NTSB recommends full ban on use of phones while driving

[xBiffx]

Like the title says:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/13/us/ntsb-cell-phone-ban/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

I, for one, am all for a full ban and always have been. There is no reason whatsoever to be talking on the phone and driving at the same time. Unless its an emergency and you are speaking directly with law enforcement/emergency agency, there is no reason to be on the phone.

Plus, hands-free is commonplace these days. If your new car doesn't have it, aftermarket devices are easy to come by and are getting cheaper and cheaper.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I, for one, am all for a full ban and always have been. There is no reason whatsoever to be talking on the phone and driving at the same time. Unless its an emergency and you are speaking directly with law enforcement/emergency agency, there is no reason to be on the phone.

Plus, hands-free is commonplace these days. If your new car doesn't have it, aftermarket devices are easy to come by and are getting cheaper and cheaper.

Agree 100%!!!

 

[chucky2]

I'm guilty of both talking with the phone in hand and texting while driving...I'm all for the ban. Think they should put something in each car and phone for sale in the US that when the car is in anything other than Park, the phone will not display txt's/media and calls go to VM (that can be setup with a custom VM for driving).

Thing is...how do you get something automatic like that and not screw the passenger in the front seat, or the folks in the back, who should be able to use their phones?

So I don't see an easy way to do an automatic non-defeatable solution...which means cops giving tickets unfortunately.... 🙁

 

[xBiffx]

I'm guilty of both talking with the phone in hand and texting while driving...I'm all for the ban. Think they should put something in each car and phone for sale in the US that when the car is in anything other than Park, the phone will not display txt's/media and calls go to VM (that can be setup with a custom VM for driving).

Thing is...how do you get something automatic like that and not screw the passenger in the front seat, or the folks in the back, who should be able to use their phones?

So I don't see an easy way to do an automatic non-defeatable solution...which means cops giving tickets unfortunately.... 🙁

Cops and tickets will always be a part of the equation. Seatbelts, for example, are optional in that the user must enact the use option. It takes cops and tickets to enforce seatbelt laws where they exist, as is the case here.

 

[brandonb]

Land of the free...

 

[xBiffx]

Land of the hands-free...

FTFY

 

[Patranus]

Yawn. Another nanny state law that won't solve anything.]

Whats next in the war against distracted driving, a ban on kids in the car?

 

[MotF Bane]

Good. I would like to see this enforced viciously. It's far more dangerous to have texting, or even talking, than going 10-15 MPH over the speed limit.

Also, automatic programming solutions on phones just screws with passengers, and you can get around that sort of thing.

Finally, for those bitching about nanny states and other such bullshit, driving is a privilege, not a right. If you don't want to pay attention, stop drinking, or just flat out suck at driving, then you shouldn't be on the roads to kill other people with your two-ton death machine.

 

[soundforbjt]

I think it was on the Discovery channel. They had a test where they had various drivers drive a course they had laid out and first gave them alcohol to just over the legal limit and had them drive the course (after a baseline sober run). Most all of them failed. Then they drive the course the next day while talking using both hands-free and hand-held cell phone use. All of them failed those runs.

I support the ban.

 

[drebo]

I said it in the other thread on this and I'll say it here: It's not the cellphone that's the problem, it's the conversation and the driver.

Make it more difficult to get and keep a license and there will be less accidents. Plain and simple.

 

[halik]

I said it in the other thread on this and I'll say it here: It's not the cellphone that's the problem, it's the conversation and the driver.

Make it more difficult to get and keep a license and there will be less accidents. Plain and simple.

Disagree entirely; i think it's the fumbling with the phone to dial the numbers. Having a conversation on the phone or the person sitting to your left or listening to radio amounts to the same thing.

 

[dfuze]

My state (CT) already has a ban on it, but you can see tons of people still using them all the time. I really wish they would step up enforcement. Most of the time I see drivers drifting into my lane or just driving stupid I can see their phone jammed in their ear.

 

[brandonb]

Finally, for those bitching about nanny states and other such bullshit, driving is a privilege, not a right.

What difference does that make?

People with their nanny shit... "Oh noes. Germs on hands will kill us." "Oh noes. Someone in car can hurt us." Go live in your bubble if you are that afraid of the world. Give the rest of us some enjoyment out of life. With that privilege there is some danger and responsibility. That is going to happen with this cell phone bullshit or not.

I'm ok with it. When I pull out onto the road, I expect there are a few knuckleheads out there that can ruin my day (or my life) but I accept that when I pull out onto the road as a price to pay for the enjoying that privilege.

I remember people used to go out driving just for the sake of getting out of the house. If we can't use cell phones, talk in the car with family, can't turn on a radio because "it could hurt someone" what enjoyment is there left?

