A new record!

@TheHorse (238268)

Walnut Creek, California

September 18, 2017 6:31pm CST

The other day I watched a guy texting and waiting at an intersection. He was in the right turn lane, and and I was going straight. I watched him block three other drivers in my rear view mirror for about seven seconds before I lost visual with him. He never moved. Today, I was approaching a green light and had been for about five seconds. I came to rest behind a woman who was texting away at the green light. I watched her, amused, for about three additional seconds. Finally, I honked, which I only done twice before in my truck in 196,000 miles. She got a clue and moved. Do you have a personal record for how long you've seen someone text at a green light without moving?

17 people like this

17 responses

@poehere (15123)

• French Polynesia

19 Sep 17

We don't have lights on the island we have round points which are much faster. If anyone did this here they would have a major problem. At times people are in such a hurry they wouldn't let this happen.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

People don't block traffic there because of their texting?

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

@poehere Oh, interesting! We have "road rage" incidents here, but I don't think they're usually because of texting.

@poehere (15123)

• French Polynesia

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse NO not possible. If they did the person they blocked would get out of their car and punch them. Tahitian people get angry with this one happens.

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

19 Sep 17

If they got you here, you lose your driver license, so nobody dares, because you never know if the car behind you is a police car.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse If someone needs to text, they stop the car and do. Texting while driving can bring a lot of problems, not only you lose your driver license, but if you cause an accident you can go to jail. This is something I approve, because too many are lost in their phones and have no eyes for the road.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

That would mean a lot of people not getting to work here, but I still like the idea.

2 people like this

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@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 17

In France I couldn't have counted how many people I saw on their phones while driving. And I saw a young lad on a scooter (non-motorised) riding no hands and texting. I thought that was pretty clever if foolish.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

The foolish part will be more salient if he winds up in a morgue.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381739)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Sep 17

@TheHorse Yes but wouldn't it be a good feeling? I used to tug my pony over to a fence in her paddock so I could climb on bareback and canter home - no bridle either - and certainly no hard hat. That has to be nearly as foolish.

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Sep 17

I don't but I see it all the time. Texting while sitting at the light. Texting while driving. No wonder there's so many wrecks on the roads.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Sep 17

Yeah, they've increased big time. All lives matter. I wonder why they don't enforce this law in California.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Sep 17

@TheHorse I don't know if they enforce the law here. It doesn't seem to deter anyone.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Sep 17

@RubyHawk Nope, they do it with impunity here. Is high speed lane splitting (by motorcyclists) allowed there? Here, it is allowed, and the casualties are awful. More than half of the accidents I hear about on news radio involve motorcycles.

1 person likes this

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@DesirousDreamer (34776)

• Peoria, Arizona

19 Sep 17

I love watching them get spooked when someone honks their horn and they fumble their phone. I only hope for them to fumble their phone to the floorboards or on the side of the seat and they cannot get it until they arrive at their destination.

2 people like this

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@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

@DesirousDreamer Actually, that's true. Then, if they couldn't get it, they'd finally pull over.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

I'd like to see that happen as well! But they'd probably pull over and retrieve it.

@DesirousDreamer (34776)

• Peoria, Arizona

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse let's be realistic, they would try and grab it at every stoplight.

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

19 Sep 17

I've seen a lot of drivers doing that. And sometimes I pray they get caught. Am that mean?

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Sep 17

I see that as practical, not mean. It's dangerous and against the law.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

20 Sep 17

@JustBhem But many do it with absolute impunity. It's rarely enforced here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I don't know why.

1 person likes this

@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

20 Sep 17

@TheHorse I agree, here they already warn drivers about texting while driving. And there is a penalty for it.

1 person likes this

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@sumofalltears (3988)

• United States

19 Sep 17

I don't have to worry about such things since I don't have a car to drive. But my first thought would be where are the cops when you need them.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

They don't seem to enforce this particular law, and I'm not sure why.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

19 Sep 17

I don't. She should be glad it was you and not a cop!

1 person likes this

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@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse Yeah, they really should

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

They don't enforce this law, and I don't know why. It would be an easy source of revenue.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

@snowy22315 Easier than chasing heroin dealers around and getting "in trouble" when you catch them.

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

19 Sep 17

I don't even count the seconds . . . if I can see the driver is being pokey with the phone (head down most likely), I will honk as soon as I don't see that car moving when that light turns green

.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

I think I'm transfixed. I know that half of all humans are below average, but I'm just...transfixed.

1 person likes this

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

20 Sep 17

@TheHorse I know it. Even with all the laws that are in place now, people will still have that phone in hand. Drives me nuts.

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

19 Sep 17

Nope, that's because I roll down the window and yell, "Hey, move your a**!" I'm glad here in Texas they passed a law that forbids texting and driving period. My only gripe about that is that the first fine is only $99 and any others are $200 after that. I think the 1st should be $500. Hit the wallet and they will quit @TheHorse .

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

I agree with you. $500 for first offense. $1000 for the second. Here in California, many people have entitlement issues. They text and drive with absolutely no fear.

1 person likes this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

20 Sep 17

@TheHorse Where do people get the idea that they're 'special' and don't have to follow the rules.

@Lucky15 (37391)

• Philippines

19 Sep 17

Texting while driving, sigh

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

Why don't the have the fine be $2000 and ENFORCE it? It would be a great source of revenue, and then they could hire more officers.

1 person likes this

@Lucky15 (37391)

• Philippines

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse That would be a nice "FINE"!

@teamfreak16 (43567)

• Denver, Colorado

19 Sep 17

I don't drive, so I don't really see it.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

It's pretty incredible to watch. They do it with utter impunity. I have no clue as to why that particular law is not enforced.

1 person likes this

@spiderdust (14756)

• San Jose, California

19 Sep 17

I'm amazed at how many people are obviously using their phones while driving, especially since it's illegal now.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

Because the law is not enforced. But why is it not enforced? Are the revenues not sufficient to warrant pulling over people who are texting and driving? I honestly don't know.

@thislittlepennyearns (68159)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

19 Sep 17

I've seen bus drivers texting. Lol. It's ama,ing what some people will do when drivung

1 person likes this

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@thislittlepennyearns (68159)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

19 Sep 17

@TheHorse That explains a lot. My dad is from Montana. Did you live in Montana?

@xFiacre (14782)

• Ireland

19 Sep 17

@thehorse Brushing hair and fixing make-up can roll on for quite some time without the culprit realising it's her we are all honking at.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

Yes, we have those too. But cell phones are responsible for far more delays here.

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

20 Sep 17

I don't pay attention to what other drivers are doing instead of driving. When they sit through a light though, that totally annoys me.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Sep 17

Do you honk? I finally did the other day. But I usually just observe.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

21 Sep 17

@TheHorse No. I don't like it when people honk. My older son was with me one time and he took the wheel and honked. Scared the bejeebes out of me. I told him never to do that again.

@vsai2008 (11794)

• India

19 Sep 17

I have seen people cross road while texting, it is not at all safe doing so in India

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

19 Sep 17

I've seen people do that too. In places like Berkeley and Oakland, teens sometimes cross against the light just to see people screech to a stop. But that's another issue.

1 person likes this