Texting While Driving - 4Runner Saved My Life

[jmoskow]

The updated Twitter app lets you create polls which are active for 24 hours and keeps all participants anonymous. Yesterday I asked my followers if they text/tweet while driving. 80 people responded and while the results are not surprising, they are pretty scary.

It was almost exactly 50/50. Thought I would share my findings with you all. I'd also like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

This issue is especially important to me because back in May I was run off the road by a texting driver coming towards me head on over the double yellow. I swerved to the right, off the road, barely avoided two trees, and flipped my 2001 4Runner. I did a full writeup of the accident (lots of photos) in the 3rd Gen forum, which I will link here.

4Runner Saved My Life - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

Let me know if you have any texting/distracted driving stories. I would love to hear them This is an ongoing issue that seems will only get worse before it gets better.

 

[T4RNightHawk]

I don't text and drive but I'll change the music which takes my eyes away for like 2 secs bc I scoll w/o looking. I will also text at red lights because Siri is too stupid to understand me.

I do however agree with you that it's a big problem. I've almost been hit in intersections by people turning too tight that are on there phones alot of times. Of course that also because more than 90% of the population of Atlanta are horrible drivers. Car manufacturers really need to do something about instead of putting features like lane departure in cars that encourage people to distracted drive because they have an apparent safety net.

 

[Drunner97]

When I still had my motorcycle, I used to scare the shit out of people staring at their phones in traffic. A quick blip of the throttle (aftermarket exhaust) when I was right next to their heads was enough to make most people jump. I'll also honk if the person in front of me is staring at their phone the minute a light turns green.

In my opinion, there's absolutely no reason to be using your phone while you're driving. Even changing songs is as dangerous as texting and should be avoided while moving. My phone is bluetooth connected to my stereo. If someone calls, I can answer it. If someone texts, I ignore it until I get to home/work. I can control my songs through my head unit or I simply put on an album that I want to listen to for the hour I'm stuck in traffic.

 

[Gdmeadors]

I agree texting and driving is dangerous and can be as bad as driving under the influence.

Drunner97, you are a brave guy. These days honking your horn or "blipping" your bike's throttle could start a bout of road rage!

I was getting gas recently and a motorcyclist pulled up and blipped his throttle. It was extremely painful to my ears and I told the guy I did not appreciate what he did and that it hurt my ears. He was nice and said he was sorry!

 

[UnderFire]

It can wait.

 

[DChurch7]

Not related to texting and driving, but some number of months ago, I watched a YouTube video that the OP had posted talking about an OME lift that he was going to be installing on his T4R, but I never saw the after video and simply forgot about it. Fast foward to today, when I am just watching random 4Runner videos and I stumble across the after video! And now I see this post on here, small world I guess!

 

[Knight-Errant]

I never text and drive. It is extremely dangerous. Too many people are being killed by drivers who aren't paying attention.

Studies have shown that drivers who text and drive have the same reaction time as drunk drivers.

 

[jmoskow]

Not related to texting and driving, but some number of months ago, I watched a YouTube video that the OP had posted talking about an OME lift that he was going to be installing on his T4R, but I never saw the after video and simply forgot about it. Fast foward to today, when I am just watching random 4Runner videos and I stumble across the after video! And now I see this post on here, small world I guess!

Gotta love the 4Runner community! Hope you found the videos helpful. For anyone curious, here are links to the videos mentioned above...

BEFORE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoHzvCJaqfM

AFTER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2wri9Sg5yI

 

[Ralph Blake]

Can't remember the times people have drifted into my lane,and come at me crossing the center line on highway.
Or been slowing down then speeding up in front of me,with people behind me almost running over me.
And what are all these smart people doing? Their all TEXTING.

Myself if i even get a call when driving,i pull over soon and park then return the call.
Messing with phones have become a BIG and dangerous problem,not just for the phone messing's people but everyone.:lookout:

 

[rooost]

I dont...and I admit I am not good at it!

I find the parallel between DWI and any phone use just amazing, DWI was once practically legal or a minor "ticket" now we know the dangers...we knew the dangers then too...just like phone use, everyone knows its dangerous but until the technology and public opinion catch up it is legal or only slightly illegal

As long as a majority of people participate in unsafe behavior there is resistance to making it illegal...drunk driving, smoking, phones etc...

Until then ....I will honk and scare as many people as possible !

..not to mention the insufficiency created on our streets and highways, one or two violators can slow an entire highway and every traffic signal (green phase) I would say is about 60% as efficient as it could be

 

[Drunner97]

I agree texting and driving is dangerous and can be as bad as driving under the influence.

Drunner97, you are a brave guy. These days honking your horn or "blipping" your bike's throttle could start a bout of road rage!

I was getting gas recently and a motorcyclist pulled up and blipped his throttle. It was extremely painful to my ears and I told the guy I did not appreciate what he did and that it hurt my ears. He was nice and said he was sorry!

99% of the time when I was doing it on the bike, I was splitting lanes through traffic (California ftw) Someone wants to get all road ragey with me on a bike, I'll be gone before they can get my license plate number. Note that I don't ride anymore because of an accident, but when I do get another bike I won't hesitate to do it again. I hate inattentive drivers with a passion because of my years commuting on a bike.

