Be careful out there

[kvdv_imp]

I am utterly disgusted at the amount of people I see on their phones while driving. It really boils my blood. I think the best thing we can do is take the fight to the political arena and support the AMA in lobbying for tougher laws and stricter enforcement. Right now they amount to not much more than a slap on the wrist. I say the penalty should be close to that of drunk driving, because statistics show it is just as dangerous, if not more so. For the time being, the best we can do is practice hyper vigilance and to continue to improve our defensive skills. So yeah, hit these selfish idiots hard and where it hurts, in their pocketbook. They'll think twice about doing it if they have to cough up $2,000.

If I were king of the world, there would be zero tolerance and MEGA penalties. Texting and driving would be immediate impound and auction of the vehicle + lifetime revocation of the driver's license. Maybe even toss in a night in jail to sweeten the deal. I'm not kidding, either. I don't understand why it's anything less than that when one stops to think of what's at stake. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and should be managed as such. Rant over

[Nortoon_imp]

I don't understand why the all the androids need to be on their phones 24/7. Do they really receive that many emergency calls? I am 70 years old and never had a phone call in my life that needed to be made or answered RIGHT NOW.

I carry a cell phone when I ride. It is an old flip phone that my wife passed on to me in case I was involved in an accident while riding. That is the only time I carry it, and it has never been used.

[LongRanger_imp]

Until we enforce the laws we already have, I fear distracted driving is only going to get worse. DUI in Colorado was only a misdemeanor until recently. Lots of stories on the local news about 7-,8-,9-time DUI offenders getting into another wreck and killing someone. All they got was community service and a suspended license.

[aschem_imp]

It is still legal to use a hand-held phone here in Idaho :>(
I think self-driving cars are a good idea if they can actually detect motorcycles. If so, then car manufactures need to bring-em out at lightning speed :&gt
Other driving news. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has signed a bill lowering Utah's DUI level from .08 to .05, making it the lowest in the nation.

[Blockhead_imp]

Last Fall I saw a kid on a sport bike texting with one hand and driving with the other...couldn't believe it!

[LongRanger_imp]

Using a hand-held phone while driving is legal in CO, too. Seems like everyone does it. Texting is illegal.

[c-breezy_imp]

Last Fall I saw a kid on a sport bike texting with one hand and driving with the other...couldn't believe it!

I saw this recently too...guy on a Gixxer taking a Snapchat selfie while waiting at a light!

Using a hand-held phone while driving is legal in CO, too. Seems like everyone does it. Texting is illegal.

Thankfully in California it is now illegal to hold your phone AT ALL while driving. I have friends that have been ticketed for holding their phones even while waiting, fully stopped, at red lights. The motorcycle cops will creep by and if they see you they tell you to pull over. I know it probably seems like overkill but hopefully over time it will train people to stay off their phones!

You're only allowed to make a single tap or swipe on your phone as long as the phone is mounted or fixed to the vehicle.

[the Ferret]

Too late to outlaw it now. People had tried it, and liked it. they are not going to gove up their phones.

It's been against the law to drive without a seatbelt or drive under the influence here for 10 years or more. Pretty substantial ticket if spotted, or pulled over, yet every night on the news when they are reporting the auto carnage on the highway, they report " alcohol or drugs was believed to be involved and neither driver was wearing a seatbelt".

[Captainwoot_imp]

Seems like the whole world is slowly going to he** in a hand basket...
Technology is cool but nobody can live 5min without their phone and a constant supply of social media. The new vehicles they create now will park for you, give you 360 camera views (nobody can turn their head or use a mirror). Add up traction control, electronic stability programs, antilock brakes, collision mitigation software, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, lane keeper systems (i am sure i have missed some). We now have an entire generation of people that can't drive and are right at home on their phones because the cars do most of it for them. Now with addition of mobile wifi in your car , I'm sure it will get better lol (insert sarcasm)
Where will it end????

I agree with the thread starter, We need to be careful out there!
Ride safe everyone!

[pdedse]

Too late to outlaw it now. People had tried it, and liked it. they are not going to gove up their phones.

It's been against the law to drive without a seatbelt or drive under the influence here for 10 years or more. Pretty substantial ticket if spotted, or pulled over, yet every night on the news when they are reporting the auto carnage on the highway, they report " alcohol or drugs was believed to be involved and neither driver was wearing a seatbelt".

Yet, respectfully, while it may be that a very high percentage of accidents they report do involve "under the influence" and / or no seat belts, that doesn't mean that laws are not having a positive effect. There's no way to document "accidents that never happened" because some citizens DO make decisions based on tough laws and refrain from drinking while driving, and do buckle up, and do avoid texting...and maybe some of us have been the benefit of these "non-accidents" that could have been...hopefully that make sense. So even if some will always text / drive under the influence despite laws, some others will curb such behavior because of the laws and the net effect is positive.