quote Originally posted by avengador1: You are trying to say you are a safe driver because you use your bluetooth headset to talk on your phone, when you drive, and yet you admit that you text and drive. Unless you have a hands free way of texting, you ARE using your hands and eyes to send a text message and you ARE a hypocrite and an unsafe driver. Don't you know when to stop digging this hole you are digging?

WOW - You really don't get it. I do not say I am a 'safe driver' or 'unsafe driver' because I don't believe in it.

I have NEVER said I am a 'safe driver'.

- remember - Black and White vs Gray?

I also tell the truth, most of the time, so I call someone a dumb ass when they are one or act like one. You qualify, so you get called one.
Today I drive diffently than I did when I first got my license and my driving habits continue to evolve to be safer. You are an unsafe driver waiting to have an accident. You were insinuating that you were a safe driver because of you bluetooth phone usage. You still are a hypocrite for insinuating that, because you admit that you text and drive. Anyone who texts and drives is taking a huge risk. If you don't think you are, that is being ignorant. The bottom line that the OP video is making is that IT CAN WAIT. You don't seem to get that.
I also don't think that Jesus would text and drive if he were around today.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-30-2010).]

So you say because I do some things "safe" in your mind and I do others that are 'unsafe' in your mind that I am a hyprocrite?

quote Originally posted by Phonedawgz As stated before I have a bluetooth headset that I use when I am driving. Much nicer than holding the phone up to your ear. I would never pull over and risk getting hit on the side of the road to take a call. Clearly it is MUCH more dangerous than talking while driving.

So here you are writting about how you are a safer driver because of your use of a bluetooth headset and you also wrote.

quote Personally I wear my seat belt almost all the time.

and

quote I do consider both speeding 5 over and texting while driving to be illegal. That is what the law says.

That all makes you sound like a safe driver, but then you write.

quote If you try to argue that somehow it's legal because cops don't pull you over then it would also be legal for me to text because now I hold the phone down so cops can't see me text. Neither the fact that the cop doesn't pull me over or holding the phone down low makes my action legal. Yes I break the law.

Holding your phone down to hide it and text, while driving, doesn't sound very safe to me. Your statements contradict themselves making you a hypocrit.

Keep digging, it's your grave.

Edit: To answer your question, I have been driving for almost 36 years now. When I hit 50 years of age I realized I have no need to be in any hurry to get anywhere, unless it is an emergency. The last emergency I had was at the end of 2009 and I drove the speed limit then, so even my emergency rule doesn't apply anymore.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-30-2010).]

That's not the definition of hypocrite

one more time, and then i'm done with this pissing contest. In My Opinion, it is dangerous, not to mention illegal, to text or post on the internet while driving. no amount of changing the subject or deflection changes that. i hope you don't kill anyone. have a nice day.

The definition of hypocrite is someone who says he does one thing but actually does something else.

Like lets say you state that you drive the speed limit and stay in the right lane all the time, but in actuality what you do is drive 5 to 10 or more over the speed limit.

That is what a hyprocrite is.

quote The definition of hypocrite is someone who says he does one thing but actually does something else. Like lets say you state that you drive the speed limit and stay in the right lane all the time, but in actuality what you do is drive 5 to 10 or more over the speed limit. That is what a hyprocrite is.

Ok, so let's say you aren't a hypocrite, that doesn't change the fact that you are a dangerous driver as long as you continue to text and drive. I drive the speed limit and stick to the right lane and have been doing so for over a year now. Does it make me a hypocrite because I used to drive 5 to 10 MPH over the limit? I also doesn't mean I am a safer driver than you are, all it means is that I am paying more attention to my driving than you are when you are texting.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-30-2010).]

quote Does it make me a hypocrite because I used to drive 5 to 10 MPH over the limit?

Only if you make statements like

quote I have no need to speed, as the speed limits here are sufficiently high that I have no need to do so. I also am a moral person and obey the law anyway.

and

quote Yup, set my cruise control to the speed limit and stay in the right lane. This also saves me some gas, I can concentrate better on my driving, and I haven't received a ticket in decades.

