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U.S. withheld data on risks of distracted driving

ReverendHellh0und

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U.S. withheld data on risks of distracted driving

NYT: Data shelved on distracted driver risk - The New York Times- msnbc.com


In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel.

They sought the study based on evidence that such multitasking was a serious and growing threat on America’s roadways.

But such an ambitious study never happened. And the researchers’ agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, decided not to make public hundreds of pages of research and warnings about the use of phones by drivers — in part, officials say, because of concerns about angering Congress.



This is sad, they are upset over a stufy that didn't happen and data withheld. Now anyone who drives knows that idiots who talk on the phone and drive, or especcially txt and drive are as bad as drunks on the road. Do we really need a new law, or government studies to tell us?

We already have a law. Its called Careless or Reckless driving..... Jeesh....
 
This is sad, they are upset over a stufy that didn't happen and data withheld. Now anyone who drives knows that idiots who talk on the phone and drive, or especcially txt and drive are as bad as drunks on the road. Do we really need a new law, or government studies to tell us?

We already have a law. Its called Careless or Reckless driving..... Jeesh....

I'm not a big fan of cellphones in general. Not that I don't have one, because I do. It's cheaper and more convenient than having a landline. It has caused the downfall of conversation, though. Have you listened to the pointless conversations that people have on their cellphones in public? People now call each other whenever they get a wild hair up their ass about the most pointless crap. These types of conversations can definitely wait until someone isn't being otherwise occupied by driving or whatever. People managed for decades to drive without having to have a phone conversation, I don't know why they feel the need to do it now. None of these conversations are so important that they are worth risking both your life as well as other drivers on the road.
 
I'm not a big fan of cellphones in general. Not that I don't have one, because I do. It's cheaper and more convenient than having a landline. It has caused the downfall of conversation, though. Have you listened to the pointless conversations that people have on their cellphones in public? People now call each other whenever they get a wild hair up their ass about the most pointless crap. These types of conversations can definitely wait until someone isn't being otherwise occupied by driving or whatever. People managed for decades to drive without having to have a phone conversation, I don't know why they feel the need to do it now. None of these conversations are so important that they are worth risking both your life as well as other drivers on the road.




I live on a cell phone and a laptop...... It's my money maker...


That said. I will retire in the keys, or somewhere out west, and have a working payphone at the corner of my lot and that's it........ :lol:
 
This is sad, they are upset over a stufy that didn't happen and data withheld. Now anyone who drives knows that idiots who talk on the phone and drive, or especcially txt and drive are as bad as drunks on the road. Do we really need a new law, or government studies to tell us?

We already have a law. Its called Careless or Reckless driving..... Jeesh....

Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.
 
Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.

What a remarkably useless analogy. I suppose we might as well do the same for drunken driving, then?
 
Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.



I have no problem with that. Read between my lines.


If you are on the phone and driving normally, no problem.

if you are in the fast lane in a 65 swerving doing 40, you need a reckless driving ticket.



If you are in an accident that causes a fatality and the police find a txt half typed. Vehicular manslaughter.
 
What a remarkably useless analogy. I suppose we might as well do the same for drunken driving, then?

Funny you should say that, because in this thread on teen pregnancy http://www.debatepolitics.com/break...arply-during-bush-years-agency-finds.html...a pro-abstinence person is quoted saying:
"In every other area of public policy - food, drugs, alcohol - we tell children what is the best choice. It seems very bizarre that the sex education establishment rejects the idea that we should talk to kids about what is best for them. We don't take vodka to drivers education because children will drink and drive."

If it's ok to condone activities so long as they're "safe", then we need to educate drivers on using blue-tooth, general multitasking, and smiler.
 
It's already been banned in this country. The government launched an initiative which involved brutal TV adverts to show the dangers of talking on the phone when driving. If you get caught I believe you can be fined or have your license taken away. It's a dangerous practice.
 
I have no problem with that. Read between my lines.


If you are on the phone and driving normally, no problem.

if you are in the fast lane in a 65 swerving doing 40, you need a reckless driving ticket.



