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Ford supports legislators who want to ban texting while driving

Ford recently confirmed it supports federal legislation aimed at stopping drivers from texting while driving. Ford safety executive Sue Cischke said the legislation makes it safer for drivers because drivers who remove their eyes from the road to send or read text messages increase the possibility of an auto collision.

A number of states have already introduced laws that ban texting while driving, but now the federal government is thinking about making it a nationwide ban.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) would force each remaining state to stop texting while driving or the state may lose up to 25 percent of federal highway funding each year.

Schumer recently released the following statement praising Ford's stance on the issue, "Ford deserves credit for stepping up as the first car company to endorse a ban on this dangerous habit.  We are gathering a critical mass of support for this bill, which will give us the momentum we need to get it passed."

Ford has recently ramped up its marketing on its Sync in-car infotainment technology and other hands-free, voice-activated technology that make driving a safer experience.  A text messaging ban would still allow Ford owners to use Sync to chat on the phone and "read" text messages.

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duh
By ixelion on 9/14/2009 7:42:35 AM , Rating: 5
This is a no brainer if you test and drive your a fucking idiot.

Kudos to Ford for disguising their marketing initiatives as social awareness.




RE: duh
By ixelion on 9/14/2009 7:44:06 AM , Rating: 5
looks like I'm a fucking idiot, should be text not test


RE: duh
By jimbojimbo on 9/14/2009 2:45:22 PM , Rating: 3
It's also you're not your.


RE: duh
By messyunkempt on 9/15/2009 1:21:14 AM , Rating: 3
U werent driving when u posted were u? ;)


RE: duh
By messyunkempt on 9/15/2009 1:27:05 AM , Rating: 2
Gah, -U, +you. Sorry, I've spent last 6 hours moderating the chat rooms at work. I'm turning into one of them :(


RE: duh
By monstergroup on 9/14/2009 7:44:56 AM , Rating: 2
I'm sure anyone testing and driving would perform at both horribly.


RE: duh
By kfonda on 9/14/2009 8:01:19 AM , Rating: 5
What if it's a driving test?


RE: duh
By Motoman on 9/14/2009 4:27:17 PM , Rating: 4
...or a test drive?


RE: duh
By SSDMaster on 9/14/09, Rating: 0
RE: duh
By MrWho on 9/14/2009 12:09:43 PM , Rating: 1
I think the sarcasm on this post was lost on those who voted negatively.

Most of the drivers, when confronted with a prohibition (DUI, talking on the phone without earpiece, texting, etc) will always say "Well, *I*'m not like those idiots who can't do it right, so why blame *ME*?"


RE: duh
By jimbojimbo on 9/14/2009 2:46:36 PM , Rating: 2
People too stupid to spot sarcasm without *sarcasm* in the message need their license revoked. Dummies.


RE: duh
By danrien on 9/14/2009 6:55:03 PM , Rating: 2
No it was just a poor attempt at sarcasm.


RE: duh
By SSDMaster on 9/17/2009 8:57:20 AM , Rating: 2
Really? It wasn't blatantly obvious? I equated my self worth to an additional 5000 points of awesome.

If you didn't sense the sarcasm, there's no hope for you.


RE: duh
By corduroygt on 9/14/2009 8:19:32 AM , Rating: 2
You reminded me of the VW sign and drive event commercials, I thought they were funny.


RE: duh
By iFX on 9/14/09, Rating: -1
I can't believe...
By jadeskye on 9/14/2009 7:54:00 AM , Rating: 2
That anyone would be stupid enough to text and drive. Why would you do that? Death wish?

If people are that stupid then they need to ban this ASAP.




RE: I can't believe...
By BZDTemp on 9/14/2009 9:21:59 AM , Rating: 4
People ARE that stupid. It is no different than the people which:

- are so drunk they let their kid drive
- drive while drunk/stoned or just heavily medicated
- choose to drive when they should not due to aging effects (vision impaired, early stages of alzheimers...)
- may have passed the test but have no clue.
- think they are the next Ken Block
- think driving can be done while thinking of other stuff

Of all the groups I'm not sure which are worst!

