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Driver distracted by her cellphone drifts across three lanes, hits a disabled car as motorist is che

MLIVE -- Jennifer Anderson’s car is having electrical problems when she pulls to the left side of eastbound Interstate 96, cars whizzing by as rush hour approaches.

The road is snow-covered and slick, so Anderson is cautious as she pops the hood. She knows how to restart the car with a screwdriver.

She never sees the 2002 Honda Acura — its driver distracted by her cellphone — as it crosses three lanes and crashes into her 1997 Pontiac Sunfire.

Three years later, she still finds curious what went through her mind after she was propelled through the air and lay in a ditch.

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Submitted Feb 04, 2012 By: epf

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DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,532 Points:882,475 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 9:53:04 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse I see people on cell phones while driving all the time. And, we've had a law on the books prohibiting it for at least a year.
OmeGas Rookie Author Twin Cities Posts:48 Points:593,510 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 8:40:53 AM Ignore OmeGas Report Abuse There ought to be laws. Of course, common respect and responsibility would make laws about this unnecessary.
CdnLynx Veteran Author Ontario Posts:346 Points:224,265 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 12:36:15 AM Ignore CdnLynx Report Abuse Sad, is a word that does not cover my dismay; disgusting. During the age of the static pay phone, one would have to wait to call or inform others; either, wait, to you found pay phone or made a note (mental or written) to make such a important call. Perhaps, the general populace that engages in phone or texting, during times when they should be focused on things they are doing at hand; yes, Dangerous times; they should maybe think of doing the proper/safe thing. Take a new outlook on the proper protocol, like their training their minds to remember things and stave of Alzheimer. More Patience and less rush.
Hoporrene Veteran Author Mississippi Posts:262 Points:124,470 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:36:56 AM Ignore Hoporrene Report Abuse I can't even be in the car with someone that txt and drive...Life is so precious and often we take it for granted.
joekayak All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:756 Points:408,515 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:48:41 PM Ignore joekayak Report Abuse I hope people who constantly text while driving read this article and take it to heart.
Cashless Champion Author Akron Posts:1,692 Points:373,380 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:28:24 PM Ignore Cashless Report Abuse This happens all the time.
Pete12 Champion Author Albany Posts:3,964 Points:1,337,145 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:20:38 PM Ignore Pete12 Report Abuse Pull over if you have to use your cellphone!
kujiyukiyumi Veteran Author Indiana Posts:335 Points:133,865 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:47:37 PM Ignore kujiyukiyumi Report Abuse I believe it may be necessary to mandatory disable the functions of any cellphone once in a mobile vehicle...similar to a portable GPS disabled from being tinkered once you are already moving.
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:5,620 Points:1,196,675 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:58:03 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Don't talk on the cell phone while driving.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,247 Points:680,065 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:14:54 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Treat her like a drunk driver!
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:7,231 Points:1,333,335 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 4:10:06 PM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse No to little penalties for distracted driving...
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:347 Points:162,610 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:45:15 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @Mark8601 I think the tire came completely off from the other car, so as long as her tires were still attached, I think it would be an easy determination. @pscamp No, it can't be considered manslaughter, since Jennifer survived. Manslaughter requires a death. Attempted manslaughter, perhaps. More likely, either reckless driving or negligence. @rbrk02 Agreed. @JamesCalvin Interesting idea, but what do you do when there's someone driving 10 under in the slow lane? Do all the new drivers just have to get in line and drive 10 under, too? @JCI46009IN That sounds good, in theory, but how does the phone know how to distinguish between the driver and a passenger? What about people on trains (not the engineer)? Passengers on boats? Buses? What about someone following a dangerous driver and reporting it to the police? Or a driver whose breaks have failed? There are legitimate uses for phones will in motion, even for drivers, let alone passengers.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:44,877 Points:1,811,725 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:39:34 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 4, 2012 7:36:02 AM, JamesCalvin wrote: >Two tier drivers licenses. Already exist. You can drive in Texas at 16. You can drive in Texas and use a cell phone at 18. What you can't do in Texas is use a cell phone in a school zone.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:1,842 Points:598,430 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:32:48 PM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse what a chance for that to happen? very unlucky for that poor lady
