Where do we draw the line on distracted driving?

"DieHardDan" (dieharddan69) 06/03/2014 at 09:46 • Filed to: None

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I'm writing this to gather information regarding others' opinions of just what constitutes distracted driving. For example, something we can all agree on: Typing a txt message while a vehicle is moving is distracted driving and endangers everyone else on the road. However, is it OK to stop at a red light and quickly read any txt messages that have come in while driving? (I do this often, putting the phone down as soon as the light is green) I'm thinking that even this in certain situation could be dangerous as I am no longer paying attention to the environment surrounding my car.

Here is the real question for me... I know a few friends that use the Android / Iphone speech to txt feature while driving. They believe that since they are simply talking to the phone, not looking at it, or pressing any buttons, and their eyes are on the road that this does not constitute distracted driving. That's where things get blurry for me. On the one hand true, eyes on road, all is seemingly in order. BUT. Ultimately at some point you had to hit at least one or two buttons to get into the speech to txt mode and were distracted for those moments. No? What about when a txt pops up on the main locked screen of a phone? You glance over to read the 3 words? Acceptable?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:48

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I've used the android one. You'll be changing a word or two with actual text. It's a distraction.

The one that kills ME is when people think they are being safer by using speaker phone....but they hold it 4 inches away from their mouth in front of them. just use the damn phone normal or put it down

(I use a bluetooth headseat for in car calls)

Party-vi > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:48

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You can't put any of these scenarios into a grey area, because that will let people justify their dumb behavior, "oh well all I did was read my texts so I wasn't texting", or "all I did was hit 'send' I didn't mean to plow into that car". Any time you're eyes are off the road and your hands aren't on the wheel you're distracted.

DieHardDan > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 09:51

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I agree with you on people holding the phone to their face thinking this is hands free. They must be trying to save a few bucks on a bluetooth headset, honestly they're not that expensive anymore. Pay up. I can't imagine much argument can be presented here.

Regarding the correction of messages, I've used the feature as well, as long as I use simple words, stay away from names, I've found I can often manage entire strings of messages with no errors. Agree completely that if you're fixing words by typing on the phone, then very distracted and invalidates the original purpose.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 09:52

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People think "hands free" is speakerphone, and I've found voice commands even more distracting than using the screen itself, even on the SATNAV on my mother's Odyssey.

I usually use the aux cable when I have the phone plugged into the car, and I talk hands free, no problem.

Dsscats > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:52

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I never text while driving, but I don't think just clicking the next button to change the song on Pandora is wrong.

DieHardDan > Party-vi 06/03/2014 at 09:54

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So your stance is that once you open your car door, sit down, the next step is put the phone in the glove box, buckle up and then proceed to drive? This sounds like a foolproof method to remove the dangers of distracted driving. Do you think maybe that should be the law for a single occupant vehicle? No smart phones / tablets / electronic screen devices within driver's view? Maybe not a bad idea. One problem I'm thinking is the infotainment screens on modern cars are getting very distracting too... I've seen someone swerving around and thought for sure they were txting... when I passed them they were futzing with the infotainment.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:55

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There are studies out there, at work so I can't actually take the time to source them, which show that the distraction doesn't necessarily come from the physical act of sending the text or making the call. Of course that does play into the distraction, but ultimately it's the issue of your mind being focused on the conversation and not the road. So hands free does not mean distraction free, by any means.

That being said, you will never completely avoid distracted driving. Think about every time you see a cool car driving the opposite direct and watch it pass by, your eyes are off the road and you're distracted. Or when you hear something with a loud exhaust and immediately go into meerkat mode, searching for the car producing the sound. I also check messages at stop lights, and send them. Agreed that it's not the best idea, but it is much safer than doing it while driving.

Everyone is guilty of it, but there are types of distracted driving that are easier to avoid than others; like texting, phone calls, make-up, eating, reading, and whatever other ridiculous activities people choose to do while driving.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Dsscats 06/03/2014 at 09:55

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I don't either, that's like changing the radio station

davedave1111 > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:55

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It's pretty simple, really: even just fiddling with the stereo or heater can be dangerous in some situations. Never touch your phone while moving, let alone make calls or send texts.

