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Question of the day

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* In just the past six days, I was almost creamed by a driver who was on her phone (her SUV versus my little Z-3 would’ve been ugly), freaked out when a guy who was texting while towing a long trailer with his pickup lunged to the side of the road as I was passing him, and was almost wiped off the face of the Earth by a semi-truck driver who was swerving all over the road while using his mobile phone when I went past him.

Again, that’s just in the past six days. And those are only the most memorable because my life was put in jeopardy. I saw plenty more erratic behavior over the same time period.

* Drivers are generally idiots. But too often they become incredibly dangerous idiots if they text or talk on the phone while driving.

Here’s a hint: If you find yourself swerving or have been honked at more than once by drivers while you were texting or talking on the phone, then STOP TEXTING AND TALKING ON THE PHONE. Sheesh. It isn’t that difficult to figure out.

Unfortunately, too many people just never learn. And, frankly, I’m getting really tired of seeing my life flash before my eyes.

So, I was glad to see this bill was signed into law…

HB5101, making cell phone use by commercial drivers illegal.

And just so I don’t jinx myself, let me confess right now that I have been guilty of texting while driving. I really need to stop doing that.

* The Question: Your recent experiences and confessions?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 10:54 am

Comments

I live in Streeterville and work in the Loop. People drive like idiots with or without cell phones. Also, we need to do something about one way streets, since so many seem to find the concept confusing. Taxis seem to find the concept of red lights confusing. People commuting on bikes seem to find the whole “ride as if you cared about surviving to your destination” thing confusing. Did I mention my hatred for the law that gives pedestrians the right of way, whether or not the traffic signal would give them the right of way?

And so ends today’s rant.

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:02 am
Perhaps if you posted the AAA video on texting and driving, it would impress people enough to stop texting while driving.

It takes four seconds to text the video says.

Four seconds with eyes off the road.

A very dangerous four seconds.

I saw it at an Operation Click ceremony in Crystal Lake where high school students from groups of schools throughout McHenry County who taken part in a program where they agreed to wear their seat belts, not text, etc., were awarded cars.

Comment by Cal Skinner Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:03 am
Guilty.
And I agree with you that I really need to stop doing it.

Comment by Been There Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:10 am
In just about every near accident I’m in, I see a cell phone either in the offending driver’s hand or stuck to their ear. Most recently I was almost t-boned as a woman zipped past her stop sign. As I slammed on my brakes and hit my horn, she looked over at me, cell stuck to her ear, with an oblivious look on her face. She had no idea how close she came to serious injury. I’m not a perfect driver, but I can’t count how many times my attentiveness has prevented some cell phone moron from getting creamed by me.

It should be illegal to use a cell phone while driving. Period.

Comment by TwoFeetThick Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:16 am
I’m a motorcyclist, and this is the most recent one to turn a few more hairs grey. It wasnt a texting while driving incident, but still phone based… Stopped about a car length and a half behind another driver at a red light at the bottom of a hill. At the intersection, a group of community college girls were hosting a bikini carwash fundraiser event. The guy behind me was in a Suburban towing a couple tractors. I look back and see him leaning out his window snapping pics with his cell about a second before he sees me and locks his brakes. I have to pop the clutch and almost instantly brake to try to close the 20 or so foot gap between me and the car in front and avoid getting creamed, stopping about 3 inches from it. He comes to a stop by barely bumping me, tapping me me forward the last couple inches into the car in front.

Not sure D’Amico could get the votes on a bill banning lechers from snapping grainy pics with their cells while driving, but I’ll be the poster boy for the cause.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:19 am
I find texting tedious and frustrating.
I can’t imagine trying it driving. Perhaps if I had been borne with opposable thumbs….

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:20 am
i text only rarely, so i dont text while driving more from lack of opportunity than excess of virtue.

i am much more aware of vehicles around me bec of the risk of their drifting into my lane–same direction or oncoming. it is happening at least once or twice a week. i feel free to use the horn either as a warning or complaint. we drive fairly substantial vehicles but it is still scary.

Comment by langhorne Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:25 am
Hello.
I live on Division St in Chicago and will walk home from work often. During that walk, I check out drivers to see whether or not they have a hand-held device near their ear. I’d say the percentage is over 30% do. May be a touch higher, but it’s less than 50%. Seems like the cell phone ban in the city is not regarded by most.

