Discussions

I can not believe how many people i pass in a day who are texting and driving! Come on people!  
One lady was stopped at a green light south of Brandon on hwy10 this morning texting!!! Stopped at a GREEN on the HIGHWAY!!!  
 
It really is out of control. No respect for others on the road. Not to mention incredible dangerous to everyone else who travels on these streets and highways.  
 
From now on every time i see someone in town doing this i am going to lean hard on my horn and not let off while i follow them around for 5 blocks! I am sick of it. I have kids with me in my vehicle and i don't need these irresponsible drivers causing accidents!  
 
Do they not think it's obvious when they are staring down at their crotches with dumb smirks on their faces? Really people!

It only happens to other people!!!  
I drive in from the North every day and I cant count on both hands how many people are texting or emailing in the short drive I have. The penalty is very harsh, but apparently not harsh enough as it is still a big problem.  

behaviour would be corrected if their vehicle was seized? Now that would hurt!!

Juliaetal said "I can not believe how many people i pass in a day who are texting and driving! Come on people!   One lady was stopped at a green light south of Brandon on hwy10 this morning texting!!! Stopped at a GREEN on the HIGHWAY!!!     It really is out of control. No respect for others on the road. Not to mention incredible dangerous to everyone else who travels on these streets and highways.     From now on every time i see someone in town doing this i am going to lean hard on my horn and not let off while i follow them around for 5 blocks! I am sick of it. I have kids with me in my vehicle and i don't need these irresponsible drivers causing accidents!     Do they not think it's obvious when they are staring down at their crotches with dumb smirks on their faces? Really people! "

Your solution for bringing attention to distracted drivers is to cause them to be distracted while driving by following them around for 5 blocks while honking your horn at them?  
 
I agree it's a problem and I know you are just venting but until the police start actually pulling drivers over and ticketing them it isn't going to change. The same goes for the wide array of other driving violations that happen all day every day in Brandon.

Juliaetal said "I can not believe how many people i pass in a day who are texting and driving! Come on people!   One lady was stopped at a green light south of Brandon on hwy10 this morning texting!!! Stopped at a GREEN on the HIGHWAY!!!     It really is out of control. No respect for others on the road. Not to mention incredible dangerous to everyone else who travels on these streets and highways.     From now on every time i see someone in town doing this i am going to lean hard on my horn and not let off while i follow them around for 5 blocks! I am sick of it. I have kids with me in my vehicle and i don't need these irresponsible drivers causing accidents!     Do they not think it's obvious when they are staring down at their crotches with dumb smirks on their faces? Really people! "

Following them around for 5 blocks while leaning on the horn is an incredibly irresponsible lesson for your children in the vehicle. Are you kidding?  
 
Be a role model for your children. Let the cops handle things. They can't be everywhere.  
 
What are you going to do? Give them your own personal ticket or just flip them the bird after you follow them? You mentioned lack of respect in your post?  
 
Texting and driving is very irresponsible and against the law. But your road rage and the role modelling for your kids ranks up there as well as a very bad decision, in my opinion.  
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Tarry, 2015-09-02 16:01:40

I had almost seen an accident earlier today and it was a professional dressed woman on her cell phone texting and not watching the street lights...the problem is not getting any better.  
 
Young or old, these people need to keep their eyes on the road and not on a screen texting or updating their latest status on facebook!!  
 
School starts up next week...please put your phones down if you are driving...please and thank you.

Wow of course im not going to honk all over town! Lol  
Yes i was just venting my frustrations!  

This always makes me laugh but there is potential for disaster  
 

Juliaetal said "Wow of course im not going to honk all over town! Lol   Yes i was just venting my frustrations!   "

Nice backtracking. Vent or not, you said it with no JK's or note of sarcasm.  
 
Hope you get the picture now.

I would like to see some stats from BPS as to how many tickets have been written for distracted driving in the past 6 months in Brandon.  
We have been hearing so much in the news the last few days about the school speed zones and how they are going to be watching so carefully in those areas which is fantastic but how about some enforcement of distracted driving?  
It seems like myself and many others on here see so many EVERYDAY texting while driving it's insane. Get creative too, unmarked vehicles, maybe trucks or vans so you can see the ones that hold the phones on their knees while they drive.....