One thing is sure though and that is the group of elderly people hanging on to their driving license wanting it to be torn from their cold death hands is taking up more and more space. Many old people are great drivers but there is also many which are not.


RE: I can't believe...
By Digimonkey on 9/14/2009 9:36:22 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
- think driving can be done while thinking of other stuff


While I agree with the other stuff, really? Are you a firm believer in 10 and 2 as well?


RE: I can't believe...
By SSDMaster on 9/14/2009 9:47:01 AM , Rating: 3
I think we should ban 1 handed driving as well. 2 hands on the wheel is the only way to go. Maybe have some sort of Velcro strap system where if you take a hand off of the wheel, and you aren't using it to shift or E-brake, then the car shuts off.

Also, a system should be connected to your eyes some how (think matrix plug into brain) to sense when your not looking at the road. And then once your eyes veer off of the road or mirrors, the car instantly explodes and ends your miserable existence for endangering the human nation machine and our great morals.

My point, is; laws that can't be enforced are useless.


RE: I can't believe...
By MrBlastman on 9/14/2009 11:33:45 AM , Rating: 2
So there is no way to enforce no-texting while driving?


RE: I can't believe...
By Reclaimer77 on 9/14/09, Rating: 0
RE: I can't believe...
By jhb116 on 9/14/2009 8:37:28 PM , Rating: 2
I have to disagree. Although there would be a need for a massive build-up in cops to "enforce" this law and give everyone tickets - the real purpose seems to ascertain fault AFTER an accident. It is much easier to figure out if someone was texting or talking while driving after an event has happened - assign automatic fault for breaking the law.


RE: I can't believe...
By DeepBlue1975 on 9/14/2009 10:19:17 PM , Rating: 2
Enter a new cell phone interface:

- Every cell phone has to be sold equipped with a not-user programmer, hardware embedded RF sensor.
- Every new car sold has to be equipped with 3 RF sensors / emitters implemented

As soon as you get into the car, the car sensors triangulate the position of your cell phone's sensor, and if it locates the phone somewhere in the front driver's seat space, the cell phone receives a signal from the car, telling it to deactivate its screen.

This way you won't be able to use your phone's screen while driving, and so you won't even try to look at it, let alone start texting messages.


RE: I can't believe...
By MrBlastman on 9/15/2009 11:46:23 AM , Rating: 2
This is similar to what I was going to suggest--however mine goes one step further and uses a GPS chip to determine if the phone was in motion while in the motor vehicle (i.e. the car is driving somewhere), and if so, it would deactivate both texting ability _and_ talking ability.

If I had to choose between the two evils I'd start with texting first. There really is no excuse at all for texting while driving.


RE: I can't believe...
By JonnyDough on 9/15/2009 4:21:43 PM , Rating: 2
Add "smoking" to that list.


RE: I can't believe...
By PorreKaj on 9/15/2009 2:15:23 AM , Rating: 2
Ask a idiot anything.

Can't help doing it when the text includes a serious question. and of course, only when there's no other cars/ppl in sight.

Anywho, many people can text without looking at the monitor.

Also, this is not an attempt to justify it - I just don't care much about how Idiots get themselfe killed. ^^


RE: I can't believe...
By JonnyDough on 9/15/2009 4:25:34 PM , Rating: 2
Ever consider the idea that while texting they might drive into your lane and kill you in a head-on collision? What about if you had a 16 year old kid who just got their license? You're a moron to not even consider that people who smoke pot/drink and drive/text and drive COULD KILL YOU. We were taught in both drivers ed and on the state test that a 1-ton car is a LETHAL WEAPON and you have a responsibility to use the PRIVELEDGE of driving to do it safely and to pay attention. Then consider all the people driving SUVs and all the kids in small cars...and yeah. Texting should be banned and anyone caught doing it on tape should lose a hand. Better that than my kid's life.