Comment by Uncle Leo Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:30 am
I’m with word re: texting in general. I also avoid talking on the phone while driving unless it’s REALLY, really important. OTOH, I’m definitely a multi-tasker when at work in front of a phone and keyboard, using all the apps to draft memos/letters, crunch numbers in spreadsheets, update workplans, send emails to different times zones, get updates via IM, etc.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:31 am
I was so impressed with my son’s real estate agent recently. No one is on the phone more than a real estate agent, but her rule was that when she was behind the wheel, the phone was on the floor behind her so she wouldn’t even be tempted to glance over and see what was trying to reach her. Smart woman.

Comment by Ann Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:35 am
I have two two major stops on the way to work. One is a 4 way stop sign where you can easily see the drivers while you are waiting your turn. Virtually every time, one of the drivers pulling into the intersections or just pulling up to the sign is on a phone. The other is a stop light by a hospital. There, rolling stops by phone users are so common, particularly right hand turns, that you simply must wait to make sure no one runs a red light. Just love the ones doing something with the phone while their non-phone hand is making some point in the air. Which hand is on the wheel?

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:47 am
@Been there…AMEN. Stop NOW.

Comment by Because I say so... Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:49 am
“I also avoid talking on the phone while driving unless it’s REALLY, really important. ”

Well, I’m glad to know that when you are distracted and run me over, it will be because the call was REALLY, really important.

Comment by ChicagoR Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:52 am
I drive 94 north a couple of times a week and see way too much swerving:
-texting and driving;
-smoking, texting and driving;
-smoking, drinking coffee or eating and talking and driving;
Remember Driver’s Ed–both hands on the wheel! How about the availability of both hands on the wheel. There is no one that is that good of a driver.
Nothing is as important as keeping control of your car while you’re driving.

Comment by Belle Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 11:54 am
It’s all reall simple. Mandate voice activated-hands free phones and texting. No more holding or even touching a phone. the technology is there, let Illinois be the first state to do so and we will have much safer citizens.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:05 pm
Recommend watching this, and thinking …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebhWD6ljZs

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:05 pm
This like driving after drinking is one of those ” There but for the grace of God go I” type things. A lot of us have done it and maybe still do it. In most cases dumb luck has kept us from getting caught at it.

The rules of the road seem to be like the Pirates Code, something of a guideline. The wife and I often comment while driving that a segment of the population have no concept of how to merge into traffic on the interstate and yes a number of those have one hand up to their ear. My truck got creamed one night in front of the house by a neighbor kid whom I suspect was texting. Not sure how to solve all this but I do try to pay attention to what is going on around me. An old biker habit.

I will add this. With todays GPS I will bet something could be put on phones that would disable them at a cetain speed.

Comment by Bemused Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:05 pm
Just this morning at Wells and Jackson in downtown Chicago. A telephoning pedestrain crossing on the red was almost flattened by a phoning driver. One out of three drivers I see walking the mile to work are at least phoning.

Laws will do no good. This is digital addiction.

The only solution is a signal disrupter in every car, activitated on movement. And a $100,000 fine for disabling it.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:05 pm
I have to keep on my son about it. He now prefaces his texts with note that his girlfriend is driving to avoid an admonishment from me.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:11 pm
I confiscated my cab driver’s phone in Georgia a few months ago because he kept texting while driving.

Comment by soccermom Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:16 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how many parents are on cell phones while dropping off children at very busy school crossings. It’s supposed to be illegal, hello people, signs are posted around every school! I’ll block the intersection with my car while dropping off my daughter; nobody moves until she’s safely across

I never pick up or answer my phone while driving. If it’s important, I can get back to whomever if they text or voice message. If you can’t resist, throw your phone in the trunk.

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:18 pm
We are gonna remember to not drive near you Capt Fax it seems you have become a magnet for bad drivers

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:23 pm
I can’t walk down the street and talk on the phone. I walk out in front of cars. So I’ve stopped doing it.

In Streeterville, Skeeter! Small world.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:24 pm
Rich,

THANKS for putting this question up as this impacts ALL of us. Everyday our lives are in danger on the roads and even more now with cell phones! We ALL need to stay focus on driving and if you want to use the cell phone pull over! Have someone else drive or sit in a parking lot and have your conversation.

I also want to THANK State Representative John D’Amico for working hard on trying to make our roads safe. We now have to hope that the Senate can pass the latest bill on banning cell phones in Illinois.

