Hi-Viz will not save you from this guy:

[KnuckleBallz]

Was riding the T yesterday & my train lit this Super Duty up. It was wild- a good 10 seconds of horn & then CLUNK. He turned right in front of the train. Notice how he got hit right in the driver-side door too- it's not like he saw it & tried to beat it (would've been hit in the bed). He literally just didn't see or hear a friggin TRAIN. Also, he's OK so I don't mind calling him an idiot. Phone was in his hands the entire time. Definitely texting/talking.

Keep your head on a swivel, people.

[csmutty]

Idiot.

[SprintPoser]

I got a good one, but no pics.

Yesterday I ran down to Swansea and Seekonk. To save time on the way back I hopped onto I-195 west, getting on at Route 6 interchange in Swansea. The car ahead of me as I merged onto the highway was going slower than all the other traffic, so I signaled and moved into the center lane to get ahead the silver Hyundai Sonata. As I passed him, he was unscrewing the cap from a .75L flask-shaped bottle of what appeared to be cheap whiskey.

At that point I checked my mirrors, slowed until he passed me and I got behind him again. I pulled off the next exit behind him and stopped to get my phone out. He kept going south on 136. I called 911 and got MA State Police, even though I was in RI, but they took the info and relayed to RISP. I hope the hell they found this guy and got him off the road.

[slaphappytoys]

Just another reason not to own a cage.

[SprintPoser]

Just another reason not to own a cage.

Huh?

If I had been in my car, the Bluetooth setup for the phone would have been intact and I could have followed that drunken bastard with a running update with the cops. Instead, because I was on my bike I had to pull over and to make the call...and only hope he stayed on course. For the job I have, I have to drive a company car. At least when I do, I am very aware of motorcycles, am quite judicious about which calls I take and they are always via Bluetooth.

[KnuckleBallz]

Huh?

If I had been in my car, the Bluetooth setup for the phone would have been intact and I could have followed that drunken bastard with a running update with the cops. Instead, because I was on my bike I had to pull over and to make the call...and only hope he stayed on course. For the job I have, I have to drive a company car. At least when I do, I am very aware of motorcycles, am quite judicious about which calls I take and they are always via Bluetooth.

I think he was talking about the original story?

[SprintPoser]

Perhaps, but I can't see the practicality for a great many of us here in not owning a car or truck in addition to our motorcycles. Most of us do NOT live within the range of good, reliable, affordable public transportation. A motorcycle isn't practical for carting around a few children, groceries for a family of 3 or more, trips to The Home Depot, etc. The cars, SUV's, pickup trucks, etc. remain a necessary evil for the majority of us, and I actually have enjoyed driving some of my "cages". (My 2004 GTO, 1988 BMW 535i and 2002 BMW530i in particular.)

What we can probably do well with is an enforced law prohibiting hand held phones, continued enforcement of the texting laws, and RUTHLESS enforcement of drunken driving/open container laws.

[nhbubba]

A BT headset in the helmet would be handy here. I can hypothetically make outgoing calls with mine. Would be interesting to try to report someone while underway like that.

"Dial 911"
"Calling Nigel"
<Cancel>

"Dial 911"
"Playing artist 9 1 1"
<Cancel>

"Call the police"
"Playing artist the police"
<Cancel>

"Eff you iphone"
"Dialing emergency 911"

[SprintPoser]

I've thought about that, but one of the reasons I love riding is that I can dispense with phones, radios, and passengers and just enjoy while concentrating on the task at hand. Even my Valentine V1 has been sitting on a shelf at home for about 5 years now.

If I were to incorporate a Bluetooth headset into my helmet for this, how would I initiate a call? Wouldn't I have to push at least one button somehow to start things?

[nhbubba]

On mine, yes, it works that way. You press a button, wait for the tone, then use the voice commands.

I'm not kidding about how it well it works though. Will drive you insane. Like I said, hypothetically I could make that call.

