(June 22, 2017 at 11:34 am)zebo-the-fat Wrote: In the UK it's illegal to text while driving and illegal to make a phone call unless you are om hands free, but lot's of people still do it.

It's illegal here AFAIK, at least in the two states I regularly drive in. I see people doing it all the time - on the freeway in heavy traffic, even in cars that almost certainly have bluetooth and hands-free standard (I was shopping for a late model econo box earlier in the year, and most models except for the very cheapest had hands-free).

I personally won't touch my phone while I'm driving unless the transmission is in Park. It'd be difficult to do so without disconnecting it from my car, Android Auto (which I use extensively) requires a USB connection to my car, and I use an exceptionally short cable to do it so I won't ever be tempted. I don't have to take my hands off the wheel or attention off the road for a call or a text if I must, which I rarely do.

I text and drive but before y'all lynch me I have stipulations. I'm used to driving a standard so I don't use my right hand while driving an automatic. I have swype on my phone so I can swype what I want to say without looking at my phone. Yes I get typos but I either ignore it or wait till I get to a red light to fix it. I also text in stop and go traffic where I will text while stopped then hold my phone while I inch forward then stop moving and start texting again. I will also text via talk to text. I don't text in any form on streets I don't know well, any street that has a curve, or where I can't see ahead of me. Driving the hour to my mom's on a dead straight road with no other cars around I will text but again I'm holding the phone to where my eyes keep scanning the sides of the road for deer. The only times I've ever been in an 'accident' were both when I was at a complete stop waiting for the person in front of me to go (phone in the center console not being touched) and the person behind me slammed into me. The first time it just put a small dent in my bumper the second folded my tailgate in half and destroyed the front end of the Dodge Challenger. I say 'accident' like that cause I don't know if it is considered an accident if you aren't even moving. My only other driving vice is speeding but since I am very stubborn on the two second rule I never put myself close enough to the car in front of me to not be able to stop in time.

(June 22, 2017 at 12:31 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: I text and drive but before y'all lynch me I have stipulations. I'm used to driving a standard so I don't use my right hand while driving an automatic. I have swype on my phone so I can swype what I want to say without looking at my phone. Yes I get typos but I either ignore it or wait till I get to a red light to fix it. I also text in stop and go traffic where I will text while stopped then hold my phone while I inch forward then stop moving and start texting again. I will also text via talk to text. I don't text in any form on streets I don't know well, any street that has a curve, or where I can't see ahead of me. Driving the hour to my mom's on a dead straight road with no other cars around I will text but again I'm holding the phone to where my eyes keep scanning the sides of the road for deer. The only times I've ever been in an 'accident' were both when I was at a complete stop waiting for the person in front of me to go (phone in the center console not being touched) and the person behind me slammed into me. The first time it just put a small dent in my bumper the second folded my tailgate in half and destroyed the front end of the Dodge Challenger. I say 'accident' like that cause I don't know if it is considered an accident if you aren't even moving. My only other driving vice is speeding but since I am very stubborn on the two second rule I never put myself close enough to the car in front of me to not be able to stop in time.

Finished?  Okay boys lets string her up!



J/k OC .. or was I?

(June 22, 2017 at 12:08 pm)Whateverist Wrote: Pretty sure it must be illegal everywhere but it could hardly be more common here.  Especially waiting for a light to change I have missed a chance to cross because idiots want to text until only they have time to cross.  I have checked incoming texts while waiting for a light to change.  No way am I going to send a text myself until I get where I'm going - though if I could mend the relationship with Siri I might try that.  I tend to curse her out when she comes on when I'm trying to access an icon.  Not sure if she is programmed to hold a grudge or not, but the map/directions lady seems to become a little exasperated when I deviate from her advice - the bitch.

My map guy is always shouting at me to make an immediate u-turn. Fuck you guy, those tickets are like $300

(June 21, 2017 at 7:52 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Just curious, do you text/cell and drive, even if considered illegal where you live?

Never. Nor do I use my hands for the phone when driving.

Just now, some self-important asshole yakking on his cellphone just blew through a red light while I'm in the crosswalk. This sort of shit happens several times a month.

