I'm going to start carrying a big freakin' shovel...

[Skywalker]

Alright, this one is for you tired, lazy, stupid and cheap meatheads.....

I have the notion to start carrying a big freakin' shovel so I can beat some sense into these idiot's heads. I am talking about MORONS who have to talk on their cellphones while they drive....but are too damn CHEAP to get a hands-free headset so they can actually concentrate on driving!!

Folks, if you drive and hold your cellphone in your left hand....YOU CANNOT SEE YOUR LEFT MIRROR WORTH "SQUAT"!! Get that through your pointy little heads!

Several times in the last few days...I have been going down the road....passing someone who is yapping on their cellphone, holding it up with their left hand, completely obscuring their vision of their left mirror....and they move out to pass....and neither use turn signals or even bother to look!!!~!!!

Its bad enough that morons in 4 wheelers have to engage in marathon conversations the minute they start the car, or have to text every other idiot they know..... But I am talking about so called PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS!!!

Statistics show that over 6000 people are killed in collisions where one of the people was using their cellphone!! That is more than the number of people who are killed in collisions with CMV's!!

IF YOU ARE TOO DAMNED CHEAP TO GET A "BLUETOOTH" OR EVEN A CORDED HEADSET.......SHUT THE "F" UP AND PARK THE DAMN TRUCK!!!

Also, this is for you pointy headed shcmucks....if you can't engage in a conversation without erratically driving and slowing down blocking traffic......SHUT UP or PARK IT!!!!

?Get the message?

[Jay B]

So do you get their truck number and report them to their companies, or are you just going to yell at the wrong people all day instead of actually taking some kind of action that might help correct the problem?

[Rev.Vassago]

Folks, if you drive and hold your cellphone in your left hand....YOU CANNOT SEE YOUR LEFT MIRROR WORTH "SQUAT"!! Get that through your pointy little heads!

That makes no sense whatsoever. My eyes are not in my hand or my ear, and I don't place the phone over my eyes when I talk. Elaborate please.

[jagerbomber3.0]

That makes no sense whatsoever. My eyes are not in my hand or my ear, and I don't place the phone over my eyes when I talk. Elaborate please.

Rev,I was thinking the same thing. I dont really condone talking on the phone like that but MOST of us have done it at some point and I cant recall a time ever when I did this that the view of my mirror was obscured. I really dont see how you figure your whole entire view of the mirror is blocked. You would have to be scooted up all the way in your seat all the way to the steering wheel leaning forward and sticking your elbow way out in front of your face to completely block your view of your left mirror when having a phone to your ear. again,please note i am not saying its cool to yak on the phone while you are driving but most of the types of accidents are not due to mirrors being obscured they are due to inattention to whats going on and not an obstructed view of your left hand mirror. Thats just my take on it though.

[Kevin0915]

I understand what you're saying, but it makes no sense.

If you are doing ANYTHING and i mean ANYTHING in the cab of your truck other than driving, you are distracted. Wether thats talking on a cell phone, hands free or not, eating your fast food, picking your nose, whatever....you are driving distracted. PERIOD. hands free dont allow you to concentrate any more on the road....you're still thinking about conversation....

[ssoutlaw]

That makes no sense whatsoever. My eyes are not in my hand or my ear, and I don't place the phone over my eyes when I talk. Elaborate please.

Well said Rev....lol sure would look funny with my eyes on the side of my head. I say the people who cant drive with 1 hand need to be off the road!!!!!! When I use my phone im in the slow lane and at the speed limit!!!

[chuck3507]

I think cell phones are just the whipping boy for people that can't drive to start with.

[VitoCorleone99]

I find a complete lack of speed control to be more of an issue with the cell phone holders.

1) Dial or answer --> slow down

2) Realize you're going slowly and people are passing you --> floor it

3) Realize you're speeding --> slow down

4) Get involved in your conversation --> slow down more

Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the call has ended and then swerve out of your lane while trying to put the phone back wherever you keep it.

[DaveP]

I find a complete lack of speed control to be more of an issue with the cell phone holders.

1) Dial or answer --> slow down

2) Realize you're going slowly and people are passing you --> floor it

3) Realize you're speeding --> slow down

4) Get involved in your conversation --> slow down more

Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the call has ended and then swerve out of your lane while trying to put the phone back wherever you keep it.

You got it Vito!

It's gotten to the point I can tell when someone answers their phone when I'm following them...without actually SEEING them in their mirror.

BUT...another thing.

Handsfree or not....I also believe it's the CONVERSATION thats distracting. I've seen many who drive eratically (sp?) even when wearing a headset.

You know the old saying...."can't walk and chew gum at the same time."

[kc0iv]

Using hands-free is not the answer. One study I read says "The scientists also found previously that chatty motorists are less adept than drunken drivers with blood alcohol levels exceeding 0.08."

You might want to read Drivers on Cell Phones Kill Thousands, Snarl Traffic | LiveScience

kc0iv

[Kevin0915]

I find a complete lack of speed control to be more of an issue with the cell phone holders.