However, I don't have a problem with doing stuff when you're stopped. As long as you wake up in time to move off when it's time, anyway.

DieHardDan > Dsscats 06/03/2014 at 09:56

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Sounds reasonable... But now just clicking next song wasn't bringing up anything good in your playlist... Just a little scroll down the song list to find something better... Is that ok?

dinobot666 > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:57

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Eh. I see people stopped at red lights glancing down at their phone reading text messages. They almost always miss the light turning green and are often very slow to accelerate away, because they're most likely still finishing the message.

I do, on very rare occasions glance down at a text message, but only if I'm sitting at a really long light, or backed up in a really long traffic jam with no hopes of moving in the next 10 minutes or so.

Overall, I still think a phone is a big distraction, and I'm often distracted by watching distracted drivers who are texting and driving, which makes me even more distracted!

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 09:58

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Saw a lady doing that the other day, just shook my head. I don't have bluetooth connectivity in my car, or even an auxiliary port, but I do use one of those old school cassette tape to auxiliary jack cords to play music through my phone. So if I need to make a call while driving, I just play it through my vehicle's speakers and the phone sits on my lap or the center console next to me.

DieHardDan > davedave1111 06/03/2014 at 09:59

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Just playing devil's advocate a little here... What if while you were stopped at a read light and started reading your txt messages a child's ball rolled in front of your car and the kid is bending down to get it when the light turned green and someone behind you honked? I know crazy scenario, but you would have seen the kid if you had not been reading the txt... Again just playing the unlikely scenario out here. I also read txt's that have come in at red lights.

Not a Sunburst Miata > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 09:59

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i don't think it's the cost of the headset that people are worried about. There's always been a sort of hatred for people who wear a Bluetooth headset. It's also a big fashion no-no. People are usually more worried about the societal implications, or what other people think. So the chance of being a bad driver is better than the certainty of being ridiculed for wearing a Bluetooth headset.

yamahog > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:00

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I have a Moto X, and it works really well for this type of thing. Between touchless control and driving mode, I can reply to a text or call someone without taking my hands off the wheel or eyes off the road at any point. I keep it on a clip stand on the far air vent and I don't have the sense of urgency to play with it while I'm driving. If I really need to mess around with my music or whatever, I do it at a long stoplight.

Obviously, that's in the Jeep. On the Yamaha, I pull over for whatever I need to do besides ride.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 10:02

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you don't need it in your car if you get a $20 headset to connect to your phone. It's not in my car either, I do have an aux input though.

I'm not saying it was good that I did it, but I used to talk on the actual phone all the time, I did fine holding it in front of me on speaker was much more distracting. I am also able to drop out of a conversation for a second for mergers/lane changes and the people I talk to understand.

Like I said, it wasn't good that I was doing it, but also not against the law where I live in Michigan. Knowing that I spend too much time on my phone in the car I figured it was time to just spend the 20 bucks for a headset.

DieHardDan > dinobot666 06/03/2014 at 10:02

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Those red light txters ... always missing green lights. :) I've done that once or twice even though I thought I had GREAT peripheral vision and would always notice it go green. Those that txt and drive weave so much they usually look like a severely drunk driver. I wonder if as a society we are going to start reporting other drivers that do that? One time a lady was really driving dangerously nearly crashing 3 times between 3 lights. I pulled up next to her and honked to get her attention and showed her the no phone hand signal. She was enraged, gave me the finger and drove off in a giant rush to show her disapproval of my suggestion. Was I wrong?

Party-vi > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:02

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Absolutely not - my stance is, for the definition of distracted driving anything you do that does not directly contribute to your eyes being on the road is labeled as a distraction. I drive distracted all the time - it's almost impossible not to anymore unless you're on a motorcycle or in a classic car.

I think the ideal would be to have all devices interact with the vehicle's infotainment system for hands-free operation. The vehicle could read aloud text messages and respond via verbal or steering wheel input, prompts the driver if they want to check messages or social media, etc. Have devices enter "drive mode" which disables touch-screen operation while the vehicle registers speeds over say, 10mph. It would be a better start.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:03

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When the wheels are moving the phone is out of my hand.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:03

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I'm gonna go ahead and say that law IS a bad idea. That is allowing way too much control/intrusion into people's personal lives. Things like this need to be a social change, not a legal one. However, where do we stop it? Think about music in the car. If you count out changing songs on iPods and smartphones, because it's essentially the same thing as texting, people will still fiddle with changing the station just as much if not more; because every time commercials or a song comes on that they don't like, they will be scanning the stations to find something else.

