Texting and Driving, Do you do it? Why?

[Patchelicious]

Like. Like. Like.

 

People bashing posters like CBlake is really missing the point of this thread.

 

If you are confused read the title..

 

I get the point of the thread. But surely we can simultaneously debate the topic and change our behaviour to not engager peoples lives?

 

If we are to apply the "stick exactly to the thread title" logic to all threads, where will we end up.

[Robbie Stewart]

Guy gives an honest answer, and admits his own failings.

 

Apparently Mother Theresa, the Pope and Roger Federer's librarian are now double posting on the hub lecturing him. High horses and all that, I hope they all have no mp3s on their phones, all have paid up tv licences, are square with SARS etc etc.

 

I'm too scared to admit what I do on my bluetooth connected phone whilst driving incase I'm lumped in with Sibusizo Zuma, Josiah Rabotapi and that Steinhoff guy for being a menace to society (for the record Zuma done nothing wrong).

 

 

I'm sorry Bartali, but there simply are no get out of jail free cards here. You can try to convince yourself, and likely succeed, that CBlake is being honest and transparent etc. But you, and folks who share your worldview, will be the only ones who take yourselves serious on this.

 

As for me, there is zero mitigating factor that will ever make it okay to use your cellular phone while sharing the road.

 

If you feel that admitting your failure is enough penance, but does not require a change in behavior, then I pray to God that you are never found wanting in a situation where you have killed or maimed some innocent person because you feel entitled/justified/pressurized - fill in the blanks - to continue this abhorrent and selfish behavior.

 

I will now let Jaycee (I think that is the name of the girl in the video Patches posted) speak for everyone who had to pay the price because some self-righteous prick could not leave their phone alone long enough to finish their trip.

 

I suppose people who seem to think it's okay to carry on doing it, probably also think it's okay to drive while having had a glass, or two, or three...

 

 

[Patchelicious]

Guy gives an honest answer, and admits his own failings.

 

Apparently Mother Theresa, the Pope and Roger Federer's librarian are now double posting on the hub lecturing him. High horses and all that, I hope they all have no mp3s on their phones, all have paid up tv licences, are square with SARS etc etc.

 

I'm too scared to admit what I do on my bluetooth connected phone whilst driving incase I'm lumped in with Sibusizo Zuma, Josiah Rabotapi and that Steinhoff guy for being a menace to society (for the record Zuma done nothing wrong).

The day that somebody's AudioGalaxy account kills one of our children, I will take your post seriously.

 

Texting and driving has devastated many families, and while I sort of understand your point about throwing stones in glass houses. Asking people to not text and drive should not be condemned, texting and driving should be condemned. 

[Chris_]

The reason I extrapolated the examples to include speeding and drink, and even things which only affect ourselves is to try work out why we (or I…) do what we do. I’m trying to find common ground (on any issue). Because whether its self-sabotage or outward sabotage I think its probably based on the same reasoning in our heads. 

 

The only way to solve a problem is to find out where it comes from. Problems are not solved by who shouts the loudest and who points the most fingers. If we all disagree, happy days, but at least provide a sensible rebuttal.

[Patchelicious]

 

The reason I extrapolated the examples to include speeding and drink, and even things which only affect ourselves is to try work out why we (or I…) do what we do. I’m trying to find common ground (on any issue). Because whether its self-sabotage or outward sabotage I think its probably based on the same reasoning in our heads. 

 

The only way to solve a problem is to find out where it comes from. Problems are not solved by who shouts the loudest and who points the most fingers. If we all disagree, happy days, but at least provide a sensible rebuttal.

 

 

That is not always the only way. We have the ability to makes decisions too.

 

While I understand the world we live in and the demand on connectivity and being available, and I am a slave to it too, we must try and make decisions over and above our urges. I for one get on average 100 - 150 mails that need responses a day, I am online most of the time, and if I don't have my phone I feel uncomfortable. However, I make the decision to not text and drive even though I feel the need to answer mails while on the road. That is not some sanctimonious or high horse decision, its a normal one. Like not drinking and driving.

 

Please stop texting and driving before you hurt somebody else, that is a sincere request.

