Big Cars are killing Americans

Dftodd · Jan 22, 2022

RoyJackson said:
It's not the talking, especially if you can do it hands free...my 2016 Tacoma has Bluetooth and I do make and receive calls.
It's the texting or cruising Facebook and such.
Mostly a personal responsibility (or lack thereof) thing...and, yes HEAVY fines and license suspensions...even vehicle confiscation, should be enacted

There's the ones playing a video in the rear view mirror that get me.

The back up camera display in my service truck can be turned on to monitor the receiver hitch when towing. I have to shut it off after dark. The darn thing will blind me. I only kick on if I'm at a stop light or stopped at an exit for an off ramp to check my load. Then turn it back off.

That would drive me flipping nuts driving down the road having flashing lights from a video screen playing behind me or in the rear view.

I like being able to push a button in my Sierra, and telling the vehicle to call my wife or someone else in my call list.

I can listen to a text by pressing one button on the steering wheel and respond to the message by voice. Although 99% of the time I ignore a text till I get stopped.

Pixguy · Jan 22, 2022

Jstpssng · Jan 22, 2022

MossRoad said:
While I agree that texting or scrolling through pages on the phone is super distracting, even using hands-free calling, or having any conversation, can be distracting.

Many times I've been on a hands-free call while driving, or even having a conversation with a passenger in the vehicle with me, and I cannot remember squat about how I got to where I'm going. I just arrive. It's like my brain has been on autopilot while I had that conversation.

I do that occasionally even when nobody else is in the vehicle. I often spend 4 or more hours per day driving and it's not that hard to go onto autopilot while thinking about other things, then suddenly look around and realize how far you've gone. The big difference betwen that and texting is that my eyes have been on the road for all of that time and (hopefully) part of me has been paying attention to what's going on. I'm also on roads with little to no traffic.

Jstpssng · Jan 22, 2022

RoyJackson said:
If the call is going to be any length (most call last 30 seconds, max), I'll pull to the shoulder.
I won't respond to any texts at all...they can wait or the texter can call...

Bluetooth is great. One glance at the dash tells me who is calling and how good my signal strength is. I then start looking for a place to pull over. More and more I also find myself going out to my truck to make calls because the hands free is so handy. I can write things down as needed, or work my computer if necessary while still focusing on the conversation.

Texts are another story; I don't even look at my phone. I often drive an hour or more without even knowing I've recieved one; if it's important they can dial my number.

Whether cell or landline, my phone is for my convenience anyways.

stuckmotor said:
A lady I used to know had been in two or three wrecks and I remember thinking she must be a careless driver. I also remember holding my tongue when she told me how the family had bought a big used Cadillac SHE'D be safe.

This is my biggest gripe about people who buy bigger "so they'll be safer." Perhaps they should learn how to drive instead. I don't care what people drive, as long as they can do it well. The onus shouldn't be on me to get out of their way because they have something beyond their capabilities.