To-may-to, to-mah-toe, the fact is texting while driving is dangerous, even you admit to that, therefore you are a dangerous driver when you text and drive. There is no denying this.
This thread isn't about me and my past statements. Most cops here wouldn't even give me a second look for driving 5 or 10 MPH over the limit. I also would be one of the slower drivers out there at those speeds. This thread is about a video of the last texts messages people sent or received while driving and the results of doing so.
If one chooses to continue to text and drive it's just a matter of time before an accident will occur. Maybe you are like those people in the video. They must have thought it wasn't very dangerous and that nothing would come of it. They were only fooling themselves. We all know how wrong they were and the results of their actions.
I can't even begin to imagine how the survivors feel. All of this because of sending or reading, even a single letter text, when they were driving. It sounds really stupid doesn't it? It really is a tragedy because it was something that didn't need to be done. All they had to do was wait until it was safe to text or read them. Driving isn't the time for this task to be attempted. Doing so is only tempting fate.
If you die this way, it won't look too nice on your tombstone or church.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-30-2010).]

quote Originally posted by avengador1: Edit: To answer your question, I have been driving for almost 36 years now. When I hit 50 years of age I realized I have no need to be in any hurry to get anywhere, unless it is an emergency. The last emergency I had was at the end of 2009 and I drove the speed limit then, so even my emergency rule doesn't apply anymore.

Damn, when you hit 50? I must be getting old at a rapid rate because I realized that in my early 30's... Best way to not get a ticket is to follow the rules.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 12-30-2010).]

quote Damn, when you hit 50? I must be getting old at a rapid rate because I realized that in my early 30's... Best way to not get a ticket is to follow the rules.

Good for you! Where do I send your Gold Star to? I started slowing down when I got married and started a family, back in my late 20s. Being responsible for others will do that to some.
I figured out back then, if I wasn't driving real fast (about 5 to 10 over the limit) that I might be able to slow down if I saw a speed trap ahead. Now I don't even bother because traffic here isn't as bad as New York or Connecticut. One can actually use the cruise control down here for most of a trip. Up there you were lucky to be able to use it at all or for a few minutes at a time. The traffic was just too dense up there for the use of it.
The speed limit down here is also 65 MPH and 70 MPH depending on which highway or interstate one is on. Up in the North East most of the highways and interstates still have a 55 MPH limit on most of their length. It actually took me a while to get used to driving at the pace people drive down here, as it is faster than up there.
When I set my cruise control, to the speed limit, I can drive without worrying about speed traps or maintaining my speed. I tend to stay in the right lane and let the faster drivers pass me, and believe me there are plenty of them down here. I guess they all think they are NASCAR drivers.
I have never said that I didn't speed, what I said is that I just don't do it anymore. I have previously stated that I am plenty happy driving at 65 or 70 MPH, depending on which highway or interstate I am on.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/080235.html

quote Originally posted by Avengador1 on 11-24-2010 They use instant on LASER here. I don't worry about it, as I set my cruise control to the speed limit. Here the limits are high enough (65 & 70 MPH) that there really is no need to speed.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/068588.html

quote Originally posted by Avengador1 on 9-30-2009 I'm in the "Blue Hair" state (FL). I actually don't see too many of them driving. Most people like to drive above the speed limit here. Most highways have a 65 MPH limit and the turnpike has a 70 MPH limit, most other city roads are 45 MPH. Most highways in CT still have a 55 MPH limit and city roads are 30 MPH. There isn't as much rubber necking happening here as there was in CT. A person changing a tire would cause a two mile backup because there of the rubber neckers. Here the traffic actually moves, normal driving speed on the highway is around 70 MPH and 80 MPH on the turnpike. People like to complain about the traffic here, but they haven't been in a real traffic jam like the ones they get in the North East. I actually can use my cruise control on the highways here. There were too many cars on the road in CT to do this safely or for any kind of extended period of time.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/076559.html

quote Originally posted by Avengador1 on 7-28-2010 I had to get used to driving faster down here. The speed limit is mostly 65 MPH on most highways and even 70 MPH on the interstate. When I lived in New York and Connecticut it was 55 MPH.

If anyone cares to search the archives they will find my speeding stories.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-30-2010).]

quote Originally posted by avengador1: *snip* I wonder what your last text will be, you didn't get the message the video was trying to convey. There is no question that you will be involved in an accident, the question is when?

And more importantly, what innocent person will he kill in the process.

For the Record,
I am currently drinking moonshine, surfing PFF and driving.

And it is REALLY killing my lap times!!
I just can't beat the Nurburgring Challenge like this...

because this thread is going so positively. I will mention something I saw today.

A line of cars that kinda were stuck behind each other because nobody thought to wait and let someone else go before you get in the way of other traffic. Some cars were backing up, some were trying to figure out where to move etc.

