Don't Text and Drive

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 01/25/2017 at 13:15 • Filed to: None

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20

Especially in Alaska.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:17

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I’m more concerned with not driving in the “no ban” states.

Mid Engine > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:20

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Should be a federal law to make things consistent, I think $2000 per occurrence will actually serve as a deterrent.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/25/2017 at 13:20

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Montana kind of doesn’t have a speed limit in alot of places, so there’s that at least.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:27

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Montana, the last great hope of humanity...

...except they have an income tax.

I’m also shocked that UT is that high, considering how remarkably shitty their drivers are and how often I felt I saw it happening last time I was there.

Urambo Tauro > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:30

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Not high enough -my first reaction.

But to be fair, I don’t think it’s something that should really be illegal in the first place. There is an unlimited number of things that could potentially be distracting, and we shouldn’t have to outlaw each one. People should voluntarily be focusing on driving, and texting is only one of many distractions that one must manage.

And as much as I hate to admit it, it IS possible to safely text behind the wheel. Long red lights, railroad crossing delays, traffic jams... if this is really about safety, then what really matters is that you’re paying attention and your driving is not affected. Even while moving, it’s possible to look at the phone for ONE second to type in another digit or two without veering out of your lane. (But it’s still a mental burden that’s better left for very short messages or ten-digit phone numbers.)

fintail > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:33

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I’d like to see a similar map for enforcement - some mighty small numbers there.

Urambo Tauro > Urambo Tauro 01/25/2017 at 13:44

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But as far as penalties go, there absolutely should be consequences for distracted driving, when it negatively affects one’s operation of a motor vehicle. And it would be nice if those consequences were high enough to act as an effective deterrent.

Cherry_man1 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 13:48

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you may wanna point the asterisk. Because Missouri as it says only on new drivers.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Urambo Tauro 01/25/2017 at 14:29

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I always thought all they needed to do was enforce distracted driving laws...

garagemonkee > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 14:33

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$124 isn’t high enough in WA. A speeding ticket is more than twice that, so they never enforce any of the lower-”valued” violations.

450X_FTW > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 14:37

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They keep the fine high enough that they can make money off of it, but they keep it low enough that people won’t change their habits after being caught. Except Alaska, they actually did it right.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/25/2017 at 14:57

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That seems low for IL. My wife and I have a game (that I’m sure others play in some variety) where we see who can count the most people texting and driving. Particularly on 90/94.

The passenger almost always wins, because drivers have other things to pay attention to, but the numbers are usually so staggeringly high (during a simple 20 mile drive) that if the laws were enforced (and fees possibly higher), IL might be in a better financial spot.

Scott > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/25/2017 at 17:41

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Yes, but no sales tax.

Scott > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/25/2017 at 17:44

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Has a speed limit just like everyplace else. Back in the 90's it was reasonable and prudent during daylight hours. Before that on the highways it was wasting a non - renewable resource, which was a $5 ticket that you could pay in the spot, and no points as it was not a moving violation. But as of ‘ 99 it has a speed limit just like all other states. Well it does still have daytime and nighttime speed limits, I have not seen that anyplace else.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Scott 01/25/2017 at 19:09

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That’s a shame. I was under the impression that while the tickets became more formal, they were still minimal and didn’t incentivize wanton ticketing.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/25/2017 at 19:16

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Montana doesn’t have the law because they have few places with much density. Most accidents in the state are single-car, so if you crash while texting and die, you just took yourself out of the gene pool. The no speed limit thing was similar. They’re very pro-natural-selection there.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/25/2017 at 19:17

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I got to briefly drive in Montana when there the speed limit was “reasonable and prudent.” Unfortunately, I was 14 years old, on a learner’s permit, and driving the our 5.0 powered 2nd gen explorer. 90 was as fast as Dad said I could set the cruise.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Scott 01/25/2017 at 19:17

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Like Oregon? I didn’t know that...

Dusty Ventures > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/27/2017 at 18:16

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Also New Hampshire

EDIT: And Delaware

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/27/2017 at 18:22

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I got ticketed for “texting and driving” in Connecticut back in 2008 or so. The only problem was my “texting” was actually “taking my closed flip phone out of my pocket and putting it in the cupholder so the antenna wasn’t stabbing me in the gut” and the “driving” was “sitting in the parking lot exit at a gas station.” Cost me $100