[Chris_]

 

 

Texting and driving has devastated many families, and while I sort of understand your point about throwing stones in glass houses. Asking people to not text and drive should not be condemned, texting and driving should be condemned. 

 

This is the scab I am trying to pick at. We all know it is condemned, We all know eg: drinking and speeding are condemned by the highest authority any way you look at it. And yet my point remains we still do it. I have not (intentionally) engaged this thread to justify my actions in any way, nor convince anyone they are correct. What I am trying to do is figure out why we all still do it. Texting is only one example of a laundry list of misdemeanors I see when driving home in the evenings. 

 

That is not always the only way. We have the ability to makes decisions too.

 

 

 

Please stop texting and driving before you hurt somebody else, that is a sincere request.

 

I hear you, I understand you, and I have taken this on-board.

[Shebeen]

The day that somebody's AudioGalaxy account kills one of our children, I will take your post seriously.

 

Texting and driving has devastated many families, and while I sort of understand your point about throwing stones in glass houses. Asking people to not text and drive should not be condemned, texting and driving should be condemned. 

 

I could have added exceeding the speed limit in there just as easily. I'm sure there are way more people killed by reckless fast driving than texting drivers, both of them are illegal and bad.

 

There is actually no point in this thread currently, people have made up their minds on this issue. I've been very careful to not say what I do in my car with my phone, because the loudest voices here are so black and white on the topic. I assume they turn their phones off or put them in the boot before driving.

 

I'm not going to take someone seriously who says the following.

 

My wife has a bad habit of texting while in traffic on the odd occasion. We fight about it often.

 

But I have drawn a line in the sand. Told her that if I ever find out that she was texting while driving with our child in the car, I will divorce her.

[Patchelicious]

This is the scab I am trying to pick at. We all know it is condemned, We all know eg: drinking and speeding are condemned by the highest authority any way you look at it. And yet my point remains we still do it. I have not (intentionally) engaged this thread to justify my actions in any way, nor convince anyone they are correct. What I am trying to do is figure out why we all still do it. Texting is only one example of a laundry list of misdemeanors I see when driving home in the evenings. 

 

 

I hear you, I understand you, and I have taken this on-board. - Thank you 

 

Discipline, degradation of our social contracts and lack of consequence could be some of the reasoning.

 

I have often said that in SA, people have gone into self preservation  mode, and we only look out for ourselves, often understandably so, but this should not spill over into all areas of life. some areas are greyer than others. Not texting and driving should be less grey that most and should be an easier decision to make.

[Patchelicious]

I could have added exceeding the speed limit in there just as easily. I'm sure there are way more people killed by reckless fast driving than texting drivers, both of them are illegal and bad.

 

There is actually no point in this thread currently, people have made up their minds on this issue. I've been very careful to not say what I do in my car with my phone, because the loudest voices here are so black and white on the topic. I assume they turn their phones off or put them in the boot before driving.

 

I'm not going to take someone seriously who says the following.

As I just said in the post above, texting and driving is not really a very grey area, You yourself said its bad. I am engaging with CBlake directly and he is handling himself perfectly fine. Nobody has asked you about what you do in your car. CBlake voluntarily chose to disclose something which he knows isn't great.

 

If you wanted your post to be taken seriously don't compare people being killed by drivers who text to a downloaded MP3, its not a great comparison. I agree it is comparable to excessive speeding, and that should be condemned too.

 

You don't need to take me seriously, but please take the people in the video seriously.

[mecheng89]

51.20% of people are lying     

 

With Discovery Insure, if you're tracking your trip you can be penalized for phone usage, decreasing your potentially 5-star drive right down to a 1 star.

 

I text and drive, not ashamed to admit. BUT if I have passengers I don't even use the phone for GPS, hand the phone to my wife. 

[Patchelicious]

51.20% of people are lying     

 

With Discovery Insure, if you're tracking your trip you can be penalized for phone usage, decreasing your potentially 5-star drive right down to a 1 star.

 

I text and drive, not ashamed to admit. BUT if I have passengers I don't even use the phone for GPS, hand the phone to my wife. 

 

As per Skubs request... Why do you do it?

[pe3nguin]

I am not sure how, why or when it happened, but we as a collective seem to have forgotten just how incredibly devastating the automobile can be. Large metal box capable of traveling at a tremendous speed should be a concept that has our full attention.