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:1,842 Points:598,430 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:31:36 PM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse astonishing
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,785 Points:1,435,650 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:46:47 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Yes, safety should always come first.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,006 Points:329,095 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:36:06 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse Safety first.
JCI46009IN All-Star Author Indiana Posts:602 Points:193,970 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:08:17 PM Ignore JCI46009IN Report Abuse Make cell phones that won't work while car is moving
ziyulu Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:6,663 Points:1,266,550 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:04:16 PM Ignore ziyulu Report Abuse Jennifer knows how to restart the car with a screwdriver? Wow, she can be my mechanic.
mandoid Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,582 Points:1,182,685 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:50:27 PM Ignore mandoid Report Abuse hang up
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:6,566 Points:1,491,495 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:45:42 PM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse How is this article relevant to GasBuddy.com? It isn't!
db60 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:982 Points:211,255 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:27:34 PM Ignore db60 Report Abuse Hang up and drive.
WalkingWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,379 Points:510,120 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:21:38 PM Ignore WalkingWV Report Abuse Cell phone mania. People are obsessed with the toy. Gotta answer on the first ring, unless they have a jazzy ringtone they want everyone to hear. They can't carry on a conversation face to face because they have to send a text every 30 seconds. It's annoying. [Edited by: WalkingWV at 2/4/2012 12:28:36 PM EST]
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:5,227 Points:1,761,170 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:19:43 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse What a MISLEADING article title - implying it was a RECENT event!!! "...the crash Feb. 1, 2008"
Yooperheart Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,380 Points:167,190 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:18:13 PM Ignore Yooperheart Report Abuse Nothing will solve this on going problem. Ask the thousands of teamsters that drive the freeways daily.
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:3,414 Points:662,260 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:12:56 PM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse We as a country have to learn not to be so lazy while driving.
danindenver Champion Author Denver Posts:4,025 Points:892,575 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:54:09 AM Ignore danindenver Report Abuse Yeah, but read the article: "150 cellphone-involved crashes and more than 800 involving other distractions." 150 vs 800 = 18.75% The other 81.25% !!! of distractions being: "changing the radio, reading, etc"! So, statistically, it might make more of an impact on driver safety if we cut down on those "other distractions" which, we know, from studies, include smoking, eating, reading street signs, reading maps, putting on makeup, talking to passengers, and on and on. Maybe the Google driverless car is the answer, after all. BTW, Abby, it doesn't matter if you have a hands-free cell phone. The distraction is the same. Studies back this up, but no one wants to actually give up something that virtually every other driver (meaning every 2nd driver) on the road is doing, do they? So, if half of the drivers on the road are doing it, then why isn't the accident rate higher than 18.75%? Because, statistically, cell phone use is rather low on the list of accident-causing distractions. Hmmmm. Could it be that many people are just busy-bodies and want to tell everyone else how to live? Hmmmm. I wonder.
rjojo40 Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:4,603 Points:724,735 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:44:28 AM Ignore rjojo40 Report Abuse We as a country have to learn not to be so lazy while driving. the number one thing that should be on your mind while driving should be vehicle control. everything else is secondary.
joseph000 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,063 Points:205,665 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:38:38 AM Ignore joseph000 Report Abuse You can certainly understand with stories like this how people want to ban cell phones. It would not be practical to ban children or pets, but they can be dangerous distractions too. Perhaps the only thing 'to do' is to require more extensive or a continuing education requirement for drivers. Still, accidents will always happen.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,214 Points:278,025 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:04:41 AM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse From article: That year alone, troopers in the district responded to more than 150 cellphone-involved crashes and more than 800 involving other distractions. This line from the article just goes to show that cellphones are only part of the problem, not THE problem of distracted driving! Lucky for Jennifer that she wasn't killed!