I'm not justifying the use of electronics while driving, just kind of playing devil's advocate.

DieHardDan > Not a Sunburst Miata 06/03/2014 at 10:04

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I would think if you're just wearing the headset for the duration of the drive the fashion impact would be low... Who knows though, different people have different interpretation of the need to be fashionable at all times.

The Compromiser > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:05

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In Ontario, the cops camp out at intersections and ticket you for reading texts or emails. It falls into the care and control guidelines similar to drunk driving ( Passed out in the back seat with the keys is a chargeable offence). I think that is BS (Both of em).

My Wife got wheeled for distracted and the cop wouldn't let it go (She wasn't). She even had to get up and get her purse from the back seat to show him her phone was nowhere near her. He then asked to check her text messages (Hadn't received or sent one since the morning). So he went for the licence and registration route. Got nothing out of that. I guess he had a slow month for the first 3 weeks...

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 10:06

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For sure. I hardly talk on the phone as it is. My bad habit comes from changing music on my phone while driving, which is particularly bad because I have music ADD and am pretty much incapable of listening to a song all the way through. lol It drives some passengers crazy. (no pun intended haha)

DieHardDan > yamahog 06/03/2014 at 10:06

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Interesting you can reply to a txt with no hands at all... How did you know a txt came into your phone in the first place? Or when did you have time to read the txt to know what to say in response? Eyes off the road at some point for sure, no?

DieHardDan > Party-vi 06/03/2014 at 10:08

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On the one hand yes, on the other hand almost seems to encourage the use of txt and social media more while in the car. If I'm in the middle of a txt convo with someone I usually tell them I'm getting in the car and will resume the convo when I arrive at my destination. For those that are unwilling to pause their interactions though this might be an improvement.

DieHardDan > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 06/03/2014 at 10:09

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Good rule. When you hear the ding of a txt coming in will you glance over at the phone to see what it was or only once you've stopped again?

interrogator-chaplain > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:10

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While I drive, the phone in my pocket, stays in my pocket. If I need to use it, I pull over. No exceptions. Need to check a map? Pull over. Need to answer a call? Pull over. Fire off a text? Pull over.

Nothing I'm doing on my phone is worth dying over or killing someone else over.

Party-vi > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:10

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It's more difficult to determine if you need to respond or not. For emails, I'll pull over and park to write back (this has happened all of once), and I usually won't respond to texts unless they're from my fiancee, and even then only if she needs a time-sensitive response. Phone manufacturers could also help this by giving people the option to have automatic replies (like my iPhone has) when I'm driving.

DieHardDan > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 10:12

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Agreed I also do not like excessive governmental control over my life. I chose to try and pay as much attention to the road as possible in a desire to not kill anyone else. Every year though cars come with more and more built in distractions. Just adjusting seat and climate control can include a half dozen buttons these days. I also 100% agree that searching for a song on a Ipod or phone is every bit as dangerous as txting.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:13

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That would require my phone in my hand. Granted, I can look in my Corvair because the phone happens to act as a speedometer quite often.

But if it takes longer than it takes to scan the dash, it's too long.

DieHardDan > The Compromiser 06/03/2014 at 10:15

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Wow yeah, that's somewhat despicable. She was clearly innocent, let her go. From my understanding many cops have a tough time admitting they stopped someone in error. To be honest most of the time they are right, but there are cases like this when someone wasn't doing anything wrong. I wonder if he could have held anything over her if she had received a txt, but not responded, again with phone in purse in back seat.

JGrabowMSt > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:15

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I've yelled at drivers at stoplights for not paying any attention (because their cars creep forward, or the light already changed).

In fact, for one person texting behind me, I sat through a whole green light, and they noticed when the light turned yellow. Another time (in my bosses convertible), I sat at a stop sign staring at this woman in the mirror until she put her phone down.