I'm not such a purist. I like some tunes while riding. And if the missus can get a hold of me without me pulling over, all the better. I can always ignore the phone. I posses that ability and practice it frequently.

[rsw81]

All of these statements are a perfect example of why the law SHOULD NOT read that cell phones while driving are illegal, but instead that DISTRACTED DRIVING is illegal and punishable with a fine/ticket.

Just yesterday, I saw a guy driving 70mph down the Mass Pike with a spinal notebook being held up with his left hand while writing on it with his right hand, blocking his view of the road and rarely staying within his lane. I was in my cage and joked to my fiancee that I should get in front of him and step on the brakes to scare him, but it would probably be a waste of my brake pads.

In my opinion, it's unfair for the law to specify which distractions are illegal. If you are fiddling with the radio, putting on make-up, texting, talking on phone, or just planely a dumb ass distracted driver, you should be able to get pulled over if an officer see's your erratic driving behavior consistent with these things. The problem is proving it in court if someone were to contest the ticket.

[gadget]

All of these statements are a perfect example of why the law SHOULD NOT read that cell phones while driving are illegal, but instead that DISTRACTED DRIVING is illegal and punishable with a fine/ticket.

Just yesterday, I saw a guy driving 70mph down the Mass Pike with a spinal notebook being held up with his left hand while writing on it with his right hand, blocking his view of the road and rarely staying within his lane. I was in my cage and joked to my fiancee that I should get in front of him and step on the brakes to scare him, but it would probably be a waste of my brake pads.

In my opinion, it's unfair for the law to specify which distractions are illegal. If you are fiddling with the radio, putting on make-up, texting, talking on phone, or just planely a dumb ass distracted driver, you should be able to get pulled over if an officer see's your erratic driving behavior consistent with these things. The problem is proving it in court if someone were to contest the ticket.

With video cams on the dashboard, you would think that the police could follow the dumbass just a little to record the erratic behavior and then cite the driver for being out of control with the video as evidence.... just a thoght.

[nhbubba]

...but it would probably be a waste of my bumper.

Fixed.

As I understand it, NH has handled this issue just that way; the law punishes distracted and reckless driving regardless of the cause.

Of course that opens up to possible abuse from the LEO as what constitutes 'distracted' is now open to discretion.

In this man's opinion, at some point you just have to put some faith in your LEO professionals and trust them to make the right call with the right motives.

[KnuckleBallz]

My buddy was saying that they now check your phone records after an accident & if you were texting they can charge you with an offense similar to a DUI. Anyone know if there's any truth to this?

[nhbubba]

Who cares. They aren't doing anything to prevent accidents, and that's the problem.

[KnuckleBallz]

I'd disagree. Let's say someone is consistently texting while driving. Then their friend gets in an accident & hit with an agressive fine because they were texting. Person A will think twice before texting next time. That one incident will effect everyone in his/her peer circle.

[Fitz]

I'd disagree. Let's say someone is consistently texting while driving. Then their friend gets in an accident & hit with an agressive fine because they were texting. Person A will think twice before texting next time. That one incident will effect everyone in his/her peer circle.

BS. That's like saying you'll slow down when you find out your friend got a speeding ticket. Doesn't work that way.

Fitz

[NobodySpecific]

I'd disagree. Let's say someone is consistently texting while driving. Then their friend gets in an accident & hit with an agressive fine because they were texting. Person A will think twice before texting next time. That one incident will effect everyone in his/her peer circle.

That's the fantasy. The reality is that person A will think person B is an idiot for not being able to do it right, while they remain confident that they are more skilled than person B and can text and drive well. My gf thinks she can text and drive well, for example. She can't, but she is unwavering in her conviction that she can. So I just offer to drive in order to avoid the issue altogether. Hell, most people are unable to learn from their OWN mistakes, never mind the mistakes of others.

[SprintPoser]

Massachusetts has a bill before the House right now to outlaw allowing animals (little leghumper dogs the target) from being in the front seat of a car. I can't tell you how many times I've seen that show, and if that's not distracted, impaired driving I don't know what is!