There was only one that drove flawlessly through the entire mess, without slowing down, without any worry of where to go, where he fit/had room etc.... and he was talking (not texting) on the cell phone all the while.

Now here is the interesting part:

He was driving an 18 wheeler. It was funny to see all the lost people in their little cars, while he had no problems with that truck (and while on the phone)

This thread reminds me of the part on The Breakfast Club where the teacher is asking the student if he wants more detention. U know the one about raiding Berry Manilow's closet.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: - remember - Black and White vs Gray?

How gray is that when it is the red blood of you or your passengers?

Because you were looking down and a deer runs out in frt. of you and goes through the windshield.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

I've hit two deer that have run out in front of me. Not a whole lot you can do when that happens. Do you refuse to change the station on the radio when driving so you have your eyes always looking forward for deer? Do you refuse to answer your cell phone? Never eat or drink even coffee when driving?

Heres a new twist. Maybe they should do away with texting period. I went to the store in the van. Im pulling out of the lot with a green light and some dumb ass girl walks right into the passenger side front door with the top of her head. She flew to the ground with her cell phone laying right next to her. She was alright and no damage to the door....said she didnt see me. Theres nothing near the sidewalk, my light is green, my van is a green hi top. Shes just lucky i wasnt a semi truck.

quote Do you refuse to change the station on the radio when driving so you have your eyes always looking forward for deer? Do you refuse to answer your cell phone? Never eat or drink even coffee when driving?

Are those illegal?

Do you contend, that it if a person has never had a wreck while they were under the influence of booze, and thus maintain that they will never kill anyone because of it--that it is acceptable behavior and a logical thought process?

Why is it, that you spend so much time and effort deflecting and spinning the conversation away from your behaviour, and onto something abstract?

It's called rationalization, and drunk drivers & streetracers have done it for decades and decades.

Eating or drinking coffee? Not good, but the difference is, almost everyone here (including myself) will readily admit they are indeed, distractions and not a good policy. No hiding behind a rationalization or spin--or gray area--the only one hiding behind that "gray area is you, and i doubt a simple fine will stop you from doing it. Killing someone "might", but that's for you to decide--if "K" is worth someone else's life.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 12-31-2010).]

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Are those illegal?

If they are legal does that mean they are safe? My point has been that people see safety as black and white. I know a guy who ran into the back of a parked car cause he was changing tapes in his radio. Yep it's legal to do those things. And in some states it's legal to text. Does 'illegal' make them any more safe or unsafe?

quote Why is it, that you spend so much time and effort deflecting and spinning the conversation away from your behaviour, and onto something abstract?

My first post on this thread was about the abstract idea that safety isn't black and white. It's others who keep on wanting to change the conversation to something about me. I have been called immoral because I drive the speed the rest of the traffic drives. I still stand by my statement, that safety is not black and white.

quote Eating or drinking coffee? Not good, but the difference is, almost everyone here (including myself) will readily admit they are indeed, distractions and not a good policy.

AND THEN THEY DO THESE THINGS. And they continue to do these things. And people don't call them immoral. Somehow people see these as innocent but are more than willing to condemn the people other things they have villainized.

I have clearly stated that everything you do in your car other than drive is a distraction. I have also stated that even just driving your car is dangerous. It's one of the most dangerous things we do. However you can't use that to condemn one particular action and not condemn other actions that involve the same distraction.

quote No hiding behind a rationalization or spin--or gray area--the only one hiding behind that "gray area is you, and i doubt a simple fine will stop you from doing it. Killing someone "might", but that's for you to decide--if "K" is worth someone else's life.

If someone could explain how pushing the same number of keystrokes, of needing to still glance at the phone, is somehow black or instead white depending on if it's a text or phone call.

Again I am talking about sending the letter "k" and calling to say OK. Clearly there are quite a number of people here that see one as very black and one as white. It has been said one is 100 times more dangerous than the other.

Now if someone can explain how one of THOSE two actions are 100 times more dangerous, there is a good chance that would convince me not to do it.

---

I'll let this thing run for a while but one thing is becoming quite clear to me. That I will revel later.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 12-31-2010).]

Things are usually deemed unsafe because statistics back up the premise. Theres a town here like i said that will ticket you for any of the above actions if they see you.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: Things are usually deemed unsafe because statistics back up the premise. Theres a town here like i said that will ticket you for any of the above actions if they see you.