If I'm at a red light, and I need to make a call, I make sure the light isn't about to change, and I go to speaker phone and throw it in the cup holder. I do my best to avoid this unless it's really something very important, so I could count this on one hand.

I don't care if the light is red for 30 seconds or 3 minutes, the second your attention is no longer on the road around you, you're distracted. Someone could come up and rear end you, a motorcycle could lane split through a red, an ambulance or cop car could be coming. If you aren't prepared to identify where it is before it's right up your ass, you're distracted.

Back in the early 70's, my dads best friend was killed by a drugged up drunk driver. They barely did any time for it (no jail, just probation and service). It's worst today than it was then. There are no consequences, no one my age has much of a sense of accountability anymore, which is a sad fact. There should just be a no-strike policy with distracted driving, whether it's with phones or anything else. As a cyclist, I've been nearly killed on 3 main occasions, and 2 of those 3 times, the driver had direct, unobstructed line of sight of me coming, and my bike is bright yellow. Safety fucking yellow.

To be honest, the sad part is that this is a question at all. People think it's okay to debate whether they can drive a 2-3 (or more) ton death machine without watching where they're going or being aware of road signs or traffic laws, or other people.

Just wake the fuck up. It's not okay.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:15

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I haven't used many modern infotainment systems, just played with a couple in friends' cars. Do the ones with social features allow the use of them while driving? If so, it seems to me that those features should be automatically disabled when the car is not in Park (or at least neutral, for cars with a proper transmission).

DieHardDan > interrogator-chaplain 06/03/2014 at 10:17

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I wish more people followed those rules. So, you if you had bluetooth in the car would you answer an incoming call while moving in that case? What if there is nowhere to safely pull over, such as a highway. Usually I feel that stopping on the shoulder of a highway is pretty dangerous and should only be done in emergencies.

KirkyV > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:18

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If your phone is mounted on your dashboard in such a way that you can access it as easily as your radio or whatever else, then I've no issue with people using the lock-screen buttons to skip songs and such while moving. Anything beyond that starts to get a little sketchy.

The degree to which removing a hand from the wheel to fiddle with the radio or heating or whatever constitutes dangerously distracted driving is debatable. If you remain focused on the road, and do it quickly, then I think I'm broadly in favour. I mean, I live in a country where the vast majority of people still drive manual cars, so removing a hand from the wheel while going along - potentially rather quickly - is an inevitability for most drivers.

Meatcoma > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 10:18

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My car is new enough it has handsfree bluetooth through the radio. First car I've had that has it and I absolutely love it. I bet it's only 5-10% of a distraction if that.

DieHardDan > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 06/03/2014 at 10:19

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Now there is an environment where one can focus on the road and driving.

interrogator-chaplain > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:23

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If I had it? I don't know, I've never used it before. On the highway, I don't answer my phone until I spot a rest stop or a private driveway to pull over on. There's usually one every 50km or so.

DieHardDan > JGrabowMSt 06/03/2014 at 10:23

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Your strong stance is very justified. I think most people are not making the association with something as innocent seeming as playing with their phones, and causing the death of another human being. People really should understand that, but either due to their upbringing or how they learned to drive they don't associate the dangers. I'm glad to see more and more campaigns on TV to educate the populace on just how serious the situation is.

DieHardDan > KirkyV 06/03/2014 at 10:27

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Agreed, I drove stick shift for 17 years before getting my first automatic and I'm probably going back for the next car. BUT, once you get into the nuances of whether changing a song on the radio is OK or not things get tricky. Press next, OK, Scroll two songs down and hit play, not OK?

dinobot666 > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:31

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You weren't wrong, she just didn't care that she was potentially endangering the lives of others being so reckless. Since there doesn't seem to be much we can do about drivers like this, I just stay as far away from them as possible.

DieHardDan > dinobot666 06/03/2014 at 10:33

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Yeah just sucks that instead of thinking about her actions it just caused her to drive even more irresponsibly.

DieHardDan > Meatcoma 06/03/2014 at 10:36

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Agreed when the bluetooth is built into the vehicle the distraction level can really drop to acceptable levels. My radio turns off, I hear the ring, I push a steering wheel button, conversation ensues. There are some here that might say that the conversation itself is distracting though despite the hands and eyes being focused in the right places. Personally, I think it is acceptable for me.

