# Be honest, how many of you fool around way too much with your phone while driving? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630 "2019-05-28T08:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/21 "2019-05-28T16:03:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Wondering if ANYONE will admit to checking texts while stopped at a light (not to mention while driving) > [@Jophiel](#): > > I am guilty of sometimes looking at the phone during a red light but don’t drive around while reading websites. Found one! I don’t usually respond to texts in the car though since that takes more concentration and fighting the autocorrect. But I will check them at a light to make sure it’s not my wife asking me to pick up the kid or similar. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/22 "2019-05-28T16:17:35Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Wondering if ANYONE will admit to checking texts while stopped at a light (not to mention while driving), driving while using handheld… Because there sure are PLENTY of folk around these parts who do both. My phone is in a mount on my dash, making it simple to do short tasks at a light. If my gf is not with me. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/23 "2019-05-28T17:31:27Z")
I’m in the bluetooth hands free call crowd. And read texts to me. I may send texts while at a stoplight if it’s important enough. I used to do speech to text texting until I almost rear ended someone while proofing the text. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/24 "2019-05-28T17:41:38Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Wondering if ANYONE will admit to checking texts while stopped at a light (not to mention while driving), driving while using handheld… Because there sure are PLENTY of folk around these parts who do both. > > I’m a minimal cellphone user anyway - I never take mine out of my pocket while driving. Maybe 3x in the 2+ years I’ve had this car I’ve received incoming phone calls that I answered via bluetooth. I’ll admit it. Bad habit, but I am guilty now and again. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/25 "2019-05-28T18:09:49Z")
I ride a motorcycle and see too many people talking on their phones. Last week I spotted a dipshit texting while on the highway. People have no clue, none, how badly they drive while holding a phone or they would never do it. I generally oppose the death penalty but would gladly endorse summary executions for all drivers who hold their phones. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/26 "2019-05-28T18:13:40Z")
I don’t think I have ever even held my phone in my hand while driving. In fact, I don’t even power it on until I get to work in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/27 "2019-05-28T18:22:07Z")
Never while driving. I seldom use it at all for anything. It sits on the table, usually off. I’ll toss it in the coat pocket when I go offroading to take video of the dogs digging and having fun (mostly to document Doxie’s continued recovery) and maybe if the Jeep breaks down. That’s always a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/28 "2019-05-28T18:41:48Z")
Our newer car has Apple CarPlay so I use the phone for music or to answer calls/receive messages but by touching the projection of the phone’s screen on the car’s nav screen, and it can speak the messages, the phone itself is in my pocket or charging. Our older car has regular hands free phone functionality, there’s a way to play music from the phone with USB cable but I don’t bother with it. Both cars have built-in GPS so I don’t use the phone for driving directions. Good to see a few admissions of more dangerous use of phones when driving, since looking around while driving, or noticing as pedestrian who doesn’t use their turn signal (very often because one hand for the wheel, one for the phone) it’s obvious so many people do. Often on internet threads ‘nobody’ misuses phones in cars. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/29 "2019-05-28T19:53:59Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > I ride a motorcycle and see too many people talking on their phones. Last week I spotted a dipshit texting while on the highway. … That is so common, it barely even registers w/ me. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/30 "2019-05-28T19:55:23Z")
I never use my phone while driving. I don’t even use it that much while not driving. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/31 "2019-05-28T20:14:50Z")
If I’m expecting a text I’ll occasionally check at a red light if I know the area, so know how long the light lasts, other than that I’ll only look at it in situations like traffic jams where I’ve not moved in ten minutes and I need to let someone know I’ll be late, usually at the point cars are starting to turn off engines around me. Never when the car is in motion or imminently likely to become so. The thing that really gets me is seeing a car pull out of a parking space while the driver holding a phone to their ear. I’ve seen that a few times lately. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/32 "2019-05-28T20:45:01Z")
Never when the car is actually in motion. Occasionally if I see a really interesting car at a red light I might pull out my phone and snap a quick picture while I’m stopped. > [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I haven’t even connected it to my car’s Bluetooth so that I could use it hands-free. I got a new car a couple of months ago. While we were waiting for the paperwork, the salesman suggested that we go out and pair my phone with the Bluetooth. I kind of wish I hadn’t. My old car didn’t have Bluetooth and would automatically detect that I was driving and automatically send any calls to voicemail. Now that it’s connected to Bluetooth, it will ring over the car’s stereo and mute what I was listening to until I select “ignore” on the infotaiment screen. I’d prefer it still just automatically ignore every call I get while driving. This may be a setting I can change somewhere; I need to check one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/33 "2019-05-28T22:19:03Z")
