Thursday, June 22, 2006
Cell phone horror stories
OK, yes, a cell phone in the right place at the right time (that actually gets a signal) can save lives. But they can also wreak havoc when used improperly. We just learned of a devastating cell phone-induced car/bicycle accident. So, should they be outlawed while driving? Are cell phones a marvel or a menace? Chime in!
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18 comments:
Of course having a cell phone can save a life, but talking on a cell phone while driving has caused more than a few lives to be lost. We're so lucky that Robin Valline is still able to tell his story about the accident Tuesday, but the outcome could have been different. With a shattered femur, I think he'll be reminded of the car driver's cell phone conversation for years.
Driving is a skill that requires attention. I started limiting my cell phone conversations after I realized that I couldn't remember specifics about the road I just traveled after hanging up the phone. Next time you hang up the phone while driving, try to recall how many cars you passed, how many cars passed you, how many pedestrians you passsed and for those who think they have really keen perception, what color was the bike you just passed? I have thought for a few years now that Utah should join the ranks of the more enlightened countries and cities around the world that have banned cell phone use while driving. After Robin's accident, I'll do what I can to try to make it a law.
Please hang up and drive. You don't really want to be known around town as the person who killed the kid on a bike, do you?
Mark Maziarz
Some years ago, a few of the counties in the suburbs of New York City banned driving while talking on a cell phone. The improvements to traffic safety were so apparent that the legislature enacted a state-wide ban. There are signs informing drivers of it on major highways as they enter the state, and troopers actively enforce it.
In Park City, it seems that every time I see a driver doing something particularly carelessly, I also notice that he or she is talking on a cell. If the city passes an ordinance and enforces it, other cities and counties may -- probbly will -- follow.
Our city officials too often wait for an idea to be tested in Aspen or Sun Valley before trying it here. We should encourage them to take a chance and borrow from Scarsdale and Glen Cove as well.
Bruce Margolius
I think cell phone use should be illegal while driving. Hang up and Drive!!!
Indeed driving while talking on a cell phone should be made illegal in Utah. In England they go a few steps further...eating and drinking, looking at a map or trying to read whilst driving are all punishable offenses. Moreover, cell phones are offensive in restaurants or anywhere that one has to sit and endure the loud conversation of the person next to you. Airports should have designated sound proofed cell phone chatting areas, as they do for smoking, so all the rude people can congrogate and try and out-shout the person talking next to them. Cell phone users in general are becoming less and less considerate of others around them. It really is an unfortunate sign of the times.
R. Stern
Not only driving and talking on a cell phone is stupid.
How about trying to load on a chairlift. This year while skiing, i saw a person get nailed by a fixed grip trip, person was more interested in making a real estate deal, he forgot about the chair coming up behind. Chiar hit him, he went one way, the cell phone landed in the snow about 30 feet away. Person starts yelling at liftie. Ah excuse me Mr. Cell phone, your one whos suppose to watch for the chair so it doesnt slam you in the arse
I agree that talking on the phone can be distracting and I've seen drivers not drive to their ability. I've also seen drivers operate just fine.
Where do you draw the line?
Like one blogger stated, eating, drinking and looking at a map while driving are punishable offenses in England. England has also banned self-protection with firearms (you go to jail if you protect yourself or loved ones) and they have outlawed some knifes in England. If you place your junk mail in a public receptacle in England you'll also get fined.
Where do you draw the line? How much power over you do you want to give your government?
If you try to protect everyone from everything you will have no freedom (or $) left.
How about some middle road solution if there is a real problem? How about societal pressure on those who shouldn't be on the phone while driving? Safety campaigns? How about, if you cause an accident because you are on the phone then the penalty is increased. This would give one pause to think how important is this call but also make it a choice. Remember, most of the time when people use cell phones while driving there is NOT a problem. On the other hand I would argue that it is smarter to pull over and stop when you want to use the phone.
I, for one, do not want a police state. I am willing to take responsibility for my actions, including paying the penalty if I mess up.
There is no utopia (how many have died/been killed in governments trying to effect same?). There are risks to life, we should seek to minimize them but we can’t eliminate them…even by giving up all our money and freedoms!
Gary Shumway
Libertarian for Utah State Representative
District 53
www.voteshumway.org
Sure, some cell-phone drivers seem "just fine," the same as many inebriated drivers. I think that trying to figure out "if I can push this call a minute longer as I maneuver this road" is like saying "maybe I can handle just one more drink and still drive safely enough."
