In my country its illegal to use your mobile phone whilst driving.
But as you see its one rule for us and a different rule for them.
(http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2012/05/22/1226363/333757-police-phone.jpg)
A PICTURE showing a Victoria Police officer talking on a mobile phone while driving has gone viral, sparking controversy among angry road users.
A VICTORIA POLICE OFFICER WAS PICTURED TALKING ON A MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING. A POLICE SPOKESWOMAN SAID OFFICERS WERE EXEMPT FROM THE LAW PREVENTING MOBILE PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING. SUPPLIED
The undated picture shows a female officer inside a marked police car talking on the phone while steering with her free hand.
The picture has received thousands of hits on social media sites since being posted today, with hundreds of road users hitting out at the officer.
Under Victorian law using a mobile phone while driving is illegal.
It attracts an on-the-spot fine of $234 and three demerit points. But police are exempt from the law, while driving police vehicles.
Should cops be allowed to use their mobile phones while driving?
A police spokesperson told the Herald Sun Rule 305 of the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 contained an exemption for drivers of police vehicles.
But angry road users hit out at the rule saying police believed they were "above the law".
"They are supposed to be setting an example.. not doing what they like," one Facebook user commented on the picture.
"Isn't the whole point of it being illegal because it's unsafe and you can kill someone, so why are they aloud (sic) to be on the phone," said another.
"There (sic) attention is not at 100% on the road. TRUE???"
Others said police should be able to use mobiles to conduct police business.
In a statewide road blitz last month police nabbed 694 people using mobile phones in just four days.
TAC research has found "run-off-the-road" crashes and "rear end" crashes are the most common accidents linked to mobile phone usage.
Statistics have shown using a mobile while driving is the third most common on the spot driving offence behind speeding and the not wearing a seatbelt.
Oh here in the US the people in big suv's are required to be on the phone, and drinking their cappucchino while putting on make up (believe it or not, its required, and to show we're not gender-biased, its required for men too - and shaving as well as brushing teeth counts here mind you) and yelling at their kids while driving
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on May 22, 2012, 06:12:39 AM
Oh here in the US the people in big suv's are required to be on the phone, and drinking their cappucchino while putting on make up (believe it or not, its required, and to show we're not gender-biased, its required for men too - and shaving as well as brushing teeth counts here mind you) and yelling at their kids while driving.
But out of politeness, most drivers who are texting will get into the fast lane and slow down to 5-15 mph below the speed limit so they won't accidentally hit someone entering the expressway.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know this girl who wont drive without updating her facebook page as to where she is ...
I told her facebook had their IPO friday ... and she asked me what it was ... True story ... I also told her it was a dud, opened and closed @ 38 cos Merill was back stopping it, and she said woweee that's so cool ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: jdoorn14 on May 22, 2012, 07:22:57 AM
Quote from: The Buddha on May 22, 2012, 06:12:39 AM
Oh here in the US the people in big suv's are required to be on the phone, and drinking their cappucchino while putting on make up (believe it or not, its required, and to show we're not gender-biased, its required for men too - and shaving as well as brushing teeth counts here mind you) and yelling at their kids while driving.
But out of politeness, most drivers who are texting will get into the fast lane and slow down to 5-15 mph below the speed limit so they won't accidentally hit someone entering the expressway.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Politeness ? You're f%$king kidding, right ?
These fuckwits pause at greenlights, run reds, and clog up every f%$king queue they have ever been in.
Polite? f%$king please.
Sorry, sarcasm must not translate well from my brain to this forum...
Quote from: jdoorn14 on May 22, 2012, 03:20:51 PM
Sorry, sarcasm must not translate well from my brain to this forum...
Unfortunately, many people have never heard of the concept of a written joke. I have the same problem - when I write a joke or sarcasm, some people just blow up and take everything as if it were written in the bible (oh, not really since I have not had part of a joke taken out of context and people always quote bible verses out of context.)
Rats - more sarcasm. I know someone will rag about that last one as long as you don't do it on Saturday for the old testament does say "He who works on the sabbath shall be put to death".
People are somewhat hotheaded on the internet. I'm not sure why...maybe because they find it easier to be asswipes since they aren't face-to-face with the person they're talking to.
Here in the US, I've noticed that cops seem to be exempt from traffic laws - all the time. I pulled up to one yesterday who was surfing the internet on a laptop. I always thought they pulled away from stop lights slowly to catch people who jump off the line, but now I think its just because they are distracted.
One time, I was in the back of a police car and while we were heading back to the station, the cop was texting his girlfriend about his wife.
'Exempt' or not, any police officer who is in a collision as a result of being distracted while driving because they were doing anything other than what they were supposed to be doing at the time will be subject to the same fines and penalties as anyone else.