The problem is...
By Beenthere on 9/14/2009 8:45:05 AM , Rating: 2
...we live in a drug addicted world where braindead morons are as addicted to cellphones and texting as they are to crack. These people are so removed from reality that they can't find their arse with both hands and GPS. Unfortunately 80+ percent of the people on the roadways fit into this category.




RE: The problem is...
By SSDMaster on 9/14/2009 9:00:52 AM , Rating: 2
My cell phone is crack?.... Can I smoke it?


RE: The problem is...
By jadeskye on 9/14/2009 9:57:02 AM , Rating: 2
i knew a guy in high school that did that.


RE: The problem is...
By MrTeal on 9/14/2009 10:12:50 AM , Rating: 3
Does it have a Sony battery?


RE: The problem is...
By danrien on 9/14/2009 7:05:33 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
...we live in a drug addicted world where braindead morons are as addicted to cellphones and texting as they are to crack. These people are so removed from reality that they can't find their arse with both hands and GPS. Unfortunately 80+ percent of the people on the roadways fit into this category.


Err...... what do drugs and crack have to do with texting? Crack is a physically addictive narcotic that you have to consume to become addicted to, while texting is merely a new form of socializing, a natural human instinct that all humans have (I suppose you could call it an "addiction" in some perverted form of the word, but then posting on this forum would also be feeding into yours and mine addictions as well).

By the way, most of these "braindead morons" would find ways to take their minds off the road even without texting, and have been doing so since the automobile was invented, so your whining falls upon deaf ears.


RE: The problem is...
By dgingeri on 9/14/2009 8:17:16 PM , Rating: 2
which is precisely why most people should not be on the road at all.

it goes to the old adage: just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should.

just because most of these gene tampered turkeys calling themselves human these days are capable of operating a motor vehicle doesn't mean they should be allowed to. After all, motor vehicle accidents (80%+ caused by driver stupidity) kill over 100 times as many people per year as gun violence and gun accidents each year.


RE: The problem is...
By JonnyDough on 9/15/2009 4:27:56 PM , Rating: 2
True. I hear about/know people dying in car accidents all the time. I don't know anyone who got murdered, and I've lived in about 20 cities in my 30 yrs of life.


How about outlawing McDonalds?
By 3minence on 9/14/2009 9:14:47 AM , Rating: 1
Texting while driving is dangerous because it distracts the driver and forces them to take their eyes off the road. Eating while driving does the same thing. But do out elected officials in DC suggest banning that? No, too many drive through restaurants depend on it.

I think people who read while driving, be texting, a newspaper, a map, are idiots and are just begging for an accident. But I really hate outlawing one thing while ignoring another equally dangerous practice because it's good for someones business.




RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By Shadowself on 9/14/2009 9:50:13 AM , Rating: 2
You outlaw the idiotic things you can and what makes sense to outlaw. Outlawing all eating while driving is stupid. Should we outlaw eating something simple like shelled peanuts (which does not require you to take your eyes off the road) as well as eating a huge triple decker burger (which definitely does -- and may require both hands)? Where would you draw the line?

Texting repeatedly requires taking your eyes off the road. It is extremely hazardous. It needs to be outlawed on the entire planet. People who text while driving deserve to get into "accidents", their victims don't.

And before anyone asks, yes, I do not eat or drink while driving. I also pull over whenever I get a call while I'm driving too.


RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By 3minence on 9/15/2009 12:21:52 PM , Rating: 2
You, sir, are being a realist. You obviously have no future in politics.

I agree with your point, we should fix what can reasonably be fixed and learn to live with what we can't reasonably fix.


RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By GeorgeOu on 9/14/2009 2:47:44 PM , Rating: 2
Everyone I know can eat without taking their eyes off the road. You can also talk on the phone without looking at the phone with the exception of dialing the number though that can be solved with voice dialing. I have yet to meet someone who can text which requires you to continuously take your eyes off the road. Now if they made phones that will automatically read the messages to you and let you dictate a text message response with semi-reasonable accuracy, that would solve the problem.


RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By danrien on 9/14/2009 7:13:51 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed. The only problem eating and talking cause is it takes your mind off the road, slightly increasing your chances of an accident. But this is bound to happen in any situation while driving, and your mind loses focus of the road for such short bursts of time (think maybe 10ms max) that it should usually not be a cause for concern.


RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By mindless1 on 9/15/2009 3:58:53 AM , Rating: 1
Actually I'm a safer driver while eating because I am extra attentive to the driving and leave extra space between me and the vehicle in front, and go a little slower so curves don't knock scoot the food off my lap.

Result? Haven't been in an accident nor even a near-accident while eating, none at all in over a dozen years and even then I wasn't eating at the time. I don't ever look at the food while the car is moving however, that's what red lights are for.

Depends on the food though, I'm mainly talking about burgers as I wouldn't get something messy if eating in the car.


RE: How about outlawing McDonalds?
By 3minence on 9/15/2009 12:19:22 PM , Rating: 2
You guys remind me of those individuals who claim they can drink a beer without it effecting their driving. Ever see those drunk driving test documentaries on TV? They test them driving with no alcohol, then test them again after drinking increasing amounts of alcohol. The majority of them find they are not nearly as good as they thought they were.

Eating requires you to take one or even both hands off the wheel. It also requires you to divide your attention. That puts it in the same category as fiddling with your radio or talking on your cell phone.


By mindless1 on 9/15/2009 10:15:03 PM , Rating: 2
Considering I always have one hand off the wheel, that makes no difference.

The fact is, some people can walk and chew gum at the same time but others can't. Same with driving and eating. Texting is different though in that you have to take your eyes away from the road.

Nobody ever claimed they were never degraded in driving skill after drinking ever increasing amounts of alcohol, did they? One thing has nothing to do with the other, drink enough alcohol and some people who could otherwise walk and chew gum screw that up too.

My attention is divided at red lights. The rest of the time I can assure you that the mere act of moving an arm towards my mouth is something I had mastered several decades ago and the proof is in the result, that I have had NO accidents in many years.

As for fiddling with the radio, I have on occasion pressed a button on it while driving. Almost everyone has so let's stop being silly and accept that some things are far more likely than others to distract enough, long enough, to pose a far larger risk than others.

For example right now the typical mature driver, the ones who get in LESS accidents, have less perception of time in fine increments, have worse reaction time too compared to young drivers, and yet they get in far fewer accidents. What does it mean? That a fraction of a second distraction is not the problem, it's staying within your own personal capabilities which means some people can do more things at once, safely, than others.

Problem is, nobody can keep one eye on the road, one eye on a text message, and focus on both simultaneously. Even if they could, then depth perception is gone.

I will say one thing about my driving that many don't seem to understand, that I don't drive like a bat out of hell trying to go from one stop light to the next as fast as the car can possibly go. I keep up with traffic, no more and no less so I can understand people who can't imagine doing more than focusing like a race car driver when they're always driving like one.


Great idea, but....
By HighWing on 9/14/2009 4:08:34 PM , Rating: 1
Sure this sounds great, lets make it illegal to txt and drive, hell lets make it illegal to talk on a cell phone and drive. That sounds safe and makes us look good, yes, lets do it!!

Except here's the problem with that. Who is going to enforce it, how often "will" it be enforced, and will the punishment really be enough to deter people from doing it again? Fact is even in states that already have laws like this, you can still find tons of people doing it. And I would bet money that many of them have never been fined or pulled over for it.

And even if the fine was something like $500 or points on your license etc, that would then open a new door. The courts would get flooded with people challenging it. Since with out photo proof, it boils down to a he said she said case. Which despite an officers word holding up in court, you can't tell me that there is not a lawyer who could find a way to still challenge that.

Bottom line, I think this sounds like a great idea. But with the way things currently are, I just don't see it being very practical, and more or less a joke. The only thing I see this doing is adding more weight to charges in an accident case, but by then it's already too late as the law didn't do it's job in preventing the accident.




