# Your opinions on a cell phone/driving situation **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/21 "2014-05-23T20:07:58Z")
When someone else gets pissed off in traffic, I try to remind myself to let it be their heart attack, not mine. We gain nothing when we get angry at human nature. We can’t change it. It may be bloody stupid, but it’s going to happen again and again, so we might as well learn to laugh at it rather than blow a gasket. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/22 "2014-05-23T20:17:35Z")
I disagree. Using a cellphone while driving is dangerous. The stats for my home province are that more people died in the last year because of distracted driving than because of drunk driving. Public shaming is one way to try to change people’s attitudes, to get them to stop putting themselves and others at risk. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/23 "2014-05-23T20:52:38Z")
I mentioned this thread in my workplace today. One cow-orker, the slowest and laziest employee, was puzzled as to why I was upset at the person in front of me. She declared she is fully capable of talking on the cellphone AND keeping a sharp eye on the road. We just rolled our eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/24 "2014-05-23T21:16:22Z")
> [@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. Exactly this. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/25 "2014-05-23T22:58:31Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I mentioned this thread in my workplace today. One cow-orker, the slowest and laziest employee, was puzzled as to why I was upset at the person in front of me. She declared she is fully capable of talking on the cellphone AND keeping a sharp eye on the road. We just rolled our eyes. Of course she is. So is every other driver that we see, weaving all over the road, speeding up and slowing down, driving erratically, not seeing things like the light turning green or red in front of them. At least, that’s what they tell themselves. Then, when they t-bone someone because they blew a red light while talking on the phone, they tell themselves it was the other driver’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/26 "2014-05-24T00:40:33Z")
I voted for the lasor canon. I was once hit by [someone on a cell phone](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=665613&highlight=cell)and it just ticked me the fuck off. 2 years later and I’m still pissed at that stupid cell phone talking bint. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/27 "2014-05-24T23:36:59Z")
I only voted for the immediate loud horn because I don’t own a laser cannon. I also really want to ask WTF about the “African American female” comment, although I really should know better. From what I see while driving, cellphone AND middle finger use are disturbingly common among drivers of every race, sex, and age. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/28 "2014-05-25T00:25:37Z")
Driving while talking on your cell phone is second only to driving while texting. It’s laser cannon time. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/29 "2014-05-26T16:28:37Z")
Using the laser canon is just going to set you up for a bad day of talking to cops and trying to get ink off your fingers. It’s just not worth it, no matter how much deserved. So the correct answer is to lay on the horn and to keep it blaring the entire time through the turn and for at least a block beyond. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/30 "2014-05-26T18:54:30Z")
I’m glad this came up near the top again. Last week I saw almost exactly this situation. A car was in a left turn lane, and big white pickup truck was behind. (I was next to the truck.) The left arrow came on, and the car did not move. The truck tooted his horn. Still nothing. Then the truck tooted the horn real loud, and the nitwit finally turned. I couldn’t see if the driver of the car was on the phone or just asleep, but the driver of the truck was totally justified. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/31 "2014-05-27T09:40:19Z")
I see someone has finally said there should have been patience, it was an important call. Perhaps they were being sarcastic, as I was. In any event, the response is not explained,(not that they have to.) ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/32 "2014-05-27T10:06:36Z")
And now I really want a laser cannon on my car. Bah, you did the right thing, the other driver was in the wrong but rather than admit their mistake, they went for the rude bastard approach. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/33 "2014-05-27T10:20:38Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > We gain nothing when we get angry at human nature. We can’t change it. It may be bloody stupid, but it’s going to happen again and again, so we might as well learn to laugh at it rather than blow a gasket. But getting angry is also human nature. We can’t change that, either, right? If I can learn to laugh at it, they can learn to fucking not do it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/34 "2014-05-27T18:35:15Z")
> [@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. Caffine making you tense? The correct reaction is: 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, proclaim to the party on the other end that the driver does not have the mental capacity to talk & drive, **then** smash it on the ground, slash TWO of their tires so they _have_ to get a tow, then drive off an anonymous hero. 😃 ---
**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 27, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/35 "2014-05-27T18:47:58Z")
I am very judicious about when I use my horn, because my car horn has issues\*. But otherwise, I would have done what you did. Flipping people off is always rude. Being a left-turn-arrow hog is rude. That was just a bad driver all around. \*The issue is that this activates my anti-theft system, but in a very bad way. Whenever I unlock my car, by any means, the horn starts honking and continues until my key is in the ignition. At best, three loud honks. Sometimes more. To fix it I have to unhook the battery, then reset the clock and then reset all my preset radio stations. Annoying. So I virtually never honk unless there is some imminent risk. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/36 "2014-05-27T21:21:31Z")
> [@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? > > . You left off the part where you rip their wallet from their pocket, look at their address on their driver’s license, go to their home and sterilize their children so that the weak genes are removed from our species. But other than that, you nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/37 "2014-05-28T11:15:03Z")
The guy was totally wrong to flip out. Ignoring the cellphone idiocy, whenever someone is at a light and not paying attention, it’s not unreasonable for the person behind to honk. Happens alla time. My guess: the guy got pissed because he KNEW he was wrong to be talking on the phone. > [@Baker](#): > > One cow-orker, the slowest and laziest employee, was puzzled as to why I was upset at the person in front of me. She declared she is fully capable of talking on the cellphone AND keeping a sharp eye on the road. We just rolled our eyes. The statistics are very clear, that ANY distraction can be a cause of accident – even reaching over to play with the radio dial. It only takes a second of eyes-off-the-road for something unexpected to occur. Cell phones are right up there with drunk driving in terms of leading causes of accidents. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/38 "2014-05-28T12:28:10Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > 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. > [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > My guess: the guy got pissed because he KNEW he was wrong to be talking on the phone. I disagree with both of you. The guy was angry because the OP honked at him for, in his mind, no reason. People like this think that rules don’t apply to them and they get mad if you suggest that they have done something wrong. His conversation was more important than your need to get through that light and you can fuck right off for daring to suggest otherwise. What do you do when you screw up while driving? Do you give the other person the finger or are you contrite? People don’t express contrition with anger. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/39 "2014-05-28T14:37:27Z")
Years ago, I got stuck behind a truck that stopped mid-left turn so that the driver could have a several- minutes- long conversation with the driver of another truck that was making a right turn into that intersection. I have never heard so many horns honking so loudly. The drivers ignored us completely. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047/40 "2014-05-28T16:42:30Z")
You did the polite thing. My recent encounter with the dark side. I’m at a large shopping center with multiple 4-way stops before getting to the exit. This idiot jumps ahead of me in the turn cycle at one of the stops and drives into the left lane of 3 lanes. He then radically drives over to the far right lane cutting me off. We’re now at the light to get out. He’s playing with his phone and goes through the green cycle until it turns red and then he drives through the red light turning right onto the street into the far left lane. Again he cuts off another driver by swinging into the center lane. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-opinions-on-a-cell-phone-driving-situation/689047.md?page=3)