Dangerous driver rant

[cbi1972]

The answer is DRL's and auto on/off of regular lights.

I'll make sure to get a new car right away

 

[DzynKingRTR]

A couple of times, I've driven out of a brightly lit parking lot, distracted by something, and driven a block or so before realizing, embarrassedly, that my lights weren't on. OTOH, when it's just past twilight, it's not unusual for me to meet cars coming down Bankhead Parkway, the twisty mountain road up to my house, without a sign of a headlight...

I have done that.

 

[GrayTide]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

About a month ago my wife and I were on the interstate heading to see our daughter. I noticed in the rear view mirror a car in my lane swerving onto the outside shoulder then back into the inside lane. This went on for about 5 minutes when I noticed he sped up into the passing lane and now swerving onto the shoulder next to the median. When he passed me I noticed a young guy, maybe early thirties, driving with his left hand with his cell phone balanced on his right knee, looking down and texting with his right hand. He finally got around me and got back into the right lane, head down and continuing to swerve off the road. I got up close enough to get his tag number, my wife called the state trooper office, gave them a description of the car and tag number. He exited the interstate and we continued. I hope the trooper got him but don't know. The use of the cell phone is a real problem and causes many wrecks and loss of life.

 

[Bazza]

I'll make sure to get a new car right away

Or an old one with a 6 volt electrical system.....like mine. No issues at all with bright instrument lights!

 

[gtowntide]

I had a friend who would not turn his lights on during daylight even if it was raining.
He said it would "use up" his headlights. He drank a good bit.

 

[day-day]

The answer is DRL's and auto on/off of regular lights.

I have vehicles with and without.

Daytime running lights help give some visibility but don't help in the rear. Auto on/off makes sense but I sometimes want my lights off when it is dark including DRL's. Maybe a pop up warning when it is dark and the lights are not on would help.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I had a friend who would not turn his lights on during daylight even if it was raining.
He said it would "use up" his headlights. He drank a good bit.

It's now illegal in most states to have lights off while wipers are operating...

 

[Bubbaloo]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

Tell it all brother, tell it all !

 

[day-day]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

Tell the truth, you were driving when you posted this.

I've seen the speed-up-slow-down and swerving drivers and checked them out when I was beside them to see just what I suspected; the phone lit up in the lap or hand.

 

[Moro Creek]

Not using your turn signal, not using the median correctly, following too closely... Just to name a few

Unfortunately, many think that using their turn signal gives them right of way.

 

[Moro Creek]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

I see it everyday here in Florida, especially texting. It's an epidemic.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I see it everyday here in Florida, especially texting. It's an epidemic.

It was illegal here in HSV before it became illegal state-wide. Doesn't seem to matter much. When there's an accident now, if it proceeds to discovery, the first thing the plaintiff's lawyer subpoenas are cell phone records...

 

[Zorak]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

Was behind a lady the other day along US 78 here in Athens and she kept veering off the road (and doing this driving right by the police station too). I pull along side her to pass her and glance over and she's quite visibly looking at her phone (one hand on the steering wheel and one hand texting with her phone, also I don't think she had a seatbelt on).

Yeah, one thing to endanger your own life and limb, but I was in the car with my children, and this was approaching a major intersection as well. :banghead:

 

[Bazza]

It was illegal here in HSV before it became illegal state-wide. Doesn't seem to matter much. When there's an accident now, if it proceeds to discovery, the first thing the plaintiff's lawyer subpoenas are cell phone records...

Still legal here, unfortunately.

I was at a continuing education class for my irrigation license last fall and we had a brief presentation by FHP on trailer towing & hauling regulations and enforcement.

I raised my hand afterwards and asked if they were so concerned about "everyone's safety" - why is it still legal to use a cell phone while driving. The trooper said the reason was because of votes. In other words....legislators felt if they enacted anything that prohibited cell phone use while driving - there would be backlash.

What a bunch of cowards.....and that was my response to the trooper too....

--------

Flash forward to a couple months ago and I heard the state is now considering such legislation. We need it. Like Moro Creek posted - I see it every day.....unbelievable.....

 

[DzynKingRTR]

My #1 pet peeve - too many idiots using the cell phone while driving!

Tell the truth, you were driving when you posted this.

I've seen the speed-up-slow-down and swerving drivers and checked them out when I was beside them to see just what I suspected; the phone lit up in the lap or hand.

I see it everyday here in Florida, especially texting. It's an epidemic.

the first thing my lawyer did was get the phone records of the lady that hit me. Actually most people that knew about my accident automatically assumed that was why she hit me. It turns out no. She just didn't see me.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Unfortunately, many think that using their turn signal gives them right of way.

Most people think a turn signal is more of an option than a rule.

 

[Relayer]

Here in Georgia, the cities of Marietta and Smyrna have just recently passed "hands-free" ordinances making it illegal to handle a cell phone while driving. We'll see how stringently it's enforced, but it should be good for safety, not to mention a revenue generator.

 

[Bubbaloo]

Here in Georgia, the cities of Marietta and Smyrna have just recently passed "hands-free" ordinances making it illegal to handle a cell phone while driving. We'll see how stringently it's enforced, but it should be good for safety, not to mention a revenue generator.

Hands free ordinances should be mandatory. Sadly, the fines and enforcement for the violations are minimal. If a fine is not painful enough to the offender nor high enough to justify enforcement then nothing happens.
If we could make the fine $250 1st offense $500 2nd offense AND confiscation of their cell phone until the fine is paid or court date . You would get the offenders attention quick and generate enough revenue to justify strict enforcement.
Word would spread rapidly once they got their phone back .

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Hands free ordinances should be mandatory. Sadly, the fines and enforcement for the violations are minimal. If a fine is not painful enough to the offender nor high enough to justify enforcement then nothing happens.
If we could make the fine $250 1st offense $500 2nd offense AND confiscation of their cell phone until the fine is paid or court date . You would get the offenders attention quick and generate enough revenue to justify strict enforcement.
Word would spread rapidly once they got their phone back .

The texting fine in AL is only $25, first offense, $50 2nd and $75 3rd and subsequent, not much deterrent...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Here in Georgia, the cities of Marietta and Smyrna have just recently passed "hands-free" ordinances making it illegal to handle a cell phone while driving. We'll see how stringently it's enforced, but it should be good for safety, not to mention a revenue generator.

I had one object lesson that hands-free is not the total answer. My wife is also my chief legal assistant. Once, we were having a tense discussion about a deadline and I regained concentration to find that I had taken off on a red light and driven through Five Points, a very busy intersection here. That did it. I made a rule that we would finish such discussions when I reached the office in the future...