But there are clearly people on here that see some of these actions as ok and others as bad

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: ........................ If someone could explain how pushing the same number of keystrokes, of needing to still glance at the phone, is somehow black or instead white depending on if it's a text or phone call. Again I am talking about sending the letter "k" and calling to say OK. Clearly there are quite a number of people here that see one as very black and one as white. It has been said one is 100 times more dangerous than the other. Now if someone can explain how one of THOSE two actions are 100 times more dangerous, there is a good chance that would convince me not to do it. --- I'll let this thing run for a while but one thing is becoming quite clear to me. That I will revel later.

All that, and you still didn't/couldn't answer a simple question.

quote Do you contend, that it if a person has never had a wreck while they were under the influence of booze, and thus maintain that they will never kill anyone because of it--that it is acceptable behavior and a logical thought process?

Would you care to answer, or will you just continue to rationalize more, with your "all those wrongs make a right" type garbage?
Everyone does unsafe things while behind the wheel, but almost all admit they are unsafe. Except you. You contend, that because what you do is no more unsafe than another infraction, it is not unsafe at all--hence your "gray" song and dance.

Yep I saw it. I ignored it and hoped you wouldn't bring it back up.

To compare distractions to impaired driving skills isn't legit. I won't answer arguments to that point. Texting is a distraction. It doesn't impair judgment. I'll answer arguments to distractions however.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: Yep I saw it. I ignored it and hoped you wouldn't bring it back up. To compare distractions to impaired driving skills isn't legit. I won't answer arguments to that point. Texting is a distraction. It doesn't impair judgment..

Evidently it does--you have made the judgement that it is just safe enough for you to do it without ever causing grievous injury to others--or yourself. The judgement call to choose to continue to text when it is, by your own admission, a distraction--thus an impairment, says you are simply betting on the odds, betting on other's lives, that you will come out ok.

If the thread were about eating, or drinking coffee while driving, I might be even more adamant that those are distractions and that anyone who continues to do them based on the fact that people use cell phones or text is just a rationalization.

Your entire argument is based upon the degree of distraction in comparison to other distractive practices--period, then become indignant when I make the same comparison to a distraction caused by the physical and mental impairment of intoxication?

My argument is that none of them should be done at any time while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. I won't even answer my phone sitting at a traffic light and i have no need to look at it to do that--even for a milisecond.

People bring up your morality because you have made a decision to intentionally continue to do something you admit is a distraction, simply because other things are--in your opinion-- more distractive, thus more dangerous to those around that driver. THAT, is rationalization, the same type rationalization street racers and drunks use. That, is no cognizant argument at all. Give it up, before you kill someone.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Except you. You contend, that because what you do is no more unsafe than another infraction, it is not unsafe at all--hence your "gray" song and dance.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: WOW - You really don't get it. I do not say I am a 'safe driver' or 'unsafe driver' because I don't believe in it. I have NEVER said I am a 'safe driver'.

Do people even read phonedawgz' posts before saying things???

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: I've hit two deer that have run out in front of me. Not a whole lot you can do when that happens. Do you refuse to change the station on the radio when driving so you have your eyes always looking forward for deer? Do you refuse to answer your cell phone? Never eat or drink even coffee when driving?

Personally I don't answer my phone. I wont talk on it either, even with a hands free device. I dont change stations/songs ( i will at a stop light however ).. and i don't eat in my cars ( yech ). I do drink while on the go, but i can do that without taking my eyes or attention off the road.

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 12-31-2010).]

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Evidently it does--you have made the judgement that it is just safe enough for you to do it without ever causing grievous injury to others--or yourself. The judgement call to choose to continue to text when it is, by your own admission, a distraction--thus an impairment, says you are simply betting on the odds, betting on other's lives, that you will come out ok. If the thread were about eating, or drinking coffee while driving, I might be even more adamant that those are distractions and that anyone who continues to do them based on the fact that people use cell phones or text is just a rationalization. Your entire argument is based upon the degree of distraction in comparison to other distractive practices--period, then become indignant when I make the same comparison to a distraction caused by the physical and mental impairment of intoxication? My argument is that none of them should be done at any time while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. I won't even answer my phone sitting at a traffic light and i have no need to look at it to do that--even for a milisecond. People bring up your morality because you have made a decision to intentionally continue to do something you admit is a distraction, simply because other things are--in your opinion-- more distractive, thus more dangerous to those around that driver. THAT, is rationalization, the same type rationalization street racers and drunks use. That, is no cognizant argument at all. Give it up, before you kill someone.

Well I don't lie to make points in my arguments.

And I surely don't take "morality lessons" from people who do.

