10 out of 13 drivers that passed

[CalvinInTheMixMorgan]

Just something I noticed last night when driving home on the highway/freeway here in the ATL. 10 of the 13 cars that passed me, the drivers looked to be deep in conversation on their cell phone. I rarely hold a long conversation when driving, usually just long enough to say I'm driving, let me call you back. Folks here drive rather fast and in most cases very dangerous, in and out of lanes.

Just an observation, where would we be without the cell phone folks, just curious?

PEACE

[blackwax]

its illeagal in the UK you get a fine for using your cell while driving

[RAS]

It's illegal in NY, but you have to see how many idiots do it anyway. They clearly cannot drive and chat at the same time. I could never understand that.

[SuzanneT]

Just something I noticed last night when driving home on the highway/freeway here in the ATL. 10 of the 13 cars that passed me, the drivers looked to be deep in conversation on their cell phone. I rarely hold a long conversation when driving, usually just long enough to say I'm driving, let me call you back. Folks here drive rather fast and in most cases very dangerous, in and out of lanes.

Just an observation, where would we be without the cell phone folks, just curious?

PEACE

Man Calvin you ain't lyin, this is THE cell phone talkinest area I have ever seen. I said that when I 1st moved here. They need to pass a law because these fools are a menace. I hate driving and talking myself but wth did these folks do before cell phones?

[Jamie 3:26]

Man Calvin you ain't lyin, this is THE cell phone talkinest area I have ever seen. I said that when I 1st moved here. They need to pass a law because these fools are a menace. I hate driving and talking myself but wth did these folks do before cell phones?

I have heard wild stories about the way they drive in ATL.I drove down there 10 years ago to Stone Mountain,from ATL and man,those folks drive crazy as hell.

It's like the Negro 500...

[OneMasterMixer]

A report on the news yesterday said that many of accidents happen behind cell phones and texting someone while driving more than drunk driving.

Key Findings from the Survey:

--
Older, But Not Wiser: DWD is a dangerous habit affecting drivers of all ages. In fact, only three percent of those surveyed felt that the prevalence of DWD was due solely to inexperienced or teen drivers. Well above half of all generations (78 percent of Generation Y, 80 percent of Generation X and 65 percent of Baby Boomers) were guilty of participating in tasks such as talking on a cell phone or eating. While teenage drivers were slightly less guilty of talking on their cell phones while driving at 60 percent, it does not mean that they are immune. In fact, the lower occurrence rate could be attributed to factors such as graduated drivers license laws for teens that ban cell phone use while driving, increased parental control, or the fact that they are just learning and more apt to follow the rules.

--
Accidents Happen: Distractions made up three of the top four reasons to why respondents have to suddenly apply the brakes while driving: daydreaming, adjusting music, and use of a cell phone/electronic device. Other drivers were cited as the other top reason.

--
The Riskier Road: Overall, more cell phone owners found themselves talking or texting while driving on the highways or through city streets than when they were parked, in traffic or at a light (almost 50 percent vs. almost 37 percent). However, teens were more likely to talk and text while not in motion than their older counterparts.

--
Curbing Behavior: When asked what would be most successful in preventing cell phone use while driving, respondents were closely split between technology that would automatically prevent devices from working in the car (43 percent) and laws banning the use of cell phones/electronic devices while driving (42 percent). However, in curbing all distractions, respondents placed more responsibility on drivers themselves. The individual driver was listed as most responsible for curbing the behavior by 41 percent of respondents.





HOUSTON, TX. – With more drivers on the road during vacation season, some cite wireless usage while driving as one of the distractions to manage on the roadways. While wireless safety while driving is a hot topic, it is definitely not a new issue. Each year, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) designates one week as Wireless Safety Week to raise awareness of safety issues involving wireless communications—including driving while using a cell phone.

This year, Wireless Safety Week is June 2-9 -- just as students finish up their semester and families venture out for summer vacation. With more than 208 million cell phone users in the U.S. today, Verizon Wireless encourages the city of Houston to be vigilant during Wireless Safety Week and beyond to reduce the number of cell phone-related accidents.

The Texas Department of Public Safety began capturing data on whether cell phones contributed to car accidents in 2000. In that year alone, 716 cell phone crashes were reported. In 2001, that number almost doubled. With the number of cell phone-carrying drivers increasing by the minute, there is no doubt that this number continues to rise -- especially with the increased popularity of text messaging as a means of communication. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that cell phone use contributes to 25 percent of all vehicle crashes today.

"Wireless safety continues to be a big concern for the community," says Kay Henze, president of the Houston/Gulf Coast Region for Verizon Wireless. "Our goal for this Wireless Safety Week and really all year is to highlight ways consumers can drive responsibly."

Other tips for driving responsibly not only during Wireless Safety Week, but all year round include:

·Remember -- safe driving is always your first responsibility when behind the wheel.

·Before you leave the curb:

o Activate your voicemail service--if traffic conditions prevent you from answering a call, you can always retrieve messages later.

o If you're taking advantage of any navigation service, program the address into your phone before you leave -- then you'll only need to listen to the directions.

o Program important and frequently dialed numbers into your phone to take advantage of speed dialing and voice dialing features on your phone.

o When using a portable music device or music-enabled cell phone, set up your playlist while stopped.

o Turn your phone on speakerphone or use a headset while driving. Bluetooth devices are designed specifically for this type of use.

· Avoid taking notes or write down phone numbers while driving. Rather, pull off the road to a safe spot or leave yourself a message on your voicemail or voice-memo-capable handset.

· Never view or sent text messages, or video downloads while driving.

