[CR]Cell phones and safety for cyclists

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 21:07:37 +0900
From: "Dennis Young" <mail@woodworkingboy.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <CATFOODpIOLVhxa4k2200000ab1@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]Cell phones and safety for cyclists

Hopefully, safety issues are not off topic? Here goes:

Japan initiated a car driver hand held celular phone law a number of years ago. There are no teeth to the law, unless a phone can be cited as the direct cause of a accident, in which case there is some penalty. So, since many (probably most) don't adhere to the country wide rule, and that applies to jumbo dump truck drivers I see punching in email with their phones in front of their faces as they are tooting along, there is going to be a fine initiated for people caught using them while the vehicle is in motion. As a long time everyday bike commuter, I can attest to cell phones being a major hazard to cyclists. People swing their turns wider when they have a phone in their hand, and the semi glazed look in their eyes tells of only partial concentration on the road. I understand the convenience and temptation to use them whenever and wherever (own one too), but it defies logic to me that anyone with average or above reasoning abilities can not find the lack of common sense in talking on the telephone while driving. After a "incident", I have stomped into the local police box and suggested to the constabulary that they turn off the TV and put down their instant ramen and get their butts out on the street to enforce the law not being followed by every forth or fifth driver that passes. The ignorance here infuriates me. In this country you must pay $2000 to go through a somewhat rigid driving school course to obtain a license. Unfortunately, along with when to use your winker,they don't teach common sense. What does a mid sized automobile weigh, a ton, maybe more? People have forgotten what it is like to be on a bike and have a two thousand pound hunk of steel come hurtleing by them in close proximity at a good rate of speed. If I'm on my bike, I want the car drivers to be "all there" with both hands on the wheel and paying attention. Ask anyone if they would be willing to stand so close to a artillery shell passing by, even if they were certain it would not strike them. People have become corrupted in their cozy and fast cars, and cell phones have taken it to a new level. If this wasn't Dale's nicely furnished home, I would be tempted to say what I really think of such %*^#!> idiots.

Sigh....

Dennis Young Hotaka, Japan

.
> Are the police even investigating for the presence and use of a cell phone?
> The officers on the street cite the problem,and their superiors? tell them
> they are mistaken.Has that changed?Cell phones,radios,and ashtrays.Have
> probably killed more folk than all the wars and diseases combined.Harris
> Spracher,WaynesboroVa.
>
> ADP <aphillips9@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Today one of my customers came in with his Bottecchia.... in two pieces.
>
> He was in one piece, but with a lot of staples in his skin and he has to
> wait for the staples to come out before they will do an MRI.
>
> Apparently some foolish person made a left hand turn in front of him at
> Stone Mountain Park, our little Dollywood managed refuge away from Atlanta
> craziness. We all ride there, its got bike lanes and some nice climbs.
>
> 2 witnesses said they saw her hit the brakes before she decided to turn in
> front of him. She said she didn't see him at all, which was kinda hard in
> his radioactive, asparagus pee green Pearl Izumi jersey and bright red
> helmet.
>
> He went through the windshield and bent the roof of her car up, pretty much
> totaling it. We get going to about 28 mph on this downhill and I suspect
> he was doing about that. Sadly he doesn't remember very much, having come
> to in the ambulance.
>
> Anyway, my rant is against the drivers who don't look, the lack of driver's
> skill and knowledge here in GA and the abuse my customer just took because
> someone couldn't wait just a second to make sure oncoming traffic was
> clear. Even if it was a bicycle.
>
> My fear is for my son, my boyfriend, my friends, my customers and
> myself. We ride there a lot.
>
> I wouldn't be so angry, but this is the third person I've known personally
> who has gotten hit by a clueless driver since October - on a vintage
> bike. The first one got hit when the driver made a left turn in front of
> him. The second, when someone ran a stop sign. Later that gentleman
> claimed "that stop sign was on the wrong side, so of course I didn't see
> it." In that case, the judge took the man's license away because it was
> clear he was not competent to drive. Thing is, I don't know every cyclist
> in Atlanta, so knowing these 3 people personally??? How many DON'T I know
> that are getting hit?
>
> Sigh....
>
> Ann Phillips, Decatur GA