Should all cities ban cell phones while driving?

Freds · May 5, 2006

( As long as people use handsfree items.. I don't see a problem with talking and driving... If you ban talking on a hands free cell phone while driving.. you might as well ban 'talking' while driving.. )

I was going to say something about this earlier, but since it came up.....
I think there is a big difference between talking to someone on a cell phone, hands free or not, and talking to someone else in the car. How many times has your passenger ever said, "Look out!"? It happens, hopefully less the older we get, but a cell phone can't give you an extra set of eyes to watch the road.

That said, PA passed a law last year restricting dogs' movement inside a vehicle because they found loose dogs contribute to accidents. I DO believe everything is being overlegislated, but too few use common sense anymore.

flwiii · May 5, 2006

I DO believe everything is being overlegislated, but too few use common sense anymore. 

Amen to that. Common sense has been falling out peoples ears for a long time. Just look at the frivilous law suits for proof of that. Makes me think of Bill Engvall talking about warnings on products. For every warning label you see, just how many people used the product improperly before they had to put on the warning?

Most people would not attempt to trim there hedges with a lawn mower but believe it, a couple of twits did. Thus the warning label on power mowers.

I've seen my fair share of people with no common sense as a Customer Service Supervisor at Sea Ray. Had one dude try to sue because his auto-pilot did not stop his boat from slamming into an island while he was out jumping its wake with his jet ski. No one was on board the 40 footer.

frank29 · May 5, 2006

( ........Most people would not attempt to trim there hedges with a lawn mower but believe it, a couple of twits did........)Years ago, in another life, I went to a coworkers home....he lived in one of those developments with 1/4 acre or so lots.....his neighbor was using a push mower to cut the grass BAREFOOT. You guys may not believe it; in fact, if I hadn't seen it, I would be tempted to call it bogus. To make it even worse, the guy wasn't some wet behind the ears kid, he was a grown man, maybe 40 or 50 years old.

Henro · May 5, 2006

Frankly, I'm sick of seeing people with cell phones stuck in their ears going 25 mph in a 40 mph zone, or riding the passing lane on an expressway at the same or slower speed than cars in the slow lane.

Laws turn me off...but not as much as people whose brains slow down when they put a phone to their ears.

On the Japan front, I don't know about driving, but I do know that cell phones are not to be used on public transportation, like trains, busses and subways. And 99.9 percent of the people follow these rules. I imagine it is the same for driving there...

On Public transportation text messaging/email/games are OK though (all would be REALLY bad when driving).

As much as I hate any restriction on personal freedom, when I see someone else's behavior affecting others who don't want to be affected, I say knock of that behavior. If what one does affects only himself, let it go. If what one does affects others who don't want to be affected, stop that behavior.

Cell phones in the driver's ear get's a big thumbs down in my opinion. I am as guilty as anyone else probably. In this case pass the law, and let each of us take our chances when we answer the phone, just like we do when we exceed the speed limit.

If nothing else, call length would probably shorten...

Alan L. · May 5, 2006

Absolutely not. I find the phone is not a distraction, any more so than if someone were in the truck with me, talking. And holding it in my hand has no effect, I drive one-handed phone or no phone. I guess if I was driving a standard it my be an issue, but I quit buying manual transmissions a long time ago due to fatigue in traffic.

Soundguy · May 6, 2006

I agree... if someone talking to you is a distrraction .. then we don't need radio's in cars either.. like I said.. if that law passes.. they might as well remove all but 1 seat int he car, and take the radio out. Better yet.. how about just educate people.. not legislate people...

Soundguy

BlueRidge · May 6, 2006

( Laws turn me off...but not as much as people whose brains slow down when they put a phone to their ears. )

This month marks 22 years in the cellphone business for me. I got my start installing the things before the network was even on the air. I've followed this debate for years now, and my viewpoint has changed.

When I first heard the reports that researchers in Toronto found that talking on a cellphone was equivalent to being legally drunk, my first thought was to wonder what their angle was, since that was obviously ridiculous.

Now I'm convinced they were right, for SOME people. Maybe MANY people. I've seen it too often to doubt it - some folks just can't talk & drive. They absolutely become lost in their own world, and are a danger to others.

When cellular was new, all of the customers were high end executives and sales types. The cars were Mercedes & BMWs, with an occasional Caddy. Then it was fleet vehicles - a LOT of mid-sized GMs. But still, better educated people, for the most part.

Then the construction crowd found out about it, and it was pickup trucks. Then the independent truckers, and watch out for those positive ground Freightliners! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Now it's every teenybopper on the planet! And anyone who can fog a mirror.

