Driver was texting on one cell phone, talking on another...you can guess the result

[Liberal_in_LA]

just as much mayhem would be caused if people decided to paint, sculpt, read mags, watch TV, etc.. while driving. Why do people consider texting the activity they can do while driving?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/30/national/a115124D93.DTL&tsp=1

Driver texts, talks, hits car, crashes into pool

Thursday, July 30, 2009


(07-30) 11:57 PDT Lockport, N.Y. (AP) --

Police said a Buffalo-area tow truck driver was texting on one cell phone while talking on another when he slammed into a car and crashed into a swimming pool. Niagara County sheriff's deputies said 25-year-old Nicholas Sparks of Burt admitted he was texting and talking when his flatbed truck hit the car Wednesday morning in Lockport.

The truck then crashed through a fence and sideswiped a house before rolling front-end first into an in-ground pool.

The 68-year-old woman driving the car suffered head injuries and was in good condition. Her 8-year-old niece suffered minor injuries.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/30/national/a115124D93.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0MlyrRdC4

[gratuitous]

1. I only guessed part of the result

I was hoping/expecting the driver would die from being such an idiot. Damn you, Darwin!

[ejpoeta]

2. oh is that what they were talking about. i saw this on the news yesterday

and heard them say something about the guy talking on the cell phone. i wasn't paying much attention.

[Not Me]

3. Okay, I get that texting is dangerous,

but how is this proposed federal law that Schumer is pushing going to be enforced?
In most states, TALKING on the phone is not against the law. Picking up the phone and pressing TALK while driving could be construed as texting.

Seems to me, it's going to be an add-on ticket when you have the at-fault accident.

[frylock]

5. it can't be enforced..

i still see people in ca yakking away on their handset.

[slackmaster]

6. They need to raise the fine for a first offense to $1,000 and make examples out of some people

I hate seeing drivers not paying attention to the road.

[Deja Q]

11. Yes it can. People are too namby and pamby to tell law enforcement TO enforce it.

Because they themselves might want to do it some day too. In all probability, anyway...

[cabluedem]

15. Talking on a cell should be allowed, texting should be 5 years in prison. nt

[imdjh]

7. Some people would like to make it illegal to use a cellphone while driving. Unintended consequences.

So, do they intend to make it illegal to use a cellphone in a vehicle? What is the definition of driving, same as cops use to stick people with DUi who aren't actually driving and may not even intend to?

So they define it, "don't talk on cellphone in a moving vehicle"

Here come the unintended consequences.

The phone rings, and you whip into a parking lot to stop and take the call. Get millions of people whipping into parking lots that they wouldn't normally whip into, and your going to have auto and pedestrian casualties.

[Berry Cool]

13. If people "whipping into parking lots they wouldn't normally whip into" is a huge casualty-causer,

we should then also make it illegal to advertise store sales, restaurant specials, etc.

Come to think of it, canceling Christmas would probably be the safest thing to do.

I mean, you DID mention "unintended consequences."

[cabluedem]

16. Being parked on side of freeway taking a call is a very dangerous move. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. I've seen cell phone users 'whip' into parking lots for that call, they do it one handed, swinging

wide

[Strong Atheist]

18. BTW, off topic, have you ever

met:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=146947


:rofl:

[LiberalFighter]

4. I thought maybe both of the cell phones ended up his ass.

[LeftishBrit]

21. Well, that's obviously where his head was!

[corpseratemedia]

8. big fines

and enough idiots will be helping to lower state budget deficits

[TexasObserver]

9. To quote Homer when he's strangling Bart: "Why, you little ...!"

I am opposed to capital punishment, but might consider an exception for people who text while driving.

[Deja Q]

10. It's getting to the point where I'm more inclined to trust alcoholics with driving.

Massive jail time for both. Enough is enough already. If people can't realize how SIMPLE it is; there IS NO RATIONALIZATION OR UNDERLYING PROBLEMS on this issue. None that I can fathom right now, anyway.

Hell, I've told coworkers who get on my case for not immediately responding on my blackberry that I will not, ever, use the thing while driving. I can either type or I can drive. I can't do both. I won't do both.

They prefer driving. Takes less time to drive than to dicker around on an obscenely small "keyboard" too.

[Berry Cool]

14. I'm starting to think it wouldn't be so bad to retrain people to recognize the concept of

"There will be times and places during which I cannot be reached immediately. Leave me a message and I will get back to you ASAP."

[nilram]

19. Public Servicec Announcement: Need to take a call? Find a drunk to take the wheel!

[bahrbearian]

12. Self Delete

[MilesColtrane]

20. That's nothing.

I've seen a guy watching a basketball game on a flatscreen in his car while talking on a cell phone and driving.