If you are in an accident that causes a fatality and the police find a txt half typed. Vehicular manslaughter.

Agreed!

But what about alcohol? Some people drive better after 2 drinks than others; or 2 joints for that matter;)
 
I'm not a big fan of cellphones in general. Not that I don't have one, because I do. It's cheaper and more convenient than having a landline. It has caused the downfall of conversation, though. Have you listened to the pointless conversations that people have on their cellphones in public? People now call each other whenever they get a wild hair up their ass about the most pointless crap. These types of conversations can definitely wait until someone isn't being otherwise occupied by driving or whatever. People managed for decades to drive without having to have a phone conversation, I don't know why they feel the need to do it now. None of these conversations are so important that they are worth risking both your life as well as other drivers on the road.

I use my cell so infrequently, I lost it for 3 weeks once. Upon finding it in between the car seats, I had no new messages.
 
Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.

I think its not so much talking, but trying to text message with two thumbs while driving that gets people killed.
 
I think its not so much talking, but trying to text message with two thumbs while driving that gets people killed.

Talking on the cellphone can cause accidents just as easily. Some people can do it, but others have a difficulty keeping their main focus on the task at hand.
 
Talking on the cellphone can cause accidents just as easily. Some people can do it, but others have a difficulty keeping their main focus on the task at hand.

Yeh, but texting, you have to use both hands, AND watch what you're doing, and some people actually try to drive at the same time.
 
I have over a million logged miles under my belt and it's been my observation that stupid drivers are stupid, cell phone, or no cell phone.
 
Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.

Nah, just elimate the grounds and noise suppressors on the car's alternators, or add some tiny little gadget that shatters cell phone reception in the driver's seat of a running motor vehicle....
 
Nah, just elimate the grounds and noise suppressors on the car's alternators, or add some tiny little gadget that shatters cell phone reception in the driver's seat of a running motor vehicle....

Hey yeah cell phone blocking technology is sure to be a hit with new car buyers
 
Agreed!

But what about alcohol? Some people drive better after 2 drinks than others; or 2 joints for that matter;)

I think that is a rationalization which can't be proved.

Buzzed driving is drunk driving.
 
Abstinence only education doesn't work. Better to give them all the information and teach them how to drive and talk on the phone safely because they're going to do it anyway.
Put a latex sleeve over the phones to help mitigate the danger. :lol:
 
I use my cell so infrequently, I lost it for 3 weeks once. Upon finding it in between the car seats, I had no new messages.
Not feeling the love?
 
By withholding this data the states got the short end of the stick because they could have used it when deciding how they wanted to address the safety issue of distracted drivers. Saying that they didn't want to anger congress is about as lame of an excuse as it gets. Incompetence is the first word that comes to mind .
 
Yeh, but texting, you have to use both hands, AND watch what you're doing, and some people actually try to drive at the same time.

Well, texting while driving is completely absurd. I think texting in general is stupid. I don't care whether a person is texting or calling someone while driving...they should be focused on the task at hand. Some people can drive fine and talk on the phone, others can't. Personally, I think that doing any unnecessary and potentially distracting activity while driving is wrong and should be a punishable offense..but maybe that's just me.
 
If they're going to ban cell phones, then they should also ban eating while driving, putting on makeup and shaving while driving, ban all paper maps from cars, prevent radio stations from being changed while driving, and ban children from cars while driving.

If someone is going to be distracted to the point that they are unsafe, then they are simply unsafe drivers.
 
If they're going to ban cell phones, then they should also ban eating while driving, putting on makeup and shaving while driving, ban all paper maps from cars, prevent radio stations from being changed while driving, and ban children from cars while driving.

If someone is going to be distracted to the point that they are unsafe, then they are simply unsafe drivers.

Except for the fact that children and paper maps aren't unnecessary distractions. The other items you listed are. You also can't really compare talking on a cellphone or texting on a cellphone with simple stuff like children, paper maps and changing a radio station.
 
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