Hang up & drive!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'm hoping someone will come up with a gadget that scrambles any cell phone signal in a car when that vehicle reaches 10mph or higher. I'm also hoping that the miracle gadget will, by law, be installed in all cars. Drivers on cell phones is becoming a safety issue.

So what happens if you're driving down the highway and witness an accident but can't call for help because your cell phone signal has been scrambled? When we were driving to FL last summer, a car in front of us went head first into the median (thankfully we were able to avoid it). It was a horrible image that I can still see today. If it wouldn't have been for the people with cell phones who called 911 who were driving, it would have taken a lot longer for that person to get help.

I've read several of the discussions on the boards about hanging up and driving and how horrible and dangerous people are who use a cell phone and drive. I've become more aware of what people are doing when they do stupid things while driving. I'll tell you, most people in my area are NOT talking on a cell phone when they pull in front of you, blow through a stop sign or drift into your lane, they are just not paying attention. People can't always blame things drivers with cell phones.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

So what happens if you're driving down the highway and witness an accident but can't call for help because your cell phone signal has been scrambled? When we were driving to FL last summer, a car in front of us went head first into the median (thankfully we were able to avoid it). It was a horrible image that I can still see today. If it wouldn't have been for the people with cell phones who called 911 who were driving, it would have taken a lot longer for that person to get help.

I've read several of the discussions on the boards about hanging up and driving and how horrible and dangerous people are who use a cell phone and drive. I've become more aware of what people are doing when they do stupid things while driving. I'll tell you, most people in my area are NOT talking on a cell phone when they pull in front of you, blow through a stop sign or drift into your lane, they are just not paying attention. People can't always blame things drivers with cell phones.

AMEN!

To be honest, I very rarely notice other drivers on their cell phones. It seems that most of the time the driver who is causing a problem is simply not paying attention or just a plain old bad driver.

 

[Carly_Roach]

So what happens if you're driving down the highway and witness an accident but can't call for help because your cell phone signal has been scrambled? When we were driving to FL last summer, a car in front of us went head first into the median (thankfully we were able to avoid it). It was a horrible image that I can still see today. If it wouldn't have been for the people with cell phones who called 911 who were driving, it would have taken a lot longer for that person to get help.

And what did these people do before there were cell phones? They pulled over and got out to help, in which case their car is now stopped and the device wouldn't inhibit the use of a cell phone.

As I said before, we got along without cell phones for decades and have been driving for almost a century now. People mistakenly believe that they're necessary during all emergencies but that's simply not true. Cell phones, like SUVs and cable TV, are simply one more convenience that people have been brainwashed into believing are a necessity.

While there may be an occassional passenger or a driver talking to a child or family member about a problem at home or school, I believe most cell phone calls in the car are useless blabber (thanks fairykin) to entertain the user while he/she gets from point A to point B.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

So what happens if you're driving down the highway and witness an accident but can't call for help because your cell phone signal has been scrambled?

Well, as a good samaritan, I would hope that you would pull over immediately if someone in front of you got into an accident. Then once you are safely off the road, call 911. Then get out of your car, see if there's any way you can help, and wait until the ambulance arrives before you leave.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

And what did these people do before there were cell phones? They pulled over and got out to help, in which case their car is now stopped and the device wouldn't inhibit the use of a cell phone.

As I said before, we got along without cell phones for decades and have been driving for almost a century now. People mistakenly believe that they're necessary during all emergencies but that's simply not true. Cell phones, like SUVs and cable TV, are simply one more convenience that people have been brainwashed into believing are a necessity.

While there may be an occassional passenger or a driver talking to a child or family member about a problem at home or school, I believe most cell phone calls in the car are useless blabber (thanks fairykin) to entertain the user while he/she gets from point A to point B.

I understand that we survived for years without cell phones, but why are some people so against them? Is it because you are afraid of them? We have the technology to use them, why not use it as a safety net?

I had an accident where I hit two pedestrians. I wasn't on my cell phone, actually my cell phone was in my purse that I left in the car when I ran for help. My twin was with me and my mom was at home so it was easy for my sister to get hold of her (I was hysterical and in shock). My dad on the other hand was out shopping with my grandfather. We had been having problems with his cell phone where it wouldn't process the calls. My mom tried and tried and tried to get a hold of my dad on his phone and couldn't. It was quite a while until my dad got home and finally learned about my accident.

What is the difference if somebody listens to the radio or talks to the person in the car with them or talks on the cell phone? I guess I just don't totally understand. I maybe in the minority here though.

Well, as a good samaritan, I would hope that you would pull over immediately if someone in front of you got into an accident. Then once you are safely off the road, call 911. Then get out of your car, see if there's any way you can help, and wait until the ambulance arrives before you leave.

I wasn't driving when this accident occurred (thankfully), my dad was. It was on 95 and we were in the third lane out of four and there was no opportunity that we could safely pull over and check on the driver. We did check to see if he/she was moving, which they were.