It's amazing what people are willing to give up for some security. Mindless drones, with a 120 year life expentency. Sorry. I'd rather enjoy my life than live long.

 

[drebo]

Disagree entirely; i think it's the fumbling with the phone to dial the numbers. Having a conversation on the phone or the person sitting to your left or listening to radio amounts to the same thing.

The accidents don't happen while the dialing is happening (that takes, what, 5 seconds?)

The accidents happen during the conversation, and people who cannot talk and drive at the same time should not be driving, specifically because of your second sentence.

 

[tydas]

People with their nanny shit... "Oh noes. Germs on hands will kill us." "Oh noes. Someone in car can hurt us." Go live in your bubble if you are that afraid of the world. Give the rest of us some enjoyment out of life. With that privilege there is some danger and responsibility. That is going to happen with this cell phone bullshit or not.

Huh? Why don't you go live in Afghanastain, no rules at all there..yes, there is a price to being a part of one of the best countries on the planet...

 

[monovillage]

Yawn. Another nanny state law that won't solve anything.]

Whats next in the war against distracted driving, a ban on kids in the car?

I consider it more of a driving while impaired or drunk driving law then a seat belt law. If the only victim of someones driving while they they're looking at their phone texting was themselves, I might feel different, instead I have to consider the people in the car they just rear ended because they were on the phone.

 

[woolfe9999]

What does a law that aims to prevent people from harming other people have to do with the "nanny state?" This is the problem with buzzwords and catchphrases. Sooner or later they become so over used that they lose their meaning.

 

[bfdd]

Why don't we just require cell phone licenses? That would make more sense right? I mean we require a license for operating a vehicle.

Yes I still have a stick up my ass about drivers licenses not being needed and a waste of money.

 

[mosco]

Disagree entirely; i think it's the fumbling with the phone to dial the numbers. Having a conversation on the phone or the person sitting to your left or listening to radio amounts to the same thing.

I don't think thats true, at least the other people in the car are able to see what is going on around you and potentially be quiet if they see you are driving into a complicated situation or are doing something stupid on the road.

And the radio doesn't generally require interaction. You are just listening and can then phase it out if needed.

I support the ban 100%. It's getting the point where when I see someone doing something stupid, there is probably an 80% chance they are on the phone. It's getting out of control.

 

[piasabird]

My last accident I was slammed into while stopping by some lady with her cell phone in hand. She knew an intersection was ahead and it did not stop her from almost killing me. Some people are addicted to their phone and they cant resist playing with it while driving. Those people should not get a ticket they should get a 6 month suspended license and have to pay 2 times the damages.

Call them Premeditated Cell Assaulters.

 

[bfdd]

As a Californian who has lived with this ban, it doesn't really make a difference and the majority of people you'll notice on the phone happen to be cops and then you just end up wondering "what the fuck?" So I say, fuck this ban.

 

[blackangst1]

I think it was on the Discovery channel. They had a test where they had various drivers drive a course they had laid out and first gave them alcohol to just over the legal limit and had them drive the course (after a baseline sober run). Most all of them failed. Then they drive the course the next day while talking using both hands-free and hand-held cell phone use. All of them failed those runs.

I support the ban.

You are correct.

As a motorcycle rider I fully support this. Nearly every week I am directly affected by someone on a phone either drifting into my lane, moving into my lane, not braking for something ahead of them, or similar things. I cant remember the last time I was affected by a drunk driver.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

We have had the ban in place here in Ontario for about two years now. As a former OPP officer I fully support the idea but it all comes down to education and enforcement. People simply don't seem to be able to get it.

The biggest issues is texters. Talking is a distraction, yes. It just does not come close to texting. I responded to more MVA's than I'd care to recall where someone using a mobile device while driving had taken their lives or someone else's. Worse is it is usually teens involved.

 

[Craig234]

This might be the first issue I agree with Biff on.

Simply: studies show that phone use while driving increases the danger of an accident the same amount as being just over the legal drinking limit.

AND they show that the danger is the same for hands-free and not hands-free.

Laws have been very flawed in allowing hands-free phone use.

This is an example of the government doing the right thing.

I'm just pleasantly surprised Biff agrees.

Cue the 'all government action is Nazi Germany' ideologues.

 

[Craig234]

The biggest issues is texters. Talking is a distraction, yes. It just does not come close to texting. I responded to more MVA's than I'd care to recall where someone using a mobile device while driving had taken their lives or someone else's. Worse is it is usually teens involved.

An article this week says texting while driving increased 50% last year.

We need education and enforcement of laws.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57339278/texting-while-driving-up-50-percent-last-year/