We have distracted driving laws here, but it's difficult to enforce. You don't hear about a lot of people being ticketed for it. For some people, communications are part of their job ~ I know I exchange a great deal of information daily via phone calls and text messages. The key is not to respond to messages while driving and/or write things down while driving ~ I have people text me info if they can so I can update my work schedule when I stop, or phone back and leave me the information. If I have to I tell them I am driving and will call them back once I get to my next stop if I have to ~ I have never had someone balk at that.
The bigger problem is people who don't think about what they should be doing even without mobile devices. Since they are oblivious to what they need to be watching for, when and why in the first place they are the most likely to divert their attention from what they are supposed to be doing at the most inappropriate moment.
Quote from: jdoorn14 on May 22, 2012, 03:20:51 PM
Sorry, sarcasm must not translate well from my brain to this forum...
Ahhhhh, ok. Makes sense now. I've heard women say in conversation that they "only text" from the left lane because "its the safest" place to be. They were justifying being self-centered bitches and clogging the roadways.... because they needed to email / facebook a friend.
If anyone thinks I was being an @$$hole by my comment, you're more than welcome to ride IN FRONT of those asshats in the left lane while they txt and facebook their VBFF in 6000 lb suvs. I'll watch it all unfold and grimmace.
Quote from: ohgood on May 23, 2012, 05:27:58 AM
I've heard women say in conversation that they "only text" from the left lane because "its the safest" place to be. They were justifying being self-centered bitches and clogging the roadways.... because they needed to email / facebook a friend.
Can I assume that you put them in their place? And that you grabbed their phone and smashed it, then said something to the effect of "text now, bitches!"? :icon_twisted: :2guns:
We can dream, can't we?
This girl I know updates her face book while driving - like on hwy 77 doing 77 lol. @ exit 36 and slowing to 36, 35, oops.
Her explaination for doing so when asked seriously yes I will try to quote and I am not kidding - "supposing something were to happen to me, like say I was kidnapped or in a terrorist attack, they can find out and come and get me" - now sadly, I doubt anyone will ever kidnap her, and terrorists - well they oughta be given a medal if they attack her even if it is unintentionally. Serious delusions of grandeur, and I thought you had to be on drugs to have that many delusions.
Cool.
Buddha.
Buddha - Not a valid reason. (I know, preaching to the choir.) Any phone that is new enough to have the ability to text/update Facebook has a GPS function that can be used to triangulate the phone's location by emergency workers.
OK well, this girl is 250 lb atleast prolly a lot less but that's cos she's got no bones ... 4ft 8" and has an attitude that is uglier than she is.
No one wants to triangulate anything with her.
There fore she needs her phones ... she atleast has 2.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: jdoorn14 on May 23, 2012, 08:21:38 AM
Buddha - Not a valid reason. (I know, preaching to the choir.) Any phone that is new enough to have the ability to text/update Facebook has a GPS function that can be used to triangulate the phone's location by emergency workers.
yup. my old env3 ( which was my moms when she passed) has got EMS to me via 911 . i dont ( maybe cannot) update facebook on that. but has the built in GPS ( isnt that law now for this very reason? maybe i am wrong
I find it quite ironic how the guys really dis the women on driving when they are statistically worse.
http://www.news.com.au/national/men-the-wheel-nuts-as-women-rule-road/story-e6frfkvr-1226321961240
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=788126
I am thoroughly against cell phones and driving as you can see on my bike:
(http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr264/Toogoofy317/IMAG0166.jpg)
But, am also of the firm belief that until you can successfully outlaw stupid other laws won't matter.
Mary
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 23, 2012, 09:33:17 PM
I find it quite ironic how the guys really dis the women on driving when they are statistically worse.
http://www.news.com.au/national/men-the-wheel-nuts-as-women-rule-road/story-e6frfkvr-1226321961240
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=788126
I am thoroughly against cell phones and driving as you can see on my bike:
(http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr264/Toogoofy317/IMAG0166.jpg)
But, am also of the firm belief that until you can successfully outlaw stupid other laws won't matter.
Mary
Interesting that you quoted an Australian news site Mary?
WBT probably is also a FL or an east coast call string.
East of the missisippi the call letters begin with w, west its K.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 23, 2012, 09:33:17 PM
I find it quite ironic how the guys really dis the women on driving when they are statistically worse.
http://www.news.com.au/national/men-the-wheel-nuts-as-women-rule-road/story-e6frfkvr-1226321961240
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=788126
But, am also of the firm belief that until you can successfully outlaw stupid other laws won't matter.
What I notice around my area:
Male drivers are more likely to speed, weave in/out of traffic (with or without signals), and generally drive aggressively. :2guns:
Female drivers are more likely to tailgate, turn without signalling (often from the wrong lane), and generally make me say WTF more. :cookoo:
Cell phone usage is about equal from my vantage point. :nono:
I think the US comedian Ron White puts it best...www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gxKStPXyn8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gxKStPXyn8)
In my area DUI is heavily tipped toward male, as is driving without licence or other paperwork lacking.
