CA and cell phone ban?

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Parents called today to tell me that there is a bill passed that bans cell phone usage while driving unless you have a hands free device and the governator will sign it tomorrow?

Great.

I guess this is good if I had my BT headset still, but my parents broke it. Then again I really want a new one anyways.

Edit: It's an inconvenience definitely, but hopefully we'll see safer drivers. I only use my BT headset when In eed to do other things, and it drains battery like a b!tch

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Parents called today to tell me that there is a bill passed that bans cell phone usage while driving unless you have a hands free device and the governator will sign it tomorrow?

Great.

I guess this is good if I had my BT headset still, but my parents broke it. Then again I really want a new one anyways.

Edit: It's an inconvenience definitely, but hopefully we'll see safer drivers. I only use my BT headset when In eed to do other things, and it drains battery like a b!tch

But the great news is, you can still text message while driving!


Sometimes I really wonder about the laws we pass...

 

[EngenZerO]

dc has a similar law... no cellular phone while driving in downtown dc... this is why i love my jabra jx-10

 

[probzy]

Really?

 

[tm37]

ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: tm37
ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I applaud the fact that it's an effort in the right direction. I can't wait for the same here in Texas...

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: tm37
ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

Don't say this "studies say" bullshit without linking to said study.

Also, remember that data can be interpreted to say whatever you want to make it say, or tests can be repeated until you get what you want.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Parents called today to tell me that there is a bill passed that bans cell phone usage while driving unless you have a hands free device and the governator will sign it tomorrow?

Great.

I guess this is good if I had my BT headset still, but my parents broke it. Then again I really want a new one anyways.

Edit: It's an inconvenience definitely, but hopefully we'll see safer drivers. I only use my BT headset when In eed to do other things, and it drains battery like a b!tch

Been a law like this for a long time in NY. Funny having a conversation with someone when they tell you they have to put the phone down, they see a cop.

Relax - you're not going to get busted by it unless you are really, really stupid, and not paying attention - in which case, you SHOULD be busted.

 

[sswingle]

A large portion of the people that are being slow and stupid in the left lane that I need to pass on the right, I look over and see them on their phone...

 

[imported_Rat]

Originally posted by: tm37
ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

And another study says it isn't, so who am I going to believe?

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: tm37
ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

Don't say this "studies say" bullshit without linking to said study.

Also, remember that data can be interpreted to say whatever you want to make it say, or tests can be repeated until you get what you want.

The few studies I've read on the subject all seem to point in the direction of the conversation rather than the holding of the phone as the largest contributing factor to disturbed driving ability. I'd try to find and link a few, but most of them are in cogn. psych journals, and so are accessible only via subscription/university networks. There were a few textbooks that stated the same thing, although I never looked up the cited articles on the subject.

And while it's possible that the evidence might go both ways, I personally have never seen a study that tested hands-free vs. wireless saying the contrary. Then again, it's not my area of specific expertise; but the theory behind it has to do with the divying up of the limited amount of cognitive/attentional resources that we have at any given point in time.

Edit: also, it should of course be noted that the way in which the authors of the studies operationally defined "driving ability" is always open to debate and criticism. I personally would say common sense might dictate that motor interference + cognitive interference would have a greater effect than cognitive interference alone (especially when you have to waste a fraction of a second dropping the phone and reaching for the wheel during an emergency maneuver), but common sense usually isn't right when it comes to these sorts of things.

Then again, I'd also say that the conversational component is probably what leads to the greater distractibility and inattention, which in turns leads to an increased chance of getting into an accident.

 

[DurocShark]

People had conversations in their cars long before cell phones. :roll:

I'm normally against any government regulation of individual actions. But you just have to watch these arseholes with a phone shoved in the ear trying to drive to realize it's absolutely necessary.

Every day I see at least one idiot playing musical lanes while yapping on the phone. And because one hand is on the phone and one is (usually) on the wheel, they can't seem to find the time to use turn signals. So they're just crusing across lanes. Usually without looking either and going slower than the flow of traffic.

Myself, I refuse to use the phone while driving. If it rings I'll check to see who it is, and if it's someone important (kids, wife, boss, etc) I'll answer, say, "Hold on," set the phone on the passenger seat, then pull over to talk.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
People had conversations in their cars long before cell phones. :roll:

True, but the nature of a phone conversation apparently makes it more involving and disruptive of driving ability than a person-to-person conversation. The research I've read generally seems to theorize that this is because the flow of the conversation is much different (i.e. someone on the phone doesn't know to stop talking for a second while you're changing lanes, when traffic gets thicker, etc.). It might also just have something to do with the fundamental way in which attention is divided regarding phone vs. in person conversations.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: tm37
ANd yet studies have shown it's the conversation not the holding of the phone that causes accidents.

GO CALIFORNIA!!

Don't say this "studies say" bullshit without linking to said study.

Also, remember that data can be interpreted to say whatever you want to make it say, or tests can be repeated until you get what you want.

Seriously.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
I guess this is good if I had my BT headset still, but my parents broke it. Then again I really want a new one anyways.

You have until 2008 to get a new headset.

 

[kranky]

I don't need a study to know that talking on a cell while driving impairs people's ability to drive. I see it every friggin' day.

Drifting over into adjacent lanes, speed changing from 40mph to 60 and back to 40 within a half-mile, running red lights. It's only getting worse, and hands-free rules are just a band-aid.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: kranky
I don't need a study to know that talking on a cell while driving impairs people's ability to drive. I see it every friggin' day.

Drifting over into adjacent lanes, speed changing from 40mph to 60 and back to 40 within a half-mile, running red lights. It's only getting worse, and hands-free rules are just a band-aid.

Meh. But there are already laws against drifting lanes, speeding, running red lights. Why pass a law saying you can't do something that slightly increases that risk because retarded people can't drive and talk?

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
People had conversations in their cars long before cell phones. :roll:

I'm normally against any government regulation of individual actions. But you just have to watch these arseholes with a phone shoved in the ear trying to drive to realize it's absolutely necessary.

Every day I see at least one idiot playing musical lanes while yapping on the phone. And because one hand is on the phone and one is (usually) on the wheel, they can't seem to find the time to use turn signals. So they're just crusing across lanes. Usually without looking either and going slower than the flow of traffic.

Myself, I refuse to use the phone while driving. If it rings I'll check to see who it is, and if it's someone important (kids, wife, boss, etc) I'll answer, say, "Hold on," set the phone on the passenger seat, then pull over to talk.

:thumbsup::beer:

Increased gov't revenues plus slightly safter roads ftw. I hope it's enforced to the fullest extent.

 

[Brutuskend]

:thumbsup:
For California

 

[TheNinja]

I don't know how strict they'll be, but it's a great reason for the accident to not be your fault. If the other person was on the phone during the accident, sue her (or him...likely her though ).

 

[MiniDoom]

What?s the difference between fvcking with your stereo or the cell phone?

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: rdubbz420
What?s the difference between fvcking with your stereo or the cell phone?

One increases our potential for causing an accident more dramatically than the other.

I'll let you figure out which one is which.

 

[DannyLove]

Good. I can't stand it when I see random breaking in front of me, I first start to curse and begin with the typical racial sterotypes, then I convince myself its a woman, until I see its just an asshole with a fvcken phone.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
But the great news is, you can still text message while driving!

Sometimes I really wonder about the laws we pass...

No kidding and my kids are much more of a distraction than my cell phone.

Are they going to ban kids too?