From: dr_jeff on
Conscience wrote:
> On 2010-03-12 13:00:42 -0800, dr_jeff <utz(a)msu.edu> said:
>>> The actual point is that radio use is at, nearly at, or slightly
>>> above the distraction causing effect that cell phone use is claimed
>>> to be. What the exact level truly is depends on what report you
>>> believe.
>>
>> That was true about 8 years ago. Cell phone use has increased since
>> then. Another thing that has helped is better placement of radio
>> controls, decreasing reach.
>
> A subject opinion. I've seen car radios that have far more options,
> controls, and built-in distractions than were present eight years ago.
>
>>
>>> My issue was that you will never see legislation that regulates radio
>>> use, for obvious reasons. Blaming cell phones for accidents is
>>> merely covering up the wretched state of issuing driver's licenses.
>>
>> I have to disagree with that. The study you cited was about the
>> physical demands of using a cell phone, not the mental demands. People
>> don't multitask well. The fact is that when people are talking on cell
>> phones, they are not paying enough attention to the task that can kill
>> themselves and others (drivers).
>
> Show me one. Just ONE piece of legislation that aims at curbing the use
> of your car radio.
>
> Remember, Jeff. Just one.
>
>>> It's too easy to get and keep one, and the road is filled with
>>> incompetent drivers who cannot even successfully maneuver a
>>> sub-compact into a parking spot. Cell phones are a scapegoat.
>>
>> People who are able to maneuver a large car into a parking spot are
>> still distracted while talking on the cell phone.
>>
>> The driver's license has nothing to do with it.
>
> The licensing criteria need serious review. Disagree with this obvious
> fact, and you've shown all your cards.

I totally agree. There should be periodic physical checks of people to
make sure they are able to operate a vehicle safely. Once people get
over a certain age, maybe 70 or so, there should biannual, then annual
drivers behind the wheel drivers tests. The ability to safely drive
decreases rapidly, usually beginning around 75.

Jeff
From: JoeSpareBedroom on
"dr_jeff" <utz(a)msu.edu> wrote in message
news:R5qdnbkpGY7aMwfWnZ2dnUVZ_rcAAAAA(a)giganews.com...
> Conscience wrote:
>> On 2010-03-12 13:00:42 -0800, dr_jeff <utz(a)msu.edu> said:
>>>> The actual point is that radio use is at, nearly at, or slightly above
>>>> the distraction causing effect that cell phone use is claimed to be.
>>>> What the exact level truly is depends on what report you believe.
>>>
>>> That was true about 8 years ago. Cell phone use has increased since
>>> then. Another thing that has helped is better placement of radio
>>> controls, decreasing reach.
>>
>> A subject opinion. I've seen car radios that have far more options,
>> controls, and built-in distractions than were present eight years ago.
>>
>>>
>>>> My issue was that you will never see legislation that regulates radio
>>>> use, for obvious reasons. Blaming cell phones for accidents is merely
>>>> covering up the wretched state of issuing driver's licenses.
>>>
>>> I have to disagree with that. The study you cited was about the physical
>>> demands of using a cell phone, not the mental demands. People don't
>>> multitask well. The fact is that when people are talking on cell phones,
>>> they are not paying enough attention to the task that can kill
>>> themselves and others (drivers).
>>
>> Show me one. Just ONE piece of legislation that aims at curbing the use
>> of your car radio.
>>
>> Remember, Jeff. Just one.
>>
>>>> It's too easy to get and keep one, and the road is filled with
>>>> incompetent drivers who cannot even successfully maneuver a sub-compact
>>>> into a parking spot. Cell phones are a scapegoat.
>>>
>>> People who are able to maneuver a large car into a parking spot are
>>> still distracted while talking on the cell phone.
>>>
>>> The driver's license has nothing to do with it.
>>
>> The licensing criteria need serious review. Disagree with this obvious
>> fact, and you've shown all your cards.
>
> I totally agree. There should be periodic physical checks of people to
> make sure they are able to operate a vehicle safely. Once people get over
> a certain age, maybe 70 or so, there should biannual, then annual drivers
> behind the wheel drivers tests. The ability to safely drive decreases
> rapidly, usually beginning around 75.
>
> Jeff


That would help at one end of the age spectrum, but it won't help with
another: Young women. The next 20 times someone tailgates you close enough
to be absurd, see if you can find a way to get alongside them and see what's
driving. 9 out of 10 times, it'll be a young woman. It's time to tell our
cashiers (the ones driving cop cars) to enforce laws that actually matter.


