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NY Police Get Tall SUVs To Combat Texting While Driving

coondoggie writes "The New York State Police have a new weapon to fight the plague of drivers that insist on texting while operating their vehicle: tall SUVs. Most recently reported by the AP, NY has begun operating a fleet of 32 unmarked SUVs that let troopers more easily peer down into a car to see if the driver is texting or not. 'Major Michael Kopy, commander of the state police troop patrolling the corridor between New York City and Albany, quoted a Virginia Tech study that found texting while driving increased the chance of a collision by 23 times and took eyes off the road for five seconds — more than the length of a football field at highway speed. Kopy worries that as teens get their driver's licenses, texting on the road will become more prevalent. "More people are coming of driving age who have had these hand-held devices for many years, and now as they start to drive, they're putting the two together, texting and driving, when they shouldn't."'"

4 of 319 comments (clear)

  1. I have a better idea. by xtal · · Score: 4, Funny
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    ..don't panic
  2. taller SUVs payoff for the hungry investor by beckett · · Score: 1, Funny

    More truck means slower pursuit and longer interdiction times, but just think of how many doughnuts a Yukon with a lift kit will haul! no more embarassing loading-u-haul-in-the-crispy-creme-parking-lot for NY cops.

  3. Re:Cost-benefit analysis by FatLittleMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Its about sending a message

    Isn't that what got us into this mess?

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    Science is all about firing a drunk pig out of a cannon just to see what happens.
  4. Re:Cost-benefit analysis by kilfarsnar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Being 6'4", I have to drive with my head stabilized against the roof, when I'm not ducking to see the stop light. If I sit further back, either I can't steer properly, or my head bounces off the top of the windshield when braking and occasionally the top of door when turning right.

    Was this the largest automobile you could afford?

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    "What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public." -Ray Zalinsky (Tommy Boy)