Cellphones

Cellphones are a reason to be more afraid of tailgaters. You never know if
they are using one, and if they are, watch out!

Jim Everman...

I wish there were some sort of warning system to let you know which
cars have cell phones in use. Perhaps a blue flashing light? Then we
might be warned to steer clear of them.
Jim

Jim Everman...

I suspect you are correct about the blue although I don't know the
reason. I'd also suspect that red might have problems. How about a high
intensity aircraft strobe light? ;-)

Jean B....

That's a thought. When I notice someone is on the phone, I am
always extra-cautious. I think blue may not be legal though
(was reading about bike lights, and there was some comment re
that).

**Dalin**...

It's illegal in NY to use a cell phone while driving unless it's an
emergency or you have a hands free headset and mike. But somehow
talking through a headset seems to me just as bad. I can't explain
but people say it is more distracting than talking to a passenger.

Jean B....

People just seem to be lacking in common sense. Why the need
to pick up a piece of paper while driving? Geesh. Your poor
daughter.

The SUV thing is tricky. Sometimes, the safety is an
illusion, although common sense (at least) would have us
believe that the larger vehicles would fare better at least in
collisions with other vehicles.

Jean B....

I need to get a Bluetooth phone, which I can use hands-free in
my car. I RARELY talk while I am driving--maybe twice a year
if that. I did want to make a call today though, so, of
course, there were no long red lights on my route. Funny how

Jean B....

Joy...

Some police vehicles have blue lights on them. Maybe purple or orange?

Yes, of course, and that was a demonstration of it.

that works out.

**Dalin**...

Jean B....

Maybe because you can pause the conversation more easily when
the other person is in the car? I dunno. I sometimes even
turn the radio off if I am in some really traffic-y area.

Jane Benn...

I wish it was illegal here. I see too many people weaving around while
trying to talk on them.

I don't like to talk on the phone when I'm driving, and my family all know I
just won't answer it under those circumstances. Since it has a phonemail
feature, they can leave a message, and I will pull over as soon as I can do
so safely, and return the call.

Once, when passing through town, my brother called to say hi. When he saw
traffic ahead, he abruptly hung up on me, and called from home later to
apologize. But I was a lot happier knowing he was safe than that he was
polite!

Jean B....

I just don't understand the incessant need to gab all the
time. I'm with you, Jane. I don't even give OUT my cell
phone number except to the school and under very specific
circumstances, and I explain that I will not answer if I am
driving, but will get the message and call back.

Jane Benn...

Yes, my cell phone number is kept relatively private, too - family, close
friends, my former boss (who may have thrown it out when I retired) and the
place where I get my car serviced ( so I can go shopping while I wait). And
everyone who gets the number is told I won't answer if I'm driving. No point
in raising false expectations. :-)

Was there no place to pull off to the side? I wouldn't think a red
light would be long enough to make a call. At least the Bluetooth
wireless headset lets you keep both hands on the wheel. :-)

Jean B....

Joy...

Jean B....

Those might be good--and not confused with other types of lights.

My cell phone is kept turned off unless I'm either making a call or I'm
meeting someone at a large venue (like an airport) and the other person
might need to let me know he's going to be late, or to ask precisely where I
am.

No there wasn't, so I had to wait. Oh well. With the Prius,
I can just push a button on the wheel to talk on the phone if
I get the right kind of phone. I am still not about to jabber
on the phone when I am driving though. I feel like I have to
keep my feeble mind on what I am doing.

Jim Everman...

NHunkele...

Which turns my wandering mind to the subject of halogen
headlights..which I detest.
Norma

Jean B....

Aren't the "normal" headlights halogen?

Jim Everman...

Yes. I suspect Norma means the High intensity discharge (HID)
headlamps. Very bright blue/white, like the mercury vapor lamps they are
related to. Very annoying.

Knut Willy...

_________________________________________

yes, they are halogen. I think he may have meant Xenon lights.

Knut Willy...

___________________________________

another idea:
a gadget on one's own car, operated by an on-off switch, directing a beam
towards the "sinner's" car. Which would send some intense electronic noise
on the phone's frequency. A built in computer should find out that exact
frequency. "Sinner" would have to stop talking, and take back control of
his own car instead of chatting.
Something like what the Russians used to have during the cold war, to jam
all signals from Voice of America in Germany.

Second thought: Forget it. Naughty criminals might abuse it. Forget. I
have never come up with that idea.

Jim Everman...