Just like you, I'm tempted to drink and drive ... ahem, cell-talk and drive. It took 2 incidences of impairment that leveled me to a Senior driver AND a drinking driver at once.
I don't drink, but it would seem that I was when I played Russian Roulette with my cell phone 2 times too many.
The first time I had a "wake-up call," I was in the SUV, on the phone with my son at home - like I often was. He told me something that literally stopped me cold, and seemed to make me forget where I was for an instant. It was the wrong instant.
I drove right though the intersection in front of Jan's, during a red light, then slammed my brakes in the middle of it(yah, I know; I was really blasted with a phone call). I don't even know exactly what I did, but I think somehow I cut off the bus.
Here's the worst of it, and why I won't tell you my name: my toddler was asleep in his carseat behind me.
I dropped the phone, instantly was back and completely coherent with the fact that I'd lost a second or two of reality. The bus driver literally chased me north on 224.
Feeling so grateful no one got hurt, I also felt awful that I had risked my baby's life; I was trembling and trying to handle with dignity the stares of a couple of cars passing by. I started telling myself loudly in my head, "No more phone while driving," over and over, a lesson apparently learned, until ...
A year later, breaking my rule for "just a quickie call," I again went several feet into a red-lighted intersection as I was turning at Kimball Junction, west onto I-80. Yet again, I got emotionally involved and lost track of space and time, just for a moment. Again, I was okay, but since then I've always pulled over to answer the line or make that call.
I hope you don't learn the hard way, like I did. Don't make the foolish mistake that you're multi-tasking, answering that real-estate call or checking-in with your family member's and making the most of your time. Make the most of your life and don't risk your life - or mine.
Make your own judgement as to whether I'm a space cadet, or one having lived through something that you too could experience - for better or worse.
Statistics are showing that during cell usage while driving we become senile, even like a drunk driver. These are the documented studies, and I gratefully am proof.
Make your own call, at your peril, whether you will stay on the line or hang it up. "One call, that's all," and for sure that attorney could be involved. Only one call could end a life, and that's just too many.
Can we all cut back on the cell phones all together? I'm afraid we're going to find out in the future that there are serious health risks associated with talking on them too much...cancer of the brain, tongue, skin...etc. Much like cigarettes were thought to be harmless many, many years ago. There is already evidence pointing in this direction. And we are letting our children talk on them for HOURS.
The car would be a great place to start cutting back on phone time, for your safety, your neighbor's safety, and your future health. Take in the scenery, sing along with the radio, have a quality conversation with your passengers, and watch the road, please. Thanks.
In response to the blog left by Gary Shumway, of course there are risks to life, but I hardly want some moron on a cell phone behind the wheel of an automobile causing my untimely demise. Regarding firearms, Certainly England bans some knives and self-protection of firearms, but it seems to work; in 2000 the USA had 16,000 firearm deaths as opposed to the UK, with a population of 60 Million, having twelve.
I hardly think baning cell phone use whilst driving would bring us closer to a 'police state', what it would do however is decrease accidents, fatalities and our insurance rates. I also hardly believe that 'societal pressure' would get people to stop talking or text messaging on the phone while driving. People don't generally adhere to social responsibility unless a law is involved. Until a law is passed, people will continue to talk on the phone while driving, causing accidents and deaths along the way.
Cell phones aren't the only culprit I've seen lately. Picture the young woman driving on 224 towards Kimball Junction last week blithley putting her eye makeup on...yes, all of it. First the eyeliner, then the shadow, then the mascara...you get the picture. I kept a close eye out and backed away from time to time as her weavings directly correlated to her search for and application of said accutriments. Now I've seen it all!
As to firearms usage in the US vs. the UK.
Here are the 2003 CDC (government agency) statistics as contained in the
National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 54, No. 13, April 19, 2006 report.
These are the age-adjusted rates per 100,000 U.S. standard population
Death by motor vehicle accidents 15.3
Homicide by discharge of firearms 4.1 *
Homicide by other means 2.0 *
Suicide by discharge of firearm 5.8 *
Suicide by other & unspecified 5.0 *
Death by accidental firearm discharge 0.2 *
Death by falls 5.9
Death by respiratory tuberculosis 0.2
Death by meningitis 0.3
Death by malnutrition 1.1
The stared causes of death are gun related. I won't interpret or argue the numbers. You can read as well as I.
