# Convince me you drivers with cell phones aren't damned morons! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099 "2002-08-15T21:52:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/1 "2002-08-15T21:52:26Z")
I swear to God someday I’m gonna run into one of you fools on purpose just to tell the Police “Well, yes, he/she was on their cell phone”. I actually saw some boob rest the phone on their shoulder and talk/drive at the same time! And don’t tell me “Cars have radios we adjust like phones”. Your concentration level is a bit lower listening to the radio than talking on a phone. Don’t tell me “It rang. I have to answer it.” **No, you do not!!!** So, tell me. Why shouldn’t you idiots be put away forever? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/2 "2002-08-15T22:31:27Z")
I think it’s a penis substitute thing. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/3 "2002-08-15T22:55:19Z")
I HAVE to keep redialing my RAS connection on my cell phone, b/c my airport keeps getting disconnected and it’s hard to use this message board when I keep losing the----hey watch it, buddy - I’m drivin’ here!!! ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/4 "2002-08-15T22:55:50Z")
Well, I won’t argue that they’re not morons (_them_, not _us_, of course), just that they’re not bigger morons than anyone else engaged in a long list of common car-driving activities: eating, talking, etc. I’ll dig up the recent AAA study as a cite when I get a chance. ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/5 "2002-08-15T23:13:55Z")
Correction: The study was done by UNC and funded by AAA. Go to [THIS LINK](http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Articles.asp?ArticleID=17&SectionID=3&CategoryID=7&SubCategoryID=&) And click on “Distracted Driving Study Info” in the upper left corner. Here’s a synopsis: Of the 26,000 traffic accidents analyzed, less than 2 percent of those caused by distracted driving involved wireless phone use. Top Causes of more than 26,000 traffic accidents analyzed by the AAA: - Outside object, person, event: 19.7% - Eating and drinking: 18.8% - Adjusting radio, cassette, CD: 11.4% - Other occupant in vehicle: 9.4% - Moving object in vehicle: 3.2% - Using/dialing cell phone: 1.5% - Using other device in vehicle: 1.4% - Adjusting climate controls: 1.2% - Smoking related: 1.2% ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/6 "2002-08-15T23:35:33Z")
Yeah, but _that’s_ just statistics, that doesn’t apply to **me** and my phenomenally large genitals. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/7 "2002-08-15T23:44:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I think it’s a penis substitute thing. I can’t hear you- I’ve got a penis substitute in my ear! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/8 "2002-08-15T23:57:37Z")
Ooh–Aural sex! ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/9 "2002-08-16T00:04:15Z")
Is that a cell phone in your pocket…? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/10 "2002-08-16T02:03:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wireless \* > \*\*Correction: The study was done by UNC and funded by AAA. > > Go to [THIS LINK](http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Articles.asp?ArticleID=17&SectionID=3&CategoryID=7&SubCategoryID=&) > And click on “Distracted Driving Study Info” in the upper left corner. > > Here’s a synopsis: > > Of the 26,000 traffic accidents analyzed, less than 2 percent of those caused by distracted driving involved wireless phone use. > > Top Causes of more than 26,000 traffic accidents analyzed by the AAA: > > - Outside object, person, event: 19.7% > - Eating and drinking: 18.8% > - Adjusting radio, cassette, CD: 11.4% > - Other occupant in vehicle: 9.4% > - Moving object in vehicle: 3.2% > - Using/dialing cell phone: 1.5% > - Using other device in vehicle: 1.4% > - Adjusting climate controls: 1.2% > - Smoking related: 1.2% \*\* That doesn’t prove anything. If only .75% of the drivers on the road were using cell phones, the rate would be alarming. Do they say what percentage of drivers do all these things? ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/11 "2002-08-16T02:29:10Z")
“I swear to God someday I’m gonna run into one of you fools on purpose…” Which would make YOU the moron, wouldn’t it? I’m with wireless on this, why don’t you go and crash the people you see going throught the drive throughs instead. They’re a bigger hazard than those of us that use and in my case, need to carry a phone. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/12 "2002-08-16T02:42:12Z")
I only dial when stopped or crawling on the highway to let my boss know I’ll be late. Yes, I balance thephone between my ear and shoulder after the light changes; how else can I shift? (ok, I hold the phone in the shifting hand, shift, and accidentally hang up. Then I do not answer the phone again.) I NEVER drive in the left hand lane 5 miles below the standard speed while chatting on the phone. And I only answer when it’s a family member; they might need help. (Or I may have strong opinions about what kind of pizza to order.) Work can wait. And I have never been on the phone at any accident I have been in. I’ve never been doing anything listed above at an accident. I have rear-ended some-one while removing my shoes (do not attempt to remove sneakers and socks while driving an automatic. Call some-one and complain about how hot your feet are instead.) ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/13 "2002-08-16T03:58:38Z")