RE: Great idea, but....
By Spuke on 9/14/2009 4:51:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Sure this sounds great, lets make it illegal to txt and drive, hell lets make it illegal to talk on a cell phone and drive.
It's already illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving if you're under 18 in CA. It's also illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving without a hands free device.


RE: Great idea, but....
By MattDamon on 9/15/2009 3:17:44 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
It's already illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving if you're under 18 in CA.


Interesting..in South Africa its illegal to talk on a cell while driving period, no matter what age, and here you can only drive when your 18. I personally think that should be the world wide standard, but thats just my opinion...you dont know responsibilty at the age of 16, but like i say, thats just my opinion.


RE: Great idea, but....
By HighWing on 9/17/2009 1:54:09 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
It's already illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving


hey I can read... can you? because if you read my second paragraph I said.

quote:
Fact is even in states that already have laws like this


so what's your point by mentioning one state? Did you know that there are "other" states besides CA that have laws like this too? Nope bet you didn't, but you would have known I did if you even read the rest of my post!!


RE: Great idea, but....
By mindless1 on 9/15/2009 4:05:58 AM , Rating: 2
Umm, phone records? Court requests record, timestamp matches time on citation, you're caught.

Note plenty of people pay speeding tickets without there being the equivalent of picture proof either. Sure you can find a lawyer that challenges it but guess what? Paying a lawyer isn't free either and you still have to have your schedule interrupted to appear in court.

Further, if they leave loopholes they didn't intend to that lawyers can argue through, don't you think that's the next thing they address, closing the loopholes?

Yes punishments are a deterrent. Not a perfect one but suppose we only cut in half the number of accidents from texting while driving, that's still a nice achievement. Laws don't force people to do anything, they simply assign risk of consequences to undesirable behavior.


RE: Great idea, but....
By HighWing on 9/17/2009 1:49:52 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
but suppose we only cut in half the number of accidents from texting while driving, that's still a nice achievement.


Sure that would be great IF that happens. You missed the whole point of my post!

Using your own example, there are laws against speeding and fines that go with it. Yet as you mentioned, plenty of people pay speeding tickets, ie plenty of people "are" still speeding. Wow, those laws have really stopped people from speeding and cut down and speed related accidents!!

My point was that while making it illegal to txt and/or talk while driving sounds great, in the grand scheme of things it really won't do or change anything unless there is a plan to really enforce it. ie if this law is not enforced, then how will it deter people from doing it if they know they won't get caught?

As someone else who didn't finish reading my post mentioned, it IS illegal in CA. Yet when I was out there I still saw many people doing it. Even the friends I was with continued to do it, and even told me that it was illegal before they did.

So seriously shut up and show me something that says this really will make a difference. I have just given examples that say this won't make a difference. and don't think of just saying "if it stops just one that's worth it" tell that to the families of all the "other" ones it didn't stop. Thinking like that is very narrow minded, while worry about saving one life when better planning could save more?


Let them!
By The0ne on 9/14/09, Rating: 0
RE: Let them!
By jimbojimbo on 9/14/2009 2:48:44 PM , Rating: 3
This is only a good idea if I'm allowed to shoot those drivers dead before they plow into my tiny little 2 door coupe.


RE: Let them!
By StraightCashHomey on 9/14/2009 4:59:10 PM , Rating: 2
I'll make sure to look out for those vehicles, since they're labeled with decals and flashing strobe lights.

Maybe when someone is about to t-bone my car from running a stop sign, I can activate my go-go gadget wheels and they'll simply go under me.

What an incredible concept... just look out for these drivers!


RE: Let them!
By The0ne on 9/15/2009 6:49:56 PM , Rating: 2
Dude, don't get anal. Most of them can be spotted well before you tail-gate them. Some text drivers are so bad the vehicles are in/out lanes like they're drunk.

If you're not paying attention while driving then I wouldn't want to complain. I hope I'm not the only one that still remembers the 3 second rule of checking your mirrors constantly for road conditions/hazards. Or to put it simply for morons on the loose in their vehicles.

