Tell the truth, do you ever look at your phone while driving? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Other than for GPS of course. If you do pickup your phone and view messages, or worse, googling something, do you fear wrecking? Do you feel guilty? What is the real driving force behind this behavior? Don’t you just love it when the light turns green and the person in front of you isn’t moving? All you see is a head looking down.

 

[arrow1]

Honestly, I do not. I do use talk to text through the vehicle though.

 

[Joe Schmo]

I peak at text while stopped at a light and sometimes while driving. I am breaking that habit as I've had a close call or two and knowing there are people who have had catastrophic crashes that ruined lives, and killed or maimed people, it's something on my mind. Never use the web or watch videos though.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Yes. It’s not something that I do often, but I’d be lying if I said that I never do it.

 

[Scoresman]

No, only GPS outside of emergency situations.

And I hate even having to look at the GPS. There should be options in GPS for better voice directions. The default is just "After this light, turn right at the next light". I still have to look at the screen to see which lane I should be in at tricky intersections (if the app even bothers to give this, it's inconsistent). If the apps tell me the lane I need to be in, it's usually right before making the turn and traffic has already backed up in that lane making it tough to merge.

The ideal GPS voice app would be something like this

"Go straight for 1 mile before turning left at XXX street. Merge into the left two lanes when you can to be able to make the turn."

 

[Scoresman]

My wife picks up her phone at just about every red light and asks me to tell her when the light turns green. Very annoying.

 

[JohnnyU]

When my granddaughter first started driving she drove off the road into a ravine and hit a tree. Years later I finally got her to admit she had been looking at her phone when the wreck happened.

 

[Shaft41]

I've tried reading the responses in this thread and was going to respond earlier, but traffic was pretty heavy.

 

[JohnnyU]

Has phone related accidents overtaken drunk driving? I don’t know the answer, but my guess would be a resounding yes.

 

[JohnnyU]

I often wonder how many people can’t resist the urge when they hear the chirp? Why is that so difficult for some? Hell, I don’t even know where my phone is half the time and it irritates my wife.

 

[-OZ-]

Honestly, i have at lights and occasionally on the highway to change to a podcast or music app or station (not to excuse it, but radar and lane assist help and I don’t do it when I’m surrounded by vehicles). At lights I rarely still have it in my hand when the light turns.

 

[Max Power]

I have a very anti-phone while driving stance when my kids are car. I'll correct my wife on it when I see her pick it up. I think its important to set the right example in front of my kids who are entering their early driving years. We've lost an extended family member to distracted driving when she was only a teenager.

That said, when I'm alone... I'm worse than I should be. I don't text and drive, but I'll scroll podcasts or youtube videos to listen to. My vehicle has lane assist now and sadly I feel that's enabling me to take my eyes off the road a second longer than I used to because it corrects the drift. Its a terrible habit and one that I find myself doing before I'm even conscious I'm doing it.

 

[MTskibum]

Never.

I think they should really increase the penalty on looking at phone screens when driving.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

If I hear a ding I pull over when I can and look at it. Same if I need to make a call, even hands free can be distracting.

 

[NutterButter]

Sometimeswhen when adjusting gps or maybe picking a playlist. Rarely am I responding to a text.

 

[SHH]

More often than I should... nothing bad has ever happened and I know it's a bad habit, but it's hard to ignore a text message going off or handling a quick piece of banking en route to your next destination.

 

[brun]

I admit I often look while stopped at an intersection. While moving usually using voice commands "ok google - call nnnn"

 

[jamny]

Only at a red light.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Yes, mostly to switch podcasts or music.

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

 

[McBokonon]

Before I answer this, are you a cop? You have to tell us if you’re a cop.

 

[JohnnyU]

If I hear a ding I pull over when I can and look at it. Same if I need to make a call, even hands free can be distracting.

I suppose some messages are important enough to do that, but most are probably not. It’s not often when it can’t wait. I would feel silly if I pulled over for some insurance spam.

 

[JohnnyU]

Before I answer this, are you a cop? You have to tell us if you’re a cop.

No, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night.

 

[JohnnyU]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

 

[JohnnyU]

Yes, mostly to switch podcasts or music.

As a young man listening to music was important to me. Now, not so much. Then listening to talk radio was important. Now, not so much either.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Of course. Mostly hands free. Almost never reading or scrolling. Rarely while moving.

 

[JohnnyU]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

 

[jamny]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

 

[JohnnyU]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Car in front doesn’t move as fast as you think they are because your eyes are on your phone instead of looking at the car?

 

[-OZ-]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Apparently your brakes fail when you’re not looking.

 

[-OZ-]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Car in front doesn’t move as fast as you think they are because your eyes are on your phone instead of looking at the car?