You have to understand something, the accident I had that I described above happened 2002 and because of that accident, I suffer from PTSD. Seeing this accident almost caused me to have a panic attack and sent me into flash backs of my accident. This lasted until we got to WDW. Sadly, I thought that I was going to have to go to therapy again because I was having such horrible flashbacks. I cannot stand accident scenes, I avoid them at all costs. I'd rather just help the person who was in an accident by calling 911 because that is the best help that I can offer.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

And what did these people do before there were cell phones? They pulled over and got out to help, in which case their car is now stopped and the device wouldn't inhibit the use of a cell phone.

As I said before, we got along without cell phones for decades and have been driving for almost a century now. People mistakenly believe that they're necessary during all emergencies but that's simply not true. Cell phones, like SUVs and cable TV, are simply one more convenience that people have been brainwashed into believing are a necessity.

While there may be an occassional passenger or a driver talking to a child or family member about a problem at home or school, I believe most cell phone calls in the car are useless blabber (thanks fairykin) to entertain the user while he/she gets from point A to point B.

Years ago it wasn't dangerous to pull over and offer to help. Now many times you are advised not to for several reasons:

1.) Anytime you are near moving traffic there is the possibilty of being hit.
2.) You can get in the way of the emergency personnel.
3.) You don't know the person who's stopped. This is the main reason. It is not unheard of for a person with nefarious purposes to fake being broken down or hurt.

I am a single woman. I will call for help if I see an accident, but I will not stop. When my I hit the deer last year, my friend and I stood on the side of hte highway for 45 minutes until the Highway Patrol showed up. During that time only one person stopped. We were very nervous the entire time- two twenty something girls standing on the side of a rural highway. I would rather the people keep going and call for help than stop. In fact, at night AAA often advises people to walk away from the vehicle and wait somewhere where they can see without being seen for this very reason.

Before cell phones people made do, but I know I am grateful to have it with me when I am driving the rural highway to school. If I see an accident or am involved with one, I can summon help quickly without putting myself in more danger.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

You have to understand something, the accident I had that I described above happened 2002 and because of that accident, I suffer from PTSD. Seeing this accident almost caused me to have a panic attack and sent me into flash backs of my accident. This lasted until we got to WDW. Sadly, I thought that I was going to have to go to therapy again because I was having such horrible flashbacks. I cannot stand accident scenes, I avoid them at all costs. I'd rather just help the person who was in an accident by calling 911 because that is the best help that I can offer.

I understand where you are coming from. I was in a near-fatal accident 16 months ago when we rolled the car on the highway. Luckily, I have not been diagnosed with PTSD but I do know what you mean about encountering accidents now. However, I really am uncertain as to why this justifies a driver using a cell phone while driving. If you want to help by calling 911 and you are the driver, pull over first! The last thing the emergency crews need to deal with is another accident resulted from a distracted driver calling 911.

I would rather the people keep going and call for help than stop.

{snip}

If I see an accident or am involved with one, I can summon help quickly without putting myself in more danger.

I see things from a very different perspective. I am extremely glad that people were brave enough to stop and help when I had my accident. If nothing else, they stopped me from walking out into traffic when I was in shock with possible neck injuries. They helped get my hysterical sister out of the car where she was stuck and would have been in huge trouble if the car ignited. They were able to hand DH the phone so that he could call my parents who were just a half an hour or so ahead of us on the drive so that they could get to the hospital immediately. I'm all for caution but I think it's ridiculous to think that someone got into a car accident just to trick you to stop so that they could harm you. While it's nice that a billion people called 911 as they drove by, the people that were truly helpful were the ones that stopped.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I understand where you are coming from. I was in a near-fatal accident 16 months ago when we rolled the car on the highway. Luckily, I have not been diagnosed with PTSD but I do know what you mean about encountering accidents now. However, I really am uncertain as to why this justifies a driver using a cell phone while driving. If you want to help by calling 911 and you are the driver, pull over first! The last thing the emergency crews need to deal with is another accident resulted from a distracted driver calling 911.

When the accident we witnessed happened, there were five of us in the car (including my dad who was driving) so one of us would have called 911 not my dad. We had to swerve to get around the accident, thankfully there wasn't a car in the lane next to ours or we would have been in the accident too. There was no way we could have pulled over to the side of the road safely to call 911, we were in the lane 3 of a 4 lane highway. If it would have been only me in the car, there would have been no way for me to pull over to the side of the road safely in order to call 911. To me, I'd rather call for help ASAP than wait to cross two lanes of traffic, come to a complete stop and then pull out my cell phone. When I had my accident, even though I wasn't injured, I hope that if a person who was driving by and saw two injured pedestrians in the street that they wouldn't have taken the time to pull over before calling 911.

I'm very sorry to hear about your accident but I'm glad to hear that you're not suffering for PTSD. Have you fully recovered from any injuries?

I just read your signature after posting the post so I wanted to go back and edit it to say thank you! It is an exciting time in America!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'm very sorry to hear about your accident but I'm glad to hear that you're not suffering for PTSD. Have you fully recovered from any injuries?

Yes, I have fully recovered. The only evidence of the accident is some scarring on my right leg. Thanks for the .

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Yes, I have fully recovered. The only evidence of the accident is some scarring on my right leg. Thanks for the .

No problem. My best advice to you would be, if you ever think you are developing PTSD, go talk to somebody right away. It will really help. Take care.