Eye-Q
Forum Addict
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 6,449
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- Hamburg, Autobahnland
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- Mazda MX-5 NB ringmeet fashion accessory
If that was true the economy couldn't grow. The thing is that everybody who works contributes to the economy, but if you have a car accident you're more likely to get incapable of work if you don't wear a seatbelt. Of course the probability is not 100% but it is significantly higher than if you do wear a seatbelt, I think there is enough evidence to support that.The "cost to society" argument is bs. By virtue of being alive, you are a cost to society.
If it was your very own responsibility many people wouldn't wear a seatbelt so the number of injured and killed people would explode because of the growing traffic. There are certain laws which shouldn't be necessary because common sense usually dictates it but it seems common sense isn't fashionabe anymore thus these laws are necessary.
The things you listed (and other things which aren't forbidden) require less concentration than fumbling for the cell phone, finding the button to answer the call, putting it on hands-free etc. since they are usually at the same place the whole time of the journey. Additionally you don't need to hold the headunit in your hand to change stations etc.This is not necessarily true. Whenever I get a phone call that I must answer while driving, I move over to the right-most lane and slow down. Also, by your logic, we should outlaw listening to music, changing heater/AC settings, using GPS, checking the speedometer, etc. I'll agree with you on the texting bit, as it requires the driver to take their eyes off the road for a somewhat extended period of time. Merely holding and talking on a phone, is not a big distraction.
Yes, programming the GPS requires reaching out for it, pressing a touchscreen etc., but you shouldn't do that while driving, too (common sense yadda yadda).
There are things which require less concentration and there are things which require more concentration. Holding a cellphone in your hand while driving clearly belongs in the latter category, at least for the majority of people, I'm coming back to my former statement of common sense etc..
Btw. I have a headunit which is capable of two bluetooth connections at the same time, it automatically answers calls and puts them on hands-free and I need to press just one button to activate voice dialling. That way answering calls isn't more distracting than having a conversation with a passenger, that's why it is legal.
Well, you are in a public place where rules and regulations apply. Those rules and regulations include a certain speed limit (except when you are on unrestricted bits of Autobahn in Germany ) so the state/government should be allowed to monitor the compliance of the road users to the speed limit, or shouldn't they? That's exactly what is happening there, merely from a larger distance.If I am neither aware that I am being watched, nor do I have reason to suspect that I am being watched, then I would expect a certain amount of privacy. It's the same as illegally obtained audio/video recordings are not admissible in court.
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Damn it! But great minds think alike...
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