It's Been One Of Those Days.... Rant And Yea I Am A Bit ****ed.

Guy, the cell phone issue is one of my pet peeves as well. The fact is, that it takes a certain number of deaths to replace a stop sign with a red light. It will most likely take hundreds of thousands of deaths to change the laws concerning distracted driving. It's not usually a matter of if, but when. I just wish that when the day comes, those distracted drivers would drive over a cliff alone, instead of taking someone else with them.

The real epidemic is the lack of common sense in this world ...

Jay B.

Yeah, I hear ya. I heard a comedian once suggest we initiate the death penalty for parking violations to combat stupidity ... It might have been George Carlin. LOL.

-mountain girl

About a hundred years ago, before cell phones existed, we used to have to actually park, get out of the car, and find a pay phone if you needed to make a call.

About a hundred years ago, before cell phones existed, we used to have to actually park, get out of the car, and find a pay phone if you needed to make a call.

And have the change in your pocket to do it. That part alone today would be an issue for me if it was still this way, because I rarely keep cash in my pockets and if I do it is a few bills!

Once you have your CDL , you will be breaking the law, texting and driving even in your own personal vehicle, no matter what state you're in.

-mountain girl

I believe the FMSCA regs regarding this issue - apply ONLY WHEN operating a CMV. You cannot be cited for a CFR/Statute that applies to commercial vehicles - if you are not actually operating one.

FMCSA regs (uniform licensing requirements aside) do not apply to operating a non-cmv - with the exception that there is no "Driving School/No Points" allowance for CDL Licensed drivers. You either "beat it - or eat it".

FMCSA regs cannot regulate non-commercial vehicles - but if you'd care to post the CFR that states this assumption is actually fact - I would be more than happy to stand corrected.

Rick

I wasn't going to post, but, I have to put my 1.5 cents in. Yes, those idiots are dangerous to us all out there and there is not a damn thing we can do about it as individuals... well, legally. Also, if there are more regs put in place then there will need to be more people to monitor and enforce them. Not a good idea. Anyone following how Americans are micro managed now will agree. Every new regulation, no matter how well intended will always lead to more... and more...

Getting back to truckers, the problems we face everyday will only be solved one way, attrition.

Responsibility and shame need to be put to use and heavily emphasized by the good drivers to keep the bad ones in check, or to see to it they go into another line of work. We need to reassert ourselves throughout the industry with solid morals and assure that we take an active role in the development of the up and comers. Truckers had a bad reputation and were negatively stereotyped by media for decades (still are) so who does that attract? yep. When I think of the old school truckers, I see rebels who handled their business, safely for the most part, with pride and with a real camaraderie towards each other. We need to get that back and educate the ignorant, or, should I say sheeple about what trucking is truly about.

My 1.5

Once you have your CDL , you will be breaking the law, texting and driving even in your own personal vehicle, no matter what state you're in.

-mountain girl

I believe the FMSCA regs regarding this issue - apply ONLY WHEN operating a CMV. You cannot be cited for a CFR/Statute that applies to commercial vehicles - if you are not actually operating one.

FMCSA regs (uniform licensing requirements aside) do not apply to operating a non-cmv - with the exception that there is no "Driving School/No Points" allowance for CDL Licensed drivers. You either "beat it - or eat it".

FMCSA regs cannot regulate non-commercial vehicles - but if you'd care to post the CFR that states this assumption is actually fact - I would be more than happy to stand corrected.

Rick

Cool. Thanks for clarifying. I must have misunderstood what I heard in CDL school and I don't have an FMCSA reg to back that up. They were pretty good at "scaring" us into behaving ourselves and breaking bad habits, so my thinking might have taken that to the extreme. Sorry 'bout that.

-mountain girl

I don't believe in more government regulations.

I firmly believe in Natural Selection:

"The kid who swallows the most marbles, doesn't get to grow up to have kids of his own!"

However, for some reason that rule doesn't seem to apply to the "16 & pregnant" crowd! Also, if you haven't seen the movie "Idiocracy", rent it, buy it, find it on Netflix or Amazon! 'Cuz, that's where we're headed folks!

That's just my $.02. (Not adjusted for inflation. Subject to state and local tax.)

Tarren

That's just my $.02. (Not adjusted for inflation. Subject to state and local tax.)

Tarren

Good one!

Oh, and " i like money"

Wow.... It was just a rant to blow off steam. To release some pressure. But I see some things were thought provoking including the limiting of cell phone use through a cell phone limiter.

What about the passenger wanting to make a call? They would have to wait til you stopped. Pretty simple. And of course it's to dangerous to pull to the side of the road. You would have to find a parking lot or something like it.

I really don't agree with adding more laws. Can't enforce the ones we have now. Need more law enforcement to enforce existing laws instead of making new ones.

I don't care about cell phone calls. But get a blue tooth for the sake of the rest of us. But if your caught texting the penalty should be the same as drunk driving cause their driving behavior is just as bad as a drunk driver. There is absolutely no reason to text and drive. If there is something super important that has to be taken care of right now then make a phone call.

I really don't care don't care if 4 wheelers want to play bumper cars. I see that as Natural Selection taking its course but the problem is the 2 year old in the back seat might be paying the price.