Edpap Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,573 Points:152,025 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:42:02 AM Ignore Edpap Report Abuse Sad story. It is also sad we are still talking about this national problem...the states that haven't outlawed the use of phones while driving need to take action. If we can't quickly solve the obvious problems what can we expect from our elected officials?
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,848 Points:90,545 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:38:44 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse And this only goes to prove that females can't multi-task like they think they can.
cmptrmush Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,769 Points:378,920 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:34:57 AM Ignore cmptrmush Report Abuse I am sorry people were involved in an accident and injured. But we as a society need to come down much harder on distracted drivers. That is the only way to prevent these types of events. People have to start learning they really don't want to be distracted while they are driving.
IwanFL Sophomore Author Gainesville Posts:224 Points:80,610 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:34:45 AM Ignore IwanFL Report Abuse Sad story
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:1,698 Points:420,115 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:26:42 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse too bad.
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:2,427 Points:557,880 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:05:17 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Hope the distracted driver will never be allowed to drive again.
AbbygirlON Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,321 Points:316,705 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:04:27 AM Ignore AbbygirlON Report Abuse I is illegal to use cell phones in Ontario unless they are hands free. Should do the same in the States.
CorvairHaven Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,615 Points:1,097,070 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:53:12 AM Ignore CorvairHaven Report Abuse "...“As much as I got hurt, I still find myself reaching for my cellphone while driving every now and again,” Anderson said..." Cell phone usage isn't harmful; texting while driving IS.
YaBassa All-Star Author Michigan Posts:604 Points:156,010 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:49:52 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Only hands free phone calls, no texting or updating GasBuddy prices while driving.
furbud1957 All-Star Author York Posts:763 Points:153,405 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:29:32 AM Ignore furbud1957 Report Abuse Yup, yaking and driving is as bad if not worse than drinking and driving!
BBopp Champion Author Dayton Posts:5,453 Points:1,679,530 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:25:10 AM Ignore BBopp Report Abuse This story has nothing to do with fuel prices.
fedupMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,422 Points:280,860 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:17:42 AM Ignore fedupMN Report Abuse Wow, she is lucky to have survived with as few in juries as she did. hopefully she has fully recovered.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:6,592 Points:938,145 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:16:57 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse police blotter story
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:6,205 Points:1,292,815 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:10:21 AM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Awful!
matman01 Champion Author Detroit Posts:12,785 Points:1,609,530 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:09:55 AM Ignore matman01 Report Abuse Some drivers should lose their right to use a cellphone while driving before we ALL lose ours based on the actions of a select few.
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,738 Points:276,630 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:59:39 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse This woman is really lucky to be alive -- unbelievable story.
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,178 Points:854,735 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:51:56 AM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse rbrk02 is right.
grandpadon28110 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:2,903 Points:784,160 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:48:41 AM Ignore grandpadon28110 Report Abuse Crazy people.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,264 Points:162,075 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:36:02 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Two tier drivers licenses. Tier one: Up to 2000 driving hours, no cell phone use, drive in right hand lane. Tier two: Take special test, have a clean driving record, allow driving in passing lane, allow hands free cell phone use. Just like we do with air plane pilots licenses!
rbrk02 Champion Author Rhode Island Posts:3,029 Points:456,155 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:27:43 AM Ignore rbrk02 Report Abuse Drivers are distracted by so many things while behind the wheel. Each time there is a cell phone related incident, a story like this shows up. Plenty of accidents happen with other distractions. More than with cell phones. Where are the stories about drivers distracted by their passengers or children and pets in the car? What about those eating and drinking? Shaving? Applying makeup? Fiddling with the radio or cd player?. It is time to enforce existing laws and hold drivers accountable for their actions. Simply blaming the cell phone for accidents like this is ignoring the real issue. GasPriceHelp4u and gawxnative, great comments, both.