Call to ban smoking while driving

[broma25 2]

[\quote]Surprisingly enough - not too many British people are enamoured with the CCTV culture that has sprung up not just in major cities, but in small towns too - especially when it is being used to arbitrarily ticket people for minor things.

I think thats one for a thread of its own!

Edited May 14, 2007 by broma25

[aicha 0]

Plus, when does an experienced smoker ever drop a lit cigarette in the car? I smoked for 4 years, and never dropped a lit smoke on myself while driving.

I also see way too many people texting while driving. Dont you wish you could just reach out and slap someone? :sigh: If only my arms were longer.

I've never dropped a lit cigarette in the car either. I suppose there's a first time for everything, but people eat and drink while driving; what if you dropped a hot coffee on your lap, or a bottle of water? Most people would be distracted by that. What if a kid projectile-vomited and got it on the inside of the windshield? Why, you'd be unable to see! What about when you've got two kids in the back and they're playing the whole "MOM HE'S LOOKING AT ME/MOM SHE'S GOT HER FOOT ON MY SIDE" game? When you turn around to roar at them or slap them, you're not 100% focused on driving.

I don't want to slap the texters, but I do make a silent wish for a cop to pull them over and bust their azzes.

You took the words right out of my mouth - I would be distacted by so many other things as well - please, a bee flying in my window would distact me much farther than a lit cigarette. I have handled most other distractions, but not the buzzing bee - I am alergic But really - I think this world is becoming ban happy and suit happy, so many things all across the board!

[homesick_american 1]

Her insurance paid out -but we're still paying for it in the form of a 5 year finance loan on the new car. With depreciation, the car that was written off (which my wife bought new in 2000) was only worth $7000 - enough to cover the rest of the original lease and a down payment on a new (used) car. Currently working on another 5-year loan (about $300 a month). Had the old car not been trashed we would have been all paid off.

That sucks.

[homesick_american 1]

Surprisingly enough - not too many British people are enamoured with the CCTV culture that has sprung up not just in major cities, but in small towns too - especially when it is being used to arbitrarily ticket people for minor things.

I think thats one for a thread of its own!

Haha, no joke. Now they've got talking ones...Big Brother is not only watching, but talking to you too!

They had a show about it last week on BBC1...it was really rather scary.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Her insurance paid out -but we're still paying for it in the form of a 5 year finance loan on the new car. With depreciation, the car that was written off (which my wife bought new in 2000) was only worth $7000 - enough to cover the rest of the original lease and a down payment on a new (used) car. Currently working on another 5-year loan (about $300 a month). Had the old car not been trashed we would have been all paid off.

That sucks.

Paris Hilton walked away physicially and financially unscathed of course

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Surprisingly enough - not too many British people are enamoured with the CCTV culture that has sprung up not just in major cities, but in small towns too - especially when it is being used to arbitrarily ticket people for minor things.

I think thats one for a thread of its own!

Haha, no joke. Now they've got talking ones...Big Brother is not only watching, but talking to you too!

They had a show about it last week on BBC1...it was really rather scary.

Speed cameras have reduced speeding in some areas, though the implementation was a fiasco - and drew a lot of publicity and criticism. I'm in two minds about the speed camera stuff - though its clearly cash cow for the police and local council. They've denied it - but its hard to believe when you see cops cruising around in new BMW 5-series squad cars...

By comparison the CCTV in cities is something that has crept up on people. I read a statistic somewhere that we have the highest density of CCTV cameras in the world.

None of this is new of course - every time you use your bank card someone knows where you are and what you bought. Marketing companies know your shopping habits, what you like to watch on TV. Medical records are on file, and someone can find out who you phone on a regular basis as well as what sites you look at on the internet.

The problem is not with the technologies themselves but in laws the laws that try to consolidate the information and give away access to anyone who claims to have a valid need.

Edited May 14, 2007 by erekose

[homesick_american 1]

Speed cameras have reduced speeding in some areas, though the implementation was a fiasco - and drew a lot of publicity and criticism. I'm in two minds about the speed camera stuff - though its clearly cash cow for the police and local council. They've denied it - but its hard to believe when you see cops cruising around in new BMW 5-series squad cars...

Speed cameras don't bother me really, though I don't think they cut down on aggressive driving as evidenced by a trip down any motorway in the UK. The M25 is especially bad!

By comparison the CCTV in cities is something that has crept up on people. I read a statistic somewhere that we have the highest density of CCTV cameras in the world.

The UK does, yes...1% of the world's population, 20% of its cameras. The only country whose citizens are more spied on than the British is China.

