I have to write an english essay, and this is the topic that I have chosen. So I am asking you what you think. Should people be permitted to talk on their cell phones while they are driving?
Should talking on cell phones while driving be allowed?
- Thread starter Atlantean
- Start date
Is there an urgent need to talk on the cell phone while driving? or is it to gossip?
Does talking on your cell phone distract some/all of your attention from concentrating on driving properly (difficult because most people don't drive properly in the first place)?
Is using a cell phone any different from using the radio in the car?
Has talking on a cell phone been proven to increase accidents - in the U.S., in any country?
Does talking on your cell phone distract some/all of your attention from concentrating on driving properly (difficult because most people don't drive properly in the first place)?
Is using a cell phone any different from using the radio in the car?
Has talking on a cell phone been proven to increase accidents - in the U.S., in any country?
After watching a few people do it I have decided talking on cell phones while driving should NOT be allowed. I saw some woman on a cell phone come within a few inches of hitting the car next to her before she swerved back into her lane. I would have bet so much money that she was going to hit the car next to her. She was REALLY lucky... Some are not!
Amused
Elite Member
- Apr 14, 2001
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Talking on a cell phone while driving is no more distracting than holding a conversation with a passanger in your car, changing the radio station, or any number of distractions we face daily. Passing laws outlawing this opens a pandoras box of slippery slopes in how much control the government can have over you while you're in your car. I stated this very thing when seatbelt laws were passed, and no one believed me. Well lookie now.
Welcome to the Nanny States of America. Be careful, or we'll spank you!
Welcome to the Nanny States of America. Be careful, or we'll spank you!
In my opinion, it should not be allowed. While I don't want us to end up the Nanny States of America, almost every time I see a driver do something completely stupid and dangerous, I look and see they have a phone growing out of their ear. I can't count the number of times I almost got hit by someone chatting on a phone.
With a headset? It should be allowed. Without a headset? Well come to Southern California around the LA area and witness for yourself the dangers of drivers talking on cell phones.
<< I stated this very thing when seatbelt laws were passed, and no one believed me. Well lookie now. >>
Huh? How did seatbelt laws degrade into the government controlling what you were doing in your car? And, while you're in your car, flying at xxxMPH, you are now involving the lives and well-being of others. If you can't figure out how to drive safely, the government is going to have to figure out how to do it for you.
While it may seem that talking on the cellphone is equivalent to chatting with the person in the passenger's seat, I rarely see people swerving all over the road when talking to the person next to them.
Nitemare
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2001
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or just make it a separate license at the DMV. You would have to take a written test as well as a road test...You would be called at random times through out the road test, normally at bad-times, by the instructor who would be riding in the back seat.
He would ask you questions that involved you to think and to throw off your driving skills.
Some people can drive safely while speaking on the cell phone...whereas others...
He would ask you questions that involved you to think and to throw off your driving skills.
Some people can drive safely while speaking on the cell phone...whereas others...
Yes. There are already laws on the books for people who cannot stay in their lanes, tailgate, etc. The cops do not need yet another BS reason to pull people over.
Although I respect peoples rights to do what they want, I also pay attention to the next part that says as long as it doesn't cause harm or restrict anyone elses rights. Twice in the last 15 months, I have been rear-ended on the 405 freeway between wilshire Blvd and the 90. BOTH times it was a person using a cell phone, that hadn't noticed that traffic had slowed down or stopped, while they were talking or trying to dial on their cell phone.
As luck would have it, in the Dodge neon I drive, the only thing that was affected was the rear license plate was ripped off. A couple of dollars to buy new screws and nuts to fix.
As to the people rear ending me, the first a woman in a trans am, did close to 3k damage to her front end. It "dove" down underneath the neon and pushed the hood back about a foot, and ripped cables, hoses and fan to pieces.
The second a nissan sentra, did about the same amount of damage.
The funny thing is they tried to sue my insurance company for damages even though they were the ones that rear-ended me. Both times when we got to court and the judge heard what happened they were thrown out immediately.
So Although I would hate to tell people what they can and can't do in their cars, on this one I would have to vote on NO. Until they can come up with a better way of doing it so that people don't have to take their eyes off the road to talk.
As luck would have it, in the Dodge neon I drive, the only thing that was affected was the rear license plate was ripped off. A couple of dollars to buy new screws and nuts to fix.
As to the people rear ending me, the first a woman in a trans am, did close to 3k damage to her front end. It "dove" down underneath the neon and pushed the hood back about a foot, and ripped cables, hoses and fan to pieces.
The second a nissan sentra, did about the same amount of damage.
The funny thing is they tried to sue my insurance company for damages even though they were the ones that rear-ended me. Both times when we got to court and the judge heard what happened they were thrown out immediately.
So Although I would hate to tell people what they can and can't do in their cars, on this one I would have to vote on NO. Until they can come up with a better way of doing it so that people don't have to take their eyes off the road to talk.
Amused
Elite Member
- Apr 14, 2001
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<<
<< I stated this very thing when seatbelt laws were passed, and no one believed me. Well lookie now. >>
Huh? How did seatbelt laws degrade into the government controlling what you were doing in your car? And, while you're in your car, flying at xxxMPH, you are now involving the lives and well-being of others. If you can't figure out how to drive safely, the government is going to have to figure out how to do it for you.
