🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <sli5urn1jev150@corp.supernews.com>,
Dan Duncan  <dand@babu.pcisys.net> wrote:
>In co.general Ben Cantrick <mackys+usenet@dim.com> wrote:
>>   I'd say this depends heavily on the phone. Your radio has presets -
>> push one button, you're done. Your attention is distracted from
>> the road for about 2 seconds at max.
>
>Cellphones have presets.  Your lack of familiarity with your radio
>and/or phone such that you need to take your eyes off the road
>does not mean everyone is as uncoordinated as you are.

  Not all cell phones, Dan. Mine did not.

>>   I've been in this situation personally and it scared the living 
>> crap out of me. Your attention it taken away from the road for 5 to
>> 10 seconds. Even if you get smart and hold the phone up on the steering
>> wheel while you dial, you're still not concentrating on the road.
>
>Then perhaps it is better you do not engage in such activity.  Some
>of us are considerably more coordinated than this.

  You know, I wish that thing hadn't eaten itself, because I would
have really enjoyed watching you struggle with it while you tried
to prove that.

>>   I'm not terribly against people talking on the cell phone in
>> the car. But I'm dead-set against people dialing any non-preset
>> number on their cell phone while driving. If you've ever done
>> this yourself you know it's easily as bad as driving drunk.
>
>To be perfectly honest, I really don't give a shit what people are doing
>with their hands while they drive so long as they maintain control
>of the vehicle.  (and too many fail at that without a phone or radio)
>
>It might be nice if we treated car accidents for what they usually are-
>reckless endangerment or criminal negligence- but we don't, so how
>can we expect people to change?
>
>This couldn't have come at a better time:  (from today's CNN web page)
>http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/06/27/distracted.drivers.03/index.html

  I agree with you here. Drive while distracted and you should be
arrested. What kind of distraction isn't terribly relevant.


          -Ben
-- 
Ben Cantrick (mackys@dim.com)        |     Yes, the BGC dubs still suck.
BGC Nukem:     http://www.dim.com/~mackys/bgcnukem.html
The Spamdogs:  http://www.dim.com/~mackys/spamdogs
Okay, who stopped payment on my reality check?