# People who don't keep their eyes and mental focus on the road when driving should be executed **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598 "2009-09-02T02:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/41 "2009-09-03T15:56:19Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Texas just passed a “no texting or emailing” law. However, they also state that looking for a phone number is an acceptable practice. So basically, enforcement is a no go. > > Officer-" I saw you were messing with your phone, were you texting?" > Citizen-" No I was looking up a phone number to dial" > Office-" Very good, be on your way" > > Doesn’t California have a no cell phones without a hands free device law in place? Funny you should mention this. I just read [this](http://www.cockeyed.com/science/car_phones/car_phones.shtml) a few minutes ago (great website, btw, which I discovered from Weird Earl right here on the SDMB). ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/42 "2009-09-04T14:36:22Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Second place to the driver who spent 10 seconds staring at another driver on the road. You’re \*supposed \*to keep your eyes on other drivers. As opposed to things on the seat or floorboard or elsewhere in your own car. I’m constantly watching other drivers b/c you have to be ready to deal with their sudden stops, lane changes, etc. Just last week I was on the interstate in the left lane and was coming up alongside (and passing) a car in the middle lane. I kept my eyes on the driver (who was talking on a cell phone) as I was about to pass and sure enough she without warning started coming into my lane. Didn’t check her mirrors or over her sholuder or anything. I was able to swerve to avoid her, only b/c I was paying attention and anticipating she might do just that. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/43 "2009-09-04T14:51:50Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > You’re \*supposed \*to keep your eyes on other drivers. As opposed to things on the seat or floorboard or elsewhere in your own car. I’m constantly watching other drivers b/c you have to be ready to deal with their sudden stops, lane changes, etc. Just last week I was on the interstate in the left lane and was coming up alongside (and passing) a car in the middle lane. I kept my eyes on the driver (who was talking on a cell phone) as I was about to pass and sure enough she without warning started coming into my lane. Didn’t check her mirrors or over her sholuder or anything. I was able to swerve to avoid her, only b/c I was paying attention and anticipating she might do just that. Exactly. You can really tell what drivers to watch out for. If they drift out of their lane once they’ll likely do it again until they finish their cell phone call or pick up the penny off their floorboard or whatever the hell they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/44 "2009-09-04T16:34:14Z")
> [@Claptree](#): > > I have another favourite annoyance: people slowing down when entering and driving through a tunnel. Just last week someone in the left lane slowed to 55kph on a 70 kph road. Since passing on the right is illegal in Sweden, the right lane traffic slowed down accordingly. Before the tunnel traffic was flowing at about 80 in the right lane. Not the first time I’ve seen this, either. > > Are they scared of driving in tunnels? Do they just want their own little queue? Mine is people who slow down in advance of the exit ramp, with no one in front of them making them slow down. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/45 "2009-09-04T16:54:22Z")
You really should order [these stickers](http://www.leftlanedrivers.org/default.html). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/46 "2009-09-04T17:17:15Z")
Sigh. Let me, once again, re-iterate that handsfree or handheld cellphones MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. It’s the lack of concentration on your driving, not holding your hand up to your head that causes the problems. Lawmakers want to pacify constituents, though, so they pass useless laws saying that you must use handsfree devices. Enforcement is only part of the solution; you also need lots and lots of driver education so people understand what they are doing and monitor themselves, and you need proper training for drivers; our current North American driver licensing system is a joke. And yes, all distractions while driving are bad, whether it is talking on a phone, putting on make-up, eating a cheeseburger, groping for your dropped cigarette, changing a cd, or looking after a child. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598/47 "2009-09-04T18:35:17Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > You really should order [these stickers](http://www.leftlanedrivers.org/default.html). Heh, if that’s serious it doesn’t apply here. We don’t have enough traffic to have to use the left lane for anything but passing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-dont-keep-their-eyes-and-mental-focus-on-the-road-when-driving-should-be-executed/508598.md?page=2)