How fast do you expect cars to move forward at red lights?

 

[JohnnyU]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Car in front doesn’t move as fast as you think they are because your eyes are on your phone instead of looking at the car?

How fast do you expect cars to move forward at red lights?

Ok, let me rephrase since this is so complicated. If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone because you couldn’t stop in time, would you ever do it again?

 

[-OZ-]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Car in front doesn’t move as fast as you think they are because your eyes are on your phone instead of looking at the car?

How fast do you expect cars to move forward at red lights?

Ok, let me rephrase since this is so complicated. If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone, would you ever do it again?

No, I wouldn’t rear end a car again.

 

[Scoresman]

It should be illegal, even at red lights. Too often you see people on their phones, and the light turns green and they dont move. This messes up traffic patterns, and can increase road rage incidents. All so that you can look at that text, which 99 times out of 100 is not going to be anywhere near urgent? It can wait.

 

[JohnnyU]

It should be illegal, even at red lights. Too often you see people on their phones, and the light turns green and they dont move. This messes up traffic patterns, and can increase road rage incidents. All so that you can look at that text, which 99 times out of 100 is not going to be anywhere near urgent? It can wait.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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[Scoresman]

If you say its ok to look at your phone at a red light, a lot of people will begin the process of picking up their phone and looking at the screen before they are fully stopped. That's where the rear ending can happen.

Easier just to ban it. It can wait. If it can't, pull over into a parking lot.

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

 

[JohnnyU]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

All seems more trouble than it’s worth. You know, risk / reward thing

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Has phone related accidents overtaken drunk driving? I don’t know the answer, but my guess would be a resounding yes.

Mobile phones have been a massive boon to personal injury lawyers due to all the accidents and injuries it causes. Plaintiff's lawyers will obtain the at-fault driver's phone records and in some cases will know exactly what the driver was using at the time of the accident. Most auto policies exclude coverage for dui, although there are exceptions to that rule so the phone user, which is as dangerous if not moreso than DUI, has been a fantastic development for plaintiff and insurance defense lawyers alike.

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

All seems more trouble than it’s worth. You know, risk / reward thing

You asked, I answered. "Occasional" glances for me amount to less than a dozen times a year (remote work helps). So, yeah, there's something going on in those times if I'm making the decision that I need to take a look. It is absolutely a risk/reward. Very small reward against a very small probability that there's an unmarked police car around that's going to see it and actually enforce a fleeting glance towards the console with a ticket.

Truth be told, me staring off into space thinking about aging parent issues or whatever else at a red light, to the extent of "losing" the brake pedal has proven to be a much larger issue for me. So perhaps I need the tactile distraction that a phone can offer.

 

[jamny]

Only at a red light.

If you ever rear ended a car looking at your phone would you ever do it again?

How would I rear end a car if I'm stopped?

Car in front doesn’t move as fast as you think they are because your eyes are on your phone instead of looking at the car?

The only time I do it is to read a text if I got one. I'm at a full stop, look at the text for 5 seconds, put the phone down. I won't be rear ending anyone. Anything longer than that and I pull over.

 

[JohnnyU]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

All seems more trouble than it’s worth. You know, risk / reward thing

You asked, I answered. "Occasional" glances for me amount to less than a dozen times a year (remote work helps). So, yeah, there's something going on in those times if I'm making the decision that I need to take a look. It is absolutely a risk/reward. Very small reward against a very small probability that there's an unmarked police car around that's going to see it and actually enforce a fleeting glance towards the console with a ticket.

Truth be told, me staring off into space thinking about aging parent issues or whatever else at a red light, to the extent of "losing" the brake pedal has proven to be a much larger issue for me. So perhaps I need the tactile distraction that a phone can offer.

I would think an unmarked cop car pales in comparison to the bodily injury risk.

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

All seems more trouble than it’s worth. You know, risk / reward thing

You asked, I answered. "Occasional" glances for me amount to less than a dozen times a year (remote work helps). So, yeah, there's something going on in those times if I'm making the decision that I need to take a look. It is absolutely a risk/reward. Very small reward against a very small probability that there's an unmarked police car around that's going to see it and actually enforce a fleeting glance towards the console with a ticket.

Truth be told, me staring off into space thinking about aging parent issues or whatever else at a red light, to the extent of "losing" the brake pedal has proven to be a much larger issue for me. So perhaps I need the tactile distraction that a phone can offer.

I would think an unmarked cop car pales in comparison to the bodily injury risk.

As has already been stated, a brief glance at a red traffic light where it's mathematically impossible that traffic flow will dictate that I move the vehicle within the next 25 seconds let alone the next 2.5 is WORLDS apart from glancing at a phone on a freeway or otherwise moving vehicle.