So, now a great many people whose brains are just barely able to cope with driving, are now adding the distraction of yakking on a phone.

It's not good. However, laws that require the use of hands-free devices miss the point. The research (now by several different researchers) shows that it is the CONVERSATION, not dialing or holding the phone, that is tghe big distraction. For some reason not well understood, the fact that the conversation is taking place with someone OUTSIDE the vehicle makes our brains react differently.

I like what Huntington Beach, CA, has done. Have an accident , and they find out it was due to some distraction (cellphone, yelling at kids, changing radio station), and you get a moving violation on your record, and a good hit in the pocketbook.

No prior restraint, just holding people accountable. I'd be in favor of letting officers pull people over and cite them if they see they are not paying attention to traffic. Whether that's because they are yakking, drinking coffee, putting on makeup or reading the newspaper!

JoeR · May 6, 2006

I really believe this depends on the individual. Although, passing laws to stop the few idiots seems excessive. Anytime the government tells me they are passing a law for my safety, I start to think it is nothing more than a means to gain control.

I remember when they mandated seatbelt laws. We were told it would lower our insurance and save lives. I don't know if it saved lives, but it didn't affect my insurance.

Now they tell people not to smoke at home or they will lose their job, I personally don't smoke nor do I like the smell of it, but that is over the top.

I am not trying to change subjects, and do agree in accountability over an all encompassing law.

Joe

PineRidge · May 6, 2006

Personally I would vote to ban the use of cell phones while a motor vehicle is in motion and that includes hands free units which are also a distraction. I am however not opposed to any driver pulling to the side of the road to use his/hers cell phone unless it gets to be so bad that all the stopped vehicles impede the moving traffic.

While we're at it lets also make it illegal to eat, litter, put on makeup, shave, and play loud obnoxious music that can be heard in the next county while operating any motor vehicle. Turn the loud music down, I'm hard of hearing and it even annoys me. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

And AndyM, after you collect all those cans, bottles, and litter please quit throwing it in front of my place as you drive by. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Drive careful out there guys!

turnkey4099 · May 6, 2006

Yes, there are a lot of distractions out there and none of them are good. As for the CP it is a convenient target as it is something that can be directly observed. Frankly I am against using one while driving, in theaters, in classes, etc. I foresee the day when certain places will be blanketed with CP blocking devices as it has been proven that joe citizen has no concern for his fellow citizens.

I predict that, as far as CP use in vehicles goes, there will be a nontamperable device installed in every car that will not permit CP use while the vehicle is in motion. A good thing IMO provided it allows 911 use.

Harry K

Henro · May 6, 2006

Turn the loud music down, I'm hard of hearing and it even annoys me. 

A couple days ago I was at a traffic light with the windows open enjoying a warm spring day.

While I could not tell which vehicle it was coming from, the base of the music was so overpowering I HAD to close my windows fearing ear damage. AND this is coming from a guy that is working in a VERY NOISY steel mill arc furnace shop!

I never did figure out what car this sound was coming from. I turned left, the "music" did too. One more traffic light and then a possible speeding ticket later I was free of it, and the windows went back down...and I started enjoying the spring day again.

Whoever was in that car certainly has no concept of what leads to hearing loss... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Soundguy · May 7, 2006

( I really believe this depends on the individual. Although, passing laws to stop the few idiots seems excessive. Anytime the government tells me they are passing a law for my safety, I start to think it is nothing more than a means to gain control.
)

Consumer and product safety laws... we loose more rights and liberties very subtly to thing like those each year.. slow erosion.. harder to realize.

In the end.. there is just no good way to legislate stupidity without killing the quality of life for the majority, to make up for the minority.

I'm still of the opinion that if we ban talking on hands free cellphones, we will start down a path to banning talking and radio's in vehicles.. and then that will lead to government monitoring.. I.E. them listening to the microphone inyour car to see if you are talking... Everyone raise your hands who wants to live with that level of 'safety'? Not me.. not yet anyway... I'll take my chances on the roads like they are. I'm in the group that 'can' chew gum and walk at the same time. So far I've also been in the group that can talk/drive at the same time.. -and- be able to watch out for those that don't seem to be able to. Enough of my rights have already been either voulentarilly or invoulentarilly given up to the government before I was born, or before I could vote. I think we need to close that floodgate a little bit. All those that like less personal freedom, should think about moving to a place with less human rights to begin with.. rather than erode the few founding tennants we may have left over from our forefathers here. To go a bit further on that.. try to choose a country where you are not a citizen.. but perhaps a 'subject' that will get you going in the correct direction with a government that has complete control of your personal life.. and where you don't have a 'bill of rights' to stand on when the water starts rising... -soapbox mode off-