None of this is new of course - every time you use your bank card someone knows where you are and what you bought. Marketing companies know your shopping habits, what you like to watch on TV. Medical records are on file, and someone can find out who you phone on a regular basis as well as what sites you look at on the internet.

Yep, and that is true in the USA too.

[Peikko 1,575]

Ban smoking while driving? As in an offense? No, it should go down as one of those common sense things like all the other things people seem to want to do while driving. Keep banning things and mabye people will lose sight of common sense? Or maybe it just will not make a difference. Clearly, none of these 'measures' is going to make much difference to the accident statistics. There are more cars on the roads than the roads can safely handle and that's not going to change until fuel prices everyone off the road!

Now, smoking while riding a bicycle...

[mawilson 2,133]

Oh boy. First they ban drinking while driving, now smoking? What's next on the chopping block?

No sex while driving?

[broma25 2]

Surprisingly enough - not too many British people are enamoured with the CCTV culture that has sprung up not just in major cities, but in small towns too - especially when it is being used to arbitrarily ticket people for minor things.

I think thats one for a thread of its own!

Haha, no joke. Now they've got talking ones...Big Brother is not only watching, but talking to you too!

They had a show about it last week on BBC1...it was really rather scary.

Hah.. So now we know where all the council workers are...they are sitting in yellow boxes talking to people, no wonder you can't get them by phone...lol

Edited May 14, 2007 by broma25

[Kez/JWolf 6]

OMG..... next they will be banning me from driving at 65mph and fiddling with my GPS system that has just lost satilite reception.... I mean come on you have to be able to get it going again or you will be lost.....

Kez

[Sinergy 3]

Ban smoking while driving? As in an offense? No, it should go down as one of those common sense things like all the other things people seem to want to do while driving. Keep banning things and mabye people will lose sight of common sense? Or maybe it just will not make a difference. Clearly, none of these 'measures' is going to make much difference to the accident statistics. There are more cars on the roads than the roads can safely handle and that's not going to change until fuel prices everyone off the road!

Now, smoking while riding a bicycle...

I have never heard of an accident being caused bc someone was driving along and puffing on a ciggie. i have however heard of cells being an issue, reading, spanking your kids, and so on.

not smoking while driving is common sence??? HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that was good!! LMAO

[natty bumppo 297]

Plus, when does an experienced smoker ever drop a lit cigarette in the car? I smoked for 4 years, and never dropped a lit smoke on myself while driving.

15 years ago an experienced smoker in the car behind me dropped his cigarette ... and ... the result was my brand new car (<150 miles on the odometer) went onto the frame machine at a body shop. His excuse was ... oops. Ticket and fine followed.

Imagine if I hadn't been there and he had hit a pedestrian.

Let them smoke ... but if they cause an accident ... eff'em ... and make it hurt!!

[Sinergy 3]

Plus, when does an experienced smoker ever drop a lit cigarette in the car? I smoked for 4 years, and never dropped a lit smoke on myself while driving.

15 years ago an experienced smoker in the car behind me dropped his cigarette ... and ... the result was my brand new car (<150 miles on the odometer) went onto the frame machine at a body shop. His excuse was ... oops. Ticket and fine followed.

Imagine if I hadn't been there and he had hit a pedestrian.

Let them smoke ... but if they cause an accident ... eff'em ... and make it hurt!!

its not about SMOKING, its about carelessness. same with the morons who talk on cells and read and eat while driving, its not that they are doing it, its just that ITS THE ONLY THING THEY FOCUS ON!

[natty bumppo 297]

Plus, when does an experienced smoker ever drop a lit cigarette in the car? I smoked for 4 years, and never dropped a lit smoke on myself while driving.

15 years ago an experienced smoker in the car behind me dropped his cigarette ... and ... the result was my brand new car (<150 miles on the odometer) went onto the frame machine at a body shop. His excuse was ... oops. Ticket and fine followed.

Imagine if I hadn't been there and he had hit a pedestrian.

Let them smoke ... but if they cause an accident ... eff'em ... and make it hurt!!

its not about SMOKING, its about carelessness. same with the morons who talk on cells and read and eat while driving, its not that they are doing it, its just that ITS THE ONLY THING THEY FOCUS ON!

carelessness and/or the desire to get his butt off the car floor after he dropped it ... this guy had serious focus and priority issues and really should have been nailed for reckless driving. it's been said some people simply can't walk and chew gum at the same time. The nimrod that hit me probably had a difficult time coordinating his breathing and heart beats ... let alone driving and smoking. I just hope he learned before he kills some ...