Lisa Dusseault wrote:
>
> That's not enough, unfortunately. Cognitive research shows that activities
> which require attention and motor skills suffer when the person is engaged
> in pure-cognitive activities simultaneously.
>
> I know I'm somewhat of a worse driver when I'm talking to a passenger. And
> passengers are more forgiving than the person on the other end of the
> cell-phone line who can't tell if you're trying to merge at this moment.
>
> lisa
I have a big problem with these kinds of laws. The risk increase varies
tremendously, from non-existent to major. Are they going to legislate
talking? What about revoking the license of anyone who doesn't score in
the top 60% on reflexes, attention, and integration of multiple sensory
inputs? Top 30%?
Reminds me of the CA laws against wearing a headset while riding a
bike. (Does that cover running too? What about walking? You might be
sitting at a bus stop and not hear someone yelling about the rogue bus
coming after you! PLEASE!)
I manage risk every day while driving, walking through a parking lot,
sometimes skating in downtown DC in traffic, etc. Invasive laws that
don't Always make sense are really annoying. Seat-belt laws in,
cellphone bans out. Least common denominator laws that assume some
minimal level of ability are insulting and bound to be ignored. Speed
limit laws, on a highway, fall into this category in many circumstances.
FWIW, I have been using a headset on office, home, and cell phones for
about 5 years now. I buy the noise-canceling headsets at Radio Shack
for driving and home; $20-30 and they work great.
I do however multitask quite a bit while driving; probably enough to
shock a number of people. I'm far more likely to fall asleep driving
than to screwup while multitasking. I pay More attention when doing so
in fact.
sdw
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tom WSMF [mailto:tomwhore@inetarena.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 10:40 AM
> > To: Mike Dierken
> > Cc: fork@xent.com
> > Subject: RE: Next hype to go for
> >
> >
> > --]>
> > --]> I'm in near-accidents several times a week becasue are people
> > --]> talking on these things
> >
> > Headsets,
> >
> > Simple clear hands free...Headsets.
> >
> > The idea a phone neds to be HELD up to you ear is a near 100 year hold
> > over of a bad bad design flaw.
> >
> > Headsets.
> >
> > Can I say it again to ya
> >
> > Headsets.
> >
> > Sits on your head, covers one ear, mic either in the earpiece or on a
> > small boom in front.
> >
> > Headsets
> >
> > and evlove monkeymen
> >
> >
> > /"\ [---=== WSMF ----http://wsmf.org---===---]
> > \ /
> > X ASCII Ribbon Campaign
> > / \ Against HTML Mail
-- sdw@lig.net http://sdw.st Stephen D. Williams 43392 Wayside Cir,Ashburn,VA 20147-4622 703-724-0118W 703-995-0407Fax Dec2000
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Apr 29 2001 - 20:25:43 PDT