Driving in Orlando

[MenashaCorp]

I kind of think Mobile phones have taken over the world a bit - listen to ma 27 and sound like my granny but the amount of times people are more interested in their phones than what goes on around them (dont flame me) . I do understand people need them for their work too

Oh, I totally agree! If I'm on my phone in a store, I'll finish before checking out to not be the rude, disrespectful guy ignoring the cashier's existence by talking on the phone instead of to the person in front of me.

I've had my own "customers" answer the phone while I'm talking to them. I leave. There is NO REASON we need to be on call 24/7, WHETHER WE HAVE KIDS OR NOT. Sorry; it's a myth. We all got along without cell phones for MANY years and did OK. It just took PLANNING-something people here know how to do well. Flame away if you must...

 

[bawstngrl]

the under 30 generation (for the most part - don't flame - not ALL) are the worst offenders - The woman I babysit for is NEVER without her phone to her ear!!!!!! Even when she cooks, feeds the baby, drives, does work on her computer etc. etc. My DD (19) is equally bad.....but she is always TEXTING!

Now you tell me how someone can type on a tiny keyboard and still keep eyes on the road....
SCARRY

IMHO many of the accidents in FL are tourist (or tourist caused) - driving erratically/switching lanes at the last minute due to looking for a location....driving and trying to read directions....etc....it's scary down here
(and I come from BOSTON, notoriously one of the worst driving cities in the world LOL)

bawstngrl

 

[OKW Lover]

I think that depending on hands-free devices lends a false sense of security, and those should be banned as well. Anything that distracts your attention from the road is a hazard, and should be avoided. That means playing with the radio, your hands-free device, dining on your Big Mac, putting on your makeup, etc.

Pay attention, people! There are other people out there!

Good point Mindy. Instead of legislatures trying to pass laws about the perceived problem du jour, they should just enforce the current ones already on the books about paying attention to the road.

 

[MM32830]

So, it is or isn't a law in Florida? We usually drive from TX to FL for our WDW trips. I'd hate for DH or I to break the law while there. I know ignorance isn't an excuse.

- Jennifer

It is NOT illegal to drive in Florida while talking on a cell phone, even if you do not use a Bluetooth earpiece.

However, if you get involved in a crash, you may not want to volunteer that you were talking on your phone. Most states (Florida included) have laws about "driving while distracted".

 

[Cyrano]

My Dh knows that - he travels alot for work but will not answer the phone till he can pull over - you cannot concentrate on what someone is saying and drive

 

[luke]

see I don't get that concentration bit, I see it as no different to talking to someone next to you

 

[Geef]

I live outside of Chicago, and rarely get into the city anymore. It is against the law to talk and drive unless you have a hands free phone.

I was on my way into the city recently, and I realized I wasn't sure where I needed to turn. I called my Dad, he was raised in the city, to get my bearings.

We were talking for a few minutes and then he asked where I was. I said I was at the corner of Ontario & Michigan. And then the phone went dead. I thought I lost the call, so with out looking, I redialed.

My Dad picked up, laughed, quickly told me what I needed, told me I was braking the law and hung up again. All done with out me saying a word.

As I was ending the call, a street cop pointed at me and then his ear. I lowered my phone and he turned away.

Dad's are smart guys sometimes.... ....sometimes. (I'm a Dad of 2)

 

[UrsulasShadow]

see I don't get that concentration bit, I see it as no different to talking to someone next to you

Exactly. That's distracting, too.

Have you ever noticed that when you're driving along, chatting with your buddy next to you, or yelling at the kids, or whatever, and something comes along on the road that demands your attention, you STOP TALKING to deal with it? That's how you should always be...letting the ROAD demand your attention.

 

[luke]

yep, true! But that's never said as a distraction tho.
For the record I never use hands free nor mobile at the wheel

 

[Becx N Gav]

see I don't get that concentration bit, I see it as no different to talking to someone next to you

recent studies have shown that even when you're on a hands free, your concentration level is just as bad as if you're holding the phone...
and it's just as bad as if you're drunk...
so you're right....hands free phones aren't safe either..

Actually the signal to the phone whilst moving is not as steady as if you were still, therefore if you're zooming along at 60mph some of the sound is missed (like interference) meaning your brain has to fill in the gaps (not sure if these are audiable) taking more of your attention than if someone was sitting in the car. Even if you were Nigel Mansel your brain would still have to compensate for the breaks in sounds.

I live in the US and unfortunately this is a problem everywhere. There are many accidents where people are killed and it is because they are on the phone. And now there is text- I personally think it should be outlawed. If it is that important to talk to someone you can pull over. It's nice to hear that other countries do not have this problem.

The trouble we are now seeing here is that people just pull over (and most UK roads don't have the space to the sides of the lanes) when their phone rings - whereever they may be! So the next danger is going into the back of someone stopped round a tight corner

I agree that we coped fine without mobiles but those days are long gone!

 

[luke]

Actually the signal to the phone whilst moving is not as steady as if you were still, therefore if you're zooming along at 60mph some of the sound is missed (like interference) meaning your brain has to fill in the gaps (not sure if these are audiable) taking more of your attention than if someone was sitting in the car.

That is an excellent point that i'd never even thought of

 

[Becx N Gav]

That is an excellent point that i'd never even thought of

I actually read it in Laboratory News that comes to work (I work for a company that refines metals and makes chemicals - I test them in the labs) they have some interesting stories and I read it when I have time to Infact I think that story was in the issue I took on Eurostar when we went to DLRP. It made some good reading