Distracted driving

[Castle Bravo]

Something I've noticed about moving over for vehicles on the side of the road is that occasionally, impatient or inattentive drivers will pass me on the right just as we're passing whatever I moved over for. In the HET, at 43 mph, I tend to stay in the right lane rather than move over if there are "impatient looking*" vehicles coming up behind me or are vehicles already next to me. I do slow down some. Sometimes it makes sense to slow down enough to drop in behind said vehicles and move over also.

*Basically anything with 2 or 4 wheels...

 

[98G]

Matt, I'm glad you mentioned that.

The way I address this issue is to not completely change lanes. I will not change lanes much earlier than needed either and I only change about 2/3 into the 2nd lane out. This discourages any attempts to pass me on the right. I do this whether in a MV or my pickup truck.

This has been 100% effective at preventing attempts to pass on the right.

 

[m1010plowboy]

A little update and notice that Alberta had a minimum 35% increase in traffic related fines starting today, May 1, 2015. I'll just bet the new tourism moto is........
.....If you come visit, leave early.

"""""General speeding fines will now range from $78 (1 km over) to $474 (50 km over) and $156 to $949 through construction zones. Failing to stop for a red light increases from $287 to $488 and the distracted driving fine has increased from $172 to $287.""""""....demerit points pending....
http://www.sunnysouthnews.com/news/2015/05/01/new-distracted-driving-fines-pack-a-punch/
http://www.albertapolicereport.ca/2...a-traffic-ticket-will-cost-motorists-35-more/


With a $287.00 fine for distracted driving and big brother using long range video spotter recordings, red-light cameras and photo radar, the best thing to do is "Focus on the Drive".

This should also increase rear-end accidents at intersections when guys are piling on the brakes to avoid the $488.00 red light infraction. Once again, get the 'a' game on, use additional "eye-lead" time when coming to the lights and have a safe driving weekend.

 

[tim292stro]

...This should also increase rear-end accidents at intersections when guys are piling on the brakes to avoid the $488.00 red light infraction...

I've always enjoyed when this point is brought up by people here in the US - it's funny to me how much all the other drivers are relying on the drivers in front of them to break the law that they don't feel the need for the 2-seconds rule for their own safety (because "it's the other driver's job to break the law, it's not my fault I didn't expect the stale green light to change to yellow and the driver in front of me to comply with the law, and it's their fault I wasn't prepared for that completely predictable outcome of what happens when traffic doesn't do what I expected it to, but was totally reasonable to do..."). It's this reason that people think that self driving cars are the only answer. For me that's fine - if people don't want to drive, can't afford a chauffeur, and don't want to take mass transit or a taxi - let them have self driving cars. I hope they don't take away the rights of people who want to drive though. Who will be left that would be able to trouble-shoot and improve self driving cars?

They way I think about it - if "people are the problem" every time we root-cause these issues, doesn't that solution of "take people out of the equation" fit for all our problems? Why not just get rid of the people?

 

[Another Ahab]

They way I think about it - if "people are the problem" every time we root-cause these issues, doesn't that solution of "take people out of the equation" fit for all our problems? Why not just get rid of the people?

There's the answer:

- Pain and Suffering, gone.

- War and Hatred, gone.

- Sorrow and Anxiety, gone.

- Fear and Loathing, gone.

- Hope and Faith, unnecessary; gone.

But don't hold your breath and expect that knowing the answer will ever mean it becomes a popular idea.

 

[tim292stro]

Yeah, hand-in-hand with inability to take reponsibility for our actions, comes inability to take necessary action, and indigestion...

 

[m1010plowboy]

Text and drive much?

Our little province of 4 million just had a nasty weekend of highway accidents. Then tonight, on the way back from a great family weekend at the G749 farm I see the results of this head-on accident on a road our family has traveled for over a century.



With our Canada Day celebrations on July 1st and the United States celebrating Independence Day on July 4th, I just want everyone to Focus on the Drive and arrive home safe.

It's now as high as 1 in 3 accidents that are completely avoidable on what seems to be a growing sense of entitlement to immediate communications while in our vehicles.

If you're entering Canada, be sure to look at the individual province's distracted driving laws because more increases are coming.

Here are a few links and a note on penalty increases in Ontario.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/06/2...hicles-after-attempt-to-stop-one-from-rolling

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local...-in-numerous-weekend-crashes-on-alberta-roads

http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/

http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/n...ur-in-others-rbc-insurance/1003677580/?&er=NA

http://allontario.ca/2015/06/enhancing-road-safety-in-ontario/
http://allontario.ca/2015/06/ontario-passes-legislation-to-improve-road-safety/

Distracted Driving

• Increasing the current fine range from $60 to $500, to $300 to $1,000
• Assigning three demerit points upon conviction of a distracted driving offence
• Adding distracted driving convictions for novice drivers that will result in the following escalating sanctions: FIRST CONVICTION – 30 day suspension; SECOND CONVICTION – 90 day suspension; THIRD CONVICTION – license cancellation i.e. driver must return to the start of the graduated licensing program.

http://www.rachelsimrose.com/distracted-driving/

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/t...ng/driving/road-safety-and-the-law/keep-right

 

[98G]

If you're entering Canada, be sure to look at the individual province's distracted driving laws ....ht[/QUOTE]

Here's where we diverge on mindset. My thought is that I have an ethical obligation to refrain from behavior that puts the lives of others at risk, whether or not there's a legal penalty for it, and completely independent from the scope of the penalty.... so looking at the potential penalty would really have no influence.

