Stupidity hurts.. bad

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Caught from an other messageboard.
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_103093236.html

Don't know what to believe of all this, but I thought I might share it with you.

 

You have to love how they played up the cell phone. If you read to the end you will find that the woman drove around the lowered gates at the railway crossing. I think I would have to say that would be at least somewhat more to blame than the cell phone.

 

Exactly.
The cell phone, a la.
Crossing the railway when the gates are lowered, stupid.
Both at the time... asking for trouble.

 

Darwin award nominee.

I live in the Chicago area and this was all over the news. The cell phone issue is hitting big because Chicago is trying to make a law against non-hands free cell phone use while driving ($500 fine). The woman was a teacher on her way to work.

I've been around people driving while talking on their cell phones -- it's like driving with a blinder on one side, the phone is right up to their head covering a significant portion of their peripheral vision. Now combine reduced vision with impatience at the wheel and we have a deadly combination.

Edit: Oh, yes ... another tidbit: she was talking to her husband. How would you like to be the one on the other end of the phone knowing your conversation just contributed to a loved ones death....

 

Like they say: **** happens. This kind of accidents aren't that common and this one was turned into a political weapon. IMO, why can't they simply integrate those hands-free cables to every cell-phone (-package)? Saves trouble and doesn't even cost anything.

 

Happens all the time

 

Now thats what I call stupid.
And phone companies are gonna be beaten up in the media for this nuts death

 

Why? Yes, the phone companies promoting cell phones, but I honestly can't say that I've seen them suggesting you should use them irresponsibly.

 

Maybe not where you're from. They happen quite a bit around the cities I live near. It's almost as bad as drunken driving.

In fact, my father's car was rear-ended at a traffic stop by an inattentive, mobile-phone using driver.

The legislature in Wisconsin is trying this, too. I'm all for it.

 

Even if they did, stuff like this would still happen because using those things are a preference and not everyone would use them. Case in point, I myswlf have a cellphone with that cable attachment and don't use it.
'Course I don't answer my phone while driving either, but that's besides the point

 

Hands-free or not has nothing to do with it. It's a cognitive issue - humans are simply bad at trying to do two things that take up the same working memory resources at the same time. There are dozens of studies out about cell phones and driving (one of my profs is a major researcher in this area) and they all show that just being heavily engaged in conversation while driving is the problem. It's the same phenomenon as why groups of teenagers in cars have such high numbers of wrecks - too much talking and not enough paying attention to surroundings.

 

Here's some Artificial Stupidity brought to us from the boys at MIT.

http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=78365

 

Mobile phones are always used in the most annoying times eg in the library, in the cinema (grrrr!), on the bus, in restaurants and now while driving accross rail-lines...

 

Since the beginning of 2001, there is a law here in Germany, stating that drivers have to use a hands-free cable, as long as the motor of the automobile is running. This law includes all kinds of drivers, so even people on bicylcles have to use them, if they want to use their phone.) If this is not done, the person can be sued.

However, the talking on the phone alone distracts the driver too much already.