[CalvinInTheMixMorgan]

OneMasterMixer, if everyone followed those easy intructions Atlanta would be a much better place. Atlanta is one of the worst cities to drive and putting a cell phone into the mix makes it an accident waiting to happen. Keep in mind depending on where you're from as you appraoched the age of 16 you took a drivers training course in school. Drivers training isn't taught here in the schools, kids are expected to learn from their parents that in most cases, can't drive.

Unfortunately this is the time of year that teens will lose their lives in a car accident. Just Sunday night a teen was tossed from the vehicle that she was riding in. Possible drinking played a part in it. Last week 3 black teens lost their lives when their vehicle flipped over and they ended up in the front yard of a residential home. No other vehicle was invloved in either accident.

Toss the cell phone in the mix, deep conversations or exchanging text messages and who knows what will happen.

[Mr.I]

They really should ban that shit everywhere - peeps either be driving too fast, too slow, eratic its like they forget they're driving and get totally emersed in a convo

[CalvinInTheMixMorgan]

my point exactly

[VEESTER]

Yeah I noticed alot of folks on their phones when I was in Atlanta last year. Hell seems like Chicago is givin' them a run for their money cause I see so many people on their cell phones driving up here. You can get a ticket for that here but people continue to do it. I'm curious how many tickets have been given out for that?

[Perql8r]

I've got to admit - I am guilty of the Negro 500 syndrome. I was raised in the ATL, learned how to drive in the ATL (I believe back then it was 15 yrs old to get your learner's) and brought my ATL style of driving to VA (where I promptly began collecting tickets).

The thing about ATL is you almost HAVE to drive like a bat outta h311 to avoid being run over. The traffic condiitions during rush hour on pretty much every interstate (285, 75, 85, 20) keeps your traffic weaving skills on point. The good thing about ATL is that the driving test is pretty involved (unless it's changed since I left). I had to:

Parallel park
Drive backwards in a straight line
Do the cone weaving test (slalom) as fast as I could (which is probably why ATL-iens are so good at cutting in and out)
Accelerate until the tester told me to stop (and stop as fast as I could without losing traction)
...and there was another - can't remember at the moment. I got my 1st licensein Cobb County...and never got a speeding ticket until I came to VA.

Virginia's driving test consists of the following:

Take a right out of DMV parking lot
Take a right
Take a right
Take a right
Take a right - pull into DMV parking lot and park.
...YES - the test consists of driving around the block. VA drivers SUCK - I'd take the adventure of good OLD ATL any day (I LOVE driving in AtL except for rush hour)

[SIPA46]

Here is Virginia, The law say's that you can talk on your cell phone while driving. but anyone under the 21-18 can't talk while they drive.

[OneMasterMixer]

OneMasterMixer, if everyone followed those easy intructions Atlanta would be a much better place. Atlanta is one of the worst cities to drive and putting a cell phone into the mix makes it an accident waiting to happen. Keep in mind depending on where you're from as you appraoched the age of 16 you took a drivers training course in school. Drivers training isn't taught here in the schools, kids are expected to learn from their parents that in most cases, can't drive.

Unfortunately this is the time of year that teens will lose their lives in a car accident. Just Sunday night a teen was tossed from the vehicle that she was riding in. Possible drinking played a part in it. Last week 3 black teens lost their lives when their vehicle flipped over and they ended up in the front yard of a residential home. No other vehicle was invloved in either accident.

Toss the cell phone in the mix, deep conversations or exchanging text messages and who knows what will happen.

I very much agree with this point. Kids need drivers ed. Most schools have it computerized these days for safety. Remember how nervous we all were when we first got behind the wheel. Trying to stay in the line and not hit parked cars. I learned to drive in the middle of NYC on a car with a stick shift. Car drivers were not as nice as they are now. needless to say, i did learn. Drinking is a big part of teen life for many and one has to learn from the parents and hopefully take their advice. I believe texting is ten times worse because you have to take your eyes off the road to actually read. BAD MOVE and even though reports don't show stats I am pretty sure this one would be the biggest and most dangerous offense when it comes to the cell phone. No one has really started to challenge it as yet. Still a gray area.

['Magic' Juan]

They really should ban that shit everywhere - peeps either be driving too fast, too slow, eratic its like they forget they're driving and get totally emersed in a convo

I've seen tons of folks run through stop signs and red lights b/c they are too busy yapping on the cell. Although it is illegal here, I have yet to meet someone who has gotten a ticket for it.

[Chris Wood]

Here is Virginia, The law say's that you can talk on your cell phone while driving. but anyone under the 21-18 can't talk while they drive.

wtf??? everyone gets distracted not just young people...

[CalvinInTheMixMorgan]

I very much agree with this point. Kids need drivers ed. Most schools have it computerized these days for safety. Remember how nervous we all were when we first got behind the wheel. Trying to stay in the line and not hit parked cars. I learned to drive in the middle of NYC on a car with a stick shift. Car drivers were not as nice as they are now. needless to say, i did learn. Drinking is a big part of teen life for many and one has to learn from the parents and hopefully take their advice. I believe texting is ten times worse because you have to take your eyes off the road to actually read. BAD MOVE and even though reports don't show stats I am pretty sure this one would be the biggest and most dangerous offense when it comes to the cell phone. No one has really started to challenge it as yet. Still a gray area.

yea, gray area, too much of a gray area. they have yet to put a law in place here, they really need to.

[DaveR]

They should ban driving with the radio on - b/c after all, if it wasn't distracting, ya wouldn't need to turn it down when you're lost.

[AD]

its illeagal in the UK you get a fine for using your cell while driving

good. that law will go into effect next month here in california and i'm glad. i fuckin' hate people that drive slow or screw things up on the road because they're not concentrating on their driving. get off the fuckin' phone and drive, you morons!!