Had a class debate, today

[imported_LoKe]

We were given a topic : The use of cellphones in cars. The class was devided into two teams, for and against. Those against must argue why cellphones in any form (headset/handsfree devices, etc) should be banned completely from cars.

This kind of sucked because when there's an emergency, you might need to get to a phone.

So, how would you argue for/against this?

 

[eelw]

Many studies have shown that cell phone usage does indeed effect driver ability. Hands free or not, the distraction of talking on the phone greatly reduces driver response time. Sometimes to as slow as a seniors reaction times.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: LoKe
We were given a topic : The use of cellphones in cars. The class was devided into two teams, for and against. Those against must argue why cellphones in any form (headset/handsfree devices, etc) should be banned completely from cars.

This kind of sucked because when there's an emergency, you might need to get to a phone.

So, how would you argue for/against this?

Its not saying you can't have a phone IN the car. You just can't use it while driving.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: eelw
Many studies have shown that cell phone usage does indeed effect driver ability. Hands free or not, the distraction of talking on the phone greatly reduces driver response time. Sometimes to as slow as a seniors reaction times.

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: LoKe
We were given a topic : The use of cellphones in cars. The class was devided into two teams, for and against. Those against must argue why cellphones in any form (headset/handsfree devices, etc) should be banned completely from cars.

This kind of sucked because when there's an emergency, you might need to get to a phone.

So, how would you argue for/against this?

Its not saying you can't have a phone IN the car. You just can't use it while driving.

Haha. That's an argument I used, but then there was a counter of "what if there's an emergency" and blah blah blah. I countered with something like "a cellphone may remain in the car, yet unused until an emergency occurs, in which case the driver could pull over." But I'm not entirely sure how well that worked out.

I find out tomorrow if I did alright...

 

[Glavinsolo]

Cops here use cell phones and smoke in their cruisers

 

[Drakkon]

my mom got in an accident last week cause a 17 yr old girl on a cellphone turns right infront of her. Girl said she was distracted by who she was talking to. Mom ended up rolling over 2 times, concusion, 20 some odd stiches, and a broken arm along with enire upperbody being brused and batterd Sister had a few stiches and was scarapped and brused pretty bad.

Thus i say lets make it a law against people using cell phones WHILE driving. I dont care if u pull over and answer the phone (what i do), if your in the flow of traffic or driving aorund making turns AND usign a cell phone, $500 fine and revokation of drivers license.

 

[randomlinh]

and what about talking w/ passengers? it's not much different, your attention is taken away from the primary focus of driving. So eating, playing with your radio, trying to light a cigarette... I can't tell you how many times i've been nearly hit by someone not paying attention because they were too busy talking w/ their friend's in the car.

 

[Baked]

There's no discussion. People who cellphone while driving should drive over cliff.

 

[lytalbayre]

They had this on mythbusters....

Basically, when you a thinking about responses to other person, you are decreasing your concentration on the road. Your reaction times decrease and you are more than likely to get into an accident. An interesting comparison was that they got almost legally drunk, and did the driving course again with better results than when they were on the cell phone.

I personally think cell phones should be restricted if you are a driver unless it's an emergency. (The exception might be a headset or something...)

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
and what about talking w/ passengers? it's not much different, your attention is taken away from the primary focus of driving. So eating, playing with your radio, trying to light a cigarette... I can't tell you how many times i've been nearly hit by someone not paying attention because they were too busy talking w/ their friend's in the car.

you mean like those VW commercials?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
if your in the flow of traffic or driving aorund making turns AND usign a cell phone, $500 fine and revokation of drivers license.

What's next...banning GPS nav? Radio? What about OnStar?

Originally posted by: lytalbayre
They had this on mythbusters....

Basically, when you a thinking about responses to other person, you are decreasing your concentration on the road. Your reaction times decrease and you are more than likely to get into an accident. An interesting comparison was that they got almost legally drunk, and did the driving course again with better results than when they were on the cell phone.

I personally think cell phones should be restricted if you are a driver unless it's an emergency. (The exception might be a headset or something...)

Heh -- if they were holding their cell phone with one hand, that would definitely hamper performance on a driving course, no?

I find that a lack of sleep impairs my driving significantly more than a cell phone does.

I'm not a big cell user...but be realistic. There are plenty of other distractions...and some stuff that's already illegal could be enforced a bit better (DUI/DWI).

 

[eelw]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
and what about talking w/ passengers? it's not much different, your attention is taken away from the primary focus of driving.

Umm, the passenger can see what is happening in front of them. So if as the driver you suddenly stop talking, they will understand what's going on. The same can't be said with the other person on the phone.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: eelw
Umm, the passenger can see what is happening in front of them. So if as the driver you suddenly stop talking, they will understand what's going on. The same can't be said with the other person on the phone.

Ditto. On a cell phone, in an accident situation, you'll stop talking and the person on the phone makes things worse by trying to get your attention. Also, in person, you have both hands free for an accident manuver. This isn't true with a normal cell phone (hands-free is different of course).

Basically, cell phones can and do cause accidents. You don't need to talk and drive, so why shouldn't there be at least some form of reasonable restriction? The key is reasonable. Don't do too much harm just to prevent one accident.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: eelw
Umm, the passenger can see what is happening in front of them. So if as the driver you suddenly stop talking, they will understand what's going on. The same can't be said with the other person on the phone.

Ditto. On a cell phone, in an accident situation, you'll stop talking and the person on the phone makes things worse by trying to get your attention. Also, in person, you have both hands free for an accident manuver. This isn't true with a normal cell phone (hands-free is different of course).

Basically, cell phones can and do cause accidents. You don't need to talk and drive, so why shouldn't there be at least some form of reasonable restriction? The key is reasonable. Don't do too much harm just to prevent one accident.

That was the problem with this whole topic. I was forced against the use, completely. No headsets, etc. This sucked because it leaves no viable recourse and just about any argument could smash me apart.

We should be having more debates in the future; hopefully he'll allow us some more opinionated topics such as religion.

 

[BigJ]

Wait wait wait. So LoKe is asking ATOT for help with a class assignment, when he previously turned someone in for doing the same?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Wait wait wait. So LoKe is asking ATOT for help with a class assignment, when he previously turned someone in for doing the same?

No. First of all, I'm not asking for help, for I've already had the debate. I'm asking what you all think. What the other person did was different, he was offering money for answers.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: BigJ
Wait wait wait. So LoKe is asking ATOT for help with a class assignment, when he previously turned someone in for doing the same?

No. First of all, I'm not asking for help, for I've already had the debate. I'm asking what you all think. What the other person did was different, he was offering money for answers.

bingo.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: eelw
Many studies have shown that cell phone usage does indeed effect driver ability. Hands free or not, the distraction of talking on the phone greatly reduces driver response time. Sometimes to as slow as a seniors reaction times.

What kind of response times did seniors with cellphones have? Or did they reach a critical point where it couldn't get worst?

 

[OOBradm]

Its illegal in new york..................

 

[mwtgg]

If there's an emergency, you're gonna use the phone -- ban or not.

 

[eelw]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: eelw
Many studies have shown that cell phone usage does indeed effect driver ability. Hands free or not, the distraction of talking on the phone greatly reduces driver response time. Sometimes to as slow as a seniors reaction times.

What kind of response times did seniors with cellphones have? Or did they reach a critical point where it couldn't get worst?

Well I guess we need some more studies.