Go pick on someone else. This post is about texting and driving not you trying to make a fool out of me.

Instead of impounding their cars impound there phones for a month.

With the money you would generate you can easily hire a by law officer to write tickets for cell phones or running red lights for that matter .

Every single day we see people using their phones while driving.  
In my opinion, they should be treated like drunk drivers and penalized equally. The potential for harm is just as great.  
Until it is made clear that this is simply unacceptable (like driving drunk), they're just not going to stop.  
Maybe an organization is needed similar to MADD to take up the cause??

I can't believe how many people STILL don't wear their seatbelts, STILL drive after having too many drinks, STILL speed when the speed limits are posted everywhere, STILL run red lights, don't use their turn signals, cut off others when they change lanes, turn into the far lane instead of the closest lane when turning a corner... etc, etc, etc. Just because texting and driving is the flavor of the week what about the rest of the horrible driving habits and law breaking that goes on. Complaining here does nothing to change it. Yes you're just ranting, but all it does is make you look a bit ridiculous and changes nothing about any ones driving. You can't control anyone else but you, so make sure you are a defensive driver and are aware of how and where you can go for the sides of the street, the ditch, what have you, in order to keep yourself safe in case someone who is distracted behind the wheel comes at you.

There is good news, most text when driving types are expert drivers.... Just ask them!  
 
Besides  
If you are using your cell phone to text, you don't have an extra hand available to use turn signals anyway. I'm no expert, but I think it also affects shoulder checks and staying in your own lane.

I'd like to see people using dash cams to record some of these incidents. But there's likely some law or bylaw preventing them. If not, Does anyone know of a good deal on them?

KG said "It wasn't that long ago that if you got caught with a radar detector that the cops would confiscate it and drive over it. I haven't heard anyone for years owning a radar detector. (Might be my age Lol)! Would be perfect. Drive over their damn phones! That would put them out a fine plus years left on a contract. I drive more than the average person with my job and I would bet there's still 1 in 4 that still texts while driving. And that's low balling ! "

Although I somewhat agree to this, phones are so readily accessible that it wouldn't do any good. You can buy prepaid phones and unlocked phones from box stores, gas stations, and sev for an example

Quoted the wrong quote

Just yesterday while I was driving my little Vespa to work, I pulled up behind this lady in the turning lane turning left onto Victoria from 18th. The turn signal was flashing and i heard a lady in the vehicle next to her yelling "go!!" Multiple times. I was confused at first, then I saw that she had her phone two inches from her face and couldn't see that the light had turned green, she made it through the amber while preventing the line behind her from making it through. I then proceeded to follow this lady on my commute for 13 more blocks and EVERY red light I saw her dig for her phone and pull it out to do who knows what that couldn't wait until she made it to her destination. To top it off she had children in the vehicle with her! I felt like tapping on her back window just to let her know that people could see what she was doing, and if we could see, so could the police.

on roughly the 1000th Texting and Driving post.  
 
Lets all ask again, Do you drink coffee in your car? Change the radio while driving? Eat while driving? Maybe reach into the other seat?  
 
All distracted driving, seize your cars, licenses, kids, dogs, and house.  
 
Bottom line you can't change what other people are going to do, quit bitching about it and move on with your lives. It going to happen whether u like it or not.

talking about it will change anything. As others have mentioned, people think they are ok with it. I mean who hasn't put on lipstick, ate a burger, looked for a cd or a good station on the radio. How is this different? (some think) I remember back when seat belts became mandatory and my dad resisted wearing them or enforcing it when we were in the car. Until they imposed a fine for not wearing them and he was pulled over. That was what made him finally decide to comply.

Juliaetal said "Of course we can change it. Talking about it and bringing awareness to this situation does help.     Maybe one person reading this who texts and drives will not pick up their phone on their next commute...maybe...just maybe this message will help one person not text behind the wheel?     ...and     Why are you mad at people for bitching about it when you just did the same? "

It's all about bringing awareness to the issue. Having people talk about the issue will increase awareness to others. With enough awareness there could be action to change (maybe the police will enforce the issue more, stricter penalties, check stops for phone use, etc.). If you don't want people bitching about whatever get off of Ebrandon. Among the ranting on a variety of endless topics, you will find some really good comments and opinions.  
If you don't like people ranting (don't read the discussion or don't complain)!  
For those of us that enjoy freedom of speech in our country, continue to post: chances are your opinion will connect with someone!