Texting and driving just shouldn't be a thing. I realise we all have busy schedules and as the world shrinks, it is becoming increasingly necessary to stay connected at all times. We work whenever and wherever we can squeeze out that extra email. But this is not normal. This is not healthy. And when done behind the wheel of a car, it is just downright crazy. I'm not looking to lecture anyone on their actions. Rather, just hoping and pleading that you consider your actions behind the wheel. Things can happen in an instant. Lives (yours included) may well take a horrific turn for the worse the next time you opt to give your car and the road less than all of your attention.

Patch makes a vital point about social contracts. I do not text and drive for my own safety, as well as for the safety of other road users. Please offer me that same courtesy.

And since its apparently relevant:

- I dont have illegal mp3s on my phone

- My TV licence is sorted

- SARS affairs are up-to-date 

 

[Edit]: Words are hard

[Shebeen]

It's occurred to me that some of the posters here may have lost friends and/or family to drivers who were on their phones. If that is the case then I can totally sympathise with your view on this.

 

For me, I drive like a granny.

I see the "laundry list" of offences on our roads all the time. CT traffic has got mad recently and people are just more agro(late) on the road.

 

BUT what attracted me to this thread was the level of outrage for texting, and using a phone in general. I don't think I've seen people get as upset about extremely hammered drink driving, excessive speeding. Things that I (In my humble opinion) think are much more dangerous and more prevalent in causing fatal accidents. That being said it is getting way worse, and way more 'popular'. Despite the actions in place to sort it out

 

now I'm going to go drive home and listen to a podcast using my phone whilst I drive. The tour has finished so I'm not sure what will be my go to now that Lionel, Richard and Francois have handed back the Skoda and have little to talk about.

[Shell Belle]

Yesterday morning in peak hour traffic, I was at a robot (Rhodes Drive turning left onto the M3).  I was behind a guy who had his cell phone attached on a hands free holder to his windscreen, literally in front of his face.  I have never understood this logic - not only are you looking straight onto your phone, but it is obliterating nearly 50% of your vision.

However, this was not even the worst part.   He was clearly watching Youtube videos on his phone attached to his windscreen!!!  The light went green and we drove along the M3, with this oke continuing to watch his youtube videos and even selecting different videos! After nearly 15 minutes of this I couldn't stand it anymore and hooted at him.  He nearly jumped out of his skin, turned his phone off and changed lanes to escape me.

I shook my head at him and he rolled his window down, so I opened my window down and asked why he was watching youtube in the traffic.  He went blood red and laughed in a very embarrassed fashion.  I still cannot believe what I saw.

For my part, I use my bluetooth handsfree to talk on the phone while driving, and check messages/reply when I am at a traffic light, never while moving.

[Chris_]

Discipline, degradation of our social contracts and lack of consequence could be some of the reasoning.

 

I have often said that in SA, people have gone into self preservation  mode, and we only look out for ourselves, often understandably so, but this should not spill over into all areas of life. some areas are greyer than others. Not texting and driving should be less grey that most and should be an easier decision to make.

 

This is what I'm talking about.. thank you for putting forward a sensible valid theory.

 

I agree 100% too. I think societies morals have degenerated to a tipping point. We (I) have become exceptionally selfish. There becomes very little incentive to do or be good any more. It just need certain moments in your life to reset and re-wake up from this mindset time to time.

 

 

But this is not normal. This is not healthy. 

 

 

I love this. I internally debate it every day. 

[pe3nguin]

 

There becomes very little incentive to do or be good any more. It just need certain moments in your life to reset and re-wake up from this mindset time to time.

 

 

That's why talking about these issues is so so important. Society as a whole is leaving us disengaged.

 

BikeHub (or any other online forum you frequent on a regular basis) can become a place for meaningful discussion with people who's opinion you value. I have maybe met 3 Hubbers in person in total, but there are at least 10x that many posters with thoughts and opinions I enjoy reading and interacting with.

 

Open, frank interactions can lead to those reset moments that you speak about. The ones where we reflect on our historic choices and behavior. Aspects of our lives that could change and more importantly, why they should. We can and should hold each other up to a higher standard.