Yaris in a fatal accident

[DebbyM46227]

http://fox59.com/2015/07/24/fatal-accident-along-i-65-in-tippecanoe-county-closes-interestate/

A tanker truck slammed into the back of the Yaris, sending it off the road. You can see the Yaris at 1:20 in the video. The Yaris driver was killed, his passenger injured.

This happened 75 miles to the north of Indy.

[bronsin]

Yikes!

Interesting there were also fatalities in other larger vehicles also involved in the crash.

The Yaris's Ive heard of in accidents seem to do pretty well in terms of protecting their owners. However statistically small cars like the Yaris have higher fatality rates than bigger cars. Theres no getting around that.

As a long time motorcyclist with ZERO accidents and injuries Ive developed a highly developed program for self preservation. You got to be very defensive in your riding habits.

Ditto for a car like the Yaris...

[nookandcrannycar]

Wow. Other than the Yaris driver, the other victims succumbed to the fire....a worse way to go I'd think. If the cooking oil truck driver was an operator for a large fleet, rather than an owner operator, that firm is going to be on the hook for big buck$.

[bronsin]

With all the texting, emailing, and distracted drivers on the road today you really have to watch your 6 when you slow down or come to a stop.

Especially in the situation described.

[DebbyM46227]

I'm constantly looking at the rearview mirror when stopped. With no trunk behind us with the hatchbacks, almost everyone looks too close!

[nookandcrannycar]

With all the texting, emailing, and distracted drivers on the road today you really have to watch your 6 when you slow down or come to a stop.

Especially in the situation described.

Last week I pulled into a McDonalds parking lot to use the wifi to look up a phone number I got the number and dialed the number. It was ringing as I was holding the phone and driving through what appeared to be an empty parking lot, and then noticed a cop around a corner. I hung up the phone, pulled into a space, shut the engine off, and redialed. In Texas, the ban is only in school zones but, IIRC, California must now be hands free while driving. This was the first time I'd driven while holding a phone in years and I was only doing it re that particular situation.

[nookandcrannycar]

I'm constantly looking at the rearview mirror when stopped. With no trunk behind us with the hatchbacks, almost everyone looks too close!

In the early 2000s, I got rear ended at a stoplight in my 2001 Suzuki Swift by a 4-door Ford F-series pickup. I had a bunch of heavy stuff in the cargo area and in the back seat. Fortunately, I was fine, and so was my passenger. Amazingly, the Swift was repaired with no after effects.

[edmscan]

The one thing I have seen in my trips to the US .. the speed limits are much higher than here in Canada. Mind you .. the climate is such that the roads are also in much better shape down south, and that gives drivers the ability to drive much faster.

Here .. in construction zones, speeding fines are double. So .. getting a $500 plus ticket for speeding helps to help people slow down. But not everyone as there is just not enough enforcement .. and they know that their chances of getting cause are slim.

I think that semi driver should lose his license .. for a long time, at least 5 years.

[DebbyM46227]

The semi-driver that caused the accident died in addition to the mom, her 2 kids, and the Yaris driver. So the semi-driver DID lose his license, in a sense.

The Yaris passenger survived with non-life-threatening injuries according to a report I just read.

[edmscan]

The semi-driver that caused the accident died in addition to the mom, her 2 kids, and the Yaris driver. So the semi-driver DID lose his license, in a sense.

The Yaris passenger survived with non-life-threatening injuries according to a report I just read.

Thanks. I guess I missed that part. I was too busy looking at the pictures. :iono:

[invader166]

Yikes!

Interesting there were also fatalities in other larger vehicles also involved in the crash.

The Yaris's Ive heard of in accidents seem to do pretty well in terms of protecting their owners. However statistically small cars like the Yaris have higher fatality rates than bigger cars. Theres no getting around that.

As a long time motorcyclist with ZERO accidents and injuries Ive developed a highly developed program for self preservation. You got to be very defensive in your riding habits.

Ditto for a car like the Yaris...

Exactly right. A vehicle is only as safe as it's driver.

I trully believe that being a good driver isn't just a matter of controlling you vehicle and being aware of your surroundings. A good driver should be able to do all of that, but also anticipate events and situations that are going to happen around them, and take an apropriate action to resolve things before they become critial.

[bgkz25]

Sad news. Probably the driver which caused this trajedy either might have fallen asleep or something else. Construction sites have enough warning signs and an ample distance to safely ply the roads. It seems the truck just continued ramming those poor vehicles in front of him until it hit another truck.

