Texters (textors?) only please...do you text while driving?

[HeidiKC]

This poll is just for those of you that do text. I know those of you that don't text at all wouldn't do it while you were driving since you never do it!

 

I was thinking about this today and it's kind of got me worried about having my kids ride with other parents anymore. From what I seem to hear (from friends, news, etc.) almost everyone texts (those that do text) sometimes while they are driving. This scares the heck out of me. Why isn't it illegal across the country? It seems so dangerous to me; even more so than driving after having had a few drinks. I don't mean to offend any of you, but I just can't see how parents can do this. I used to think it was mostly young people (under 30 anyway) without kids who did this, but I think I'm wrong.

 

So I thought a poll here might help see if I'm correct. And hopefully prove me wrong! I realize there are some people who never text (so of course you wouldn't do it while you're driving). But this poll is aimed at those of you who do text.

 

ETA: I'm curious, if you do text while driving, do you consider it safe? No big deal? A bad habit? Terrible, but you need to send a text sometimes?

 

Thanks!

Edited February 22, 2012 by HeidiKC

[Sandy in Indy]

It's illegal here to text and drive. (And I wouldn't do it anyway....too dangerous.)

[EllaMinnowPea]

I can't vote in the poll but I thought I'd chime in anyway.

 

I do not read or write texts while driving. I've almost been hit one too many times by drivers who can't keep away from their messages.

[Amy1k]

I think it's illegal most places.

 

Random comment: I often plug my phone into my radio to listen to audio books. I was at a stop sign and picked up my phone to pause my book. The person in the passenger seat of the car next to me got out of the car and screamed at me for using my phone while driving. What I was doing was no different than adjusting my radio on the car. :lol: At a stop light!

[LucyStoner]

No way no how. Not safe.

[Tutor]

I dictate texts and have them read to me while driving. If my kids don't understand an abbreviation or something, they may show it to me when we stop at a light, but this doesn't happen very often.

[melissel]

I will send DH the occasional short text while at a stop light or stuck in traffic (like, sitting still for minutes at a time). While moving, no.

[chepyl]

I always pit my phone under my leg. It is just a habit, but it saved me a lot of stress in my wreck. It was easily reachable when I was in shock and scared to move. If it vibrates and I stop at a light, I will glance at it. If I get stuck at a train....I might actually respond.

 

Nothing is so imoprtant that I need to text and drive. I do have a talk to text function....but it is unreliable so I dont use it.

[KungFuPanda]

I put other because I have Siri :D I just tell the phone who to text and what to say and it magically happens. Siri will also read texts to me. She's the best!

[Dolphin]

I always pit my phone under my leg. It is just a habit, but it saved me a lot of stress in my wreck. It was easily reachable when I was in shock and scared to move. If it vibrates and I stop at a light, I will glance at it. If I get stuck at a train....I might actually respond.

 

Nothing is so imoprtant that I need to text and drive.

 

I have mine where I can reach it and it won't fly around the car in case of an accident too.

[milovany]

I voted "Other" because I don't type texts while driving (I used to), but I will read ones that come in. I believe I do it safely. To me, it's no different than glancing at the radio to change the station. I glance, look back at the road, when I verify that it's still clear I glance, then look right back at the road, etc. If I feel the need to reply, I pull over to do so or wait until I get to my destination. That includes saying "K" to say Okay.

Edited February 22, 2012 by milovaný

[melissel]

I put other because I have Siri :D I just tell the phone who to text and what to say and it magically happens. Siri will also read texts to me. She's the best!

 

Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? :lol::lol::lol:

[MrsBasil]

Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? :lol::lol::lol:

 

:lol:

 

Have you seen the commerical where the kid asks Sirie to call him a rock god? I always think of Raj when I see that!

 

To answer the question, No, I never text or look at texts in the car, but I almost never answer my phone period while in the car. I only make calls at red lights and only then to return a call to my DH who will be understanding that I hang up on him when the light turns green.

[Alenee]

I answered yes to texting but the yes was for reading texts. I don't actually type them out while driving though. I agree with Milovany...if I'm reading one, it's no different than adjusting something like the radio, or talking to the passenger in the seat next to me, or passing a snack back to the kids. I know it may not be popular.

[Guest submarines]

I answered yes to texting but the yes was for reading texts. I don't actually type them out while driving though. I agree with Milovany...if I'm reading one, it's no different than adjusting something like the radio, or talking to the passenger in the seat next to me, or passing a snack back to the kids. I know it may not be popular.

 

Very different. This reasoning is scary.

