California to drivers: Drop the cell phone, dude

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RE: California to drivers: Drop the cell phone, dude

I live up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I work as a photocopier service technician. I put on over 60 miles a day, driving between customer sites. I see between five and ten accidents a day. The majority of them are rear end collisions. From my experience on the roads, these are caused by drivers being distracted and following too close. I can't count the number of times that I have almost been hit from behind by a driver following too close and talking on his cell phone. They just seem oblivious to what's happening around them. I've seen studies, done on TV, that show how much a driver's eyes wander even when talking on a hands-free device. You'd be surprised of how much they actually miss seeing.

If they crack down on people talking on their cell phones, then they should also crack down on tailgating. I find it a bit scary having to stop quick and not know if the car behind you is going to stop. I was in one accident where that happened. I really had nowhere to go and ended up getting hit from behind and pushed into the car in front of me. It's not something I want to do again.

I agree that any non-driving related activities should be prohibited while driving. I don't know how many people I've seen reading, putting on make-up and eating in the car. If that's not distracting, I don't know what is.

Our company has a law that prohibits us from using our cell phones when driving, even if using a hands-free device. If we are in an accident, and it's proven that we are talking on our cell phones, our insurance will not cover us. It can also lead to dismissal. Is this a harsh rule? Yes. However, if it safes one life, it's worth it.

Posted by: Shane_71   Posted on: 07/06/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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