Dsscats > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:37

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I also don't like the ice of having some lock out. That takes away the personal accountability

deekster_caddy > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:37

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Here's the thing. Some people can multitask. Some people can't. Everybody thinks they can. Some people can hold a conversation (or speech to txt their messages) and not be distracted from the road. Some people can't talk on the phone without weaving all overt the place. It's different for different people, which makes hard laws such a difficult thing.

I can have my texts read to me by my phone without an issue, but anytime I try to speak a text message for conversion it gets half the words wrong, so I if a response is needed I'm calling. I try to only use handsfree calling options so I can keep my eyes on the road.

Mattbob > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:41

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distracted driving is looking at your cellphone at all. When I get in the car, I throw my phone in the passenger seat, and miss a bunch of calls and texts. Honestly, no one needs to be tethered that badly that they should let it interfere with driving. Driving a stick helps with the temptation though. I am a bit worse about it when I drive autos.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 10:43

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omg my wife has that.

She does have ADHD for real though...

But seriously singing along enjoying a song and BOOM next. WTF JUST HAPPENED?!

Mattbob > Not a Sunburst Miata 06/03/2014 at 10:43

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well to be fair, if you wear a bluetooth headset outside of the car, you are probably an asshole.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 10:45

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Lol yeah. My best friend is the same way, and people get super annoyed riding with us. Although back when he had his Miata, we would blast Party In the USA all the way through and sing along the entire time with the top down. #ThatsHowYouMiata

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 10:48

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sounds like he is definitely driving the right car.

or should he be driving a stolen ?

TJDMAX > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 10:50

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What makes me laugh is that it is illegal to text and drive because people think that it is distracting and dangerous and I would agree with them; but what kills me is that car infotainment systems are legal and work while driving. For instance, my S4 has so many windows and menus and setting pages that i can adjust and scroll through with driving that it could be very very easy to take my eyes off the road for a substantial period of time. Or cars like the Tesla S...WHICH LET YOU SURF THE INTERNET WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING?!?!?!?!

Sure, some people are better drivers than others so what some people may see as a distraction others may see as a simple easy mindless task.

My vote...make everyone drive a manual car...have you ever tried texting while driving a manual car through the city or traffic? Impossible...not enough limbs..

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 10:56

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lol he drives a 22RE 4Runner now. I'm still mad at him for getting rid of a super clean s13 (which was stock when he bought it, and he just added exhaust, wheels and coilovers to; straight/clean body though) for the Miata, which ended up being very unreliable.

DieHardDan > deekster_caddy 06/03/2014 at 10:56

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It is very true that most people seem to think they can multitask and most aren't the greatest at it. One thing I've noticed is when I was younger I was better at it. The older I get the more I seem to need to just focus on the one important thing. In the case of this conversation that being driving.

DieHardDan > Mattbob 06/03/2014 at 11:01

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One thing I've started doing with one of my best friends when we're in the car together is that we'll just hold the other person's phone while in the car. He is close enough that I have no private conversations he can't see and if I feel like I need to respond he types the messages. Of course this is only an option in some very limited situations. I had to yell at him quite a bit to get him to stop txting while behind the wheel with me in the car.

DieHardDan > TJDMAX 06/03/2014 at 11:04

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Some of the newer Nav system will lock out destination entry while moving, but you are right and most of the other infotainment features are usable. I see people playing with theirs while driving all the time, just as bad as txting. I get a feeling that there will be more manufacturer regulations coming up to address this.

Not a Sunburst Miata > Mattbob 06/03/2014 at 11:06

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Whoa man, I wear one when I'm online on my PS3 so I can tell people I slept with their mothers. Anywhere else, nope.

Mattbob > Not a Sunburst Miata 06/03/2014 at 11:11

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fair enough.

I Hoon Therefore I Am > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 11:15

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Here is how I think it should be handled. Treat the phone like your nav system. You can play with it all you want when stopped but when you are moving leave it alone. If you need to do stuff with it pull off to the side or get your passenger to do it. You can glance at it but only if you put it in a sensible spot. If you have to dig to find it leave it alone, sending a worthless text is stupid when the cost can be so much higher. If I am in an accident because someone was driving distracted you better hope you kill me because if I can move I certainly will kill you especially if I am traveling with friends and family.

