The abundance of people that text and drive

[Anonymous]

This is mind boggling. My child just reached PK, so I have only recently been driving daily during commuting times. I am shocked and horrified at the sheer volume of people that I pass who have their head down buried in their phone while driving on the highway. They're almost always driving somewhat slowly in the middle or right lane, noticeably having trouble staying between the lines as their car drifts this way or that.

What do you do? I want to honk the horn as I get beside them, but that seems terribly dangerous. There's nowhere to report these people, and even if there were how do you prove it? Phone carriers need to do something about this. Legislation needs to be put in place to address this. What is wrong with all of these people?

[Anonymous]

Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

^Me, again.

Sorry, 95% is extreme, but my best WAG is about 65% of the population texts and drives...from what I observe on the roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

It's not new, but it is really bad, and it won't stop until there's a successful campaign to treat people who text/phone while driving like drunk drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

I wasn't commuting on the highway until school started.

So, I'm supposed to just accept it? Is this not terrifying for anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

I wasn't commuting on the highway until school started.

So, I'm supposed to just accept it? Is this not terrifying for anyone else?

At any given time, you can look over to your left and see the person looking at their phone. It's reality. Scary, yes. But, I'm so used to it at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

It's not new, but it is really bad, and it won't stop until there's a successful campaign to treat people who text/phone while driving like drunk drivers.

Yes! What can an average citizen do to spearhead this?

[Anonymous]

It bothers the hell out of me, OP. My husband and I are both very careful about it, even having the non-driver read aloud and respond to emails/texts that can't wait, but we seem to be in the minority. We commute in together most days and comment constantly on all the people texting and reading on their phones while actively driving. We even saw a woman face-timing once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

It's not new, but it is really bad, and it won't stop until there's a successful campaign to treat people who text/phone while driving like drunk drivers.

Yes! What can an average citizen do to spearhead this?

+1 I see so many people texting and driving (I'm a big walker). What should I do? Take a picture of them and their license plate? How would I send it to the police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where ya been?

It's the norm. 95% of the population texts and drives. This isn't new, OP.

It's not new, but it is really bad, and it won't stop until there's a successful campaign to treat people who text/phone while driving like drunk drivers.

Yes! What can an average citizen do to spearhead this?

+1 I see so many people texting and driving (I'm a big walker). What should I do? Take a picture of them and their license plate? How would I send it to the police?

You can text DC police at 50411, just not sure if they'll follow up on it.
https://mpdc.dc.gov/service/text-police-50411

Please try, though.

[Anonymous]

It’s terrifying, against the law, and much more dangerous than driving drunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrifying, against the law, and much more dangerous than driving drunk.

Agreed, but what can be done about it? I'm at a loss.

[Anonymous]

No big deal with crash avoidance technology. Should be encouraged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrifying, against the law, and much more dangerous than driving drunk.

Agreed, but what can be done about it? I'm at a loss.

Well, manufactures can stop putting Wifi in the cars (minus the ones needed for monitoring performance). That would be a small step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s terrifying, against the law, and much more dangerous than driving drunk.

Agreed, but what can be done about it? I'm at a loss.

You can tell your elected representatives that you expect them to pass laws about it and to fund enforcement of those laws.