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: If someone could explain how pushing the same number of keystrokes, of needing to still glance at the phone, is somehow black or instead white depending on if it's a text or phone call. Again I am talking about sending the letter "k" and calling to say OK. Clearly there are quite a number of people here that see one as very black and one as white. It has been said one is 100 times more dangerous than the other. Now if someone can explain how one of THOSE two actions are 100 times more dangerous, there is a good chance that would convince me not to do it.

Personally I don't think either is safe. The person calling to say "Ok" should not have been reading the text he received while driving. However that being said, answering a phone to be asked and replying "Ok" is not the same number of keystrokes. It is actually none on a flip phone and one on most other phones (still doesn't make it right as you lose the use of one hand while holding the cell unless you have a hands free device which is one button also). Also, the fact some States have made it illegal and others not is null. The only legislation that takes effect everywhere all at once is Federal and this is not a Federal concern, it is a States concern. California for example passed legislation making it illegal to use your cellphone without a hands free device while driving. Other States have followed suit as it is a problem. I beleive California has also passed a law where if in the Officers judgement you are doing something distracting while driving (eating, putting on make-up, fiddling with your radio) you can be cited (I may be wrong but it was being considered before I moved away). Reality is these laws tend to spread from State to State. Chances are one day all States will have similar laws. Personally while I am in the car I do not text or read a text. If a person calls I will answer unless answering puts me in a unsafe situation (my earbud is in the pocket of my jacket I tossed in the back seat, for example). Although I really hate answering my phone to.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 12-31-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Phonedawgz I have also stated that even just driving your car is dangerous. It's one of the most dangerous things we do.

Add texting on top of driving and what do you get? There certainly is no need to make driving any more dangerous than it already is, that is the point that is being made here. This is such a serious matter that states have passed laws against people doing it, and the fines are meant to match the severity of this.

By the way, I don't allow any food or drink in my car, nor smoking, in case you were wondering. My car has the audio controls on the steering wheel too. I don't need to take my eyes off the road to change stations or to adjust the volume, although I usually don't have to do those actions anyway. I have a favorite station I can listen to all day and the volume level I listen at is comfortable enough that I don't need to change it either.

When someone is texting and driving their attention is not on the road. This makes an already dangerous situation into an accident waiting to happen. Any car can cause a lot of damage, or even death, at speeds as low as 5 MPH. For those that don't believe this, try running in front of a car doing that speed and see what happens.

It doesn't take a lot of time for things to go really wrong when driving a car. The more one can keep their eyes on the road the better off they are. I have avoided deer running across the road, several times, because I saw them ahead of time and was able to react. In one occasion the car next to me didn't see the deer running across a four lane road and hit it square on. I had enough time to spot it and slow down while the other car was wrecked.
I saw one person in an SUV, one morning on my way to work. He wasn't paying attention and drifted off the roadway into the median. He overcorrected and flipped his vehicle over about three times.
I saw two girls, on their way to a wake, lose control of their vehicle. I was able to slow down enough to avoid them and saw them hit the car next to me broadside. It turns out the girl driving was drunk and she tried everything she could think off to have someone take her away from the scene before the police arrived. I had called the police after stopping to see if anyone needed help.
Some kid pulled out of a driveway right in front of me. I was able to slow down enough that I didn't kill him or total my car. He said he didn't see me, even though I had my headlights on and leaned on the air horns I had in that vehicle. If the road had been dry, I probably would have been able to stop and miss him.
One of the first accidents I saw was a woman who didn't realize someone was passing her. Once she realized the other vehicle was there, she overreacted and spun her car out on the highway. I guess the other vehicle startled her, because she wasn't aware of it being there.

I probably have a close to a Million miles of driving experience and have seen many accidents happen. Most of these were caused because the people weren't paying attention or weren't aware of what was going on around them.

I learned to drive defensively because I started out driving motorcycles. You always have to be on the lookout for what other vehicles are doing around you and you need an escape route, in case they cut you off. Keeping a safe distance also helps. Most drivers don't really notice motorcycle riders. I have taken this style of driving and incorporated it into my car driving style. It has saved me on many occasions.

