texting

[HONDO]

As I mostly bicycle secondary roads and rails to trails I dont have to worry about it so much but Im really becoming concerned about how much the risk of riding the roads has increased due to people texting while driving. Im aware that bicycling roads is inherently a risk but with more news all the time that texting was going on and was a major factor in an accident it sure has me thinking.I will not quit riding but Im hoping maybe some laws will be in place to limit or prevent this texting and driving issue. In the meantime I guess a person just has to stay aware and alert while bicycling popular roads.

[indyfabz]

While bicycling on all roads.  PA just passed a state-wide no texting law. Since it seems very difficult to enforce I doubt it will make much of a difference. Philadelphia's hand held cell phone ban has been in place for nearly two years now. I see dozens of people violating it nearly every day. I heard that a recent study revealed that cell phone use while driving has increased even as more and more jurisdictions have banned it. And most people who do do it think it's safe when they do it but not when others do it. I am not sure that even changing the "I can do it safely" mindset will have a huge impact because people are still willing to take risks in the face of known dangers.

[Ron Scott]

There are 3 kinds of drivers that concern me:

1. The true a**h**e: These guys drive close or yell at you or stick their dog's head out the window at you, just to throw you off kilter. There's one of these every hundred miles in suburban/rural areas.
2. The clueless: Thinks that since you're riding fairly close to the white line he(she) can pass you within 6 inches, no problem. One every 20 miles.
3. The distracted, including those fighting with spouses, phone callers, coffee drinkers, nose pickers, and texters: One every 10 miles.

[Tandem4Rider]

#4 - The disorganized: Clips your left elbow while driving break-neck speed to the local day care center.  Afterall, those extra couple bucks you ring up for being late to pick up junior is certainly worth more than someone's life!

[Ailish]

The huge risks of texting distracted drivers is one of those media firestorms that really isn't supported by the data.  Of course it's distracting to text and drive, but most people would never try it in the first place.  As cell phone usage has skyrocketed, traffic fatalities and even simple auto accidents have fallen.  No, I'm not suggesting that cell phone ownership reduces accidents, though that would be better supported by the data than the hype about the texting menace.

[indyfabz]

Cell phone useage as a cause of accidents is on the rise as is texting/emailing behind the wheel. A report released this month found that 18% of drivers admitted to texting/emailing while driving, and that's assuming people did not lie on the survey. In the age group of 21-24, that number jumps to nearly 50%. Id's say that's something.

Here is but a sample of research findings (see the bar on the right):

http://distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html

[Pat Lamb]

1. The true a**h**e: These guys drive close or yell at you or stick their dog's head out the window at you, just to throw you off kilter. There's one of these every hundred miles in suburban/rural areas.

I must be lucky, I only seem to run across these about once a month, on average.  First warm day of spring I'll have four to make up for the winter months. 

2. The clueless: Thinks that since you're riding fairly close to the white line he(she) can pass you within 6 inches, no problem. One every 20 miles.

Someone suggested that motorists give you as much room as you take.  If you're six inches from the white line, they'll give you six inches when passing.  If you're three feet out in the road, they'll move partially into the other lane, if necessary, to give you three feet.  That's been my experience, as well, after I started taking adequate space on the road.

[pptouring]

.... If you're three feet out in the road, they'll move partially into the other lane, if necessary, to give you three feet.  That's been my experience, as well, after I started taking adequate space on the road.

Same here. I'll take up a third or more of the lane if I have to and this seems to be the best approach.

[Awf Hand]

I approach this with the same method as I approach any area with traffic:  HI-VIS

I wear a class III long sleeved lime green jersey with retro-refl stripes.  I can be easily seen from about 1/2 mile away.  At 60mph that is about 30 seconds ahead.  Even the most engrossed texting driver doesn't look down for 20-30 seconds.  Initially, the wife told me that I look "special needs".  I am special needs.  I have a special need to not get run over.

[bogiesan]

Hi-viz is good. The back of my recumbent is festooned with flashers and I wear fluorescent orange instead of lime green and I run a flag when touring. But my best defensive tool is my rear view mirrors. It's not difficult to detect erratic driving. In 45,000 miles I have only pulled myself off the road twice to make myself a non-target. One of those I thought prudent as the driver seemed medicated or inebriated. 

[BikeFreak]

My info:

1 Where I live in Denmark you constantly see people fiddling with their phone while driving.
2 One text costs 5 cents = texting is cheap
3 Although it seems frustrating that so many people text while driving, the police hands out approx 35 fines each day for texting. Total population is 5,5 mio.
4 The fine for using the phone (handheld) while driving is the equivalent of 100 dollars.
5 1st Jan 2012 the fine increases to the equivalent 300 dollars.

Although the fines seem high, it is my impression that people don't care and just pay if they get caught.

Lucas