Off Topic: Cell phones and driving

[twoWDWfools]

After an incident on my way in today, I feel compelled to remind people of the dangers of being on your cell while driving.

I was riding my Silver Wing on the tollway in a construction zone this morning. I was in the left hand lane which had been the shoulder so there are concrete barriers along the left. As I started to come up on the person in the center lane noticed she was on her cell phone. I was up just behind her shoulder - literally if she had so much as glanced over to the left she would've seen me. However, she had her phone plastered to her left ear so without signaling or looking she began to quickly change lanes into me.

I hit the horn, slid as far left as I could and started to accelerate. The driver behind me hit his horn. She ignored both and continued to move over. At this point she should've been able to see me w/o turning her head but apparently the conversation was far more important. As I cleared the front of her car, horn still blowing from the car behind, she looked surprised. I had to pull off the road for a bit to calm back down.

I've seen car accidents happen the same way. Phone on left ear, no signal since no free hand, not looking over because phone is there and they pull right into another car. If she had slammed over any faster I would've been caught between her car and the wall.

Please, please, please....do not talk while driving!

 

[laxdef69]

I don't have a motorcycle in Chicago any longer....I got rear ended by a truck 300 feet after the light turned green. He had been sitting behind me at the stop light for the two minute red light. Then his brain fell out of his ear, and he forgot I was there.

Broke my arm, road rash, and tore up my knee. I was STILL walking back to the truck to pull him out of the cab and beat him senseless when the woman who was in front of me caught me and made me lie down...lucky for him.

Glad you got through it safely Liz...I always assume that 1) They don't see you and 2) You are only an extra in their movie of life, so if you punch out, they couldn't possibly care less.

 

[windwalker]

Liz, I'm so glad you are ok, you are a wonderful inspiration to all of us and your sure not replaceable. When someone is stupid like that and kills someone they don't just end a life they take away a person, a companion, a mom, a friend and a daughter.

I face the same problem in the mornings when I'm walking the most dangerous is the high school where people are dropping their kids off and in a hurry to get to where ever, and yes many have a cell phone in their ear. I have slammed both hands down on someones hood when they nearly hit me from not looking and given them my best scranny Hulk pose and growl.

Walking Panda

 

[twoWDWfools]

Thanks guys.

Mike - Ouch! And I can just see you heading toward that guy....

When on motorcycle or bicycle I always make the assumption they don't see me even if not on the phone. If they're on the phone I assume they no longer see past their nose.

 

[SamSam]

Thank goodness you're okay! Cell phones and driving just don't mix! I don't care if it's handsfree or not. IMHO, it's the conversation you are having on the phone that distracts you, not whether you're holding it to your ear or using handsfree.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Liz, I'm glad you're okay! There are too many distracted drivers on the roads these days. Everyone is trying to multitask and the car is just one of those places where one needs to be focused.

 

[Big Vic]

After an incident on my way in today, I feel compelled to remind people of the dangers of being on your cell while driving.

I was riding my Silver Wing on the tollway in a construction zone this morning. I was in the left hand lane which had been the shoulder so there are concrete barriers along the left. As I started to come up on the person in the center lane noticed she was on her cell phone. I was up just behind her shoulder - literally if she had so much as glanced over to the left she would've seen me. However, she had her phone plastered to her left ear so without signaling or looking she began to quickly change lanes into me.

I hit the horn, slid as far left as I could and started to accelerate. The driver behind me hit his horn. She ignored both and continued to move over. At this point she should've been able to see me w/o turning her head but apparently the conversation was far more important. As I cleared the front of her car, horn still blowing from the car behind, she looked surprised. I had to pull off the road for a bit to calm back down.

I've seen car accidents happen the same way. Phone on left ear, no signal since no free hand, not looking over because phone is there and they pull right into another car. If she had slammed over any faster I would've been caught between her car and the wall.

Please, please, please....do not talk while driving!

Glad you're ok.

As a new Harley owner I'm just now getting my feet wet (so to speak) with dealing with traffic. The MSF class taught me a lot. Some folks just don't pay attention.

Here's a picture. 2009 Super Glide Custom.

 

[Honeibee]

I'm sooo glad you're OK!!!

I always, always ride my bike as if EVERYONE ELSE on the road is out to KILL me. Seems extreme I know, but you just have to ride defensively!

 

[twoWDWfools]

Thanks everyone.

Vic - nice bike! Be careful and enjoy riding!

Judy - is sad but true that's the way we have to approach riding.

BTW, ride in this morning was far less eventful.

 

[wtpclc]

OMG. So glad you are ok!

 

[syko]

Liz I'm glad you ok.
I have never had a problem with someone on a phone (touch wood) but I do have a local prius drive who insits on driving the wrong way down a one way street and running me off the road.
I'm just waiting to meet her when i'm in my car....a H2, they we will see who ends up on the grass!!!!!

 

[mkymsehi]

Ok, I ride a bike too, but it's peddle powered.

Yeah, Hawaii just put into law no phones, texting, or electronic games while driving. So everyone rushed out to buy a bluetooth earpiece. I WISH I had some of that action!

Too many times while out on a run, or a bike ride, I've had encounters with people yaking on their phones and not paying attention. Even though it's like a $85 fine, people are still handholding their phones in traffic.

Liz, I'm so glad you made it through the near accident experience.