semi random yikes

[iftsiga]

"Exxon Mobil prohibits its employees from talking on the phone while driving company cars. It did so after conducting a study finding that the braking reaction time of phone drivers is three times longer than that of drunk drivers. ExxonMobil researchers also found that phone drivers are as likely to rear-end the car ahead as drunks, and that they are unable to maintain position in their lane. As with all other studies, Exxon Mobil found that it makes no difference whether the driver uses a hands-free phone."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9443-2005Feb8.html
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/

+So: phone OR drive.

Much as I hate cell phones, I'd like to see more people taking buses or trains or bikes or rickshaws or one-horse open sleighs, ideally. I am still wondering whether an item seen a few days ago about SUV drivers torching their gas-guzzlers for the insurance was true (or significant).

Today I am wondering how one goes about finding out if biodiesel/SVO fuel requires more or less energy to produce than fuel alcohol (the most efficient to produce sort. Is it butanol?). The main complaint against fuel alcohol seems to be "but we'd have to take some crops [or old corn cobs] currently fed to livestock and make that into fuel!" How about drive less and stop sticking cow chunks into your faces. The phrase "livestock overpopulation" pops into mind.

I am curmudgeonly today.

Comments

[squamous.livejournal.com]

More and more it seems to me like most people are barely cautious drivers to begin with. Doesn't really surprise me that the addition of a phone call makes things even worse. I am part of the problem though since I typically will answer my phone if it rings while I am driving. I try to keep the call short though....

[xauenmurph.livejournal.com]

Keeping it short is better than most people do.

I think the core problem, phones or no, is that we're putting basically monkeys in control of heavy machinery.

[simmeringhatred.livejournal.com]

I thought we were supposed to be putting monkeys in charge of a million typewriters so they could produce the complete works of Shakespeare (eventually)?

[xauenmurph.livejournal.com]

I believe "I will call you back when I'm not driving" shouldn't be taken as offensive if one even picks up a ringing phone while operating a vehicle.

Most people probably shouldn't be driving. I see them on the road and I see them with their shopping carts and they seem to think they're both handy instruments for bullying and most people just should not be driving at all.

[squamous.livejournal.com]

Apes, please. We prefer to be called apes. :)

[xauenmurph.livejournal.com]

Ms. Damn Dirty Ape has a kind of ring to it.