[nookandcrannycar]

The one thing I have seen in my trips to the US .. the speed limits are much higher than here in Canada. Mind you .. the climate is such that the roads are also in much better shape down south, and that gives drivers the ability to drive much faster.

Here .. in construction zones, speeding fines are double. So .. getting a $500 plus ticket for speeding helps to help people slow down. But not everyone as there is just not enough enforcement .. and they know that their chances of getting cause are slim.

I think that semi driver should lose his license .. for a long time, at least 5 years.

In Texas, fines double in construction zones as well. Can't recall off the top of my head re other states.

[dj92]

No one can defy physics...

The one thing I have seen in my trips to the US .. the speed limits are much higher than here in Canada.
Be assured that our german speed limits (60MPH country roads / highway limitless) aren't that dangerous if you drive careful enough (just driven home doing 100, no problems at all ;) )

What I can't understand:
Why should one buy a vehicle with far more than 90hp/ton if you can use just a small amount of that power over a long time (keeping hauling jobs out of mind) :confused:

(however, if I had your fuel prices (half of ours) fuel efficiency wouldn'T be such an important thing to me :laugh:
In fact, we had them about 15...20 years ago :cry:)

[bronsin]

[QUOTE=dj92;766010]What I can't understand:
Why should one buy a vehicle with far more than 90hp/ton if you can use just a small amount of that power over a long time (keeping hauling jobs out of mind) :confused:
QUOTE]

I drove thousands of miles across western Canada in my Yaris on my trip from NJ to AK and back in 2011. Yes the speed limit seemed pretty low (usually 100 kph) and not only that the local citizens obeyed it! Especially in towns were EVERYBODY went like 20 mph! It was VERY hard to do that! But obviously if I knew what was good for me Id better OBEY!

Having said that once out of town the roads were deserted of cars. I saw virtually no police cars the entire 5000 miles but didn't DARE exceed the speed limit. Also at 60 mph I was getting 42 mpg and gas was as much as $7 a gallon (Yukon)

As a motorcyclist riding 117 hp sport touring motorcycles (about 300hp per ton) capable of 150 mph (100 mph is like sitting on your couch in the living room) I frequently come up against the moral question of obeying the speed limit. My policy is to go 10 mph over either the speed limit or over what the traffic is doing. (to keep ahead of traffic so I don't get cut off...which could be fatal)

I LOVE it out west especially Montana where the roads are empty, the posted speed limit on secondary roads is usually 80 mph outside of town, and I can and do go as fast as I want with They Call Me The Breeze blasting in my helmet speakers. :eek:

[why?]

Nothing anyone can do when a semi driver is incoherent, you're probably going to die.

No driver can control everything, or even all that much. All it takes is a split second of someone doing something moronic and that's the end.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have been rear ended. Its insane. And all my cars are neon colored, so that is not an excuse.

[Yaristeve]

What I can't understand:
Why should one buy a vehicle with far more than 90hp/ton if you can use just a small amount of that power over a long time (keeping hauling jobs out of mind)

Because punching the accelerator and getting out of the way can often be a better way to avoid accidents than jumping on the brakes.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Sounds like the Yaris driver was a post-Doctoral student. Quite a bit of education and still driving a Yaris.

[dj92]

Sounds like the Yaris driver was a post-Doctoral student. Quite a bit of education and still driving a Yaris.
When has education ever been a warranty for a well-paid job? :laugh:

[IllusionX]

A friend of mine is an anaesthetist, he makes quite a bit of money, still drives a 09 Mazda 3. What gives?

[bronsin]

I have a BA degree in Philosophy and have read Aristotle, Plato, Homer, Euclid, Galileo, Newton, Decartes, Voltare, Maxwell, Copernicus, Einstien and many many more! :eek:

Yaris is my car of choice! :bow:

(although I think my ECHO was better in many respects)

[mrpj]

I have a BA degree in Philosophy and have read Aristotle, Plato, Homer, Euclid, Galileo, Newton, Decartes, Voltare, Maxwell, Copernicus, Einstien and many many more! :eek:

Yaris is my car of choice! :bow:



Was the Yaris one of their recommendations?:biggrin:

[bronsin]

No but its mine! :headbang:

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^I know a guy who is primarily a real estate investor, but also owned some retail businesses housed in some of the commercial property he owns. He drives a (not restored!) 1972 Buick Skylark. HE THINKS this is a competitive advantage. He thinks it puts in the mind of property owners that all of his money is on the table in order to buy the property....that he can't pay more. He wears old clothes most of the time as well :laugh:. His wife (one of the sweetest, most down to earth people you can imagine) isn't bothered by this (he does buy her a new Mercedes every year and he doesn't ask any questions re what she spends on clothes though :laugh:...just pays the bill). He's a Stanford grad, and his net worth is well over 50 million USD.