I hope that they are hearing the publics concerns for safety and pass this VERY important bill for ALL citizens of Illinois. Even if you dont drive this has an impact on you. You walk, take a cab or bus and your life is in jeopardy every time you see someone with a cell phone while driving.

Comment by Concerned Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:26 pm
I know this may sound bad, but I text and drive like a champ. I’ve never swerved or done anything dangerous while doing it. I’m great at both driving and texting and exercise the utmost caution and awareness. I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t 100% confident.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:29 pm
I quite riding a motorcycle years ago because basic lane usage laws and right-of-way are long forgotten in the pile of new laws passed every year.

It seems we have all kinds of law enforcement resources available for new laws but the basics aren’t enforced.

Comment by Crime Fighter Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t even know where to begin except to say that we need a serious public education campaign with proven methods.

I used to talk and drive, and still do, and shouldn’t. But I never ever text unless I’m at a stoplight. It is the fear of killing others that motivates me.

You don’t need to see a video to understand how easy it is, but I saw a video showing how easy it is, and that was it for me.

Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:36 pm
So many of us are addicted to our hand-held devices. We weren’t addicted to pay phones. Now when I leave my home, I feel almost lost without my cell phone. I never felt this way in the pay phone era.

I don’t particularly care for texting. I usually call people when I want to communicate. I appreciate this reminder to mind my own phone use when on the road and pay more attention to other drivers and pedestrians.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:38 pm
–I quite riding a motorcycle years ago because basic lane usage laws and right-of-way are long forgotten in the pile of new laws passed every year.–

You mean like those insane dudes on the crotch-rockets passing and weaving in and out of lanes on the Dan Ryan. How many of those guys are scraped off the road every year?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:43 pm
I was on the phone in m suv, playing Words with friends, I almost took out this Z3.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:50 pm
Want to feel scared? Replace your Z3 for a bicycle and see how those close calls feel!

It is the responsibility of the driver to be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand and pay attention. Are distractions new? Smoking, personal grooming, playing with the stereo, staring at a map or GPS, stress, daydreaming, arguments with fellow passengers et al have all exacted their tolls in injury and death over the years. Does it make sense to outlaw a particular form of distraction, or do we concentrate on a more general law that will penalize all forms of distracted driving? And of course, enforce the laws already on the books.

Let’s also recognize that our first responders are always on their radios and cell phones while driving, not to mention pecking away at their computers. There needs to be a limit to that as well.

I for one don’t care why someone does not see me and wipes me out. I just want them to pay attention and do their job as a driver.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:52 pm
Anon 12:29
Did you know that most drivers consider themselves above average in driving skills? They can’t all be right. It’s possible you’re not as safe as you think TWD (Texting While Driving).

Comment by reformer Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 12:54 pm
Your recent experiences and confessions?

iv been blessd w/ a h8rd of txt shorthand tht keeps me frm txting while drving. cant stand 2 look @ it.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:05 pm
Nothing is going to change until we start taking licenses away for repeated offenses. It’s too easy to get a driver’s license, and too easy to loose it. The commercial drivers bill is a good start, but these are professionals. By and large, they are the best driver’s on the road. The problem is the soccer mom in an over-sized SUV that is one giant blind-spot, tending to three kids, and on the phone. It’s also the young driver with less than two years of experience. They have no idea the destructive power of these vehicles.
Commercial drivers have to deal with these idiots. Accidents are not caused by seasoned professionals, but by the ignorant drivers around them.

Comment by NIref Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:06 pm
I have noticed in the past year that the quality of peoples’ driving has diminished…on the highway and in the city. It’s definitely linked to texting and use of cell phones, and I admit that my own driving is not up to par when I’m on my cell phone (I never text while driving). There has to be some efforts by law enforcement to reduce these practices. If they can stop you for not wearing your seat belt, they sure as heck should be able to stop you for erratic driving for talking on the phone or texting.

Comment by Observing Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:16 pm
Am I the only idiot known to play Angry Birds while stopped at a light?

Comment by Skeeter Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:19 pm
When did everyone become so selfish and shallow that they think, well hell I’m not doing anything really important, I might as well pick up the phone and statisfy my self serving need to remind everyone that I’m the center of the Universe.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:23 pm
=If they can stop you for not wearing your seat belt, they sure as heck should be able to stop you for erratic driving for talking on the phone or texting.=

- so erratic driving is acceptable when your not on a cell phone?

