Ok, time to duke it out. Cell phones and driving....

[YoSteve]

It seems to be a touchy subject (well on yahoo message boards anyways). But how do you feel about laws prohibiting cell phones entirely (and/or hands free options only) or not at all.

Just curious, Steve.

I hate aholes with cell phones. Today on the way into work I saw a woman talking on a cell hone between her head and shoulder, putting eyeliner on with one hand and drinking coffee in the other. I want to swire at those people in the morning.

[2wheelsx2]

I don't have problem with handsfree...I use it from time to time. However, there are people who will get on the phone as soon as they get in the car, even while they are backing out of the driveway. Those people are dangerous. If you are going to make a phone call, why not do it before you turn the ignition on?

[Black99miata]

If cell phone conversations with a hands free kit, voice dialing, etc. are outlawed, then we had better outlaw conversations with the driver of the car by passengers of the car. In fact, maybe we should ban conversations in the car completely, because even if the driver is not involved directly, what is said may distract him/her.

I do not believe that cell phones without HF options should be legal, as it definitely does cross the line. To ban what effectively is conversation (no physical distraction) goes over the line in my opinion.

As for those putting on makeup while drinking coffee, eating a doughnut and talking on the phone.... well lets just say there is an idiot born every minute, and if you legislate the cell phone away, then you have removed one of the four distractions for a driver who should not be licensed due to poor common sense. It is just a matter of application of some basic principles of logic that escape some people, and they should simply be taken off the road, because if it isn't the cell phone, they will inevitably be grilling on the habatchi onthe passenger seat whilst practicing kung fu that will cause their ultimate demise and more importantly some poor sucker who happens to get in their way.

While we are on the sunbject, why don't we enforce the laws we have now...for example DWI. I don't quite understand how DWI shouldn't be the same as walking thru town intoxicated while brandishing a 44 magnum. It is attempted assault. We need to wake up in this country and realize what a real threat DWI is.

Ok...off the soap box. I am tired.

Jeff

[Jngrbrdman]

The problem is that talking is using one side of your brain and driving uses the other side. You can't use both sides at the same time. So you are either talking or you are driving. It doesn't matter who you are talking to or what you are driving. Those are the facts. I think that if you are going to be driving then you need to be able to put both hands on the wheel at a split seconds notice. You can't do that with a phone in your hand. If you drive a standard transmission then I think you should be required to have a hands free device of some sort. I don't think that people should be arrested for driving safely while talking on the phone, but if you are driving like a crazy person then you need to be stopped and cited. Those are my feelings. Working in the wireless phone industry I hear a lot about this kind of thing. I just want people to drive safely. That is with both hands on the wheel. If you are driving wrecklessly then I don't care what the reason is. You need to be cited.

[Scottwax]

You can take my cell phone from my hands when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Sorry, but I am not buying the media hype about this. There was a study in California that came out and they found very few deaths could be contributed directly to the cell phone. Gray Doofus didn't like that result, so he is having the report revised to show all accidents and fatalities where the driver was on a cell phone, regardless of whether or not the cell phone use contributed to the accident so the accident and death rate would be higher, no doubt to further his attempt to reign in as much freedom from California's as he can.

The problem is not the cell phone, it is the driver. Why not ban cup holders in cars since they encourage drinking which could distract the driver? Ban the vanity mirror on the driver's side visor also since it could be used for shaving or applying make-up while driving. No kids in cars either. Do you know how distracting kids are? How many times have you seen a parent turned completely around facing the rear seat trying to swat a kid? No radios, cassette or CD players either.

C'mon, people, don't fall for a ploy the states are using to collect revenue through fines. AAA did a study on distracted driving and cell phones were way down on the list. Eating and drinking was number one.

The police should focus specifically on drivers who are obviously distracted, whether it be by a cell phone, newspaper, shaving, waxing their legs, whatever. We already have reckless and distracted driving laws on the books in most states. We just don't enforce them. If we did, the cell phone issue would be moot.

Oh yeah, it should be obvious (according to votematch.com) I am a libertarian leaning conservative.

[Taxlady]

I think people should use common sense. Unfortunately, that can't be legislated. I think that banning cell phones completely would be futile. As someone else pointed out, some people are just going to distract themselves from their driving with other things. In some traffic situations I just quit listening and ask people to repeat what they said when the situation is over. Sometimes I tell friends to be quiet while I'm driving. Once, on a long drive, a friend was surprised that I didn't promptly have the answer to some arithmetic problem. I explained that I need that processing power for driving.

I'm pretty much in favour of banning hand held cell phones while driving, even though I've been known to answer my cell phone if I believe the current driving situation allows me to do so safely.

edit: I just read Scottwax's post. I agree, just enforce laws we already have, about driving while distracted, etc. and don't make a specific law about cell phone use.
end edit.

There was some study that indicated that it was more dangerous to drive and talk to the boss or clients, than to talk to friends or family. They figure you are more likely to say, "Wait a minute" during a casual call than during a biz call.

[bizzy928]

It was a couple years ago when they did the test between handsfree and a normal cell phone. When the test was completed it was concluded that cell phones AND handsfree units both distract the driver by 30%.

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by bizzy928
It was a couple years ago when they did the test between handsfree and a normal cell phone. When the test was completed it was concluded that cell phones AND handsfree units both distract the driver by 30%.

Did they test to see how much shaving or putting on make-up distracted the driver? How about reading?

[bizzy928]

Well, I don't even know if those figures are still valid today
But I remember hearing that.

They didn't test shaving, eating or reading.

The same discussion started up when they first put radios into the car. Accident rates went up and people wanted to ban radios. However that trend stayed and we are all used to it now.

I think cell phones will be the same. People will continue to use them in the car.

I admit that I use the cell phone while driving sometimes. I don't hold conversations, but I do call for directions etc. WHILE driving. Each situation is different. If i'm driving downtown during rush hour on a cell phone, i'm clearly a hazard to others. But I see less harm driving on the highway 2 in the morning with no cars around.

I doubt a ban will follow through. What people should push for is proper education when it comes to common sense + driving + distractions (cellphones,eating,reading...). This education should be held in driving schools.

[Redcar GUY]

I dont own a cell, I use to but I wanted to be harder to find


But I dont think that you should be talking on one as you drive, just my .02$

[stanger99]

i drive a standard and i've never even thought about answering my cell in the car while i'm driving. because i am not THAT important and they can just wait until i get where i'm going.