Would you support a law to ban cellphone use while driving EXCEPT for handsfree devices?

[Squisher]

Wasn't there a recent study done where they affix a camera in the car pointed at the people inside and found that, yes, distracted driving was the number one cause, but changing CDs was at the top of the list?


BTW-I probably use my cellphone in my car about once a month and the call's duration couldn't be more than 30 sec., maybe a minute once in a while. I voted yes, but if this were to become law then I'd probably be putting on a hands free device every time my phone rang.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: sdifox
I would say no cell phone use while driving period. Who cares if it is handsfree, you can't pay attention to the road and the person on the phone at the same time!

I can.

 

[Canai]

Cell phones + 2 tons of metal traveling at 100kph = bad. Period. The should be completely banned while driving.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: jagec
I would only support such a law if it banned hands-free devices as well, since studies have shown that they're just as dangerous as regular cellphone usage, and both are more dangerous than adjusting the radio/talking to a passenger.

 

[AmpedSilence]

i commute an hour each from work and back; and during the ride home the only way that i can stay awake is having someone to talk to. Cue in bluetooth set and phone here. I have no problem with talking on a handfree cell phone and driving. As far as i can tell, i takes about as much mental effort AS chewing gum and walking.

Plus, its like that in some parts of the country already. Philadelphia I know for sure.

I just think that it's stupid that we need a LAW for something that feels like common sense to me anyway.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I personally think all cellphone use in a moving vehicle should be against the law. You simply cannot perform the task at hand if you are speaking on the phone, handsfree or not.

If you want an example, try playing your FPS video game when your girl is talking to you.

I take it you can't have non-cellphone conversations in the car either; ergo you must not have a girl.

An FPS game is a lot different than driving.

I think most people's problem is trying to balance their phones while talking and worse trying to find the freaking thing on the floor, under stuff, etc while driving.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd support a ban on their use while driving, regardless of headsets.

Oh, and to all the "I drive just fine while talking on a cell phone" people posting in this thread. It's kinda funny - virtually everyone who uses a cell phone while driving makes the exact same claim. Yet, every day we see idiots on the road weaving back and forth in their lane, unable to maintain a constant speed while driving, etc. And, almost invariably, these idiots are talking on a cell phone.

So, not only are you able to talk on a cell phone and drive skillfully at the same time, but you're able to use that spare 2 or 3 brain cells to analyze your driving skills too, huh? Quite impressive.

 

[CKent]

Yes. But then, I'd also support a law to prevent women and people with IQs lower than 85 from driving.

 

[Freejack2]

I have no problem driving and talking on my headset. If the road needs more attention then I'll tell the person to hold on. If they can't understand that you're driving and need to focus on that for a minute, they they are idiots.

 

[Nocturnal]

There are just way too many people who cannot do two things at once. I always see people swerving or stopping while it's a green light. I'm all for a ban on cell phone use while driving.

 

[Agentbolt]

But then, I'd also support a law to prevent women

Just curious, are there any studies you're aware of that show women are inferior drivers? I'm not even like, arguing with you, I'm simply curious. You hear all the time that women can't drive, it's such a pervasive thought that I'm wondering if it's backed up with any data.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt

But then, I'd also support a law to prevent women

Just curious, are there any studies you're aware of that show women are inferior drivers? I'm not even like, arguing with you, I'm simply curious. You hear all the time that women can't drive, it's such a pervasive thought that I'm wondering if it's backed up with any data.

Women suck at driving, but they suck in a way that doesn't cause accidents.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
I have no problem driving and talking on my headset. If the road needs more attention then I'll tell the person to hold on. If they can't understand that you're driving and need to focus on that for a minute, they they are idiots.

I'll forego the obvious jibe about the discrepancy between reality and what you think, and simply ask if you think others are as capable of driving while talking as you are and should be allowed to jeapordize others' lives by doing so. Note that research has shown cell phones interfere heavily with driving ability, so please refute this evidence if you reply.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
So, not only are you able to talk on a cell phone and drive skillfully at the same time, but you're able to use that spare 2 or 3 brain cells to analyze your driving skills too, huh? Quite impressive.

And you are somehow able to determine that one cannot based on what? Your magic 8 ball. Many are probably not good drivers regardless of talking and driving.

Do they even have cell phones out in the boondocks where you live?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
i commute an hour each from work and back; and during the ride home the only way that i can stay awake is having someone to talk to. Cue in bluetooth set and phone here. I have no problem with talking on a handfree cell phone and driving. As far as i can tell, i takes about as much mental effort AS chewing gum and walking.

Plus, its like that in some parts of the country already. Philadelphia I know for sure.

I just think that it's stupid that we need a LAW for something that feels like common sense to me anyway.

Have you considered sleeping more? Driving while drowsy is pretty bad.

And to play the devil's advocate - it's common sense to not drive while drunk, but no one would use that to justify legalizing it. Likewise to the people who say they prefer freedom over safety - why does that freedom not extend to driving while drunk?