The founder of Zappos.com bought an acre in Las Vegas and put a bunch of Airsteam trailers (albeit very nice trailers) on the lot and he lives in one of them. He's worth 800 million plus.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg drives a VW GTI.

Can't always tell someone's net worth by their car or where they reside.

[nookandcrannycar]

Was the Yaris one of their recommendations?:biggrin:

:laugh::laugh:

[nookandcrannycar]

When has education ever been a warranty for a well-paid job? :laugh:

Especially in countries where the cost of a post secondary education is nominal or free.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

^^^^^I know a guy who is primarily a real estate investor, but also owned some retail businesses housed in some of the commercial property he owns. He drives a (not restored!) 1972 Buick Skylark. HE THINKS this is a competitive advantage. He thinks it puts in the mind of property owners that all of his money is on the table in order to buy the property....that he can't pay more. He wears old clothes most of the time as well :laugh:. His wife (one of the sweetest, most down to earth people you can imagine) isn't bothered by this (he does buy her a new Mercedes every year and he doesn't ask any questions re what she spends on clothes though :laugh:...just pays the bill). He's a Stanford grad, and his net worth is well over 50 million USD.

The founder of Zappos.com bought an acre in Las Vegas and put a bunch of Airsteam trailers (albeit very nice trailers) on the lot and he lives in one of them. He's worth 800 million plus.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg drives a VW GTI.

Can't always tell someone's net worth by their car or where they reside.

Funny. Reminds me of my now deceased father in law. Big wig in real estate and has several apartment complexes that the wife overlooks. Anyway he drove a Pacer for years. The company he worked for bought him a new Cadillac or Lincoln every couple of years. He kept it hidden in the garage, embarrassed to drive it. He didn't want people to think he had money. I'm glad the mother in law is finally spending some how she sees fit. She doesn't have to get permission for any large purchases anymore. And she lives her Lincoln.

[bronsin]

. The company he worked for bought him a new Cadillac or Lincoln every couple of years. He kept it hidden in the garage, embarrassed to drive it. He didn't want people to think he had money. .

Where I come from the most grievous way to insult someone is to say they've got money. :biggrin:

As in "money is the root of all evil."

[bgkz25]

I don't think money itself is the root of all evil bro.
It's "for the LOVE of money is the root of all evil". ☺

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[bronsin]

I don't think money itself is the root of all evil bro.
It's "for the LOVE of money is the root of all evil". ☺



I'll buy that!

Now...wheres all my money?:iono:

[DebbyM46227]

I just paid off my Yaris, so now I'll have a lot more money! And I have only 37,000 miles on it so hopefully I won't have to spend any on it. The new clutch in February was bad enough.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

I just paid off my Yaris, so now I'll have a lot more money! And I have only 37,000 miles on it so hopefully I won't have to spend any on it. The new clutch in February was bad enough.

Was the clutch covered under the 36k mile warranty?

[bronsin]

I just paid off my Yaris, so now I'll have a lot more money! And I have only 37,000 miles on it so hopefully I won't have to spend any on it. The new clutch in February was bad enough.

WHen my oil pressure sensor failed at 4 years Toyota Customer Service gave me a $100 check to help with the $175 bill.

You might give them a call and explain it to them.

[DebbyM46227]

Was the clutch covered under the 36k mile warranty?

No, because my Yaris was 4-1/2 years old at the time.

Now I'm past the 5 year/60,000 warranty too.

[DebbyM46227]

WHen my oil pressure sensor failed at 4 years Toyota Customer Service gave me a $100 check to help with the $175 bill.

You might give them a call and explain it to them.

I went round and round with them in March and I couldn't get even a thin dime from Toyota.

I even threatened them this would be my last Toyota. It will be Honda or Nissan next.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

I went round and round with them in March and I couldn't get even a thin dime from Toyota.

I even threatened them this would be my last Toyota. It will be Honda or Nissan next.

