# Your opinions on a cell phone/driving situation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 22, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047 "2014-05-22T23:46:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/1 "2014-05-22T23:46:30Z")
Today I was driving home. I was second in line in the left turn lane, at a red light. I could see that the person in front of me was on a cell phone.
So the left turn light turns green and that person doesn’t move, just keeps talking and gesturing with their other hand. I give a little toot with my horn to get their attention, NOT a big, angry honking.
They look up, see the light, and I can see their head turn to the rear view mirror. Before moving forward, very slowly I might add, they flip me off.
Poll to follow, on what I should have done, or not done.
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### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/2 "2014-05-22T23:55:45Z")
You should have done the big angry honking. Otherwise, you are fine, you did right, the other driver is a stupid asshole.
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### Author:  [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/3 "2014-05-23T00:10:38Z")
I absolutely would’ve done what you did. Having said that, I’ve mentioned doing something similar before to other people and they warned me that I could be setting myself up to be a victim of road rage. Drivers may be calmer and less aggressive where you live, however.
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### Author:  [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/4 "2014-05-23T00:10:46Z")
If it were me in that car, and it was a call important enough to hold up traffic, I would have done the “I’m sorry” pantomime. In your shoes, though, I would have done the same thing you did.
Whenever someone flips me off when driving I always smile at them and wave like Queen Elizabeth.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/5 "2014-05-23T00:13:38Z")
If you have an important call, you don’t sit in the middle of the road and take it. You say “Oh my god!! Hold on let me pull over and call you back!” and then hang up, make the turn, pull over and call them back.
You did exactly what I would have done.
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/6 "2014-05-23T00:30:54Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#):
>
> If it were me in that car, and it was a call important enough to hold up traffic, I would have done the “I’m sorry” pantomime.
What, like a call to 911 because some emergency has incapacitated you?
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### Author:  [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/7 "2014-05-23T00:45:44Z")
No one talking on their cell and driving (i.e. behind the wheel anywhere but in a parking space or pulled over to the shoulder) gets any courtesy from me. Maybe it’s still legal where you are, but it’s not here and I’ve seen too many accidents/deaths caused by inattentive cell phone use to have any tolerance for it. Lay on the horn and get them moving, I don’t give a shit if they don’t like it, they damn well know they’re in the wrong.
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### Author:  [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/8 "2014-05-23T02:14:51Z")
It’s in situations like the OP that I wish I had a set of HornBlasters train horns\*\*\* in the car instead of the stock cutesy VW horn, it has absolutely no presence
And I voted to lay on the horn, long, angry blast…
\*\*\*imagine the deep resonant blast of a diesel locomotive horn coming from a little 2 door VW Rabbit hatchback…
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/9 "2014-05-23T02:46:49Z")
It’s interesting to me that most people are agreeing with my OP.
When I wrote the choices I was being more than a bit sarcastic with the first choice, which nobody has clicked on.
Although I chose the short toot on the horn today, my natural inclination was to break out the laser cannon. But, well, there might have been collateral damage, so I refrained.😃
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### Author:  [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/10 "2014-05-23T04:50:22Z")
Why is there no option for lean out the window and yell
‘yo bitch, get off the flippin’ phone or I’m gonna ram your ass’?
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/11 "2014-05-23T05:34:40Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#):
>
> Why is there no option for lean out the window and yell
> ‘yo bitch, get off the flippin’ phone or I’m gonna ram your ass’?
Perhaps it’s a subset of the laser cannon option, the last try before they fry.
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### Author:  [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/12 "2014-05-23T15:54:34Z")
**Racist post ensuing**
Was said person an African-American female?
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/13 "2014-05-23T16:15:39Z")
I voted the middle option, assuming you meant what should you have done when she first didn’t move.
If you meant what should you have done _after_ she flipped you off, both of the last two options are appropriate.
ETA: Does someone really think the OP should have waited 30 seconds? The light would have been red again by then.
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### Author:  [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/14 "2014-05-23T16:18:53Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> Perhaps it’s a subset of the laser cannon option, the last try before they fry.
The laser cannon was my choice. 😃
I wish I had one.
What I really don’t understand though is why people still hold their phones to talk on them. You can get a decent bluetooth for under $30, it’s easy to pair them. Then you can have both hands on the wheel, you can keep your eyes on the road, and you can sit up straight instead of leaning over because your phone is plugged into the charger.