I have done the latter in the form of GPS navigation and there is no comparison between the two. One is a risk of life and limb and the other is the risk of a fresh officer on the force looking for their first "big" score.

 

[JohnnyU]

Occasional glances at red lights. It became illegal 10-12 years ago, so a lot less since then. Even when it could be done legally, I was much more likely to do it when I had a car in front of me making it easier to monitor traffic. If I'm the first car up, it's truly a fleeting a glance.

I think it's a little ridiculous that taking a look at text messages at a long red light had to become illegal. But most people are dummies with no shame that also think merging onto a 60 mph freeway at 46 mph is reasonable.

The bigger question is why it’s so important to do so? Just in case it’s an emergency, or do we crave that dopamine rush?

It's not to see if anyone liked my facebook post, but yeah that's a problem for a lot of people. When I have it's for logistical reasons where there's a moving target. Example, meeting up with a friend at a park to play disc golf. Not wanting to be the reason that the other party is going to be sitting waiting on me for 15 minutes. Stuff where I can actually be more efficient with my navigation if I have the leverage to legally look at my phone for all of 3 seconds at a red light. Years ago, I might have actually attempted to reply if it was urgent enough. But if I was unable to finish the reply from 10 cars back after the light turned green, the phone was hitting the passenger seat and I was looking for a convenience store turnoff if it was that important. But I won't even attempt to text a four word response anymore. Just sneaking a peak at a light feels like playing with fire.

But I get it. Some people can't use discretion, make exceptions in a moving vehicle and manage to drive clear off the road.

All seems more trouble than it’s worth. You know, risk / reward thing

You asked, I answered. "Occasional" glances for me amount to less than a dozen times a year (remote work helps). So, yeah, there's something going on in those times if I'm making the decision that I need to take a look. It is absolutely a risk/reward. Very small reward against a very small probability that there's an unmarked police car around that's going to see it and actually enforce a fleeting glance towards the console with a ticket.

Truth be told, me staring off into space thinking about aging parent issues or whatever else at a red light, to the extent of "losing" the brake pedal has proven to be a much larger issue for me. So perhaps I need the tactile distraction that a phone can offer.

I would think an unmarked cop car pales in comparison to the bodily injury risk.

As has already been stated, a brief glance at a red traffic light where it's mathematically impossible that traffic flow will dictate that I move the vehicle within the next 25 seconds let alone the next 2.5 is WORLDS apart from glancing at a phone on a freeway or otherwise moving vehicle.

I have done the latter in the form of GPS navigation and there is no comparison between the two. One is a risk of life and limb and the other is the risk of a fresh officer on the force looking for their first "big" score.

Just curious about the subject. Especially reasoning .

 

[FarFromHome]

My wife picks up her phone at just about every red light and asks me to tell her when the light turns green. Very annoying.

Would hate that.

 

[JohnnyU]

My wife picks up her phone at just about every red light and asks me to tell her when the light turns green. Very annoying.

Would hate that.

No way I would feed that disease

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Has phone related accidents overtaken drunk driving? I don’t know the answer, but my guess would be a resounding yes.

Mobile phones have been a massive boon to personal injury lawyers due to all the accidents and injuries it causes. Plaintiff's lawyers will obtain the at-fault driver's phone records and in some cases will know exactly what the driver was using at the time of the accident. Most auto policies exclude coverage for dui, although there are exceptions to that rule so the phone user, which is as dangerous if not moreso than DUI, has been a fantastic development for plaintiff and insurance defense lawyers alike.

This would be the best reason not to. Someone else could be 100% at fault for an accident but they would still try to deflect it to being at least partially my fault because I was found to be active on my phone at the time.

 

[jwb]

Has phone related accidents overtaken drunk driving? I don’t know the answer, but my guess would be a resounding yes.

Mobile phones have been a massive boon to personal injury lawyers due to all the accidents and injuries it causes. Plaintiff's lawyers will obtain the at-fault driver's phone records and in some cases will know exactly what the driver was using at the time of the accident. Most auto policies exclude coverage for dui, although there are exceptions to that rule so the phone user, which is as dangerous if not moreso than DUI, has been a fantastic development for plaintiff and insurance defense lawyers alike.

I am verymuch in favor of steep penalties for this (even looking at the red light). Prettymuch like DWI. And if you injure people... life as you know it is over. "Sorry kids, we need to sell your bikes. Daddy was too addicted to his phone."

I admit I'm harsh on this one. At 58, I just don't understand the phone addiction that would cause someone to read their texts while driving.

 

[Judge Smails]

At times but rarely. Like that messages are read to me and I can respond verbally with CarPlay

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Next you're gonna tell me I can't even crack open a cold one at a red light.