Something else -- besides texting -- people shouldn't do while driving

Something else — besides texting — people shouldn’t do while driving

March 10, 2010 by Fred Hosier

Posted in: cell phones and safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Stupid human safety tricks, Transportation safety

If you get into enough debates about using cell phones while driving, eventually someone is likely to say, “What about all the other things people do while driving? I’ve seen people eating, putting on makeup, shaving … ”

Yes, you shouldn’t shave while driving — especially below the waist.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash on Cudjoe Key was caused by a driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.

The car driven by Megan Barnes — with some help from Charles Judy — slammed into the back of a pickup truck.

Barnes allegedly drove another half-mile then switched seats with Judy. Then Judy claimed to be driving when the crash occurred. Barnes was driving with a suspended license.

The burns on Judy’s chest from the passenger-side airbag indicated he wasn’t driving. The driver’s airbag didn’t deploy.

Barnes faces multiple charges including reckless driving and the possibility of a year in prison.

Passengers in the truck were treated by minor injuries.

Trooper Gary Dunick, who responded to the crash, told The Citizen, “I’m really starting to believe this stuff only happens in the Keys.”

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Tags: cell phones, reckless driving, shaving while driving

Dave B

Safe driving laws would have more impact if the police followed the same laws. (speeding, talking on phones, tailgating, etc.)

I would also like to see enforcement consistent with regulatory requirements. Posted speed limit is 65 mph, but most people drive 75 mph. (Unfortunately the police officer who usually drives 85+ mph, decided that this month on the first Wednesday after the full moon if it is cloudy, he will give out speeding tickets to anyone driving faster than 69 mph.)

Although written for driving, these are basic concepts that I would like applied to all laws.
– I want reasonable speeds/rules.
– I want rules that apply equally to all drivers including police.
– I want rules that are enforced according to the requirement.
– I want impartiality in court. I have as much or more training, experience and road time than most police. Anyone who watches the news knows police make mistakes and commit crimes like everyone else. Why is my testimony less credible.

OK, this one struck a nerve, but I’m done and I’m getting off my soap box now.
Have a good day.
Sue E

Requiring cell phones to be jammed in vehicles prevents any passengers from using their phones; they should not be prevented from using them if they are not driving.
WL

I understand T.C.
MADD had good intentions and I supported their efforts in the beginning.
I no longer support them.
They continued on pressuring law makers to far until they criminalized people who have done nothing wrong and cost all of us who drive hard earned cash without any realized return.
I think the to low legal limit and the open container laws are efforts to stop people from doing what is and has been a legal activity. They should not have the ability to force their beliefs on others that way. This is what they have successfully done in my opinion.
http://www.xcheminc.com Lyndon

T.C., you lost me there. I can’t connect the dots.
T.C.

Looks like a new Bulls__t group is on the horizon. MADD. Mothers Against Distracted Driving. Maybe they can use their influence to get everyone a felony conviction for distracted driving. Get the tolerence level to zero tolerence and make a lot of people non hireable, generate alot of revenue for the government, and raise every ones insurance rates..
Aïda

You have to wonder if Barnes was driving because her ex was intoxicated. If I felt the need to shave my bikini area I would have changed seats. I mean, how much time would that take to accomplish?

Maybe the rest of the story is that the ex became distracted and started watching her shave instead of keeping his eyes on the road.

Makes me laugh thinking about it, though.
http://www.xcheminc.com Lyndon

There cannot be enough debates regarding texting-while-driving. It’s sort of like the old weather cliche about everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it. To put the burden on law enforcement is a joke. You can no more enforce a law against texting than you can a law against eating, combing your hair, changing the dial on the radio or sneezing.
If car manufacturers had any interest in the safety of vehicle occupants (Toyota?) they would install a device that jams cell phones when the vehicle reaches 10 MPH. And if the government (?) had any concern at all it would require such a device on all vehicles.
Any and all arguments opposing this idea are null and void because twenty-five years ago when there were no cell phones, everybody got along well without them. So you ask, “What about when there is an emergency?” There are emergency communication devices like On-Star, etc that provide assistance in those cases. Again, the “safety-minded” manufacturers could install them in all vehicles and the government (?) could require them to do so.