Again, I don't know what the statistics say, but if doing something while driving increases your chances of getting in an accident substantially, as driving while drunk does, then that something should not be allowed while driving. I don't care if it's talking on a cell phone, changing your pants, putting on make-up or what have you. It's worth noting that you could get a ticket for changing your pants or putting on make-up while driving. At least in NJ we have a "catch-all" called careless driving that pretty much encompasses all of the stupid things you could do while driving that would make you drive erratically. We also have a law that specifically addresses cell phones (must be hands-free).

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Studies have proven that hands free devices dont make driving while talking any safer. It's the distraction thats the problem, and therefore I dont approve of a law like this.

my thoughts exactly, it wouldnt solve anything so whats the point? the feel good effect? worthless IMO. no matter how many laws like this they put into effect the actions wont stop, it will just be another fine when they get stopped for something else (or in an accident)

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt

But then, I'd also support a law to prevent women

Just curious, are there any studies you're aware of that show women are inferior drivers? I'm not even like, arguing with you, I'm simply curious. You hear all the time that women can't drive, it's such a pervasive thought that I'm wondering if it's backed up with any data.

As I understand it, women are in more accidents, but pay lower insurance because their accidents tend to happen at lower speed due to ineptitude, while mens' less frequent but more severe (and costly) accidents are generally due to higher speeds.

I was totally serious, btw. Totally.

 

[Yreka]

It needs to be ALOT harder ( key point - more difficult, demanding of skill, not just more expensive) to get a drivers license. Hell, we could even make "multi-tasking" part of the test..

If we could get even 50% of the fvcking retards off the road, we wouldn't need cellphone laws.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Vic
Yes. I've come full circle on this issue in the past couple of years. It's not the pointless "feel good" law I once thought it to be. These drivers constantly yapping on their cell phones are crazy, driving like drunks, changing lanes without warning, running red lights, blocking traffic, etc. And it might be forgivable, but they're always the biggest assholes on the road too. Any attempt to wake them up from their phone conversation stupor, regardless of how close they may have just came to taking your life, simply results in outrage and obscenity on their part, if they even wake up at all.
And while some studies say that headsets make zero difference, I also recognize that any law against using them while driving would be virtually unenforceable.
For the record, I no longer talk on the phone while driving. I either pull over or tell them I'll call them back.

But what I really what to know is, who the fsck are you talking to? Seriously, I used to some years back do most of my business on the road, and I used the phone quite a bit, but I never looked like the phone was glued to my ear. WTF? You're piloting a 2 ton missile at 100 feet per second. Put the phone down, come back to reality.

While I don't support banning them I have wondered that myself. When I was in the commuting rat race I would be driving to work at 5AM and a good 50% of the people I would see driving were yapping on the phone. I don't know anyone I could call and yap on the phone with at 5AM in the frigging morning.

At 5 a.m. I might be talking to our superintendent, my guys out in the field working on one of my projects, another project manager in the office, a general contractor etc.... Some of us are actually on the job at 5 a.m. and if I am out checking my job sites then I am going to conducting business while I drive regardless if their is a law or not. I simply don't have time to not handle it while I am in between sites. On the other hand, I am a safer driver than 90% of the people on the road. As much as my job depends on me conducting business on the road it also depends on me being able to drive a company truck which depends on me keeping a relatively clean driving record.

 

[manowar821]

Considering there are studies showing that driving with hands free phones is just as bad, I'd say ban both while driving.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: sdifox
I would say no cell phone use while driving period. Who cares if it is handsfree, you can't pay attention to the road and the person on the phone at the same time!

I can.

Well, good for you. Shall we say you are not the norm?

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: freesia39
it will be the law in CA on july 1, 2008.

yay!

 

[Nik]

No, I'm for less government, not more government. I would, however, support stiff penalties for driving while encumbered. If you're all over the road and otherwise endangering people, then you should be fined. If you can drive safely, I got no problem with it and I see no reason to take away the right to do so from those who actually can drive safely while talking on the phone.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
No, I'm for less government, not more government. I would, however, support stiff penalties for driving while encumbered. If you're all over the road and otherwise endangering people, then you should be fined. If you can drive safely, I got no problem with it and I see no reason to take away the right to do so from those who actually can drive safely while talking on the phone.

The thing is it can't be done. You can not give the necessary attention while driving and talking on the phone at the same time.

You are talking on the phone - do you see that deer on the side of the road ahead? Do you see that a line of cars is merging ahead? Who's on your left? Where are they at? Can you brake hard? If you have to swerve to ditch, where are you going to go.

You cannot maintain the awareness to be safe on the road while having a phone conversation. An alert driver already has all this in their head and somebody on a phone converstation (it literally consumes your mental capacity), does not.

 

[Capt Caveman]

From the number of times I've seen people not signal when changing lanes, to running stop signs/red lights b/c they're too busy talking on their cell phones, I'm for banning them while driving.