The Compromiser > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 11:17

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Oh he was digging. asked if she had received any emails too. She shuts her data off unless she needs it and runs off the home wifi most of the time (Doesn't need data outside of the home most of the time).

So she had to have read an email, been seen, followed and switched her data off (on an Iphone), put the phone in her purse, zipped it closed and put it in the back seat within about 2 minutes with a cop on her tail the whole time. This woman can't make her mind up at KFC in 2 minutes....

DieHardDan > I Hoon Therefore I Am 06/03/2014 at 11:18

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So maybe a rule that goes something like this: If it takes longer than it would to check your mirrors, leave it for later.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 11:21

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Haha, I'm hoping Maserati showed for you because it randomly disappeared from my post

DieHardDan > The Compromiser 06/03/2014 at 11:22

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LOL, I can relate to that one. You know one thing I've started doing with my wife... I go over the menu of an establishment before we leave the house on the Internet. If one is available that really helps cut down the indecision.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 11:22

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It did not. lol

I Hoon Therefore I Am > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 11:27

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That pretty much sums it up. Passengers also need to step up when someone drives distracted. If they try to start texting I grab the phone from them and say either they can tell me what they want to say or I can give is back to you later. It is sad how easily people get distracted while essentially piloting several thousand pounds of metal, glass and plastic.

DieHardDan > I Hoon Therefore I Am 06/03/2014 at 11:29

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I also have a friend whose phone I constantly have to take. What always scares me is all the other times I'm not in the car. I tell him all the time if he thinks drinking and driving is bad then what he is doing is no different. Not sure how else to get through to him though.

yamahog > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 11:35

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In driving mode, it tells me I have a new text, asks to read it aloud, then asks if I want to respond, and I can dictate my reply. It reads back my reply and asks if its correct, if not I can repeat my text, if it's good (usually is) I reply yes to send. It sounds cumbersome when I'm walking you through it, but it's really convenient and easy to use.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Meatcoma 06/03/2014 at 11:37

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yeah it will probably be built in on my next DD in a few years. As for now the 20$ headset on my ear works great. It rings in my ear, i tap the outside of it after muting stereo and conversation starts.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 11:38

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stupid kinja

was making a miley joke to playoff his singing choices.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/03/2014 at 11:46

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I figured lol

BoulderZ > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 11:47

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For me, once the seat belt's on, engine's started, and putting it in gear to go anywhere, the phone basically doesn't exist. I leave it turned on, but I never pick it up until I'm stopped, out of gear, and in a parking space. The engine can still be running, as heat or A/C might be required. If I hear the phone ring or a message alert, and I think there's a chance it's an emergency or something, I'll take the next exit or turn-off, find a spot to park, stop and get the car out of gear and then check the phone.

The only time I can think of where I might break that policy is if I saw somebody do a hit-and-run or something like that and had to call 911 immediately, maybe even having to keep the vehicle in sight. I'm not sure how/why that might happen, and the probability of that exact scenario is quite low, but I guess that might be an exception. Anyway, that's just how I've worked it out for me.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/03/2014 at 11:51

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Obama or Kinja, SOMEONE'S GOTA SCREW IT UP!

The Compromiser > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 12:33

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I Leave her at home. I bring the food back. She can't loiter then. I won't leave until she's decided. If I have to take her, I will try the internet menu thing. Good plan!

DieHardDan > BoulderZ 06/03/2014 at 13:40

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What a great example, I actually had completely forgotten about this, but that exact situation happened to me. It was late one night and I'm behind another call weaving dangerously. Finally he hits a car parking in someone's driveway, but keeps driving. I had to call 911 because I was sure that the next swerve was going to be into oncoming traffic. Fortunately my girlfriend at the time was with me and was able to speak to the dispatcher. The cops ended up catching up with him and its an 80 year old man with 2 other passengers. I asked the cops just how drunk he was, and they told me he was actually having an insulin drop, or was at least claiming to be. I can't understand how the other passengers in the car didn't force him to stop. I wouldn't have sat in the car with him swerving wildly from one side of the car to the other. I'm not sure if the ended up charging him or not, but at the very least he left the scene of an accident. They must have gotten him there.

