kantspel said:Oh, believe me I feel like a complete dork for being on the phone when
it happened, it's something I rarly do, and it'll happen a hell of a lot
less now. In this case I'm not sure it would have made much of a
difference though. I'd already looked in that direction and I don't
think it was the phone that kept me from checking a few dozen meteres
down the sidewalk, the ol noggin was in autopilot anyways and only
checked for expected dangers.not that I'm expecting sympathy (why post here), just a relevnt
cautionary tale.
Cell phones are getting to be a nuisance in more ways than one. I keep
mine in a pocket when I am riding and my wife always calls to 'check up
on me' as if I would be answering if something bad did happen. The
reality is that she more often than not causes me to get into a near
accident or blow a good downhill speed run because I have to stop and
dismount in order to answer the phone. I can't turn it off in case of a
business call but it is a nuisance I didn't have to deal with before
everyone and their cat had one. Even when I go to the mall (rarely)
there are about 25 to 50 per cent of people talking needlessly on a cell
phone. Keeping in touch with friends and family is OK but cell phones
have just about taken it over the top. Picture phones are going to make
it even worse, and my wife and daughter just got some, while I hang onto
my 6 year old antique that does what I want, meaning phone calls, not
text or games or pictures. At least my wife and daughter are not going
to be sending over the air but will download into their computers and
send over the Internet. There is still some common sense left in my
family, and both will let the phone ring while driving unless stuck at a
light, then it is a quick "I will call you back when I am not driving.".
Common sense can be used even with cell phones and if a caller gets
offended at being cut off while you are driving, too bad, let them learn
the rules.
Bill Baka