It all boils down to paying attention to the road and what is going on around one. This is very hard to do if one is distrated by texting or even talking on a cell phone. I will not answer my cellphone while I am driving, unless I have a bluetooth device on me to do this. I would never ever consider texting while I am driving. It is sutpid and extremly dangerous to do so, because it takes one's eyes off the road for too long. This is why the chances of something going horribly wrong increase. There is no gray area about this. If one texts and drives it's just a matter of time before they will be involved in an accident. There are too many people driving out there, who aren't paying enough attention to their driving already. There is no need to make an already bad situation worse by texting, that is just the same as playing Russian Roulette. I'd rather stack the odds in my favor, by not texting, than to decrease them by doing so.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-31-2010).]

You also have a problem with telling the truth as stated in your previous posts.

At this point I really don't care what you now say you do or not do. You clearly change what you are saying to make your point. It is quite unfortunate that you also feel the need to make your black and white arguments.

quote Originally posted by avengador1: Add texting on top of driving and what do you get? There certainly is no need to make driving any more dangerous than it already is, that is the point that is being made here. This is such a serious matter that states have passed laws against people doing it, and the fines are meant to match the severity of this. By the way, I don't allow any food or drink in my car, nor smoking, in case you were wondering. My car has the audio controls on the steering wheel too. I don't need to take my eyes off the road to change stations or to adjust the volume, although I usually don't have to do those actions anyway. I have a favorite station I can listen to all day and the volume level I listen at is comfortable enough that I don't need to change it either. When someone is texting and driving their attention is not on the road. This makes an already dangerous situation into an accident waiting to happen. Any car can cause a lot of damage, or even death, at speeds as low as 5 MPH. For those that don't believe this, try running in front of a car doing that speed and see what happens. It doesn't take a lot of time for things to go really wrong when driving a car. The more one can keep their eyes on the road the better off they are. I have avoided deer running across the road, several times, because I saw them ahead of time and was able to react. In one occasion the car next to me didn't see the deer running across a four lane road and hit it square on. I had enough time to spot it and slow down while the other car was wrecked. I saw one person in an SUV, one morning on my way to work. He wasn't paying attention and drifted off the roadway into the median. He overcorrected and flipped his vehicle over about three times. I saw two girls, on their way to a wake, lose control of their vehicle. I was able to slow down enough to avoid them and saw them hit the car next to me broadside. It turns out the girl driving was drunk and she tried everything she could think off to have someone take her away from the scene before the police arrived. I had called the police after stopping to see if anyone needed help. Some kid pulled out of a driveway right in front of me. I was able to slow down enough that I didn't kill him or total my car. He said he didn't see me, even though I had my headlights on and leaned on the air horns I had in that vehicle. If the road had been dry, I probably would have been able to stop and miss him. One of the first accidents I saw was a woman who didn't realize someone was passing her. Once she realized the other vehicle was there, she overreacted and spun her car out on the highway. I guess the other vehicle startled her, because she wasn't aware of it being there. I probably have a couple of Million miles of driving experience and have seen many accidents happen. Most of these were caused because the people weren't paying attention or weren't aware of what was going on around them. I learned to drive defensively because I started out driving motorcycles. You always have to be on the lookout for what other vehicles are doing around you and you need an escape route, in case they cut you off. Keeping a safe distance also helps. Most drivers don't really notice motorcycle riders. I have taken this style of driving and incorporated it into my car driving style. It has saved me on many occasions. It all boils down to paying attention to the road and what is going on around one. This is very hard to do if one is distrated by texting or even talking on a cell phone. I will not answer my cellphone while I am driving, unless I have a bluetooth device on me to do this. I would never ever consider texting while I am driving. It is sutpid and extremly dangerous to do so, because it takes one's eyes off the road for too long. This is why the chances of something going horribly wrong increase. There is no gray area about this. If one texts and drives it's just a matter of time before they will be involved in an accident. There are too many people driving out there, who aren't paying enough attention to their driving already. There is no need to make an already bad situation worse by texting, that is just the same as playing Russian Roulette. I'd rather stack the odds in my favor, by not texting, than to decrease them by doing so.

And it is extremly unfortunate that you don't get it. I hope that when your accident occurs you survive and realize how wrong you are. This is the Gospel truth.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-31-2010).]

quote Originally posted by avengador1: And it is extremly unfortunate that you don't get it. I hope that when your accident occurs you survive and realize how wrong you are. This is the Gospel truth.

When Bill Clinton waggled his finger at us and lied, and then later tried to redefine what the words he said were, we all knew he lied. And when you say you don't speed and haven't had a ticket for decades and then I posted where you said a year ago that you try to keep your speeding no more than 10 - 5 mph, clearly we understand what you feel 'the words "The Gospel Truth" means to you. Your words are no more believable than his.