Soundguy

HGM · May 7, 2006

Soundguy,
I agree with you for the most part.. I just have issue with the PC movement to protect the intelegence impared.. I personally object to the seatbelt and helmet laws because they are requiring me to protect myself whether its nesicary or not.. In this case, its a requirement to not hurt others... I dont have a problem with hands free phones in the car, because like you said its like the radio.. But, as for a phone to ones ear, while a coffee in the other hand and a newspaper on the steering wheel... We need to have some sort of control there.. It must be limited, but rather than protect the challenged, we must be protected from them...

Soundguy · May 7, 2006

( But, as for a phone to ones ear, while a coffee in the other hand and a newspaper on the steering wheel )

In my book that falls under 'just plain stupid'.. I'm not sure how we can go about 'legislating' against stupidity.. as.. stupidity has no bounds. If we start legislating stupidity.. eventually -everything- will be illegal... A quote I often hear is that the IQ of the world is a constant, yet the population is increasing... this creates a problem.

In the end.. The 'largest' cause of death.. is living. You can only make life so 'safe'.. up untill a point when it is not an experience.

We all take risks every day.. some more than others. If you operate a motor vehicle, your chances of being kille din a motor vehicle go way up.. Again.. I'm not going to trade away all my freedoms for security.... You run out of freedom real fast.. and the security is onle a false sense of safety anyway... in the big scheme of things..

When it is your 'time'.. the big 'guy' is gonna get you.. whether there are 'no coffe and phones wile driving laws' or not. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

flwiii · May 8, 2006

When it is your 'time'.. the big 'guy' is gonna get you.. whether there are 'no coffe and phones wile driving laws' or not. 

I don't think the 'big guy' has any interest in taking anyone. We as a people do too good of a job of that without any outside help.

 In my book that falls under 'just plain stupid'.. I'm not sure how we can go about 'legislating' against stupidity.. as.. stupidity has no bounds. 

Quite true. you can't protect against stupidity, each generation produces more. It's a no win proposition. It's like trying to put out a forest fire with a spritzer bottle.

I had a pharmacist tell me once that the worlds problems should be blamed on the medical industry.
He stated that by advances in medicine, we are allowing people to live that by all rights should have died. Now we are living with the offspring of those people.

I understand his point but just can't agree with it.

dooleysm · May 8, 2006

I think whoever said that cell phones are the scapegoat had it right. There's alot of terrible drivers out there. It's too easy to blame this bad driving on cell phones, radios, coffee, or whatever distraction you can think of. The problem is, people, in general, are bad drivers...they don't use turn signals correctly, they don't use passing lanes correctly, etc. In general, people have no idea what is going on around them, just what they see directly in front of them.

Ride a motorcycle for a month and you'll have a completely different outlook on driving. I was nearly run off the road on several occassions back when I was riding. I am certain that I am a better driver while using a cell phone than 50% of the people on the roads today.

BlueRidge · May 8, 2006

( I foresee the day when certain places will be blanketed with CP blocking devices )

Currently such devices are illegal, so that would require some action from Congress. Bad idea, too. Too many idiots already using them for pranks.

( as it has been proven that joe citizen has no concern for his fellow citizens. )

Oh, we didn't need cellphones to prove that! Just glance out your window at the ground next time you are stopped at a light, and look at all the cigarette butts! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

BlueRidge · May 8, 2006

( Ride a motorcycle for a month and you'll have a completely different outlook on driving. )

THAT's sure true!

Bird · May 8, 2006

( The problem is, people, in general, are bad drivers )

I've always said there are two things we let almost anyone do without any proper training:
(1) be drivers
(2) be parents
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

flwiii · May 8, 2006

I am certain that I am a better driver while using a cell phone than 50% of the people on the roads today. 

 I think the big problem with drivers is perception. 

You could go out on the street and ask 50 people to rate their driving ability and I would guess that 75% of them would answer as you did.
Don't get me wrong, I am not questioning your ability as a driver.
I don't think I am qualified for that task, just stating that most of the really bad drivers I have met think they are good.

I guarantee that there are just as many people out there that think I am a bad driver as there are people that I perceive to be bad drivers. I have not found many people that will admit that they are lousy drivers, but based on all the statistics, someone is full of the ole crapola.

It's like going into a maximum security prison and asking the inmates if they have good morals. I think we might be shocked by the response.