[twoxcell]

I do not use my phone while driving. Texting or calling.;) It is illegal in Oregon anyways.

[missmoe]

I usually look at my texts while driving if I think it might be about the kid I'm driving to pick up. So if I hear the little ding that a text has arrived, I'll look at it at the next stop light. Occasionally, I need to reply so I try to do that if I have a long light or I will pull over to answer the text.

[Hen]

I don't text while driving- it's illegal here and dangerous. But, I sometimes will have the kids answer for me while I am driving, and sometimes they have to show it to me, but I won't look until I am stopped at a red light.

[knit247]

I responded, "I rarely text or read texts/e-mail while driving (car is moving)" because in all honesty I have done that in the past. Rarely, but I still did it. Where we live now it is completely illegal to use a cell while driving at all - and we don't text here, as it is cost-prohibitive. I can say, however, that when we move back to the US I will never, ever text again while driving. And if I use my phone at all, it will be hands-free. It is way to dangerous.

[TheReader]

If I am alone, and receive a text, it is likely from my DH. I will glance at the text at the next stop light to see if it is urgent and if so, will text back "driving" and then send him a real reply once I am stopped/have reached my destination.

 

If I am with my kids and receive a text, I hand the phone to my oldest and have him read the text to me, text back a reply, etc.

 

If I had someone else's kids with me in the car, I would not even glance at the phone but would simply verbally tell my oldest to grab it. I keep the phone in the center cup holder when driving just for that reason, so that the front seat passenger can access the phone without me having to fish in my purse or pocket or something. If I am alone I might keep it in my purse for the opposite reason, so that it is inaccessible for me and I can't look at it. In my experience, most texts can wait until I reach my destination.

[bzymom]

Never. I keep my phone in my pocketbook in the car.

 

I figure if I lived all those years with little ones and life going on as it does now without being accessible 24/7, the world will keep spinning if nobody can reach me as I drive.

 

A friend's d/d was killed by someone texting. I don't understand it.

[AdventureMoms]

When I drive I usually have three little kids whose needs I need to attend to, plus actual driving. I most certainly do not need another distraction. I often send off a text while sitting in the driveway right before I leave or something (usually to tell the person I am visiting that I'm on my way), and if I need to text someone I may find somewhere to pull over (ie, I'm lost). I do keep my phone in my pocket or otherwise within reach while driving.

[Heather in Neverland]

It is illegal here to use your cellphone AT ALL while driving, even when stopped at a red light and even if it wasn't I cannot imagine doing something so obviously dangerous.

[MissKNG]

NO!

[regentrude]

No, I do not text while driving. I also pull over if the phone rings, unless I am in a car with blue tooth.

Nothing could possibly that important.

[Annie G]

Last night's Glee episode ended with a main character getting into an accident because she was texting (and hurrying).

 

I don't text while I drive but I do remember before GPS unit were available and I used Mapquest- oh man, how I got through years of downtown Chicago traffic without having an accident is a miracle. In hindsight, that was SO dangerous.

[Mommyfaithe]

Dd is my reader and transcribed. If she isn't with me....whoever it is can wait until I am parked somewhere.

[edithcrawley]

I don't normally text back besides the occasional "ok" (because I don't have a QWERTY keypad and it takes forever), but I will glance at the rare message that I get. I do talk on the phone when I drive, I put the phone on speaker and have it in my lap so I have both hands free. They recently passed a law that makes it illegal to text while driving here, but cops around here don't pull over for it unless it is really obvious and causing issues with your driving because you could just be dialing a phone number which is still legal.

[Lady Marmalade]

I will only read a text if I'm at a red light, and it turned red as I was coming up to it, to ensure I have enough time to read it and put the phone down before needing to accelerate again. Or if I get stopped by a train. I never, ever text back while driving.

 

Most often I just wait to check the text until we get where we are going. I'm pretty sure texting while driving is illegal here, and yet I see people doing it all the time. Scary.

[KnitWit]

No, I don't.

 

Last fall, my husband had an accident cutting down a tree and was in ICU for a week. I returned home from the hospital LATE every single night and my dd and I were VERY alarmed at how many drivers we were on the road with that we could SEE holding little lit screens up in front of their faces while driving.

 

I do understand your concern, OP, about letting your kids ride with other adults. One of my kids caught a ride with an adult driver and came home telling me how he nearly ran off the road TWICE due to texting.

 

It's a problem.

[Starr]

It is illegal here too.

