GRAPEVINE, Texas — A new MADD-style organization is being formed to combat the use of cell phones while driving. The group, Focusdriven, was formed by several people who say they or close family members were victims of accidents blamed on distracted driving from cell phone use.
The group is set to kick off its mission with a blast of publicity, appearing on the Oprah TV talk show on January 15. The launch is linked to the anniversary of the National Safety Council's call, a year ago, for a ban on cell phone use while driving.
Focusdriven is a nonprofit organization with a startup Web site and a Facebook group page that to date has 434 members. The Facebook page shows photos of some of the founding members' family members, including young children, who are said to have died in cell-phone-related accidents. One of the Facebook group members posted: "I've been riding motorcycles on the street for many years and I never would have guessed that telephones would become the biggest threat to my life.... Message to all you cell addicts: Please don't kill me! I'm just trying to ride to work. That phone call/text can wait!"
Inside Line says: If this organization gets the kind of momentum MADD has had, it will have done something powerful. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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atenza94546 says:
10:15 AM, 01/04/2010
Its on $25- the first offensive in California, I can live with that I maybe closing a deal worth Millions !!!!!
What about the governator's wife talking on the cell without handsfree, 3 times after the law passes, you think it hurts their pocket???
superm says:
11:55 AM, 01/03/2010
People on cell phones are a threat to motorcyclists??? No- EVERYONE is a threat to motorcycles. If you don't ride with that expectation you're screwed.
dc325ix says:
05:27 AM, 01/03/2010
what about eating in the car - that's just as bad; let see i'll start a group that bans eating in the car, no wait let me add I'll start a group that says I cant listen or tune my radio in the car as tuning the radio causes a distraction - oh wait let's add I cant have anyone in the car with me as that causes a distraction so I now must drive alone - oh and let's add no pets in the car because they cause a distraction and lastly lets add no babies or toddlers in the car because everyime I turn around to see how they are doing is a distraction and that could be a problem.
HEY MORONS everything is a distraction and that is why to lessen the distraction with cell phones we have hands free devices and laws that ban hand held devices - let's enforce the law on the books and move on.
kdhspyder says:
08:33 PM, 01/01/2010
This has very very short legs IMO. The ones most involved with having a phone pinned to their ears are....???? Take my phone away from me???? Are you out of your ever-lovin' mind? Without this group in support the new initiatives don't have a chance IMO.
itm1221 says:
05:35 PM, 01/01/2010
*evidently
itm1221 says:
05:34 PM, 01/01/2010
Well if you think about it hands free devices make it so you talk to someone without having you touch the phone right?, Well isnt that the same as talking to a passenger in your car?? HUH? its the same thing so evidentally these people are morons. Though texting could be the problem too but cant they just make a nifty thing that you can say what you want to text and it will do it for you, my laptop has that why cant a cell phone?
rossofiorano says:
04:14 PM, 01/01/2010
and only a gesture it is. totally agree--nothing's gonna happen until there's a law...and then we'll just keep breaking it
rjmac1 says:
03:42 PM, 01/01/2010
This is an empty gesture unless everyone is willing to get rid of all "distractions". They should include eating, smoking, playing or listening to music, and the list could go on and on. I was a firefighter for 30 years and got to see thousands of accidents over the years. Yes cell phones were to blame for any number of these however they were not even close to the only cause.
perrito says:
11:50 AM, 01/01/2010
This is a nice gesture, but until we have a national ban on cell phone and cell texting, it's only a gesture.