
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Re: Hands-Free
There is clearly a difference with a hands-free cell conversation and a conversation with a passenger. A passenger is also observing the road and will likely stop the conversation for moment as a natural response to a possible dangerous situation...you know; backseat driver. Someone yapping in your ear on a cell phone can't see whats going on and will keep you distracted.
I'm not against cell phones while driving though, but I always use a hands-free devise. I also run with scissors.
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Wakeup call
Driving a motor vehicle takes concentration. Period.
I've seen people driving, jabbering away on their cell phones, and BARELY slam on the brakes to avoid rear ending people. I even followed a young lady the other day (wearing a H.S letter jacket) that was talking on her cell phone, adjusting her lipstick in the rearview mirror, and driving with her elbows. Can I hear you say, "accident waiting to happen!" ?
Seems like people lose sight of what it is they're driving. It's a several thousand pound killing machine if not used with the proper respect.
DON'T become complacent and think you're ten foot tall and bullet proof just because you're in the comfort of your vehicle. You'll get yourself killed, or worse, you'll kill someone else (like ME!)
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Re: Wakeup call
All you cell phone haters need to know the facts before you ban all phone and sharp instruments... there is NO evidence that accidents or fatalities have increased in the cell phone era... want proof???
go to the link below.. your government at work, also check the national auto insurance safety boards website...so until you have the facts...
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/
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Re: Wakeup call
Oh yes, we beleive EVERYTHING that the US government tells us!! Nothing but yur best interest at heart!! They also tell you that global warming is not real.
I'll call your cell phone, tell you im sleeping with your wife, and watch you get into an accident.
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Statistics
The chart lists 'cell phones' as contributing to 5 of the fatal crashes in 2004. However, Unknown is a contributing factor in 497 of the accidents! Clearly, we must legislate against the Unknown!
This is just another piece of evidence to my mind that instead of legislating against any particular object, we need to simply ban stupid people.
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Cell Phones
Hang up and DRIVE!
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No Subject Given
I drive about 4 hours a day going to and from work and I AM ON MY CELL THE WHOLE TIME. I drive about 70 - 80 mph most of the way and have been doing it for about 2 years.
I have never been in an accident on my cell phone but I pass tons of accidents from idiots that do not know how to drive.... Hmmm maybe if they could dive then it might help when they are on the phone.
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No Subject Given
uumm. I think the real point that mike is making is that, why do we blame everything else but ourselves. he made all those choices, not the god damn cell phone or drugs
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