I'd definitely steer clear of Nissan. They aren't what they once were. And I left Toyota for Honda. Bought 2 Fits, and an Element. Had problems with both the Fit and the Element. Went back to Toyota. A Toyota is more solid in almost every regard. Good luck to your future choices. Consumer Reports is your best friend. It's the Bible in my home. Specifically the yearly model with all of the scientific data from all the consumers. A lot of real world info there. I don't usually follow their car reviews, as that is subjective to each person. But real world reliability statistics do not lie. And a Honda is not nearly reliable as a Toyota. And Nissan hahahaha

[nookandcrannycar]

I'd definitely steer clear of Nissan. They aren't what they once were. And I left Toyota for Honda. Bought 2 Fits, and an Element. Had problems with both the Fit and the Element. Went back to Toyota. A Toyota is more solid in almost every regard. Good luck to your future choices. Consumer Reports is your best friend. It's the Bible in my home. Specifically the yearly model with all of the scientific data from all the consumers. A lot of real world info there. I don't usually follow their car reviews, as that is subjective to each person. But real world reliability statistics do not lie. And a Honda is not nearly reliable as a Toyota. And Nissan hahahaha

My uncle used to have a classic Mercedes 250 C Coupe. He got rear ended at a freeway off ramp stoplight. His insurance company didn't give him what he felt it was worth. He bought a big, new Chrysler sedan after that. It was decent...no major problems in the 165k + miles of ownership. They traded that in on another big, new Chrysler sedan. When that second Chrysler had about 65k on it, the engine went out while they were at a place in Sisters, Oregon that they rent for a few weeks a year. No warranty. My uncle paid for the new engine, and the minute they got back he traded it in for a brand new ES Lexus sedan. They love it! When my aunt's Acura started to get a bit long in the tooth, my uncle bought her an RX SUV. When my uncle's two daughters saw how satisfied they were, their husbands bought G series for them, one the SUV, and one the sedan. Even more Lexus purchases happened after that. Other family members have BMWs, Audis, and Volvos, but I wonder if they will eventually follow to Lexus. I may be the only one with a non Lexus Toyota :laugh:. One family member went from a Mazda Tribute (engine failed at about the same mileage my uncle's Chrysler did :eek:) to a Subie and couldn't be happier. I'm more likely to compliment my silver Yaris in the future with a Subie than anything else. Another household in the family has a Sentra and a big Saturn SUV. The Sentra hasn't been as reliable as my blue Yaris (my silver Yaris = not enough miles to be a test of reliability)

[BLKHILLSGUY]

My uncle used to have a classic Mercedes 250 C Coupe. He got rear ended at a freeway off ramp stoplight. His insurance company didn't give him what he felt it was worth. He bought a big, new Chrysler sedan after that. It was decent...no major problems in the 165k + miles of ownership. They traded that in on another big, new Chrysler sedan. When that second Chrysler had about 65k on it, the engine went out while they were at a place in Sisters, Oregon that they rent for a few weeks a year. No warranty. My uncle paid for the new engine, and the minute they got back he traded it in for a brand new ES Lexus sedan. They love it! When my aunt's Acura started to get a bit long in the tooth, my uncle bought her an RX SUV. When my uncle's two daughters saw how satisfied they were, their husbands bought G series for them, one the SUV, and one the sedan. Even more Lexus purchases happened after that. Other family members have BMWs, Audis, and Volvos, but I wonder if they will eventually follow to Lexus. I may be the only one with a non Lexus Toyota :laugh:. One family member went from a Mazda Tribute (engine failed at about the same mileage my uncle's Chrysler did :eek:) to a Subie and couldn't be happier. I'm more likely to compliment my silver Yaris in the future with a Subie than anything else. Another household in the family has a Sentra and a big Saturn SUV. The Sentra hasn't been as reliable as my blue Yaris (my silver Yaris = not enough miles to be a test of reliability)

I drive a 13 Avalon Limited. Pretty much the same components and car as an entry level Lexus. Beautiful inside and out, but it's never given me the excitement of a manual Yaris, or a manual Tacoma. I'm pushing 40 and I have a few more decades that I want to continue to drive a manual. It is so damn boring to drive an automatic. That is the biggest reason I am getting rid of my Avalon. BORING. And I love the 4-Runner,but you can't get that in a manual. I need to keep my hands busy. So pretty much having the Lexus experience would I do it again? Probably not. Too expensive and not my style. I don't care what people think of me and what I drive. They don't pay my bills, so their opinion is null. If a $18k dollar car makes me happy, that's what I'm going to drive, even when I can afford more.