Note that these 'firearm deaths' were caused by a person pulling the trigger, not the firearm loading itself, finding it's victim, pointing itself, and setting itself off. To test this, I put a bunch of ammunition in my gun safe with my guns and a week later I went back and found not one of the firearms had loaded itself. Amazing.
Further, a comprehensive review of published studies of gun control, released in November 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was unable to determine any reliable statistically significant effect, pro or con, resulting from gun control laws (wikipedia.org under "Gun Control").
Gary Kleck's (wikipedia.org) work supports firearm rights by showing that the number of Americans who report incidents where their guns averted a threat vastly outnumber those who report being the victim of a firearm-related crime. Gary argues that while in 1993 there were about four hundred thousand crimes committed with guns, there were approximately 2.5 million crimes in which victims used guns for self-protection. The work of John Lott finds even more support for the use of guns for self-protection, "More Guns, Less Crime".
I agree with Benjamin Franklin, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."
Among the many misdeeds of British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. Mohandas Gandhi, An Autobiography, pg 446.
In the book Children of the Flames, Auschwitz survivor Menashe Lorinczi states, "...it doesn't matter whether you're Hungarian, Polish, Jewish, or German: If you don't have a gun, you have nothing."
Story in PR on July 3, 2006: "With no regrets, Ure loses GOP bid"
Once again a story by-lined by Jay Hamburger mentions the two major party candidates but amazingly forgets to mention the Libertarian. Another amazing piece of reporting. I responded with the following email to the Crock Record.
Re: your July 3rd Ure 'story', "With no regrets, Ure loses GOP bid".
This is getting to be old hat. I think I'll just create a document template to save time when I write to remind you that there are three candidates in the State House District 53 contest. You wrote: "In November, Ure plans to support the Republican candidate in his District 53, Mel Brown. He says he respects Laura Bonham, Brown's Democratic challenger, but will endorse Brown." {BTW, darn good reporting Cheese, how did you EVER get David to make that statement re: Brown? Stunning revelation!}
You just had to get Laura's name in there and by golly, there's no mention of that pesky Libertarian. But, unless you've lost that last agate you have rolling around in your head, you know there are three candidates, it's just ole Crock Record bias again.
I've duly noted the professional nature of your reporting in my campaign web pages, http://www.voteshumway.org/FAQ.htm#MediaBias.
I wonder if you can go through the entire election without mentioning the 'L' word. Now that would truly be professional reporting. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Best Wishes,
Gary Shumway
Libertarian for Utah State Legislature
District 53
I hate cellphones. Yes, they have their place but, not the way they are being used by most people.
They will be the blame in untold numbers of accidents and deaths for sure. You can also blame them for the decrease in socialization amongst ourselves. We can't talk to strangers, we have to talk to someone we know. We can't be alone with ourselves, we have to call someone to fill that void.
My cellphone nightmares are relatively minor besides the everyday stupidity that occurs behind the wheel of a car....
I was reading at the airport, before my flight, there were hundreds of seats available all around me, this guy sits right next to me, dials, and then proceeds to shout into his cellphone some inane conversation (as most seem to be).
Then there's the guy in the grocery store who has to call and see what kind of ketchup to buy-you can't just guess once for that $1.29 purchase? We are increasingly unable to make decisions on our own. I hate cellphones.