There are two major reasons for just about daily motorcycle accidents in Southern California. 1) people are too busy staring at their phones 2) people are in a goddamn hurry. Slow down and put the phone away, it's not worth killing someone.

edit: In my opinion, the only way to stop phone use while driving is to make it a 500+ ticket and points on license like a moving violation. At this point the laws are too lenient and they don't do enough to discourage it.

 

[jmoskow]

edit: In my opinion, the only way to stop phone use while driving is to make it a 500+ ticket and points on license like a moving violation. At this point the laws are too lenient and they don't do enough to discourage it.

Since June 2013, cellphone violation in New York carries five points on drivers license plus a fine.

Still doesn't deter most people though.

 

[WI_4Runner]

99% of the time when I was doing it on the bike, I was splitting lanes through traffic (California ftw) Someone wants to get all road ragey with me on a bike, I'll be gone before they can get my license plate number. Note that I don't ride anymore because of an accident, but when I do get another bike I won't hesitate to do it again. I hate inattentive drivers with a passion because of my years commuting on a bike.

There are two major reasons for just about daily motorcycle accidents in Southern California. 1) people are too busy staring at their phones 2) people are in a goddamn hurry. Slow down and put the phone away, it's not worth killing someone.

edit: In my opinion, the only way to stop phone use while driving is to make it a 500+ ticket and points on license like a moving violation. At this point the laws are too lenient and they don't do enough to discourage it.

How about not white line driving in and out of traffic and EXPECTING everyone to know your coming through? Drive in a lane like the rest of us.

Not saying you are deserving of it, but you are playing a dangerous game if you believe, and operate, under the idea that everyone on the road is in a full 100% attentive state.

I know it's not right that we have to live in fear of crappy drivers, but it is such the norm these days that you should be adapting as such!

 

[ThorInc]

I live on a peninsula and there are tons of spiders in the warm months. One morning last summer when driving around a turn I saw a spider drop from above and in front of the steering wheel and land somewhere between my legs and I was in shorts. So what I thought would be a second or two to kill it might have been four seconds while steering and transferring weight to the wheel while focused on the little bugger. I got it but almost ripped off my driver's side mirror on the tail of an oncoming truck. Never again......the next bugger that does that can help keep my jewels warm. Texting while driving is just a bad deal.

 

[Drunner97]

How about not white line driving in and out of traffic and EXPECTING everyone to know your coming through? Drive in a lane like the rest of us.

Not saying you are deserving of it, but you are playing a dangerous game if you believe, and operate, under the idea that everyone on the road is in a full 100% attentive state.

I know it's not right that we have to live in fear of crappy drivers, but it is such the norm these days that you should be adapting as such!

Splitting lanes is legal(ish) in California when done safely which I did the majority of the time. I never expected anyone to see me and that doesn't excuse them from driving like *******s because they're too busy staring at a phone. I have the same problems driving my Tacoma and my 4runner and I still honk at them all the same (since I no longer have a throttle to blip)

 

[Drunner97]

Since June 2013, cellphone violation in New York carries five points on drivers license plus a fine.

Still doesn't deter most people though.

I don't think the fines are stiff enough. The first time you get slapped with a 500 dollar fine for it will deter most people for awhile, especially if it's doubled on a second offense within a year. The same as a 400 dollar speeding ticket slows them down for awhile. In California the first offense is only like 150 dollars and no points. It's ridiculous.

 

[T4RNightHawk]

In my opinion, there's absolutely no reason to be using your phone while you're driving. Even changing songs is as dangerous as texting and should be avoided while moving. My phone is bluetooth connected to my stereo. If someone calls, I can answer it. If someone texts, I ignore it until I get to home/work. I can control my songs through my head unit or I simply put on an album that I want to listen to for the hour I'm stuck in traffic.

Actually now that I think about it I rarely change the music manually gotta love steering wheel controls. Generally I'm to scared to look at my phone :lookout:.

 

[thecalm_7]

I drove to Ocala FL yesterday from Spring Hill. I had to dodge 3 in my lane for crossing over, 2 of which I saw using bright colored smart phones. The other was doing something else distracting.

I never had an accident until I moved to FL (800k miles driven on my own vehicles prior to moving+ more on company vehicles). Since moving, I've had more near misses, 3 hits while parked, and 1 T-Bone. I swear by my dash cams.
I work too hard for my money to have slack ass drivers fubar my cars.

 

[NinjaOne]

I drove to Ocala FL yesterday from Spring Hill. I had to dodge 3 in my lane for crossing over, 2 of which I saw using bright colored smart phones. The other was doing something else distracting.

I never had an accident until I moved to FL (800k miles driven on my own vehicles prior to moving+ more on company vehicles). Since moving, I've had more near misses, 3 hits while parked, and 1 T-Bone. I swear by my dash cams.
I work too hard for my money to have slack ass drivers fubar my cars.

Which dash cam are you using? Video quality? Recommend that model?

 

[thecalm_7]

Which dash cam are you using? Video quality? Recommend that model?

I mainly use 2 Go Pro Hero4 Session. 1 on the dash, 1 further back on a head rest bar. pending where I am. 720p is definitely good enough for court reference. 285$ a piece when i bought them. I recommend.