[nookandcrannycar]

I drive a 13 Avalon Limited. Pretty much the same components and car as an entry level Lexus. Beautiful inside and out, but it's never given me the excitement of a manual Yaris, or a manual Tacoma. I'm pushing 40 and I have a few more decades that I want to continue to drive a manual. It is so damn boring to drive an automatic. That is the biggest reason I am getting rid of my Avalon. BORING. And I love the 4-Runner,but you can't get that in a manual. I need to keep my hands busy. So pretty much having the Lexus experience would I do it again? Probably not. Too expensive and not my style. I don't care what people think of me and what I drive. They don't pay my bills, so their opinion is null. If a $18k dollar car makes me happy, that's what I'm going to drive, even when I can afford more.

My uncle caring about perceived status is probably somewhere in the middle. If he really cared that much, he would never have purchased two Chryslers in a row :laugh:. The point of my story wasn't the 'contagiousness of prestige', it was 'the contagiousness of reliability' :smile:. I certainly agree with you re manual transmissions :thumbsup:. Are any of the Lexus models even available with a manual? Any of the F sport models? :iono:. One thing that makes me shy away from buying a significantly more expensive vehicle is the number of people who don't give a flying f about being careful not to open their car doors into another car in parking lots :rolleyes:. In the NE, I've seen cars with thick pads that can be put/hung on doors to counteract such actions, but I've never seen such pads in Texas.

[bgkz25]

.... the number of people who don't give a flying f about being careful not to open their car doors into another car in parking lots.

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/d0d560726794d0923dc79af983eda38a.jpg

[BLKHILLSGUY]

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/d0d560726794d0923dc79af983eda38a.jpg

I do the same thing. My dad taught me that.

[nookandcrannycar]

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/d0d560726794d0923dc79af983eda38a.jpg

Me as well. I thought I was the only one in the world who did that :laugh:. I guess there are at least three of us :laugh:.

[bgkz25]

Having that ideal spot which I mentioned is already a bit of a peace of mind. It would be a bonus if the car parked right beside your car on the other side is a new bmw or an audi or a merc or any other luxury car or a well looked after car for that matter which you know that the owner is quite careful enough when it comes to opening their door. ☺

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[MadMax]

Last week I pulled into a McDonalds parking lot to use the wifi to look up a phone number I got the number and dialed the number. It was ringing as I was holding the phone and driving through what appeared to be an empty parking lot, and then noticed a cop around a corner. I hung up the phone, pulled into a space, shut the engine off, and redialed. In Texas, the ban is only in school zones but, IIRC, California must now be hands free while driving. This was the first time I'd driven while holding a phone in years and I was only doing it re that particular situation.

San Antonio passed an ordinance that went into effect on 1 Jan 2015 that prohibited the use of a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. That includes calling, texting, GPS and not only while moving but also sitting at stop lights, etc. At first there was wide compliance, but since not a lot of citations have been written it appears people are beginning to ignore it. We need greater enforcement and even a state-wide ban!

[nookandcrannycar]

San Antonio passed an ordinance that went into effect on 1 Jan 2015 that prohibited the use of a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. That includes calling, texting, GPS and not only while moving but also sitting at stop lights, etc. At first there was wide compliance, but since not a lot of citations have been written it appears people are beginning to ignore it. We need greater enforcement and even a state-wide ban!

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific definition of 'operating' that pertains just to that statute? Someone might be pulled into a parking space, have the emergency brake on, and just want to make some calls re their business. In another state, at this time of year, one might be able to comfortably do that without having to do anything else. In most of Texas, at this time of year, that same scenario would pretty much require one to also have the engine running to enable use of the A/C. Would that 'parked in a space scenario' technically be considered 'operating' just because engine needed to be engaged re the A/C?

[MadMax]

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific definition of 'operating' that pertains just to that statute? Someone might be pulled into a parking space, have the emergency brake on, and just want to make some calls re their business. In another state, at this time of year, one might be able to comfortably do that without having to do anything else. In most of Texas, at this time of year, that same scenario would pretty much require one to also have the engine running to enable use of the A/C. Would that 'parked in a space scenario' technically be considered 'operating' just because engine needed to be engaged re the A/C?