Never. My phone is usually on, but in the cupholder between the front seats. This way, if I hear it ding, I know that at the next possible opportunity, I should pull over and see if it’s anything important. But that’s all. I couldn’t use it while driving even if I wanted to. My car is 16 years old, has no Bluetooth, so I can’t use it for music. I rely on that old-fashioned device, the radio. And the car has a manual transmission, so I rarely have a free hand anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/34 "2019-05-28T22:29:07Z")
Not at all now: “Drivers who are caught talking on their phones, texting, dialing or emailing using a hand-held device, such as a cell phone and other entertainment devices will be fined up to $1,000 with a three-day licence suspension and three demerit points.” Fuck that. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/35 "2019-05-28T22:36:05Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Wondering if ANYONE will admit to checking texts while stopped at a light (not to mention while driving), driving while using handheld… Because there sure are PLENTY of folk around these parts who do both. > > I’m a minimal cellphone user anyway - I never take mine out of my pocket while driving. Maybe 3x in the 2+ years I’ve had this car I’ve received incoming phone calls that I answered via bluetooth. I admit to it. I never make phone calls and I never mess with the phone when the car is moving, but I sometimes text at red lights and if it’s a familiar route and I know the light cycles, I’m frequently looking at email or browsing the internet. All the lights around here have countdown timers on the pedestrian signals so you know exactly when it’s going to change. I’m not proud of it, but I do it. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/36 "2019-05-28T22:43:05Z")
My phone connects via Bluetooth, so the only time I use it in the car is when I get a call, and it’s pretty easy, press a button on the steering wheel to connect, press another to disconnect. And it automatically mutes the radio! However…I think maybe I do spend too much time on the touch screen of the car itself. This thing is distracting and shouldn’t be there. Like, what kind of mileage am i getting at this exact moment, and is it better than I was getting two miles ago? Gotta change the temperature setting. Now where is that map and how do I zoom out to see where I am? And so it goes…while I should really be just driving. Okay, I might have checked a text while waiting at a light. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/37 "2019-05-28T23:04:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I never use my phone while driving. I don’t even use it that much while not driving. Pretty much this. I’m not a ‘phone person.’ I don’t have music or podcasts on it. I have a GPS nav system that came with my car and a Sirius/XM music subscription that works anywhere in country. I’m not a transplant surgeon (or the mother of little children, or anything else that requires instant access, despite what my workplace might think), so there’s no phone call in the world that’s important enough for me to pick up while driving. Voice mail will catch anything important enough to need a response later. The less I am distracted by _anything_ the better. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/38 "2019-05-28T23:41:31Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I got a new car a couple of months ago. While we were waiting for the paperwork, the salesman suggested that we go out and pair my phone with the Bluetooth. When I got my last car, the dealership had a customer service person they’d have come out to show you the tech features. The first thing she asked me is if I wanted to pair my phone, and she looked at me like I was nuts when I told her I would never be using that feature (at the time I didn’t have a phone that would do it even if I had wanted to). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/39 "2019-05-29T00:09:13Z")
Nope. Cannot do it. My roads are curvy and an obstacle course on a good day. Deer everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630/40 "2019-05-29T00:12:30Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > When I got my last car, the dealership had a customer service person they’d have come out to show you the tech features. The first thing she asked me is if I wanted to pair my phone, and she looked at me like I was nuts when I told her I would never be using that feature (at the time I didn’t have a phone that would do it even if I had wanted to). My saleswoman expressed shock too when I also said that. I don’t listen to music or podcasts on my phone; I have a usb drive for that. I don’t use a gps app; I have a gps. I have never made or taken a call without pulling over somewhere. My dad is terminally ill so when he’s in the hospital I _do_ look at - but not respond to - texts from him or my brother at long (left turn) red lights but other than that the phone stays in my pocket or hooked to the charger while I’m driving. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-honest-how-many-of-you-fool-around-way-too-much-with-your-phone-while-driving/834630.md?page=3)