Comment by Crime Fighter Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:24 pm
Saw a young girl (11 - 13) on her bicycle ride through a four-way stop while also texting on her phone. She did it right in front of a squad car that had stopped at the 4-way. He turned behind her and flipped on the lights - she continued oblivious while texting. The office then hit the siren and she pulled over.

I hope she was cited and had to explain it to her parents. Also note that the intersection has a history of vehilce/pedestrian conflicts . . .

Comment by Surf 1 Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:25 pm
Technology exists that would block the driver of an automobile from accessing a cell phone signal while the vehicle’s engine was on. Not sure if this is marketed yet and not sure if I want the G.A. mandating its use in all vehicles. Just my two cents.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:31 pm
“Accidents are not caused by seasoned professionals”

Hahahahaha!! Plenty of accidents are caused by “seasoned” “professionals”. Just not every accident that involves a semi is the fault of the “seasoned professional”, but there is NO DOUBT that many are.

Comment by Chris Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:46 pm
Just last Friday, the 13th (of course), my husband was rearended by a tow truck driver talking on his radio. Ain’t just cell phones, folks.

Comment by Catlady Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 1:48 pm
no texting in our cars and use of cell phone is extremely rare, only in case of extremely urgent need. but we experience knuckleheads/potential accidents everywhere we drive. blocking traffic at Orleans and the feeder ramp and texting away. mothers in vans filled with kids and on the phone even when I’m yelling out the window at them to stop. it’s everywhere. and it is very scary.

Comment by amalia Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:05 pm
You all should be a flagman in a work zone. I almost got ran over several times and it became a every time you flagged issue for cellphones. It only takes a second of distraction to cross the centerline or run off the road and kill somebody. When the cuffs go on and you are crying it was an accident I say see you in about 10 years with good behavior.

Comment by Nieva Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:07 pm
I am texting this while doing 75 down I55. The windows down. The Who blasting WGFA outta the radio. The McD fries are still hot. The dog in the back seat is barking and trying to get up front. Sunglasses keep slipping down my nose. Life is good. Other phone just rang. Gotta go.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:19 pm
In the old days, when you were behind a driver driving slowly or erratically or had to honk at someone when the light had turned green a minute ago, it was safe to conjecture that guy was on marijuana. Texting and yapping on your cell are the new weed.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:32 pm
I can barely text while sitting in a quiet room, so texting while driving has not been an issue for me. I recently gave up using the cell phone while driving because the data are very clear about the danger. What most folks do not understand is that a hands free cell phone is just as distracting as handheld.

From a 2010 report by the National Safety Council: “The National Safety Council has compiled more than 30 research studies and reports
by scientists around the world that used a variety of research methods, to compare
driver performance with handheld and hands-free phones. All of these studies show
hands-free phones offer no safety benefit when driving.” http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Documents/Dstrct_Drvng_White_Paper_Fnl%282%29.pdf

Plenty more research here: http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/DistractedDrivingResearchandStatistics.aspx

I found that the best way to keep from using my cell while driving was to explain the dangers (and the law) to my kids. It’s like have two cops in the back seat.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:32 pm
Some one dying at the hands of a driver using a cell phone for any reason is the definition of a senseless death in my humble opinion. In the case of cell phone usage in moving vehicles, I believe the only way to fix this problem is to make using cell phones in any way shape or form completely illegal. I mean this even for passengers, as a loud conversation or a “hey look at this pix message I just got!” can be fatally disruptive. Also, make all new cars have a cell phone signal disabling metal mesh built in to them. Heck, make all cars on the road be outfitted with an antenna that jams the signal and make it visible to police. Make the penalties mirror those of a DUI.

Comment by So. ILL Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 2:54 pm
Was wearing a shirt without a pocket. Had the phone on my lap and it slipped a bit deeper. It rang and I had both hands on the wheel.

My wife was digging for the phone when we pulled up to a light. A bus full of Asian tourists pulled alongside.

I noticed the bus leaning toward us and looked up to see all the tourists peering at us. We made an instant right hand turn. Now I too keep the phone on the floor in the passenger area.

Comment by Sunshine Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 3:03 pm
A liitle over a week ago, my wife and I were almost side-swiped by a cop texting. Ended up calling the station and report him.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 3:05 pm
=Well, I’m glad to know that when you are distracted and run me over, it will be because the call was REALLY, really important.=

If I’ve used a phone while driving more than 5 times for an average of less than a minute in the last DECADE, I’d be surprised. Maybe I should have used the phrase “REAL, real emergency”.