(June 22, 2017 at 12:31 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: I text and drive but before y'all lynch me I have stipulations. I'm used to driving a standard so I don't use my right hand while driving an automatic. I have swype on my phone so I can swype what I want to say without looking at my phone. Yes I get typos but I either ignore it or wait till I get to a red light to fix it. I also text in stop and go traffic where I will text while stopped then hold my phone while I inch forward then stop moving and start texting again. I will also text via talk to text. I don't text in any form on streets I don't know well, any street that has a curve, or where I can't see ahead of me. Driving the hour to my mom's on a dead straight road with no other cars around I will text but again I'm holding the phone to where my eyes keep scanning the sides of the road for deer. The only times I've ever been in an 'accident' were both when I was at a complete stop waiting for the person in front of me to go (phone in the center console not being touched) and the person behind me slammed into me. The first time it just put a small dent in my bumper the second folded my tailgate in half and destroyed the front end of the Dodge Challenger. I say 'accident' like that cause I don't know if it is considered an accident if you aren't even moving. My only other driving vice is speeding but since I am very stubborn on the two second rule I never put myself close enough to the car in front of me to not be able to stop in time.

I'm shocked.

Shocked, I tell you!

Shocked and stunned!

Actually, shocked, stunned, and not a little amazed.

But I'll forgive you because I like you!

(June 22, 2017 at 12:31 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: I text and drive but before y'all lynch me I have stipulations. I'm used to driving a standard so I don't use my right hand while driving an automatic. I have swype on my phone so I can swype what I want to say without looking at my phone. Yes I get typos but I either ignore it or wait till I get to a red light to fix it. I also text in stop and go traffic where I will text while stopped then hold my phone while I inch forward then stop moving and start texting again. I will also text via talk to text. I don't text in any form on streets I don't know well, any street that has a curve, or where I can't see ahead of me. Driving the hour to my mom's on a dead straight road with no other cars around I will text but again I'm holding the phone to where my eyes keep scanning the sides of the road for deer. The only times I've ever been in an 'accident' were both when I was at a complete stop waiting for the person in front of me to go (phone in the center console not being touched) and the person behind me slammed into me. The first time it just put a small dent in my bumper the second folded my tailgate in half and destroyed the front end of the Dodge Challenger. I say 'accident' like that cause I don't know if it is considered an accident if you aren't even moving. My only other driving vice is speeding but since I am very stubborn on the two second rule I never put myself close enough to the car in front of me to not be able to stop in time.

Thank you for your honesty. I'm sure that there are more here with your position that have chosen not to respond. 

No offense, but I used to use very similar rationalizations/justifications while doing something else and driving. Never got pulled over or had an accident........ that I remember.

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(June 22, 2017 at 1:30 pm)Losty Wrote:

(June 22, 2017 at 12:08 pm)Whateverist Wrote: Pretty sure it must be illegal everywhere but it could hardly be more common here.  Especially waiting for a light to change I have missed a chance to cross because idiots want to text until only they have time to cross.  I have checked incoming texts while waiting for a light to change.  No way am I going to send a text myself until I get where I'm going - though if I could mend the relationship with Siri I might try that.  I tend to curse her out when she comes on when I'm trying to access an icon.  Not sure if she is programmed to hold a grudge or not, but the map/directions lady seems to become a little exasperated when I deviate from her advice - the bitch.

My map guy is always shouting at me to make an immediate u-turn. Fuck you guy, those tickets are like $300

How does paper shout at you?

I will straight up admit I have a very short attention span and I go into auto pilot. Sometimes I will drive legally for a length of time and not remember how I got there. I freak out cause I'm like how did I get to be stopped at a stop sign? At least my auto pilot is in safe mode I reckon. I figure if I'm messing with my phone I'm making a conscious effort to pay attention to the road and things around me. I know they say the answer to auto pilot is taking different routes but I'm telling you there is literally only two ways to get into the city I work in and the second way takes hours because I have to go THROUGH Austin down south and then back up again.

Lol I'm talking about the gps map reader/direction giver guy.