Texting while driving

[the old grind]

Just practicing, Richard.

Considering a typical drive-time/phone-time ratio our younger folks are more like 'driving while texting'.

When/if phones migrate from palms to wrists will it be 'texting while driving one-handed'? ... or 1/2-handed?

Folks text me and say later, "It wasn't important." (... enough to call) So, why not save it for when something is? Otherwise IMO it's too often just 'babbling of the bored', and I'm not at the moment. (still want to call my smart-phone an 'I-crutch', and doing my best to get along without it as I have since the '50s)

#1 reason I'd rather not 'text' is not knowing if someone is behind the wheel. Many who fancy it seem to think an immediate response is essential.

For everything else I do I'm willing to be 'that guy', but I don't want to be the one who was texted back to just seconds before someone piles up their car/truck ... and then lose sleep over it.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I don't text, take, or make calls when driving. And I agree with all the dangers identified. But I think that playing accordion and singing is 4 things not one. It is beside the point so will drop it now.

 

[cqaigy2]

I heard someplace, that those of us that did not grow up with smartphone, drove and texted, different from those that grew up with smartphone. It was a question of priority, of driving or texting. Us old folks, driving is a priority, with younger people, phone is the priority. One person would look down for a few words, look up for a for a bit, then repeat. Another person would look down for twelve or so words then up for a second, then down for twelve or so words.

 

[TomSeller]

It's still just one activity and the attention is focused on that activity. Try playing one while talking or texting.

Do I have to stop walking and chewing gum at the same time? How about farting and drinking beer?

 

[turnkey4099]

Or singing?

Depends on whether what you are singing is the smae as what you are playing.

 

[turnkey4099]

Do I have to stop walking and chewing gum at the same time? How about farting and drinking beer?

If you haved to _think_ about either chewing gum or farting...

Idt ain't what you are doing physically, it is what the brain is doing.

 

[CCWKen]

OK I have to ask - how old are you? Or was this a go-kart?

I had a post-war VW that had the flip-out turn signal arms on the B-pillars. I don't remember the exact year but I remember it having the little oval rear window. Perhaps '48 or '49. I bought it to make a dune buggy at the time and scrapped the body. I've wished I had it back many times. It was a rare model.

The flip-out signal idea dates back to the early 1900s as an auto accessory. Some even had a hand shape. I think a lot of the European cars came standard with flip-out turn signals in the 40s and 50s.

As a side note:
I don't think they even teach driving hand signals any more. If you put your arm out to signal a turn now days, most other drivers think you're waving at them. Young drivers sure missed a period of living history. Most cars and trucks didn't come with such luxuries as turn signals, radios or even heaters. And forget air conditioning and automatic transmissions. Brake lights weren't even used until the late 20s and most headlights wouldn't light the road for more than 30 feet! That was back when you had to be a "real driver".

 

[PILOON]

Ever pilot an aircraft?
Throttle, mixture, flaps, gear retraction, change frequencies 2-3 times, monitor gauges, look out for traffic, adjust trim tabs copy clearances etc etc.
Oh and monitor radar, glide slope and localizer on approach all while looking out for traffic.
Multitasking impossible???

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Ever pilot an aircraft?
Throttle, mixture, flaps, gear retraction, change frequencies 2-3 times, monitor gauges, look out for traffic, adjust trim tabs copy clearances etc etc.
Oh and monitor radar, glide slope and localizer on approach all while looking out for traffic.
Multitasking impossible???

He's right. Fair amount of science arround it. No such thing as multitasking. Only rapid task switching (can be very rapid and is what we call multitasking).

And Fixed Action Patterns (essentially muscle memory) don't count because they don't require attention (i.e. Continuous, ongoing prefrontal cortical involvement.

 

[downsizingnow48]

In that case texting while driving is not inherently dangerous. Just needs training like a pilot or musician. So they need to do it more and get proficient.