Juliaetal said " Of course we can change it. Talking about it and bringing awareness to this situation does help.     Maybe one person reading this who texts and drives will not pick up their phone on their next commute...maybe...just maybe this message will help one person not text behind the wheel?     ...and     Why are you mad at people for bitching about it when you just did the same? "

This is posted every week plain and simple. I'll bet you a post on here regarding this hasnt helped. Also which of the above in my post do you do? Do u drink coffee in the car? I bet you have changed the radio station. Why shouldnt we be outraged at you? Its still distracted driving by definition. Jaxon nailed it in his post right after yours, what changes it is getting caught. Not a million posts on ebrandon about this, just getting caught.

BrandonBoy8880 said "    Juliaetal said "Of course we can change it. Talking about it and bringing awareness to this situation does help.     Maybe one person reading this who texts and drives will not pick up their phone on their next commute...maybe...just maybe this message will help one person not text behind the wheel?     ...and     Why are you mad at people for bitching about it when you just did the same? " It's all about bringing awareness to the issue. Having people talk about the issue will increase awareness to others. With enough awareness there could be action to change (maybe the police will enforce the issue more, stricter penalties, check stops for phone use, etc.). If you don't want people bitching about whatever get off of Ebrandon. Among the ranting on a variety of endless topics, you will find some really good comments and opinions.   If you don't like people ranting (don't read the discussion or don't complain)!   For those of us that enjoy freedom of speech in our country, continue to post: chances are your opinion will connect with someone! "

Thanks for the advice bud, thanks for telling me what I should and should not read, what I should and should not comment on and finally what I have the right to complain about. Appreciate your solid comments and opinions, sorry they differ from mine and that mine are wrong. I'll stop now.

beedeearr said "    BrandonBoy8880 said "    Juliaetal said "Of course we can change it. Talking about it and bringing awareness to this situation does help.     Maybe one person reading this who texts and drives will not pick up their phone on their next commute...maybe...just maybe this message will help one person not text behind the wheel?     ...and     Why are you mad at people for bitching about it when you just did the same? " It's all about bringing awareness to the issue. Having people talk about the issue will increase awareness to others. With enough awareness there could be action to change (maybe the police will enforce the issue more, stricter penalties, check stops for phone use, etc.). If you don't want people bitching about whatever get off of Ebrandon. Among the ranting on a variety of endless topics, you will find some really good comments and opinions.   If you don't like people ranting (don't read the discussion or don't complain)!   For those of us that enjoy freedom of speech in our country, continue to post: chances are your opinion will connect with someone! " Thanks for the advice bud, thanks for telling me what I should and should not read, what I should and should not comment on and finally what I have the right to complain about. Appreciate your solid comments and opinions, sorry they differ from mine and that mine are wrong. I'll stop now. "

Glad my advice could assist you. Different opinions matter and therefore get expressed on public discussion pages such as this one. No one said your comments are wrong, but i'm just reading unnecessary complaining that doesn't relate to the "texting and driving" discussion. You're complaining about the complaints on Ebrandon, just seems like you're the worst complainer of all by complaining about complaints! Just my opinion, but i'm sure it's different then yours! This discussion is to bring awareness about "texting and driving" not for beedeearr to scrutinize our discussions!  
 
Edited by BrandonBoy8880, 2015-09-03 14:56:06

Johnbisonbear said "behaviour would be corrected if their vehicle was seized? Now that would hurt!! "

From what I understand, in Ontario the fine is now $1000.00 for a first time offence for driving and phone use. I think that would cause a bit of halt in the phone usage here if we had it.  
 
(This post has been strictly reviewed by the writer, and it conforms with the ebrandon terms of service. Its states facts relevant to the topic at hand, mentions no names and does not slander other individuals. Questions, comments, queries, concerns or editing suggestions should be made to the writer. Have a good day)