Jean B....

I suspect so too. BTW, I once read that the European lights
are not as annoying as the Asian ones. Have you (or anyone
else) noticed that? Seems I tried to differentiate for a
while, and it might have been true.

As for the HID lights (and xenon too?), I confess I do have
them (HID on the Prius and xenon on the Passat). I was
getting flashed in the Prius, so it seemed they were
bothersome. I therefore asked that the dealer adjust them
downwards. On one hand, they claimed the lights were fine; on
the other, I haven't been flashed since.

Now, seriously, I have a question re those lights. Yes, they
are annoying, but what if they make the difference between
being able to drive at night and not being able to?

Jim Everman...

You should know. Do they? (Make that much difference.)

Your second thought is best.. if you used such a device, you would be
the naughty criminal. At least in the USA.

**Dalin**...

How about a gizmo that would block their signal to the tower? Did you
read about the guy who bought some sort of electronic gadget on E-bay
that would change red traffic lights to green? They caught him after
about six mos.

Jean B....

Joy...

I think the ideal thing would be to use them for high beams only. Then it
would be legal to use them where they are needed - where lighting is now and
there is no traffic in front of you. As it is, I think that trying to drive
with those beams shining through your windshield or in your rear view mirror
is just as dangerous as driving with less light.

I can see that they would be great to have on a dark road, but I hate them
on highways. Basically, they are good for the person who has them, and bad
for everybody else, much like the man who switched traffic lights for his
own convenience.

I did read that. Seems to me that the fine (was it $100)
wasn't gonna be much of a deterrent. What a self-centered
person!!!!

**Dalin**...

Jim Everman...

david...

i'm sure you're probably right, jim, but I would like to have such a
device... especially one that interrupted loud radio broadcasts from
nearby cars... very annoying... my fantasy is to have a device that when
aimed at a car fuses all the radio elements together so it won't play
anymore....

cell phone use in cars is illegal here, but seems to have reduced usage
very little. a program whereby citizens could easily report such abuse
would empower thousands of us to be 'cell phone deputies'... i think
it's doable, but i don't know what it would cost to train, define
reporting mechanisms, and then be able to prove the event happened.

Jane Benn...

What we really need is a device that will cut off the sound on other
drivers' cell phones, and prevent them from working again until they are
stationary.

They became aware of him by way of the disruption he was causing in
the traffic flow pattern. My understanding is they are going to modify
how the system works to prevent any repeats. Jamming a cell phone is a
bit more serious in that the FCC gets involved with illegal RF
transmitters. The traffic device is IR, much like your TV remote. No FCC
involvement.

Knut Willy...

___________________________________

Joy...

Jean B....

Well, maybe your high-beam idea is a logical solution....

Jane Benn...

I had a car years ago that had rather poor headlights, and my brother bought
me a set, but installed them in addition to my regular lights and rewired
the lights so the high intensity ones became my high beams, and the regular
ones were used the rest of the time. I was driving out in the country a lot
at the time, and they were just great!

How would you report such abuse - make a call on your cell phone? ;-)

david...

i know, i know... it sounds silly, but i really think this is a
possibility, since police officers already have too much to do... and i
think there are citizens who would do it for free... :-)) cell phones
are legal in NY if you're using a headset - it's the ones with a phone
held to their ear who are illegal. if there were a standard protocol on
what to report, plus some sort of certification for these volunteers, i
think it has possibilities. first offense is $100 i think, and it goes up
from there. hey - maybe i could even call myself "officer david"...

many years ago, when world as young, and I was a kid, the traffic lights
in Oslo were impossible to switch at one's will. Because they were pure
mechanical in that there were built in a rubber cushion a certain distance
before each waycross. The weight of a car or even motorcycle triggered the
lights.
Old fashioned, but it worked.

I'd like to know how many the company sold. Maybe he's the only one
who got caught. I remember reading about it before under some new
technology column. Must be anyone can buy one.

**Dalin**...

Around here they somehow change the lights to red in both directions
so traffic comes to a standstill and the emergency vehicles can get
by. I think that's a better idea than having them green one way
because there could be traffic ahead of the emergency vehicle that
won't give way.

Dalin

I don't believe that hands free operation is much of a cure. I believe
that the danger comes from people getting overly engrossed in their
call. I'm sure others have seen them, they slowly drift into your lane
and then whip back.. etc. I'm also convinced that the combination of far
left lane (USA here) with cell phone use is the most hazardous.