Texting Truck Driver Charged in horrific east-metro crash.

I wonder how Apple, Microsoft, Sprint or AT&T would take it if legislation was introduced to stop passengers from using their smartphones?

Good luck with that one.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
This would suck for passengers.

Not following you. Why would it suck for passengers that the driver could not type into a smartphone while driving?

In my mind, what would suck for the passengers most is dying in a fiery wreck when their distracted driver plowed into a stopped car.

Grouse

They are saying if the phones wont work if moving more than 5 mph then it would also disable the phones of the passengers in the vehicle. Not just the drivers. I agree with distracted driving being a big problem. I see it a ton driving a semi. You can see it really well when you are above them. They already can pull you over and give a ticket here for distracted driving but hasnt seemed to slow anybody down. Not sure what solution would work.

It will take a change in attitude like Dutch mentioned, no law will make that happen. How do we accomplish that, there is the million dollar question. Not doing it yourself and not allowing it to occur in any vehicle you’re in is a good start.

Both of our Iphones have the do not disturb settings for while the car is in motion and we leave it [the setting] functional. Its pretty simple insurance if we are ever in a pile-up and someone starts pointing fingers.

It would be hard to explain to the millions of public transportation users that they cannot use their electronics on the subway, bus, train, etc. just because some idiots make bad decisions to operate vehicles while they’re on their phone and cause accidents/deaths. It’s not too dissimilar to all the talk of gun bans/control on legal users in an attempt to stop pyschos from using them to murder. Someone’s always gotta ruin it for the group. And it sucks when they do.

Since the automobile was invented there have been rules and laws enacted with the idea to protect ourselves from ourselves. Technology is no different. Nobody relys on their phone more then I do. However that doesn’t make me more important then the family who’s husband and dad got killed.

Just enact the laws and use the technology we have. No debate needed, just do it. Nationwide. This is one of those things to be proactive about rather then reactive.

But they’re supposedly professional drivers. Ugh so sad

years ago dad wouldnt build a pond on our property because the insurance company told him he could get sued if someone drowned in it even if they didnt have permission to be on our property.
the reason?? for creating an attractive nuisance.

my question is this,how long before ( if it hasnt happened already ) will it be that a carrier can be sued for creating an ” attractive nuisance ” ?

hang the &*^! up and drive !!!!! the phone is here for you,you are not here for the phone !

Cops should be handing out $1000 fines for drivers on their phones. Christ, if I drove around for 8 to 10 hours, I could pull in 10k a day based on the hour a day I see this crap commuting around town. Imagine all the metal detectors for every school that would buy. All the kevlar vests for the police dogs. Extra “trained” officers for schools and public areas. Zero tolerance plain and simple. If I drive by you and you are all over the road staring at your phone, I will let you know.

Almost got pushed off the road 15 mins ago by a texter going 15 under the speed limit which is the other problem they can’t keep up with the speed limit most times.

What about eating and driving? That’s just as bad especially if your jimmy John’s falls apart in your lap.
Shaving, doing makeup, brushing teeth, reading a book, kissing I’ve seen it all

Sharon wrote:

It’s not too dissimilar to all the talk of gun bans/control on legal users in an attempt to stop pyschos from using them to murder.

Exactly! Swap “assault rifle” for “phone” and apply the first amendment instead of the second.

Bass_attack wrote:

Almost got pushed off the road 15 mins ago by a texter going 15 under the speed limit which is the other problem they can’t keep up with the speed limit most times.

What about eating and driving? That’s just as bad especially if your jimmy John’s falls apart in your lap.
Shaving, doing makeup, brushing teeth, reading a book, kissing I’ve seen it all

Same rules apply as it falls under inattentive driving…. $1000. Unless the officer decides on a warning. They fine drunk drivers that much and at least they are trying to pay attention on driving, so why should texters be any different. If you absolutely have to look at your phone do it at a light or pull over. Its not that difficult.

If that crash would’ve been a mile west of there it would’ve been my department’s call and I would’ve been there. Glad it wasn’t. From what I’ve heard from friends on the responding agencies it was pretty awful. It took so long to extricate the poor guy they had to move the whole vehicle (with the victim still inside) to the fire department. It was pretty hard on everyone involved.

The truck driver was also inconsolable. This is a tragedy for everyone including the man that made the horrible mistake. But this is why saying this should be a death sentence is ridiculous. It was a horrible MISTAKE. He will get a good amount of time in prison and his career is over. If you deal with life and death as often as myself, first responders and police do you wouldn’t be so quick to toss a death sentence on someone.

mahtofire14 wrote:

If that crash would’ve been a mile west of there it would’ve been my department’s call and I would’ve been there. Glad it wasn’t. From what I’ve heard from friends on the responding agencies it was pretty awful. It took so long to extricate the poor guy they had to move the whole vehicle (with the victim still inside) to the fire department. It was pretty hard on everyone involved.