It’s not me who’s going to run you over.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 5:16 pm
The biggest offenders are riding in the passing lane doing 45 with a phone in their ear.Texters
are always tailgaitng me.

Comment by mokenavince Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 5:44 pm
The only time I’ve been honked at recently I was doing 40 in a 35. I was in the left lane because I was going to turn at the next corner. The woman behind me wanted to go faster, I guess, although when she got by she was waiting at the light. This was in Leland Grove, which has a high level of speed limit enforcement. Anyway, I drive badly enough without being distracted. And the stereo is distraction enough.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 5:51 pm
As a retired highway maintainer for IDOT I have seen firsthand how much drivers inattention has increased in the age of cell phones. Yes, there are tons of other things people do while driving that makes our job dangerous (applying makeup, reading a book or surfing the web on a laptop on the passenger seat, shaving!), but phones are the worst of all. So far this year in our county we have had 3 of our TMA crash trucks hit. All three times no brake marks from the driver rear-ended our trucks. Willing to bet all 3 were on a phone, but its hard to prove. Studies have shown that people who are just talking (not texting) can’t remember things they passed on the road that anyone looking ahead without a phone could obvioulsy see. I ended up jumping over guardrails and dove to the shoulder too many times to count in my 30+ years, and almost all of the time it was due to someone talking on a phone. One sad thing- the new law probably won;’t stop most of the diehard texters and talkers.

Comment by roadiepig Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 5:53 pm
Don’t text much, so couldn’t possibly do it while driving. Don’t like to use the phone while driving, but was in a hurry last week and actually dialed out while driving. The guy coming the other way had a funny look on his face when I crossed the center line a foot or so; can’t imagine why…

Comment by downstate commissioner Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 8:16 pm
I find it very hard to believe the talking/texting and driving studies are honest to goodness blind studies. You are right all of the text drivers feel they can handle multi-tasking while driving. I’ve seen way too many people going down the road without any hands on the wheel. I pray that they make it while driving faster to get the hell away from them. Guess who gets pulled over - not the handless driver!

Comment by Mama Monday, Jul 23, 12 @ 8:42 pm
Was driving on Wabash in Springfield about a week ago and noticed the young lady in the car beside me (I was on the outside lane, she on the inside) had her phone balanced on her steering wheel and was texting as she drove. When we came to a light, she was so busy texting she neglected to move when the light turned green. I kept abreast, watching her as she texted and wove, until we got to the next light, I slowed down, pulled exactly even with her, rolled down the passenger window and screamed–and I have a loud voice–”Put the phone down and drive!!!!” She was so taken aback she dropped the phone. She looked like she was going to pick it up, so I yelled again: “Leave the phone where it is and drive!!! Don’t pick it up!!!” She made a turn as quickly as she could, I suppose to pick up her phone and resume her conversation, but it made me feel good. I was rear-ended in a parking lot a couple years ago by someone who was texting–mine and hers were the only moving cars within a football field. Her insurance company paid for the damage and she was just 16, so I imagine her rates skyrocketed, as well they should. Hopefully, her parents made her pay the higher rate so that she learned something. Imagine: Someone who had just gotten a drivers license and already thought themselves skilled enough to text and drive. I didn’t feel truly comfortable driving a car until I’d had a license for a couple of years, but then, what do I know, having never caused an accident? Have had a few close calls on my motorcycle getting cut off by folks who were texting. You can really see what people are doing in their cars from a bike, and it’s scary–especially when they force you out of your lane on the freeway as they light up the keyboard. Aghh.

Comment by Ethics anyone? Tuesday, Jul 24, 12 @ 8:45 am
Earlier this summer I was biking from Hegewisch to 95th Street Red Line and saw two Chicago police officers texting while driving.

People on mobile phones require me to be extra vigilant while bicycling.

But the ones who really get me are the drivers making right turns on red lights who are so engrossed they are a danger to pedestrians crossing with the light.

I would fine these people $500 for first offenses and $1,000 subsequently. That’s enough to justify having officers patrol for this offense.

It’s also enough that a few people whining about the fines will make it widely known, don’t right turn on red if you are on your phone.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Jul 24, 12 @ 11:36 am