I am in agreement that the laws should be punishing distracted/impaired driving, regardless of the cause. Failure to stay within marked lanes is a moving violation in and of itself, and is probable cause to pull someone over to check for drunk driving, texting while driving, etc. In the same vein, I also don't want to see any laws about "road rage", as I do not want the state legislating emotion. We have all the laws required to prosecute an "enraged" driver, including driving to endanger, speeding, following too closely, and so on.

[nhbubba]

Massachusetts has a bill before the House right now to outlaw allowing animals (little leghumper dogs the target) from being in the front seat of a car.

I have no words. Is this _really_ how you want your law enforcement professionals spending their valuable time? Enforcing crap like this?

Sounds like you have a distracted driver law. Maybe start by enforcing it.

[nhbubba]

Massachusetts has a bill before the House right now to outlaw allowing animals (little leghumper dogs the target) from being in the front seat of a car.

I have no words. Is this _really_ how you want your law enforcement professionals spending their valuable time? Enforcing crap like this?

Sounds like you have a distracted driver law. Maybe start by enforcing it.

[oVTo]

Going back to the original topic for a minute... Here's a proposal for the new Hyundai MBTA cars. Seriously, they are being built by Hyundai and they're already a year and half late, so why not start over?

This should satisfy both the Hi-Viz crowd and the "loud pipes save lives" crew. Instead of electric, go with a big block V8 and open pipes, so the subway arrives on time for a change. Plus, everyone can hear it five minutes before it arrives.



Nah, they'd probably still get hit.

[SprintPoser]

I have no words. Is this _really_ how you want your law enforcement professionals spending their valuable time? Enforcing crap like this?

Sounds like you have a distracted driver law. Maybe start by enforcing it.

Well, yes actually I do want to see my law enforcement personnel enforcing crap like that. When I see Miss Daisy attempting to turn her car while little Peppy Le Pew jumps all over her lap, into her arms and in her line of sight I know it's just a matter of time before she doesn't see one of her own grandkids and something very bad happens. Distracted driving is dangerous driving, period. Perhaps while the LEO's are chasing down and writing up Miss Daisy, they won't notice me cruising by at Warp 7.

[KnuckleBallz]

That's the fantasy. The reality is that person A will think person B is an idiot for not being able to do it right, while they remain confident that they are more skilled than person B and can text and drive well. My gf thinks she can text and drive well, for example. She can't, but she is unwavering in her conviction that she can. So I just offer to drive in order to avoid the issue altogether. Hell, most people are unable to learn from their OWN mistakes, never mind the mistakes of others.

I can see both sides...I get in big arguments with my buddy about this- he regularly surfs the web, catching up on barstool & playing words w/ friends while commuting on 90. I say he's gonna hurt himself/someone else. He says he's good at it. Back when I drove I thought I was pretty damn good @ using my ipod too. I was only so/so texting though.

Anyway. I never would've thought twice about texting and driving until recently, because of my own experiences on a motorcycle & because of how much you hear about it in the news. So awareness adds up. Maybe your friend gettin nabbed alone doesn't do it, but that combined with other influences could make a difference. The fact that driving is taken to be such a passive experience is the problem. Everything done to chip away at that notion is a positive. At the very least, the person that got busted probably won't do it again, as long as the fine is high enough.

[aldend123]

Well, yes actually I do want to see my law enforcement personnel enforcing crap like that. When I see Miss Daisy attempting to turn her car while little Peppy Le Pew jumps all over her lap, into her arms and in her line of sight I know it's just a matter of time before she doesn't see one of her own grandkids and something very bad happens. Distracted driving is dangerous driving, period. Perhaps while the LEO's are chasing down and writing up Miss Daisy, they won't notice me cruising by at Warp 7.

But you missed bubba's point. We don't need a trillion individual highly specific laws. Distracted/reckless driving laws already cover this. Need the policy to enforce it.