Big Cars are killing Americans

[RaydaKub]

I agree with the poster who suggested cell phones should be disabled in a vehicle unless dialing 911. I suspect more people in accidents using cell phones than any other cause.

I am really torn on this. I don't see hands-free operation for a call being any worse than somebody in the passenger seat talking to you. Most new cars have Bluetooth, so this is possible.
My wife's phone is set to reply that "I'm driving, I'll reply once I've arrived." for text messages. The phone detects the motion and activates this automatically. It does this even when she's the passenger; there's no way the phone can know who is actually behind the wheel, but you can always respond anyway.
As for totally disabling the phone in motion, I rely on mine for navigation. Pretty hard to get somewhere new w/o it. And I think it's a better option that unfolding a map, then folding it up again. And my wife does an amazing job navigating for me, finding alternate routes when traffic gets thick. Disabling her phone because I'm driving doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I think holding the phone in your hand while driving should be an automatic $500 fine, jump to $1000 on 2nd offense. MN has a hands free law and I see it broken almost every day.

 

[mark48]

i know many here will not agree with this article, but just to stir the pot.... inho increased size of the pickup over the years to the now monstrous has posed safety hazards for pedestrians. add all the small vehicles now on public roads (i hate scooters, etc) only increases risk.
we have a voracious appetite for power/size/creature comfort, which is ok in iteslf. but there are blind spots on these larger trucks, & the increased power & creature comfort sometimes makes us unaware of our surroundings...add our thirst for social media while driving & it makes a recipe for disaster

(this comment is not intended for those who depend on larger pickups for their trade, etc. just for the mall cruisers in crowded areas)
your thoughts? the link should work

You can't fix stupid or the people that habit the roads with no regard for others, be it pedestrians, farm equipment, school buses or fellow drivers obeying all speed and lane rules....

 

[fishdrivel]

While driving a busy road in Charlotte, traffic came to an "unexpected" stop.
I was able to control my F150, lady in minivan behind me could not.
I had my hitch in and received no damage. Hers was totaled!
After police took my statement, they said I could go on my way, since I had zero damage.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

^^^^^
I want one! Do they make an EV?

Oh... you're just bad...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

While driving a busy road in Charlotte, traffic came to an "unexpected" stop.
I was able to control my F15, lady in minivan behind me could not.
I had my hitch in and received no damage. Hers was totaled!
After police took my statement, they said I could go on my way, since I had zero damage.

Butt slams are a huge problem in Charlotte. I hate driving there.

 

[sunandsand]

No, only diesel, but it is big enough to tow around its own nuclear power plant, so if you really want an electric . . .


Made in Russia, they use them to recover cosmonauts in the trackless wastes of Siberia. "Where we going, we don't need no roads comrade, in fact, we make our own!"

Sells for about $140K, delivery is going to be "a bit" extra ;-)

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

^^^^^
I want one! Do they make an EV?

 

[EONE]

Come on...Your on a forum for people interested in tractors..... I am 60 years, operate heavy equipment and drive BIG trucks, lowboys, etc...... I love BIG iron. I Own tractors and a mini excavator for my own property. No such thing as too big or too much power..."In most cases" as far as I AM concerned. This is STILL the USA.... Heck I even owned a Stihl MS-880 Magnum chainsaw with a 50" bar just for the fun of having it...Even made some money with it..... My own pickup however is "only" a Ram 1500 Warlock. Thats just what I like...If a Man..or Woman wants a huge, tall, massive tired truck, with a big smoking straight pipe sticking out the bed then more power to them!!...."Merica" !!!!

 

[CHKOKC]

i know many here will not agree with this article, but just to stir the pot.... inho increased size of the pickup over the years to the now monstrous has posed safety hazards for pedestrians. add all the small vehicles now on public roads (i hate scooters, etc) only increases risk.
we have a voracious appetite for power/size/creature comfort, which is ok in iteslf. but there are blind spots on these larger trucks, & the increased power & creature comfort sometimes makes us unaware of our surroundings...add our thirst for social media while driving & it makes a recipe for disaster

(this comment is not intended for those who depend on larger pickups for their trade, etc. just for the mall cruisers in crowded areas)
your thoughts? the link should work

Yes sir, you are correct: I do not agree.

 

[youngpg]

Where's the data showing the impact of large pickups on pedestrian safety? A supposition is not fact. A large number of factors affect pedestrian safety.
I have a small rural farm and drive a 1 ton, extra cab, long bed Ram diesel. I try not to run over pedestrians, but I don't like to drive it to urban areas mostly because cities are large vehicle unfriendly. Ever tried to park or go through a coffee or fast food "drive-thru" in a city? That is OK though, we take our small car to the cities - thereby saving American lives?

 

[kubota shifty]

It is part of evolution. Darwin's ideas are not totally incorrect. Some stupid people need to be weeded out of the gene pool or the human race devolves into....well...

It is regrettable when those doing the "weeding out" are those who should be "weeded out".

I agree with the poster who suggested cell phones should be disabled in a vehicle unless dialing 911. I suspect more people in accidents using cell phones than any other cause.

Pedestrians on cell phones that get hit by a vehicle...see Darwin above.

That's my view on vaccinations.