FYI, there is a very good reason that you see police officers talking on their cell phones while in a marked cruiser. Many, many criminals have police scanners and monitor law enforcement channels while they are actively pursuing their criminal activity. When LEO's are staking out a location or discussing possible scenarios with individuals, they use their cell phones as a secure way of communicating with each other. Things are seldom as they initially appear.
Mike
This is true although as police com continues to evolve, it gets harder to listen to.... and in most states, first responders are allowed to talk on phones, although I wish they would use bluetooth. But SSSS makes valid points.
Tailgating with or without distracted driving is a terrible truth, especially in urban situations. I avoided an accident in my car a week ago in heavy 35 mph traffic. I have a technique I use and this time it worked. Some idiot was tailgating me
and I noticed he/she was doing so.... so I carefully kept them in my sites. Then I saw the brakelights go on ahead and things suddenly went to a crawl ahead of me.....I had left at least 2 seconds ahead of me so I knew I would have no trouble stopping, but I was worried about the thing behind me.
I then dynamited the brakes and right away let up and continued to stop to avoid the person ahead. The person behind WAS paying attention and dynamited THEIR brakes, and as I let up I could see that they would just miss my rear and stop in time. Unfortunatly for the tailgater, there was someone tailgating them and they bumped into the first tailgater. While in this case two tailgaters got bad carma, if it had been a nice sunny day and the bikes were out, the two tailgaters could have hurt someone.
I dont blame people for quitting because society refuses to deal with the violaters. I choose to ride less around town and more in the country in low traffic situations if possible where I can leave lots of room ahead of me and have an "out".
Driving on slick roads in the winter when everyone is in a hurry and distracted if for the birds.