DieHardDan > The Compromiser 06/03/2014 at 13:41

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Jeeze that's a bit rough. You can't always leave em home :) We're first time parents with a 5 month old and sometimes she just needs to get out of the house for sanity's sake.

DieHardDan > yamahog 06/03/2014 at 13:42

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No actually sounds great. I can speak my txt messages, but I'll have to futz with my phone some more and find the rest of the driving mode options. I have one of the later versions of Android so I'm sure its in there and I just haven't looked for it yet.

yamahog > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 13:45

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I believe Touchless Control is still a Moto X exclusive, and Moto Assist is a Motorola-only feature. They're supposed to be releasing an update to the Moto X by the end of the summer, too.

BoulderZ > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 13:53

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That had to be something to experience. Almost a "Wait, did I really just see that?" kind of a thing. Glad you and your passenger were able to call it in. I'm always surprised at the frequency of medical issues causing crashes. More common than I'd have guessed, though not as common as just plain DUI. Unfortunately, DUI and hit and run seem to be the official state sport of CO. Maybe we've fixed it, but there was an unintentional problem when the penalty for DUI was (rightly) increased, but at the time it wasn't noted that the disparity with the penalty for hit and run actually encouraged people to run (the fact that all of the above was wrong to be doing in the first place notwithstanding).

Two Drink Minimum > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 16:56

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A bought a Caseology CD-slot smartphone mount on sale from Amazon for my Moto-X and it works great. Makes it safe and easy to use the phone as a GPS or to glance at email/text when stopped at a light. The CD slot mount keeps the phone nice and high in my Abarth, so my field of view is still outside the car. If I get a call while driving, I hit the speaker icon and talk hands free. My eyes and attention never leave the road.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DieHardDan > Two Drink Minimum 06/03/2014 at 17:16

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Hearing lots of good things about the Moto X. I still plan on seeing what kind of totally voice activated controls I can get working on my Android. Its an HTC desire with 4.2 on it, should be something available I would think. I already have the bluetooth connectivity with the car, but the ability to have my txt's read to me sounds awesome.

The Compromiser > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 17:40

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When it's just the 2 of us I don't care. she can take as long as she wants (and it usually isn't Fast food). With 3 kids however..... It's usually easier for one to go and one to stay.

Two Drink Minimum > DieHardDan 06/03/2014 at 18:10

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The Moto-X active notifications are particularly useful when you mount the phone. A text or email arrives and the screen (even when asleep) shows an icon for a moment. Touch it, and a quick preview of the message flips out. Let go, and the screen goes back to sleep. Sitting at a light, you can instantly decide if a text or email is worth bothering with (ie, pulling over to make a call).

deekster_caddy > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 06/04/2014 at 09:20

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In general there are already laws against "driving distracted". This is pretty general and leaves the officer involved to determine if a driver was distracted or not (eyewitness accounts, etc). So if you are NOT distracted by these things, there shouldn't be a law specifically preventing you from doing it. In my opinion the existing generic distracted driving laws are just fine, IF THEY WERE ENFORCED. But sadly, they were/are not.

deekster_caddy > DieHardDan 06/04/2014 at 09:25

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On the iPhone, there is a sound/vibration alert when a new txt arrives. (since I am usually listening to the audio from the phone through my speakers, it's hard to miss) Eyes free? Without looking, I can reach over, grab the phone (which I keep in a fixed mount to the right of my shifter), press the 'home' button, tell Siri to "read my new text message" and then "reply" and speak the message. In reality, speech to text works like shit and I instead ask to call the person, but still I never once need to look at the phone.

Not sure how this works on Android or a Moto but it definitely works well on the iPhone. I know there is some equivalent of it for google/android, but I don't know how you trigger it.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > deekster_caddy 06/04/2014 at 09:51

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Agreed

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Meatcoma 06/10/2014 at 11:11

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My aftermarket stereo has bluetooth and a mic the put in the headliner, it is awesome. Less awesome is the fact I can't hang up from the radio controls and the fact it sometimes ignores what I was listening to before I connect my iphone and just starts playing the first song in my library.