1) Dial or answer --> slow down

2) Realize you're going slowly and people are passing you --> floor it

3) Realize you're speeding --> slow down

4) Get involved in your conversation --> slow down more

Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the call has ended and then swerve out of your lane while trying to put the phone back wherever you keep it.

Here is what i do....everytime i see a 4-wheeler yackin away on a cell and passing me with one hand on the wheel (maybe) i give them a few blows with my horn. if i see someone passing me and texting AND i see them looking down, i really lay on the horn. love it when they pass me and they have their windows down. screw em.

[Mr. Ford95]

Here is what i do....everytime i see a 4-wheeler yackin away on a cell and passing me with one hand on the wheel (maybe) i give them a few blows with my horn. if i see someone passing me and texting AND i see them looking down, i really lay on the horn. love it when they pass me and they have their windows down. screw em.

So what are you getting by doing that, hoping they wreck right into you? They probably don't pay you no daggone attention or they flip you the bird, I'd call in on you for being an aggressive driver. Yeah it bugs me when they do what Vito said in front of me but if I get to the point that I'm doing what your doing, it's time to park it and take a chill pill.

[freebirdrfd]

As an emergency medical technician, people talking/ texting while driving helps keep me working.

[RostyC]

Calm down Skywalker, your going to give yourself heart attack already.

[ssoutlaw]

I guess CB radios should be thrown out with the cellphones!!!!

[mike3fan]

Here is what i do....everytime i see a 4-wheeler yackin away on a cell and passing me with one hand on the wheel (maybe) i give them a few blows with my horn. if i see someone passing me and texting AND i see them looking down, i really lay on the horn. love it when they pass me and they have their windows down. screw em.

Always amazed at this guy....

[Skywalker]

Calm down Skywalker, your going to give yourself heart attack already.

I am calm...takes a lot to get me "excited"!!

The problem that I have noticed, and well some of you here may be 11' tall, have xray vision and swear to not have ever seen what I am referring to...or are bs'ing in your own defense....

The simple fact is....anyone who holds their cell hone in their left hand while driving... is a "jackass" and a stupid one to boot. Unless the cretin holding the cellphone in their left hand makes an "actual effort" to turn their head, simultaneously banging their elbow into the window to "actually look"....they cannot see jack****.

The dip**** Fedex driver certainly didn't.....but then again...he didn't bother with turn signals either...

There have been others as well lately. Do I make phone-calls? Oh, something else that pisses me off..... the jackasses at "Covenant" won't answer the phone.....they use a "recorder"..... to record your complaints......impressive huh?

I have come to find out...actually quite a while back....if any driver near you in any direction is on their phone....beware. If its held in their left hand.....BEWARE!!

Beyond that....my points, which could be argued until pigs fly, and a new breed of chickens is developed with lips.... is even though it is generally hazardous to even use a cellphone while driving.....its even more so when held in your hand...and even more so in the left hand..... but a bluetooth or wired headset or speaker phone has an additionally margin of safety.........

VITO also hit the nail square on the head!!

I know some of us are perfect.....some more than others....

[Rev.Vassago]

The simple fact is....anyone who holds their cell hone in their left hand while driving... is a "jackass" and a stupid one to boot. Unless the cretin holding the cellphone in their left hand makes an "actual effort" to turn their head, simultaneously banging their elbow into the window to "actually look"....they cannot see jack****.

Once again, I disagree. I can hold my phone in my hand and turn my head both left and right without moving my arms at all. In fact, I just tested this theory, and you can too. Put your elbow on the arm rest thingy that is by your driver's side door, and lean your left ear on your hand. Now turn your head without moving your elbow from that stationary position. Can you see your mirror? I know I can, as it barely takes any head movement whatsoever to see my mirror (turning my head 10 degrees, at most).

If someone is banging their elbow against the window to look at their mirror, they either have their seat pushed up too far, or are in some sort of neck brace preventing them from turning their head without moving their body.

Whether or not driving while talking on the phone is dangerous is something else altogether. But your "left arm" theory just doesn't hold water.

BTW, if I hold my phone in my right hand while I drive, does that mean I'm a safe driver?

[Kranky]

BTW, if I hold my phone in my right hand while I drive, does that mean I'm a safe driver?

That just means you can't see your right mirror.

[Skywalker]

Once again, I disagree. I can hold my phone in my hand and turn my head both left and right without moving my arms at all. In fact, I just tested this theory, and you can too. Put your elbow on the arm rest thingy that is by your driver's side door, and lean your left ear on your hand. Now turn your head without moving your elbow from that stationary position. Can you see your mirror? I know I can, as it barely takes any head movement whatsoever to see my mirror (turning my head 10 degrees, at most).

If someone is banging their elbow against the window to look at their mirror, they either have their seat pushed up too far, or are in some sort of neck brace preventing them from turning their head without moving their body.

Whether or not driving while talking on the phone is dangerous is something else altogether. But your "left arm" theory just doesn't hold water.

Rev.... the theory isn't a theory.....its simple fact. But hey....if it weren't, then why are so many fools changing lanes on top of other people? Roughly 6000 fatalities per year attributed to cell phones in traffic kind of makes the point.

BTW, if I hold my phone in my right hand while I drive, does that mean I'm a safe driver?

YOU tell me!