Cell use however I believe is heavily tipped toward female, as is yelling @ kids, putting on make up - and many years ago driving a big van this woman decided 1/2 way round a curve that she needed lotion on her hands and decided to put it on, while slowing to a crawl. I passed her and saw it. Of course that was before cell phones ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Police here turn on their lights at a red light so they don't have to wait. Not talking about a pursuit, just being lazy and hot headed. Also, the City of Cincinnati has a no texting while driving law. However, that does not stop people from looking down at their laps "hiding" their phones.
Ohio recently passed a secondary enforcement texting ban. That means that they have to pull you over for something else FIRST, then cite you for texting second.
I was driving behind this woman (sorry ladies) and everything seemed normal until she started slowing down with no brake lights. like the car just lost power. we came to where a small road intersected ( no stop sign, just some random country lane) and she came to a stop in the middle of the road. Thinking she broke down I put it in park, got out and walked up to see what was wrong. Keep in mind that I'm in my HUGE lifted chevy truck with 35" tires and all that off-road kit. when I got up to the window she was on the phone, presumably calling someone to say she broke down. I waited a few seconds before tapping on the window. she puts it down and gives me this confused look loke she never saw me. I ask if everything is ok and she looks at me like I was selling crucifix shaped sex toys before speeding away. Can we say distracted. I don't quite think any call is that important
TN is no texting while driving. as well. at least knox county is. i see more ladies texting than anything else. phones, essentially the ladies will talk on the phone, the men will drink :/ wth this town is flucked
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 24, 2012, 09:00:00 PM
TN is no texting while driving. as well. at least knox county is. i see more ladies texting than anything else. phones, essentially the ladies will talk on the phone, the men will drink :/ wth this town is flucked
MI is no texting while moving...not that many people abide by that law. And I personally don't know of anyone who has gotten ticketed for it, so I'm not sure it's even being enforced.
Quote from: Huff1371 on May 24, 2012, 05:36:29 PM
...she looks at me like I was selling crucifix shaped sex toys before speeding away...
Now that's funny!
On days that I will actually keep a tally it is right about even. Some days more women others more men. Everyone assumes they are "better than average" drivers as well. This is known as the illusory effect or the Lake Wobegon effect. I mean really we all can't be above the bell curve can we?
Moving on who is the better sex at driving. Well, what you guys are experiencing is a common psychological occurrence. It's called confirmation bias it is already in your mind that "women are worse drivers" when you see a man driving horribly it pretty much leaves your memory bank as soon as it came but you see a woman doing the same thing and "aha! see I was right women are the worst" and so it becomes stored into your long term memory and tada! That is why stereotyping does not work.
Oh how I love psychology!
Mary
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 25, 2012, 07:50:21 PM
On days that I will actually keep a tally it is right about even. Some days more women others more men. Everyone assumes they are "better than average" drivers as well. This is known as the illusory effect or the Lake Wobegon effect. I mean really we all can't be above the bell curve can we?
Moving on who is the better sex at driving. Well, what you guys are experiencing is a common psychological occurrence. It's called confirmation bias it is already in your mind that "women are worse drivers" when you see a man driving horribly it pretty much leaves your memory bank as soon as it came but you see a woman doing the same thing and "aha! see I was right women are the worst" and so it becomes stored into your long term memory and tada! That is why stereotyping does not work.
Oh how I love psychology!
Mary
perhaps. perhaps not. i see a bad driver, i dont see what is between their legs. i just see a clear path out of their way. next saturday at worlds fair park ill be running emergency phone in the radio tent. for our annual tour de cure. basically running dispatch between the ham radio operators and the ems personnel. in downtown knoxville. how theyre getting 400+ bicycles out of there and then at various points, back to there is beyond me again. anyhoo concentration if one MUST do it is key. most of day between 530am and 6pm ill be doing this. then route sweep on way out and to work. my long winded expy. ive found very few bad drivers of either sex. most were professionals. or make use of hands free devices ( allowed) ill have law enforcement exemption for this event only. our tour chairwoman, was driving the box truck. ( 16ft isuzu npr diesel) she had no business climbing into that thing. until she got to know it better. i took it over. and drove it like a car. scared the hell out of her. but i know those vehicles. ill end my long winded threadjackalmost. by saying if one NEEDS to make a call, use a handsfree device ( even in illegal areas it is doable ) really only way youll get caught is if LEO has a frequency grabber. and can then dial into your phone lol. ( picked up one of these at pawn shop a year ago. but guys and gal/s, if you MUST text and drive, try and stop. i really dont see any situation where a text CANNOT wait until vehicle is stopped. if someone suspicious is following you, dont text your best friend and tell them , call the police. facebook/texting can wait until traffic lights or 4 way stops, if no one is coming. youve got a few moments.