Did Cell Phone cause Cheerleader deaths?

by grimgraphix Jul 14, 2007 4:53AM PDT

Just saw a news vid about Bailey Goodman who, with 4 of her friends, did in a head on collision near East Bloomfield, NY last month. Cops have released details that the driver, Miss Goodman. had been alternating voice and text messages up to the point of the accident. Records indicate that the last text message her phone received was less than 60 seconds before the first 911 call was made by her friends in a car following the Goodman vehicle (reported on a yahoo news video I can't link to).

My sympathies to the families of all the girls killed.

This just raises in my mind once again... how safe is cell phone usage while driving a car? In this case, did the distraction of a cell phone combine with an inexperienced 17 year old driver to cause a tragic accident?

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707140322

Discussion is locked

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When I learned to drive in Washington DC, Grim,

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jul 14, 2007 12:44PM PDT

there was a traffic misdemeanor for "failure to devote full time and attention." It was used for any distraction (changing the radio dial, arguing, disciplining the kids, eating, putting on makeup) when a cop noticed a car driven erratically due to such activities. Unfortunately, most localities don't have such a law (e.g. Texas doesn't), as it would certainly cover cell phone usage that distracts. Some people can probably drive and talk at the same time, but many can't -- this law essentially prohibets the adverse outcome (erratic driving), not the specific activity causing it.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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They are too much of a distraction

by Dragon Jul 15, 2007 11:00AM PDT

to me! I'll never drive and talk at the same time. I think any distraction beyond normal conversation or listening to the radio is too much. I think there is a certain level of immersion in a cell phone conversation that is not comparable to others.

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any driver who uses his cell phone

by jonah jones Jul 15, 2007 11:53AM PDT

even "hands free" should be taken of the road for 5 years

.,

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Video link here.

by grimgraphix Jul 15, 2007 12:52PM PDT

here is a vide about the accident and showing a timeline of when the calls occurred and the 911 call which came just 38 seconds later.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/07/14/acosta.text.driving.cnn

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Five girls killed in cell phone related accident.

by johnted Jul 18, 2007 1:54AM PDT

A little over two years ago, my son was killed when a driver distracted by his cell phone lost control of his vehicle. My son was twenty years old at the time of his death. He was not in a vehicle.

I have since looked into the details of "cell phone related accidents" and have published a website containing a lot of information in an effort to help reduce the number of deaths. Approximately 2,500 Americans are killed per year in cell phone related accidents.

There is absolutely nothing for sale, nor any contribution sought at the following site:

www.deathbycellphone.com

thanks,

Johnted

Did Cell Phone cause Cheerleader deaths?

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