Comments on: Listen while you drive

By: JB

JB — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:08:57 +0000

That’s an interesting insight into how you behave during cell phone conversations, but I don’t think you can apply it to everyone. Actually, you might want to get that checked out by a doctor.
For myself, talking on the phone is no more distracting than talking to someone who is sitting there in person with me in the car. In both cases, I’m not actually looking at them; I’m listening to their voice and responding.

By: greg

greg — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:23:01 +0000

Contradictory you ask?

Talking on a phone you are concentrating intently on the conversation, and are really in a day dream state, as you visualize the comments made and construct a response.

Listening to music, it is just delightful noise, it can be mentally shut off quicker by a distraction such as a horn or siren, or visual cue of blue lights behind you.

Audio books I find are an interesting insight into your own behavior I have found. If the traffic get heated, and my attention needs to deal with it bump up a notch, I find often I have to rewind the book. As I find once through the traffic issue, I have not really heard the past x amount of time as my concentration was on the traffic not the book. I became deaf to it.

That illustrates for me the inverse, the distraction that talking on the phone is to my driving. It makes me blind… in that day dream state. Much like when you are driving somewhere you know by heart… and you “wake up” and realize you just drove x miles and turns without thinking… same deal.

I still do it. I’m human. But I am more aware of it now.

I also ride a motorcycle, so here is an interesting thought… Blue tooth helmets so you can talk and ride… On a bike the need to not be distracted is 10 fold… It will be interesting to see if accidents related to talking on the phone on bikes goes up as these helmets come more available/affordable.

thats my 2 cents, spend it as you wish ;–)
-g

By: JB

JB — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 05:24:31 +0000

Dan, thanks for pointing out the duplicate post. I went ahead and moved your second comment (the DMV link one) into this post; it was in the Gateway one before.

By: ma ma j

ma ma j — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 05:09:11 +0000

I think automobile drivers should be allowed to wear earplugs so we don’t have to hear motorcycles with altered pipes.

By: Martha

Martha — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 04:13:37 +0000

Seems that earplugs would be worse.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:39:41 +0000

or maybe vehicular dIscrimination.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:37:47 +0000

I smell a lawsuit for vehicular descrimination. Why should motorcyclists be able to legaly wear headphones, while my civil liberties are restricted? I’m going to get pulled over for wearing headphones and then contact the ACLU.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:33:46 +0000

That dmv practice test questions makes me think that listening with only one earbud in is not illegal, but I still suggest you continue to have conversations with your podcasts.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:03:15 +0000

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl28.htm

wearing headphones or earplugs (illegal in California and most states)

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 20:56:57 +0000

From DMV.org

HOME > CALIFORNIA DMV PRACTICE TEST

CALIFORNIA DMV PRACTICE TEST

7. All of the following practices are dangerous to do while driving. Which of these is also illegal?

a) Listening to music through headphones that cover both ears
b) Adjusting your outside mirrors.
c) Transporting an unrestrained animal inside the vehicle.

a is the correct answer making me think it’s against the law.

But then there is this:
From an AMA press release:
California SB 315 has been signed into law. Included in this bill was a provision to allow for use of “foam” style non-custom earplugs by street motorcycle riders. Thanks are due to State Senator Debra Bowen (Democrat, District 28, Redondo Beach) who worked closely with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) to make this change in the law. The AMA is asking riders to let Senator Bowen know they appreciate her assistance by sending her an email. The new law takes effect January 1, 2004.