How many times have you read news articles about car accidents that included the words … “for unknown reasons” such and such happened? While it’s not uncommon for news reports to include this phrase when reporting such accidents, I’ve noticed that it’s being used more and more frequently.
For example, this morning I read about another (!) fatal head-on crash. In this instance, the driver of a northbound vehicle drifted into the southbound lane “for unknown reasons“ and struck a vehicle traveling south. (Both occupants of the southbound vehicle –in their 70’s– were killed.) The accident apparently happened around noon.
We all know that people occasionally fall asleep at the wheel (especially after drinking), but these are generally accidents that happen at night or in the wee hours of the morning. However, when these “unknown reasons” accidents happen during the daylight hours, one can’t help but wonder if the actual cause was because one of the drivers was TEXTING (or reading a text).
Of course there are other reasons for inattention at the wheel, but IMO, the ubiquitous use of cellphones simply cannot be ignored.
What are your thoughts on this? Am I way off-base? Or do you agree that lack of attention related to cellphone usage is a prime reason for many of the vehicle accidents that happen in today’s world?
P.S. Some manufactures are now including text/voice features in newer models. Is this a potential solution? Or not.
Nan's Notebook 
Personally, while driving I ignore sounds made by my phone. But some people seem incapable of this.
I doubt that putting the technology into cars will help. It is could even make it worse.
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I would go one step further. Improving technology DOES make things worse. Messages are directed to the driver, and thus ask for much more attention than listening to the radio – which in itself is a doubtful distraction.
I hope video calls will not become mandatory.
.&
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I have actually never heard the line, for unknown reasons. The goto line for cops in Canadw is: The cause is under investigation. Sometimes they later announce a cause, sometimes the accident just disappears from the news.
When I suffered from sleep apnea, I had msny near misses from crossing into incoming lanes. Once I was so close I could see the eyes of the semi driver as big as saucers. But I was never in an accident from such events, somehow I always woke up with barely any time to spare. Some would xay I had a guardian angel, only… you know… there aren’t such things…
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Wirhout a doubt, the usage of cellular phones whether to send or receive a message has caused such distraction with a driver that it has caused an accident. Unfortunately all too often innocents in other caes are ofyrn the victims of such accidents. Hugs
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Definitely cell phones and mostly reading or sending texts, not necessary the talking..it makes it quite dangerous out there. Happens all the time here…Fla.
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I’ve gotten hooked on those Karen videos, and one that was truly memorable, the cop pulled a young woman over and said, “I’ve been following you for ten minutes, and you have not once looked up from your cellphone …” she said, ‘whaaaattt?” still texting, still staring at it.
I think it’s a valid concern, and may one day be considered as dangerous as driving drunk. Cell phones (no, I don’t have one yet) seem to be the addictive new toy of the century–it’s kinda scary.
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how was she even able to maintain lane discipline?
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Can’t be that bad, I see cops talking on their cell-phones all the time!
I don’t even do the car-phone. I’ll get back to you …
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Certainly using a mobile phone while driving has the potential to cause a crash. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand it’s illegal to use a hand held phone/device while driving ($150 fine + 20 demerit points), and since that was introduced a few years back, crashes resulting from phone use has declined considerably.
I’ve never heard the phrase “for unknown reasons” used when reporting on any accident or crash. Here they’re more likely to say something like “the cause is under investigation” or “the serious crash unit is yet to establish a cause“.
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I know you’re not wrong, Nan. Distracted driving has ended many lives. The most dangerous thing I do is drive (or ride).
But the phrase, “for unknown reasons” is so blah and boring.
So many others are better:
‘we neither know nor care, texting cannot be ruled out, authorities suspect foul play, your guess is as good as any, speed kills, he was riding a motorcycle at 76 so…, if we knew, we’d tell ya, … with a woman/man, not his/her/their wife/hubby/partner/whatever.’
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel…. Can you imagine what will happen with the new self driving cars/trucks? Better or worse?
🙂
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I can remember when the usage of car c-casette players was discussed as a major distraction for drivers. Here in Finland people were just getting used to the law that demanded cellphone using drivers to wear a handsfree earpiece, when the smartphones were introduced and everything has gone worse since on that front. Many drivers mess about with their navigators while driving in city traffic.
The real issue is, that most individuals do not have enough brainpower to be allowed to operate any motorized vehicle and sadly are unable to recognize their handicap. Subsequently traffic accidents are so frequent, that we have simply accepted them as normal. Not unlike gun related accidents in some societies. They just happen, but are considered the price for the freedom of owning a gun/car. Unlike guns, cars actually offer some liberty in the form of mobility, but it is a choise, wether or not societies are built on proper public transport, or private car ownership.
While writing this I am on the road – sitting safely and comfortably in a bus, and a pretty lady sitting near me just smiled at me.
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…and a pretty lady sitting near me just smiled at me. 😁😍
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I find such uncertainties to be annoying.
As I understand it cell phones tend to survive crashes. They are remarkably tough. Even given some damage most of the data is fairly easily recoverable. Between what remains on the phone and the carrier’s records it seems likely that finding out if the driver was on the phone, and what they were doing, is just a matter of having a resources and the authority to ask the questions in a technically meaningful manner.
I was once forced to surrender the right lane under threat of collision by a man playing Candy Crush on his smart phone. Coming up to a light he yanked his car back to his lane. When he saw me face-palm and laugh he rolled his window down, leaned down to talk through the passenger window, and asked if I ‘had something to say’. Evidently his right to play Candy Crush while driving is inviolable but my derisive laughter was intolerably rude.
I say we confiscate all cell phones at wrecks and dump their use data. If you were on the phone within five minutes of the crash it should be assumed you are, at the very least, partially responsible for all damages. The technology is there.
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Hi Art! Thanks for visiting … and leaving such an interesting comment. Glad that the “Candy Crush” incident didn’t end up in a wreck!
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