a7699f63   
   XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, comp.mobile.android   
   From: x@y.Invalid   
      
   Per Paul M. Cook:   
   >I think you've hit upon the keyword of why the proponents of cellphone   
   >restriction laws are so adamant that "I saw a guy weaving all over the   
   >road using a cellphone!".   
   >   
   >The keyword you hit upon is "annoying".   
   >   
   >Ever notice that any guy crazily zooming past you is an "idiot", while   
   >anyone blocking your way in front is an "idiot" to some people?   
      
   No.   Somebody zooming past me is just driving faster.... and I *like*   
   faster because he's not holding up traffic and he is also functioning as   
   point man for cops/radar traps.   
      
   OTOH, some nudnick cruising the left lane of the Atlantic City   
   Expressway at 69.5 MPH (left lane speed of the AC Xway is about 75) can   
   back up traffic for miles - leaving somebody like me who cruises the   
   right lane at about 70 stuck - unable to even pull out into the passing   
   lane because of the bumper-to-bumper irritated traffic when traffic is   
   actually only medium density overall.   
      
   It's beyond annoying.... and I'll fall back to my suspicion that the   
   real reason people are so spun up over cell phone users is their   
   driving... not safety.   Analogous to smokers and the stink rather than   
   secondhand smoke/health issues.   
      
      
   At the risk of confusing the issue, I will add that some people are   
   better at doing other things while driving that others are.   
      
   Personally, I'm not good at it... I'll place the occasional furtive   
   "I'll be home in 2 hours" call on a straightaway in the right lane with   
   steady traffic flow, but that's it: just an announcement and no   
   conversation.   
      
   OTOH, I used to ride to work in a van pool - from which I could observe   
   many drivers from the vantage point of the higher van.    Over-and-over,   
   I would see someone reading a newspaper while driving.   I don't mean   
   sneaking glances, I mean *reading* that sucker.   
      
   I have no clue how they do it - but they do it.   
   --   
   Pete Cresswell   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)