[Archived]

We have been in NC (between Wilmington and Raleigh/Durham area) for nearly two weeks now.

I have never seen so many accidents, inattentive drivers, bad driving, etc. in my entire life. We are doing a lot of driving around for work and have determined that we need to be super aware of everyone else around us as it seems these drivers think driving is like riding the bumper cars at the local amusement park.

We cant wait to get out of here for that reason alone.

Of course it’s looking like we will be here for another month and will be bringing the coach in to save money on extended stay places.

[Will]

There is not enough attention being paid to inattentive drivers by legislation or law enforcement. People still are driving under the influence and I don’t think those numbers have diminished to the extent they should. But now we add the widespread abuse of drugs, and in some states it is even legal. To that poor driving we have an entire society that cannot go 5 minutes without looking at their phone. As if that wasn’t enough cars are becoming connected to the internet so if a driver is not drunk or screwing with his phone he can be using his car to find the closest restraurant or massage parlor.

The only way it will really stop (apart from driverless cars which is in effect what we already have) is if we disable all devices when moving above walking speed, and have ignition blocking equipment that will not allow a car to start if the driver has been imbibing.

When I am emperor I will take car of this, but until then we all have to remember the morons are out to get us.

[Per]

Jon,

I agree with you, but would like to add EVERY state has distracted driver laws… The issue is they are not enforced. Maybe because of priorities, etc.

The problem is increasing at a rapid rate.

[Rick]

Mikee,

In NC the problem rests squarely on our court system. Our system is discouraging to Troopers doing their job on the highways. Our Troopers have to go to court on a day off only to have the court system spit on them. BLM takes a back seat to the disrespect shown our Troopers.

I attended a Scotland County Safe Communities meeting years ago. The presenter was from Operation Lifesaver, a railroad program to educate people of the dangers at highway/grade crossings. At the meeting were all three parts of highway safety represented. In my position I had responsibility for ordinances that were reasonable and that 85% or more of the drivers would voluntarily comply with. There were also one local Laurinburg officer and one NC State Trooper. If I did my job correctly the LEO’s only had 15% or less of the traffic stream to take enforcement actions. Finally there was a Judge present also, Judge McIlwain (sp).

Now after the presentation there was an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions. Well the judge asked “Mr. DOT”, that would be me, how to go about getting active protection installed at a crossing. I described the process, what office was responsible for the process, and some of the parameters that were considered in the process. The judge then asked if a Politician told me to install one would I? NO, it involves Federal funds and I don’t like windows that have bars blocking the view. He then asked the same question but using a NC Department of Transportation Board member as asking, would I install one then? Well of course, so long as he provided his discreationary funds to cover the cost. Now I was getting pissed so I asked the presenter if I could borrow his podium for just a few minutes.

The next few minutes were taken up, in front of 40 or more residents of Scotland County, by saying that I am working as hard as humanly possible responding to citizen requests for me to do something about speeding violations. I then said the second part would be efforts by law enforcement, and they are also pedelling as hard as they can to make your community safe. I then took on the judge by saying where the process fails is in your court room judge, with PJC’s given out (like Holloween Candy), then Improper Equipment – no consequences on your license or insurance rates, followed by reduction in the rate of speed charged to 9 miles per hour over the speed limit – also no insurance consequences here in NC, before actually dealing with the violator for the original violation. The 40 or so people were clapping their hands as the judge got up and walked out of the room. I wanted to go one to one with him after the meeting but I was not about to be stabbed in the back by the highest representive of the court system in a public venue.

Yes it is getting worse, and not just because I’m approaching Jon’s age. Nothing is being done except lip service from the DA offices and the court system.

[Archived]

It is not just the distracted drivers. Look at all the shitty vehicles being driven on our streets and highways. There is no way many of them would ever pass an inspection. Brake, tail and signal lights inoperative. One eyed monsters at night, or the ones with the headlights aimed at the top of trees. Ones with shocks so bad they bounce all over the road when they hit a bump. No mufflers, tires so bad you can see the air in them etc.

Minnesota used to do random inspections for that sort of crap, but stopped many years ago because the politicians thought it was unfair to the poor and minorities. The rational was that they couldn’t afford to fix their cars, so don’t give them tickets or even warnings.

[Reagan]

If all I had to worry about were the cars with bald tires, cracked windshields, red tape for tail lights, and engines hitting on 4 of their 6 cylinders I would do a happy dance. But the problem here in TN, and maybe elsewhere, it seems the drivers cannot afford to fix their cars, but they have enough money to buy pot, and endlessly text on their phones. So they are stoned, distracted, and driving a car that is held together with duct tape.

Never mind………..I just got it. They are driving a POS because they spend their money on pot and a data plan.