On Sunday, the idiot behind me at a red light bumped into me because she was paying attention to her phone instead of keeping her foot on the brake. Thankfully, it did no damage but pay attention, people!

Anonymous wrote:I live in the land of red-light runners (not in DC). I purposely sit for a few seconds if I'm the first one at the light. Honk all you want. I've seen way too many crashes at intersections to move immediately.

This is a good reason. You have a good reason for a pause. It's the jerks on their phones that are ruining it for you.

In countries like Australia, they have introduced cameras which can see into cars at traffic lights. If a motorist is photographed using a phone, they face a steep fine. My poor niece was fined the equivalent of $800. You can argue their fines are disproportionate but they are pretty effective. I didn't dare touch my phone while driving when I was there.

I admit, I check my phone. You can honk, I do not mind. Do you what you need to do to get my attention. I will wave and say thank you. Life goes on...

I live in the land of red-light runners (not in DC). I purposely sit for a few seconds if I'm the first one at the light. Honk all you want. I've seen way too many crashes at intersections to move immediately.

Anonymous wrote:That's the hill you want to die on?

NP - this is not as harmless a habit as you think.
As drivers continue to be unpredictable (which is very dangerous) and other drivers do not know if they are distracted on their phones or something else, drivers will start to assume more and more that they are distracted on their phones.

Then, a driver is (stupidly! senselessly!) pausing at a turn on red light or a green light, angry drivers in the back that are so sick of stupid cellphone drivers (stupidly! senselessly!) swerve around, and hit a kid in a crosswalk. It's just not a good recipe all around.

1. People need to get TF off their phones. If the temptation is too much, put it in the back seat or the trunk.
2. People need to start gaining back trust that other drivers are not on their phones and have good reasons for their pauses and not just being phone-looking-aszholes.

Agree, OP. And people need to be less shy about honking. You get a quick “1 Missisdippi” before I beep you. It’s so rude to waste time and cause traffic by using your phone at a red light.

I needed to hear this today. Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's the hill you want to die on?

This. Not a lot going on in your life?

It's one of those life annoyances. The way it plays out is that the cell phone offender will make it through the light (no penalty for them!) and we're left in the four or five cars that have to wait another light cycle.

I tell you this so you understand why some people (not me!) will lay on the horn the instant the light turns green.

Agree! And it’s against the law in VA. The level of addiction to cellphones is terrifying.

Bfd

Anonymous wrote:That's the hill you want to die on?

This. Not a lot going on in your life?

That's the hill you want to die on?

So annoying when you're four cars back and only the first three can get through because #1 was face in phone.

My Goodness!!! Every.single.time I am behind someone at a stop light, I have to toot toot to make them go on Green! It's ridiculous. Oftentimes, if I'm a few cars back, the entire line of drivers are just sitting there at the green light on their phones. Stop It!!!