From: JoeSpareBedroom on
"Conscience" <nobama@g�v.com> wrote in message
news:hnebdt$418$1(a)news.albasani.net...
> On 2010-03-12 13:12:38 -0800, dr_jeff <utz(a)msu.edu> said:
>
>>> The licensing criteria need serious review. Disagree with this obvious
>>> fact, and you've shown all your cards.
>>
>> I totally agree. There should be periodic physical checks of people to
>> make sure they are able to operate a vehicle safely. Once people get over
>> a certain age, maybe 70 or so, there should biannual, then annual drivers
>> behind the wheel drivers tests. The ability to safely drive decreases
>> rapidly, usually beginning around 75.
>
> What I've observed, albeit subjectively, indicates driver impairment far
> earlier than 75.
>
> Social Security generally starts at 65. Why wait 'til 75? In fact, why
> wait until 65? Just require a repeat behind-the-wheel test at 55. Just
> as every state experiences a decrease in deaths from murder after allowing
> concealed-carry permits, I'd wager we would see a similar decrease in
> motor vehicle deaths if we required testing after reaching a reasonable
> age.
>


Even earlier testing won't help if the testing continues to be too easy.
Driving tests should be designed to force failure. Those who fail will tell
others about the test, and that might dissuade the timid from even trying.


From: dr_jeff on
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "dr_jeff" <utz(a)msu.edu> wrote in message
> news:R5qdnbkpGY7aMwfWnZ2dnUVZ_rcAAAAA(a)giganews.com...
>> Conscience wrote:
>>> On 2010-03-12 13:00:42 -0800, dr_jeff <utz(a)msu.edu> said:
>>>>> The actual point is that radio use is at, nearly at, or slightly above
>>>>> the distraction causing effect that cell phone use is claimed to be.
>>>>> What the exact level truly is depends on what report you believe.
>>>> That was true about 8 years ago. Cell phone use has increased since
>>>> then. Another thing that has helped is better placement of radio
>>>> controls, decreasing reach.
>>> A subject opinion. I've seen car radios that have far more options,
>>> controls, and built-in distractions than were present eight years ago.
>>>
>>>>> My issue was that you will never see legislation that regulates radio
>>>>> use, for obvious reasons. Blaming cell phones for accidents is merely
>>>>> covering up the wretched state of issuing driver's licenses.
>>>> I have to disagree with that. The study you cited was about the physical
>>>> demands of using a cell phone, not the mental demands. People don't
>>>> multitask well. The fact is that when people are talking on cell phones,
>>>> they are not paying enough attention to the task that can kill
>>>> themselves and others (drivers).
>>> Show me one. Just ONE piece of legislation that aims at curbing the use
>>> of your car radio.
>>>
>>> Remember, Jeff. Just one.
>>>
>>>>> It's too easy to get and keep one, and the road is filled with
>>>>> incompetent drivers who cannot even successfully maneuver a sub-compact
>>>>> into a parking spot. Cell phones are a scapegoat.
>>>> People who are able to maneuver a large car into a parking spot are
>>>> still distracted while talking on the cell phone.
>>>>
>>>> The driver's license has nothing to do with it.
>>> The licensing criteria need serious review. Disagree with this obvious
>>> fact, and you've shown all your cards.
>> I totally agree. There should be periodic physical checks of people to
>> make sure they are able to operate a vehicle safely. Once people get over
>> a certain age, maybe 70 or so, there should biannual, then annual drivers
>> behind the wheel drivers tests. The ability to safely drive decreases
>> rapidly, usually beginning around 75.
>>
>> Jeff
>
>
> That would help at one end of the age spectrum, but it won't help with
> another: Young women.

A more serious problem is young men. They are about twice as likely to
crash as young women.

<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VF9-4HC770C-1&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1246729002&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9a4401a550adbedee6535b84274525ca>

> The next 20 times someone tailgates you close enough
> to be absurd, see if you can find a way to get alongside them and see what's
> driving. 9 out of 10 times, it'll be a young woman. It's time to tell our
> cashiers (the ones driving cop cars) to enforce laws that actually matter.

You have a vote. Write your state and local officials.

Jeff
From: Hachiroku ハチロク on
On Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:42:44 -0500, JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>> Incorrect. Both are just as much of a distraction. AAMOF, another person
>> might be MORE of a distraction, since I have witnessed people taking
>> their eyes off the road to look at the person they were talking to for a
>> LOT longer than it takes to dial my phone.
>>
>>
>
> All valid research on this subject says your theory is incorrect.

My OBSERVATION says that it is.

Don't get out much, do ya? I spend my entire day on the road. There are
people that shouldn't be driving at all, let alone with cell phones.