[Parrothead]

I've glanced at the phone to see who text/email is from, but I don't text or email while driving. Not even at a stop light. Dd is most often with me and I try to set a good example for her.

 

Dh on the other hand will text and drive. It makes me bonkers.

[angela in ohio]

I think it's illegal most places.

 

Random comment: I often plug my phone into my radio to listen to audio books. I was at a stop sign and picked up my phone to pause my book. The person in the passenger seat of the car next to me got out of the car and screamed at me for using my phone while driving. What I was doing was no different than adjusting my radio on the car. :lol: At a stop light!

 

I use the GPS on my phone. I know people are giving me dirty looks when I look at it, thinking I am texting, but it's no different than using a regular GPS. I type in the address before I start, and it has the voice, but I still need to look at it at times if I am on my own (not often.) My phone is usually in use when we are driving, but it's one of the dc looking things up, texting for me, etc. I like to concentrate when I am driving (I'm a bit of an aggressive driver at times. :blush:)

 

I often see people *reading* while driving, either a book or a stack of papers (could be directions, but I've never had to read those continuously, you usually just glance at them from time to time.) I also see dogs and children bopping around in the front seat near the driver. Those all need to go, too, while we're at it.

 

Of course, I don't think there should be laws about seat belts, cell phones, etc. I think we should use more effective means to discourage stupidity: financial disincentives from insurance companies and medical providers.

Edited February 22, 2012 by angela in ohio

[KnitWit]

The other day, we passed a guy typing on his LAPTOP!!! No wonder he was 20mph below the speed limit and weaving in his lane.

[melissel]

I use the GPS on my phone. I know people are giving me dirty looks when I look at it, thinking I am texting, but it's no different than using a regular GPS. I type in the address before I start, and it has the voice, but I still need to look at it at times if I am on my own (not often.) My phone is usually in use when we are driving, but it's one of the dc looking things up, texting for me, etc. I like to concentrate when I am driving (I'm a bit of an aggressive driver at times. :blush:)

 

I often see people *reading* while driving, either a book or a stack of papers (could be directions, but I've never had to read those continuously, you usually just glance at them from time to time.) I also see dogs and children bopping around in the front seat near the driver. Those all need to go, too, while we're at it.

 

:iagree: I'm not sure how glancing at your phone is different from changing the radio station or reaching in your purse or getting something from the glove box or putting in a CD or handing something to your kids. I agree that staring at your phone and trying to type while driving is a huge problem, but the other things are pretty much equivalent, IMO.

 

 

Of course, I don't think there should be laws about seat belts, cell phones, etc. I think we should use more effective means to discourage stupidity: financial disincentives from insurance companies and medical providers.

 

I can't agree with you here though. There are already financial disincentives for any kind of careless/reckless driving through insurance, but you have to get caught doing them (via ticket or accident) first. If the only disincentive happens after an accident, the damage is already done, and probably to innocent parties. Personally, I'd rather the police actually pulled people over for the stupid stuff I see people doing in cars (including the dogs in drivers' arms or loose in the car, the kids obviously without seatbelts or car seats, the drivers with their hands full of food or makeup, etc.). Careless driving is a moving violation, and then both the judicial and insurance disincentives can take effect :D

[Unicorn.]

I answered yes to texting but the yes was for reading texts. I don't actually type them out while driving though. I agree with Milovany...if I'm reading one, it's no different than adjusting something like the radio, or talking to the passenger in the seat next to me, or passing a snack back to the kids. I know it may not be popular.

 

It's very different. All of those things you mentioned can be done w/out ever taking your eyes off the road. Reading a text DOES take your eyes/attention off the road.

[melissel]

It's very different. All of those things you mentioned can be done w/out ever taking your eyes off the road. Reading a text DOES take your eyes/attention off the road.

 

I don't agree, and I don't think most people fiddle with their radio station or locate and insert CDs or locate and hand things back to their kids using their sixth senses. They may think they don't take their eyes off the road for even a split second, but I don't think that's true.

[mommymilkies]

I dictate texts and have them read to me while driving. If my kids don't understand an abbreviation or something, they may show it to me when we stop at a light, but this doesn't happen very often.

 

:iagree: Rarely I text at a light if there are no other cars. Usually if I'm out of town and lost. :lol:

[Daisy]

People are seriously addicted.

 

I can't imagine not being able to just put the thing down and drive. My cell phone is in my purse and I don't even think about it while I'm driving.

[QuirkyKapers]

Sometimes I will text if I am at a stop light. Only if it is is a quick yes no ok type thing. I don't text if the car is moving, unless I am a passenger. Usually, if I get a text from someone, I will just call them back and have them on speaker.