I have always made a point of not talking - while HOLDING my cell phone. If people HAVE to take a call, and I don't mean business. I mean, a family member is calling, it could be an emergency with your child, etc., Use an EAR-PIECE! It sits over your ear, hooks to your shirt and your hands are 'hands-free', meaning, you can now grip the steering wheel of your tank, or 'SUV' as they call those. I have never seen so many cell-phone-drivers in my life as I have here in Park City and in Heber! Some of them are literally bicycle drivers, holding a cell phone! Back in the day, if you couldn'd afford an actual CAR, you didn't buy a car-phone! That IS how this mess started. However, you high-school and younger folks with cell phones, wouldn't know that, or responsibility for that matter. Teens and younger should never get a free phone! they are already rude and rebellious, enjoy paying that phone bill! haha! My 7-year-old asked me to buy her a cell phone because 'her friends' at elementary school have them!? WHY? Why do small children need a phone? Kids HATE talking on phones until after at least - age 10! What are you all thinking? And the FEMALE SUV drivers and fancy car drivers (Mercedes etc.) are the WORST!! I am also female, but I actually DRIVE the car! I look for pedestrians & potential dangers along the way, like everyone else should be doing! Gals, try it out, before (as another blogger said), you will be that person who hit a child because you had such an important call, to your friend or husband. Cell phones are wonderful if used properly. I doubt the inventor thought 'once these come out, there will be all kinds of accidents, even deaths'. they are meant to be used for urgent calls or an emergency (if driving). If not driving, whatever! But, it is VERY irritating to have to hear your conversation! Just as it would be mine, so I politely 'step-out' of grocery stores, restaurants etc., or get right off the phone call. People in the grocery store, on the phone, can't even control the steering of a cart while on the phone! There are plenty of us that can't walk and chew gum at the same time. There are even more of you who seem to think ignorance is fun and nobody minds. That's bull and deep down you know your being a snob, cut the crap before someone goes postal. HANG UP TO DRIVE. Have you all noticed how the PC Police are always on cell phones too? Maybe that's why nothing is being banned? Hmmm.
Great blog!
I really enjoyed looking over your last post. Pet peeve #1 - People with a cellphone plastered to their ear while trying to drive. Don't they realize all they have to do is go to www.bluetoothbargains.comwireless cellphone headset get a wireless cellphone headset and make driving alot easier for all of us. Soon laws will require it! Well, keep the great posts coming and I'll be back to check it out.
I've been trapped in a gondola car with someone who had to talk to somebody else,we weren't good enough I guess. Of course, we couldn't really have our own conversation either as that person was shouting about 3 feet away from us. People using cellphones can be unbelievably rude! A little common sense is all it takes, and, don't even think of turning on your cellphone when you're out on the golf course with me. Just because the cellphone liberates some from having to go to the office, doesn't mean I need to be in your office while putting on the greens.
There seems to be a common misconception that the hazards of talking on the cell phone while driving is related to the drivers' ability to focus on what s/he is doing. I do not challenge that, as I have made many of the same observations as have been recorded in previous posts to this blog. Most careless drives that I have seen have been on their cell phones. However, here are the real reasons for concern:
*Two minutes on the cell phone disrupts the brainwave patterns for over two hours. An insurence company in Gemany did research and found that someone on the cell phone has the same reaction time as someone driving drunk.
*Cell phone radiation interfere with the cell repair process (that happen every day in our bodies) in such a way it creates an environment for cancer and growth of tumors. In the USA the rate of brain cancer has increased by 25% in the time span we have had cell phones. Over 70% of the brain tumors occur under the ear, where we hold the cell phone.
* The Blue Tooth solution is even worse, as the BT picks up ambient radiation, on top of the radiation from the cell phone, and send it straight into your ear. A head set is not much better forthe same reasons, thanks to the copper wire (copper is highly conducive) in the cord.
* The average adult cell phone use is 500 minutes/month. Research shows that this increases the probability for brain cancer by 300%.
* The average teen cell phone use is 2 600 minutes/month. There are no studies showing the impact of that amount of cell phone use from such an early age. And by the way, kids and teens are a lot more sentitive as their skulls are thinner and their brains more liquid. Because of that, the cell phone radiation goes much further into their skulls.
These are not numbers taken out of thin air. One source is the 28 million USD study the cell phone industry did in the 90s. They didn't like the results, and never published them. The only consequence is that now that you sign a contract with some of them, you agree to not ever sue them, in case of brain cancer etc. It's all in the fine print, which we of course always read!
Now the good news. There are products that are affordable, easy to use, lab tested and proven effective, that protect you against cell phone radiation. Go to http://www.bioprotechnology.com. And no, this is not my personal website, and I wont make money out of it. I'm just committed to people being safe. Especially children.
Thanks.
my best friend was killed by a guy that was on his cell phone. She was riding her bike to the bookstore to get a book for class and he didnt see her and she died on impact... while all of this happened, i was up in New York. I never said bye to her, i miss her so much and that lame ass hole got off without having to go to jail or anything... the worst part is that the city re paved and widened the road where she was killed, and they took down her drive safely sign, and they wont put the sign back up.
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