Here's the ordinance...

https://www.sanantonio.gov/portals/0/Files/SAPD/Hands-Free-Ordinance-2015.pdf

To be honest, I doubt anyone would be ticketed for using a cell phone while parked in a spot. However, while on public roads they would be fair game. However, there are a few exceptions for reporting emergencies...

[nookandcrannycar]

Here's the ordinance...

https://www.sanantonio.gov/portals/0/Files/SAPD/Hands-Free-Ordinance-2015.pdf

To be honest, I doubt anyone would be ticketed for using a cell phone while parked in a spot. However, while on public roads they would be fair game. However, there are a few exceptions for reporting emergencies...

Thanks for the link :thumbsup:. Sounds pretty reasonable overall, and it seems as though the scenario I outlined in my question wouldn't cause a violation. Some people might argue that.....since, by design, the violation doesn't go on your driving record and does generate revenue.....it is incorrect to say the point is safety rather than revenue generation.

I got one of these tickets mailed to me a few years ago (with video link) re a left turn from a left turn lane at an intersection in The Woodlands that I had never been through before (had a virtually non existent yellow light :eek:). I paid $75.00 after learning that it was a 'no record' ticket, but that (IIRC) not paying it would just tack the amount onto my car registration. I don't know if that intersection in The Woodlands still has that same setup. There used to be a similar setup at the corner of West Loop South (the 610 Loop feeder road) and Westheimer Road (about a block from the main part of the Houston Galleria Shopping Center), but so many people complained re tickets that the camera was deactivated re that purpose.

[MadMax]

Sorry, the fact that a citation doesn't go on your driving record doesn't negate the offense being a safety issue. For one, the state has laws concerning revenue generated by such ordinances; but most importantly there is clear and documented evidence that using a mobile phone while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence. Given that drivers are pretty bad here in the first place, adding the distraction of a cell phone significantly increases the danger to themselves and others. I only wish it was more rigorously enforced!

[Yaristeve]

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/09/d0d560726794d0923dc79af983eda38a.jpg

You should go to a Las Vegas casino parking lot. You will see entire rows of cars parked "relative" to the car next to it, regardless of the painted lines. It drives my GF crazy when we go to Vegas whenever I pass up parking spaces just so I can find an end spot one...

[nookandcrannycar]

Sorry, the fact that a citation doesn't go on your driving record doesn't negate the offense being a safety issue. For one, the state has laws concerning revenue generated by such ordinances; but most importantly there is clear and documented evidence that using a mobile phone while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence. Given that drivers are pretty bad here in the first place, adding the distraction of a cell phone significantly increases the danger to themselves and others. I only wish it was more rigorously enforced!

By getting one of 'those tickets' I meant one that had a fine but no 'points', not specifically getting a cell phone use ticket (mine = not making it through the shortest yellow light I've ever seen in my life....and there was a car ahead of me and one behind me).

I agree with you that the 'record/points' issue doesn't negate the safety factor :thumbsup:, I just think it is inconsistent to only have the monetary form of punishment and not the points.

As time goes on, all drivers can reasonably do is read and know the law. They wouldn't be as clued in as they could be re any debate/whys and wherefores before a vote on any ordinance unless they read the 'record/council minutes'. IMO, many people learning that there is a fine, but no points, would lead many of those people to think that lawmakers were looking at revenue generation first and not safety first. Perhaps I am too cynical, but that is just my opinion.

The 'Galleria camera' in Houston was re turning right on a red (IIRC, changing 'okay to turn right after stopping' to 'no turn at all on red (busy intersection) without any study precluding the change' and was changed back to 'okay to turn right after stopping' after the camera was removed/turned off). The one in The Woodlands = for a signal for a left turn only lane....so neither = re cell phone use.

I also agree with you re stringent enforcement of the ordinance you mention re your area :thumbsup:. I just wonder how many people would care.....some people don't care about cost...they'd only care about potentially losing a privilege (driving). I also think that people would feel more (for lack of a better term) 'moral authority' being asserted if the punishment also included points on one's driving record in addition to the fine.

[nookandcrannycar]

You should go to a Las Vegas casino parking lot. You will see entire rows of cars parked "relative" to the car next to it, regardless of the painted lines. It drives my GF crazy when we go to Vegas whenever I pass up parking spaces just so I can find an end spot one...

:laugh: I have had that experience a number of times in Vegas.....and I also hunt for the end spaces in those lots :laugh:.