I’ve got a story about a moron. This guy had to slam on his brakes. His cell phone fell when he did so. So he stopped IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC to reach down BELOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT to get it. And now HE’S SUING the guy who hit him! WTF? And sorry I can’t give you an actual site, I know this because I work for a law firm, which is why no names are being disclosed. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/14 "2002-08-16T13:06:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Convince me you drivers with cell phones aren’t damned morons! Okay. 1. I have a cell phone 2. I drive 3. I got a 1420 on my SATs back in high school Logically, if I have a cell phone (1) and I drive (2), I am a driver with a cell phone. (3) proves I am not a moron. Therefore, not all drivers with cell phones are morons. There. I’ve proved it to you. > [@](#): > > Why shouldn’t you idiots be put away forever? Oh, I dunno. Maybe we don’t trust a state government to decide for us whether or not we’re coordinated enough to to be able to talk and drive at the same time. Maybe we don’t feel that talking on cell phones contributes to accidents any more than changing a CD, eating a Big Mac or smoking a cigarette. Maybe we think the “hands free laws” are the result of an political catering to voters who are too stupid to realize that MANY of the things we do in our cars can contribute to accidents. **ultrafilter** is right. The statistics quoted earlier don’t mean a damn thing unless they’re balanced to reflect the number of people who actually engage in the activities cited above. It’s just another sad example of how the presentation of “statistics” can sway popular opinion, even if they’re skewed. I realize that dismissing **wireless** ’s stats doesn’t really help my case, but I’d love to see a valid study that shows that talking on cell phones while driving contributes more to accidents than eating in the car, smoking, changing stations on the radio, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/15 "2002-08-16T13:26:20Z")
I also hate those bastard driving while talking! Just a week ago some fucker talking on his phone almost hit me, and I had to swerve off the road to avoid an accident! That caused me to drop my electric razor, and spill some of my coffee on my lap! And some of the coffee got on my bagel! At least I didn’t splash any on my Gameboy. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/16 "2002-08-16T14:06:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*I also hate those bastard driving while talking! Just a week ago some fucker talking on his phone almost hit me, and I had to swerve off the road to avoid an accident! That caused me to drop my electric razor, and spill some of my coffee on my lap! And some of the coffee got on my bagel! At least I didn’t splash any on my Gameboy. \*\* Hey, was the coffee hot? You could sue the place that you bought it from! 🙂 Hey stop with the shoes will ya? ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/17 "2002-08-16T14:24:33Z")
As others have said, cell phone usage is only one of myriad things that people do that distract them from their primary task of driving. Some people simply do not have sufficient spare brain capacity to be able to handle doing more than one thing at a time. That does not mean, however, that every single person who does those things is a moron. It’s just the ones who actually are morons that you notice. You probably wouldn’t notice me talking on my phone while I’m driving because I put more of my attention on the driving than the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/18 "2002-08-16T14:30:27Z")
I am perfectly capable of talking on my cell phone and maintaining control of my vehicle. Of course, if I drove a standard, that would be impossible. I can also change CDs and drink (soft drinks, of course) while I’m driving. I’ve developed a system where I do these things in steps, carefully maintaining my line of sight to the road and traffic (I’m an engineer; can you tell?). The only reason I typically don’t eat while driving is that keeping control of the car means I can’t be as neat as I’d like, and I like to keep my car clean. Plus opening food package typically requires more than one hand. If I do eat, I open the package while stopped. I _never_ steer with my knees or anything stupid like that - at least one of my hands is on the wheel at all times. Hands-free laws were made for people that can’t do any of these things. People who turn the wheel when they look too far to either side. Who lunge and lurch all over the cabin when they drop something. Who hunt for things in the glove compartment with their safety belts off. C’mon, people. Why should I have to be restricted because of some morons who can’t perform simple tasks and still keep their cars between the lines? I wonder how these people deal with other “multi-task” situations. Do they stumble while walking if someone says “Hi”? Do they fall off their lawn chairs when a bird flies by? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/19 "2002-08-16T16:16:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Geobabe_ > Some people simply do not have sufficient spare brain capacity to be able to handle doing more than one thing at a time. I would amend that to \*Some drivers simply do not have sufficient brain capacity to be able to handle one thing at a time. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Syzygy_ > Why should I have to be restricted because of some morons who can’t perform simple tasks and still keep their cars between the lines? Because these morons can get licenses and we can’t very well write laws that say “If you are prone to falling off of a lawn chair when a bird flies by, then you cannot use a cell phone without a handsfree set while driving.” I swear by handsfree sets at all times. I much prefer having both hands free without contorting my neck and shoulder no matter the activity. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099/20 "2002-08-16T16:35:43Z")
interesting how many of these posters are from NY, which already bans handheld phones while driving… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-you-drivers-with-cell-phones-arent-damned-morons/124099.md?page=2)