Nothing is going to make you safe, not you, not the car, not Jesus and certainly not his daddy. The best you can do is avoid them as soon as you suspect their high on texting or movies.


RE: Let them!
By chick0n on 9/15/2009 11:52:45 AM , Rating: 1
the problem is that these jackass might drag other innocent people with them.

I saw a lot of dumb bitches texting while driving. I was like wtf bitch, you can't drive for shit even when you're not texting. sometimes I will pull my windows down and yell at them. some talk back, some just left. Exactly. Bitch.


Every Chance They Get
By clovell on 9/14/2009 11:13:44 AM , Rating: 4
Okay, let's get this out of the way - texting & driving is dumb and I'm all for making it illegal.

However. I don't think the federal government should be handling it. The states should do this themselves. This is yet another instance of the feds taking something that's so 'no duh!' and using it to wrestle more power from the states.




RE: Every Chance They Get
By AEvangel on 9/14/2009 2:47:38 PM , Rating: 1
I agree, this is a state issue has nothing to do with the Federal Government....this reason alone would give me a reason to not buy a Ford product ever again.


RE: Every Chance They Get
By asjflask on 9/15/2009 9:11:06 AM , Rating: 1
I would've never bought a Ford to begin with -- they're very unreliable and break down more than a Dodge. I'd rather go with a reliable Honda or Toyota than a F.O.R.D. (Found On Road Dead).


Easily spotted
By overlandpark4me on 9/14/2009 6:53:12 PM , Rating: 2
I can tell when people are either on their phone or texting because they are either going 45 MPH in a 70, or drifting out of their lanes on a straight stretch of road. I love getting next to them, crowd them back and lay on the horn. It's fun to see them jerk their wheel, and I can only hope someone lands in a ditch. Serves them right.




RE: Easily spotted
By mindless1 on 9/15/2009 4:08:42 AM , Rating: 2
Then I want you in prison, there are already enough a$$hats on the road inciting road rage.

You are part of the problem and don't deserve to drive if you can't let things slide instead of trying to teach lessons while behind the wheel.


RE: Easily spotted
By SSDMaster on 9/17/2009 9:01:22 AM , Rating: 2
Let's be serious, you live in your mom's basement and get more fun from saying stuff on the internet your ego feel big than anything else. Let alone going outside in the sunlight and driving.


Agreed
By MattDamon on 9/14/2009 10:26:05 AM , Rating: 1
I agree, they should ban it, but world wide. Oh, and...who the fuck is Ken Block? lol, im from SA man, never heard of him, but im guessin he's a nascar driver (knowin u ppl)...cough cough just playin :P




RE: Agreed
By jRaskell on 9/14/2009 10:36:32 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
but im guessin he's a nascar driver


LOL. Too funny. Try google, your guess is a bit off.


RE: Agreed
By Spuke on 9/14/2009 4:49:12 PM , Rating: 2
Ken Block is a rally car driver with serious car control skills.


Boooooringgggg
By CupCak3 on 9/14/2009 8:06:37 AM , Rating: 2
Zzzzz Zzzzzz Zzzzz




RE: Boooooringgggg
By invidious on 9/14/2009 9:56:47 AM , Rating: 2
+1


By BigToque on 9/15/2009 3:41:12 AM , Rating: 2
How do you prove someone was texting while driving?

Cop pulls you over: I saw you texting while driving.
You: You're wrong. I wasn't texting.
Cop: Your phone was open.
You: And?
Cop: You were texting.
You: Prove it.




By asjflask on 9/15/2009 9:07:16 AM , Rating: 2
You forgot to add:

Cop: "Okay." *gets phone records from wireless company*

*record shows text message sent at such-and-such date and time*

Cop: "Yep, you were texting just 20 seconds ago. Sign here please." "This is your copy. Have a nice day."


Finally
By mikeyD95125 on 9/15/2009 1:09:28 AM , Rating: 2
Texting is amazing distracting while doing anything! Talking, walking, driving all get impaired. I'd rather have people talking and holding a phone than texting.




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