While it may seem that talking on the cellphone is equivalent to chatting with the person in the passenger's seat, I rarely see people swerving all over the road when talking to the person next to them. >>
Yes yes! People, you are too stupid to assume responsibility for your actions! Therefore the nanny-state MUST do it for you!
When you see someone swerve on the road, and see no noticable distraction, you simply call them an idiot and move on. When you SEE a noticable distraction, you note that and blame that distraction. A person swerving while noticably holding a cell phone is more notable to you than one NOT holding a cell phone. Cell phones have become the whipping boy because other drivers can see it and POINT to that as the "cause" for the other driver's incompetence. One cannot so readily point out that a driver was changing radio stations, or talking with other passangers, but holding a cell phone to one's ear is far more obvious to others outside the car.
And here is earth shattering news. In the time period between 1990 and 2000 cell phone use exploded, yet traffic fatalities and injuries per billion miles driven has decreased. pdf
By the knee-jerk logic of those who claim cell phone use in cars are so dangerous, the accident rates should have exploded with cell phone use. Exactly the opposite has happened.
Yes they should...at least with a hands free headset. I've seen people kissing, reading a book or the paper, putting on makeup and screaming at their kid in the backseat...all of which are worse than most people on the cell. Plus I have to use my phone while traveling (phone support) and would never get anywhere if I pulled over everytime I received a call.
Yes. I am totally against that law. However, I think if you're talking you should pull to the right lane with slower traffic so you don't block people.
Whatever excuses anyone uses for talking on a cell phone do not hold sway if that person becomes a danger to other road users irrespective of whether someone putting on makeup is more dangerous. They are BOTH dangerous drivers.
If anyone can provide any reliable documentation I think that would help Atlantean.
If anyone can provide any reliable documentation I think that would help Atlantean.
AmusedOne, do you have a problem with wearing a seatbelt? It is supposed to increase your chance of survival in an accident (something like 50% IIRC).
Unlike seatbelts that are there to protect the individual in an accident and where he/she has a choice whether to wear it or not (ignoring the law of course), cell phone users are making the decision to endanger other road users by being less focused on driving. Good driving is not something that takes a maximum of 50% of your concentration, it takes all the concentration you give it, and 100% makes you as safe as you can be (relative). Talking on a cell phone reduces the concentration you can give to driving and therefore inherently makes you less safe than you can be.
Unlike seatbelts that are there to protect the individual in an accident and where he/she has a choice whether to wear it or not (ignoring the law of course), cell phone users are making the decision to endanger other road users by being less focused on driving. Good driving is not something that takes a maximum of 50% of your concentration, it takes all the concentration you give it, and 100% makes you as safe as you can be (relative). Talking on a cell phone reduces the concentration you can give to driving and therefore inherently makes you less safe than you can be.
absolutely not. I've seen too many accidents involving cell phones. My mom is the perfect example. While she hasn't been in an accident, she has had several near misses that have scared the living sh!t out of her and me. In my opinion, there is no need to talk on the phone while you're driving. You're there to drive. It's not like you're playing a game. This is serious stuff. While in control of a vehicle, you are 100% responsible for your life and those of your passengers. Put the phone down. Talk later.
Not just NO, but HELL NO...................................stupid &$#^# damn near ran me off the road AGAIN!!
Amused
Elite Member
- Apr 14, 2001
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<< AmusedOne, do you have a problem with wearing a seatbelt? It is supposed to increase your chance of survival in an accident (something like 50% IIRC).
Unlike seatbelts that are there to protect the individual in an accident and where he/she has a choice whether to wear it or not (ignoring the law of course), cell phone users are making the decision to endanger other road users by being less focused on driving. Good driving is not something that takes a maximum of 50% of your concentration, it takes all the concentration you give it, and 100% makes you as safe as you can be (relative). Talking on a cell phone reduces the concentration you can give to driving and therefore inherently makes you less safe than you can be. >>
Most things drivers do reduce their concentration. What next? Outlawing radios in cars? Outlawing conversation with passengers? Outlawing any dials and switches that take a drivers eyes off the road? I repeat, cell phones are being targeted as the whipping boy here because it's the ONLY thing other drivers can readily see you doing.
And the stats prove my point, Cell phone usage exploded while accident rates declined between 1990 and 2000. There is no correlation, much less causation to show that cell phone usage is any more dangerous than any other distraction, or is acusing any more accidents per miles driven.
As for seatbelt laws, I disagree with the law, not the practice. I resent being told to do what's best for me, by penalty of law.
NO!!!... i get distracted even when im talking to a person in the car with me jeeze then again im a horrible driver 
Road Test tomorrow hahaha.
Road Test tomorrow hahaha.<<
And here is earth shattering news. In the time period between 1990 and 2000 cell phone use exploded, yet traffic fatalities and injuries per billion miles driven has decreased. pdf
By the knee-jerk logic of those who claim cell phone use in cars are so dangerous, the accident rates should have exploded with cell phone use. Exactly the opposite has happened. >>
One word: Airbags.
A few rotten apples will cause all of us to suffer. Stop whining and either pull over or just wait to talk to your husband about who?s picking little Johnny up from soccer practice!
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