The truck driver was also inconsolable. This is a tragedy for everyone including the man that made the horrible mistake. But this is why saying this should be a death sentence is ridiculous. It was a horrible MISTAKE. He will get a good amount of time in prison and his career is over. If you deal with life and death as often as myself, first responders and police do you wouldn’t be so quick to toss a death sentence on someone.

100% agree. Why would this mistake be more severely punished than running a red light or failure to yield?

eyeguy507 wrote:

If you absolutely have to look at your phone do it at a light or pull over. Its not that difficult.

Agreed it’s not difficult. Then I have to lay on the horn to get em to move at the light

Sharon wrote:

It would be hard to explain to the millions of public transportation users that they cannot use their electronics on the subway, bus, train, etc. just because some idiots make bad decisions to operate vehicles while they’re on their phone and cause accidents/deaths. It’s not too dissimilar to all the talk of gun bans/control on legal users in an attempt to stop pyschos from using them to murder. Someone’s always gotta ruin it for the group. And it sucks when they do.

About sums it up. It’s funny to see people on here go over the top to protect their guns and wanting less government control…than lose all sight of everything when something they DON’T have a passion for tragectly happens.

There all ready are laws regarding phone use while driving. I don’t need more idiotic laws cause people can’t follow the ones we already have.

I don’t think this is a mistake. It was a decision, and that decision killed someone. People know the consequences, but they still decide to look at the phones.

Not a mistake at all.

Agree, and how screwed up our Laws are.

This guys gets charged for vehicular Homicide (MURDERED an Innocent Man) maximum 10 years and $20,000 while some guy that video’d some women in a shower gets 20 years in Prison.

Taking a life is less than taking a video?

Call your Representatives ans Senators.

I already have spoke to mine!

General Cell Phone Statistics. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.

Are these numbers acceptable to you people? I know “crashes” aren’t deaths, but many of these crashes can severely injure alot of people screwing up their lives for quite some time, if not the rest of their lives. That not only puts stress on people’s lives, but think of the financial burdens that it’s putting on insurance companies, or our gov medical system and/or disability/SS programs. These numbers are gonna keep rising and it’s in the whole interest to put a curb on these numbers.

I think he should be punished more severely than running a red light or stop sign. My OP was just referencing the death sentence post. He killed another person because he made the choice to text and not pay attention. That is serious. And he will be prosecuted with a correct amount of time. Even though it’s an accident, he killed someone and was breaking the law when it happened.

Anonymous wrote:

I don’t think this is a mistake. It was a decision, and that decision killed someone. People know the consequences, but they still decide to look at the phones.

Not a mistake at all.

100% agree, this wasn’t a mistake it was a conscious decision. I am no lawyer, but I think killing someone while committing a crime is 2nd degree murder correct? I personally don’t give a rats phat @ss how bad the truck driver feels, how the heck do you think the family of the victim feels???

Double post.

I say we set the minimum age to buy a phone at 21. Require background checks on all smartphone purchases and require a 3 day waiting period.

Maybe we can boycott Best Buy so they stop selling smartphones.

Increasing penalties for texting and driving is utterly ridiculous. The technology is there, mandate cell phone companies to disable phones while driving.

Raising penalties will do nothing. How’s the battle against drunk driving deaths going?

Like the famous mplspug once said, we can’t do nothing. We must do something that does nothing.

biggill wrote:

famous mplspug

when did he become famous?

crappie55369 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
famous mplspug

when did he become famous?

Infamous?

crappie55369 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
famous mplspug

when did he become famous?

Around the time he moved to Florida…

biggill wrote:

I say we set the minimum age to buy a phone at 21. Require background checks on all smartphone purchases and require a 3 day waiting period.

Maybe we can boycott Best Buy so they stop selling smartphones.

Increasing penalties for texting and driving is utterly ridiculous. The technology is there, mandate cell phone companies to disable phones while driving.

Raising penalties will do nothing. How’s the battle against drunk driving deaths going?

Like the famous mplspug once said, we can’t do nothing. We must do something that does nothing.

Don’t forget the fact that I have a constitutional right to my freedom of speech, and a God given right to freedom. FREEDOM! I’ll give you my cell phone when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

John, I don’t care about your cold dead hands. I do care about a innocent person you may kill while driving and using the phone.

I think John’s comment might have been tongue-in-cheek…

If so I apologize.