[Plucky]

I do read texts at stop lights. I have my kids read me texts or text for me when I drive.

[Georgiana Daniels]

LOL, this is like a true confessions thread.

 

I don't, because I want to be safe, plus I want to be a good example to the kids.

 

HOWEVER, there is ONE stoplight in town where I will shoot off a text or read one. Is it safe? Yes, because it's a TWO MINUTE light. TWO. MINUTES. What else am I going to do for TWO. FULL. MINUTES. I calculated--I spend about SIX minutes a day at that light--that's FORTY-TWO minutes a week.

 

Really, the thing ought to be re-calibrated, you know, if they don't want people to text there.....

[Georgiana Daniels]

You know what else scares me that I see a lot on the road? Women putting on make-up....while the vehicle is moving. Yikes!

[melissel]

HOWEVER, there is ONE stoplight in town where I will shoot off a text or read one. Is it safe? Yes, because it's a TWO MINUTE light. TWO. MINUTES. What else am I going to do for TWO. FULL. MINUTES. I calculated--I spend about SIX minutes a day at that light--that's FORTY-TWO minutes a week.

 

Really, the thing ought to be re-calibrated, you know, if they don't want people to text there.....

 

:lol:

[Guest submarines]

Question for those who text at red lights: Don't you worry that a driver behind you, who is likely also texting (because hey, he's approaching a red light), will rear end you? This happened to *4* of my friends!

 

About a year ago, when I was at the red light (and checking my rear view mirror, as I was supposed to ;)) I saw that the car behind me, though not going awfully fast, wasn't braking. I was able to move forward while blaring my horn, and they did manage to stop without re-ending me, but we were literally bumper to bumper.

[TheReader]

LOL, this is like a true confessions thread.

 

I don't, because I want to be safe, plus I want to be a good example to the kids.

 

HOWEVER, there is ONE stoplight in town where I will shoot off a text or read one. Is it safe? Yes, because it's a TWO MINUTE light. TWO. MINUTES. What else am I going to do for TWO. FULL. MINUTES. I calculated--I spend about SIX minutes a day at that light--that's FORTY-TWO minutes a week.

 

Really, the thing ought to be re-calibrated, you know, if they don't want people to text there.....

 

This is a really good point, long lights.

 

I should point out that here, red lights (and green lights) have a countdown timer visible. So you really, truly know exactly how many seconds left (be that 20 or 75) before the light changes. And then if you are far enough back in line, you are likely to sit through more than one cycle.

 

At a light where I wasn't sure the length of time I'd have, I don't think I'd even read a text. It drives me batty when my DH does this (texts and drives), so I'm pretty diligent about not doing so myself.

[WistfulRidge]

It's illegal here, I think.

I wouldn't do it even if it wasn't. DH and I have both known people who have been seriously injured or killed in accidents caused by texting while driving. If DH even thought I was texting and driving he'd probably take the kids and run... (and I'm only about 30% joking when I say that!)

We don't even talk on our cells while driving.

[Guest submarines]

No, I don't.

 

Last fall, my husband had an accident cutting down a tree and was in ICU for a week. I returned home from the hospital LATE every single night and my dd and I were VERY alarmed at how many drivers we were on the road with that we could SEE holding little lit screens up in front of their faces while driving.

 

I do understand your concern, OP, about letting your kids ride with other adults. One of my kids caught a ride with an adult driver and came home telling me how he nearly ran off the road TWICE due to texting.

 

It's a problem.

 

Could it have been that they had dash-mounted GPS units? (I want to believe this, but this thread doesn't help.)

 

I didn't realise that texting addiction was so wide-spread. I thought it was mainly teen-agers who texted while driving. I didn't think I'd see a single answer here, on a message board full of mothers. :eek:

 

Texting (Even if just reading), even at a red light, can lead to an accident. What on earth is so important that you need to check your text messages while driving? More important than causing an injury to yourself and / or your children? :confused:

 

This said, I do check my GPS while driving. Some might say that this is similar to checking my texts. The difference is that if I don't check my GPS I might end up lost, or in the wrong lane and this kind of uncertain driving can also lead to an accident. In addition, I'm focused on the road when I glance at my unit. Checking my dash-mounted GPS unit makes my driving safer. Checking text messages, on the other hand? :confused:

[Amy1k]

I don't see how reading at a red light can cause an accident.

[Michelle O. in MO]

I hand my daughter the phone and dictate to her what I want to text.