Unless somebody sees your lips moving they have no idea you are on the phone, and even then you could be singing along to the radio.
I got behind some woman the other day who was babbling away on her phone and she kept weaving back and forth between the two lanes. It was a relief to finally get around her and leave her in the dust. She was totally oblivious to the backup behind her.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/15 "2014-05-23T16:45:59Z")
Lean on the horn until they move, keep it up while chasing them down, force them to pull over, get out, punch them in the face, rip the phone out of their hand, smash it on the ground, slash TWO of their tires so they _have_ to get a tow, then drive off an anonymous hero.
Or is that a little overboard?
.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/16 "2014-05-23T17:16:30Z")
I voted with the majority, though the laser cannon option was tempting. Depends on whether it disintegrates the asshole enough to let you drive through.
Is driving while phoning legal in your state? It isn’t in ours, so this might merit a louder blast. People are slow enough in getting through turns as it is.
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### Author:  [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/17 "2014-05-23T17:19:05Z")
> [@Stringbean](#):
>
> **Racist post ensuing**
>
> Was said person an African-American female?
And that’s the point at which I decided to subscribe to this thread.
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### Author:  [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/18 "2014-05-23T17:41:06Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> It’s interesting to me that most people are agreeing with my OP.
>
> When I wrote the choices I was being more than a bit sarcastic with the first choice, which nobody has clicked on.
>
> Although I chose the short toot on the horn today, my natural inclination was to break out the laser cannon. But, well, there might have been collateral damage, so I refrained.😃
You did right. The laser cannon is for _after_ she flipped you off, since doing so proved she was not only a stupid, law-breaking idiot, but rude as well. 🆒
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/19 "2014-05-23T19:13:30Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#):
>
> No one talking on their cell and driving (i.e. behind the wheel anywhere but in a parking space or pulled over to the shoulder) gets any courtesy from me. Maybe it’s still legal where you are, but it’s not here and I’ve seen too many accidents/deaths caused by inattentive cell phone use to have any tolerance for it. Lay on the horn and get them moving, I don’t give a shit if they don’t like it, they damn well know they’re in the wrong.
This very thing.
> [@MacTech](#):
>
> It’s in situations like the OP that I wish I had a set of HornBlasters train horns\*\*\* in the car instead of the stock cutesy VW horn, it has absolutely no presence
>
> And I voted to lay on the horn, long, angry blast…
> \*\*\*imagine the deep resonant blast of a diesel locomotive horn coming from a little 2 door VW Rabbit hatchback…
I am, I am. I want one of those for my Corolla, too.
> [@Sahirrnee](#):
>
> The laser cannon was my choice. 😃
> I wish I had one.
> What I really don’t understand though is why people still hold their phones to talk on them. You can get a decent bluetooth for under $30, it’s easy to pair them. Then you can have both hands on the wheel, you can keep your eyes on the road, and you can sit up straight instead of leaning over because your phone is plugged into the charger.
> Unless somebody sees your lips moving they have no idea you are on the phone, and even then you could be singing along to the radio.
>
> I got behind some woman the other day who was babbling away on her phone and she kept weaving back and forth between the two lanes. It was a relief to finally get around her and leave her in the dust. She was totally oblivious to the backup behind her.
Please allow me to once again say that there is virtually no difference between holding a phone and talking and using a bluetooth - the conversation is the distraction from your driving, not holding the phone.
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> Lean on the horn until they move, keep it up while chasing them down, force them to pull over, get out, punch them in the face, rip the phone out of their hand, smash it on the ground, slash TWO of their tires so they _have_ to get a tow, then drive off an anonymous hero.
>
> Or is that a little overboard?
>
> .
No, that sounds just about right. 🙂
Another factor here - it is the responsibility of the second person in line to get the first person in line moving. All the rest of us want to make it through that green light, too, so you did exactly right. Give them a beat or two to realize they’re still sitting in the driver’s seat of a car, then a polite toot. Her driving slowly and flipping you off just means that she was raised by a very low class of people and probably shouldn’t be allowed out in polite society.
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/20 "2014-05-23T19:45:30Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> They look up, see the light, and I can see their head turn to the rear view mirror. Before moving forward, very slowly I might add, they flip me off.
I am quite sure that they gave you the bird because they’re angry and embarrassed at being caught out not paying attention. That’s not to say that they were justified in being rude to you, but I would bet money they went home slightly furious with themselves.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047.md?page=2)