"Right" and "wrong", "ethical" and "unethical", exist seperate and independent from legislated laws.

I'll predict that the only measurable difference made by these laws will be an increase in revenue collected from fines, with no corresponding decrease in crashes.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Distracted Driving Fines in Canada



Ellie just wanted to remind folks that it's always good practice to know the 'current' laws when entering the different provinces in Canada, or any country you visit.

If a visitor heads over to Nunavut there are no fines for distracted driving. If we end up in Ontario we could pay $1000.00 when caught buttering toast behind the wheel. http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/distracted-driving-laws-in-canada.php

I'm fine with any deterrent that will save a kids life and hope all drivers chime in with solutions.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Who said....with no corresponding decrease in crashes.........when the fines go up??????

Since the increase in fines around the May long weekend, we've had 75 fatalities in 75 days in our little province, very sad. No stat on the percentage of distracted driving incidents but I'm guessing the smart phone is winning.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2142233/7...isions-across-alberta-since-may-long-weekend/

Just a weekend reminder to focus on the drive, bring the "A" game if you must take your MV on-road and have a schpectacular weekend.

 

[Whiterabbit]

It's been getting bad around here too. I guess it's because school was out, summer, and tourist but the lane weaving and pulling out in front of you morons are everywhere it seems. I had to take the ditch yesterday because of a clown coming into my lane. I don't know if he was rubber necking at the jeep or texting but he never slowed down or pulled over to see if I was ok. (I was)
These morons are everywhere and they don't care!

 

[Another Ahab]

What amazes me is that there aren't MORE accidents due to distractions from cell phones.

I was with my daughter the other day and she crosses the street with me totally engaged and engrossed in texting on her phone while she walked. I warned her the need to stop and look around before she puts a foot in the street, ESPECIALLY because of the likelihood of some driver similarly engrossed in a cell phone making a turn into the road while she's crossing. Man, you can only hope they listen. It's tough, because we're all hooked on the devices now.

 

[Another Ahab]

What amazes me is that there aren't MORE accidents due to distractions from cell phones.

I was with my youngest daughter the other day and she crosses the street with me totally engaged and engrossed in texting on her phone while she walked. I warned her the need to stop and look around before she puts a foot in the street, ESPECIALLY because of the likelihood of some driver similarly engrossed in a cell phone making a turn into the road while she's crossing. Man, you can only hope they listen. It's tough, because we're all hooked on the devices now.

 

[Another Ahab]

Hello? Hello?

Is there an echo in here? Is there an echo in here?

 

[m1010plowboy]

Alberta just turned up the tap for distracted drivers starting next year. On top of the $287.00 fine we'll also take points from your airmiles card.

It's actually an Alberta demerit point system but I don't see how it applies to visiting drivers. Alberta drivers will receive 3 demerit points out of the 15 we're allowed for being upstanding folks. Here's a list of the the things we can do to get points. http://clg.ab.ca/programs-services/dial-a-law/demerit-points/

We did find 2 out of 3 culprits.

""""On average, about two-thirds of those convicted are men. Young male drivers between 22 and 34 had the highest conviction rates."""""

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/20...to-fines-for-distracted-driving/#.VmuSNL-rEuc

My poor buddies in blue just can't keep up so it'd be good to hear how other leo's are handling this.

Heading down the road toward the Holiday Season we just hope folks remember how important it is to get to their Christmas destinations. It is so much more important to be standing at the door.

"Drop the phone until you're home, then have a Merry Christmas".

 

[bikeman]

Happened Sat Morning of last week. I do swear in it... Not sure if you can make it out in the video, but pretty obvious she was on her phone.

As in the "Thing"? It's my 06 Dodge Ram 2500, with my running lights on!

https://youtu.be/tZqg2k6jkwU

 

[John S-B]

What amazes me is that there aren't MORE accidents due to distractions from cell phones.

I was with my youngest daughter the other day and she crosses the street with me totally engaged and engrossed in texting on her phone while she walked. I warned her the need to stop and look around before she puts a foot in the street, ESPECIALLY because of the likelihood of some driver similarly engrossed in a cell phone making a turn into the road while she's crossing. Man, you can only hope they listen. It's tough, because we're all hooked on the devices now.

Speak for yourself, I still have a flip phone, and I DON'T text, ever.

 

[DieselBob]

What amazes me is that there aren't MORE accidents due to distractions from cell phones.

It's tough, because we're all hooked on the devices now.

Not quite all. I don't own a cell phone in any form.

 

[FrankUSMC]

Bob
I am also a "noncarrier" of cell phones. I catch a lot of flak about it at work. My Bride did buy me one, but I do not carry it.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET.

 

[Another Ahab]

I was driving beside someone a couple of days back, on I-395 and we're booking along at about 60-65 mph:

- As i passed here I noticed she had BOTH her hands on her cell phone, texting; looking down at the phone and I couldn't tell (cause I moved away right quickly) but I think she was steering the wheel with the top half of the phone.

This was real; not make-believe.