SHould cell phones be banned while driving?

[SUBMAN1]

I think it is about time we do ban cell phones. California already has. Why not the rest of the US? I can't count the times I've almost been run over by some lady on the phone who just decides to change lanes in her big SUV!!! Its nuts! They don't care either.

It has also been proven that cell phones are worse than driving drunk! So why do we continue to tolerate them?

Here is another road rage incident involving cell phones:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/w...rage21-ON.html

-S

[Sailor Steve]

Last year I was walking up a street and stopped for a car coming the other way, wanting to turn into a driveway I was about to cross. There was a hole in the uphill traffic (going my way), so I waited for him. He never went. Once the hole was closed I started up the sidewalk. Suddenly he saw a tiny hole and darted in, almost running me down. I called him a "moron", and he got huffy with me. When I told him he had ignored a big hole only to try for a tiny one, he yelled at me "I was talking on my phone! I was busy! It's not my fault!"

I agree, cell phones in cars should be banned. But then, probably so should eating in cars. Back when I was driving ski vans I once saw a guy with a cup of coffee in one hand, a doughnut in the other and a magazine propped on the steering wheel! And now they have plug-ins for laptop computers in the dashboard.

[Boris]

I don't think it's even worth a debate. It's as bad as driving drunk.

[AVGWarhawk]

YES!!!
Should be banned at restaurants as well. Nothing worse the spending $50.00 on a nice meal and having to listen to some dingdongs conversation about nothing. And the talk just about anything because they are in the own little world. Things that kids do not need to hear.

[AJ!]

Hands free is the way forward.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by AJ!

Hands free is the way forward.

Hands free actually offered no benefit in tests - the driver is still distracted with the conversation.

-S

[fatty]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I agree, cell phones in cars should be banned. But then, probably so should eating in cars. Back when I was driving ski vans I once saw a guy with a cup of coffee in one hand, a doughnut in the other and a magazine propped on the steering wheel! And now they have plug-ins for laptop computers in the dashboard.

I was rear-ended while stopped at a red light last month by a woman in a minivan who claimed to be busy adjusting her radio. Cell phone use and similar distractions proven to be dangerous should be forbidden in moving vehicles.

[August]

So how do you expect this could ever be done?

Simple posession of a cell phone in the car? That's not going to fly because people will want their cell phones when they arrive at their destination/

Posession of a cell phone that's turned on? Plenty of time to turn it off between the time the blue lights come on and the cop gets close enough to see anything.

Ban handheld use? People are just going to use headsets. Since it's the use thats distracting, not just holding it up to ones head, it will not solve anything and personally I would prefer to see whether a person is using one and using a headset prevents this.

So I'm curious. How do you intend to enforce this?

[August]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Hands free actually offered no benefit in tests - the driver is still distracted with the conversation.

-S

Worse, like I said above using handsfree mode makes it far more difficult for others to see whether a person is potentially distracted.

[AVGWarhawk]

It is enforcable by HEAVY FINES. I see many talking on phones. Cops see them also. They also see when a seatbelt is not on. Now, stipulate that the local government imposes a $1500.00 fine for using the phone while in motion. No going to court and hoping for a reduced fine for showing up. Full fine is imposed. That is enough for me not use it.

Heck, if you are on the side of the road and drunk, a cop does not see you operating the vehicle, just sitting with the key in the ignition, this is enough probable cause to arrest for DWI. I believe it is enforcable on the end that what will happen if you do get caught is enough of a deterent.

[XabbaRus]

We already have a law like this in the UK. It is pretty much unenforceable. I get really annoyed seeing people driving while talking on the mobile.

In fact I sometimes honk them, but only if there is no other traffic nearby. Makes them jump. Also hands free is rubbish, I have been almost hit by people chatting away on them too.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Hands free actually offered no benefit in tests - the driver is still distracted with the conversation.

-S

What about conversations with your co-driver? Are they less distracting than a phone conversation?

[August]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It is enforcable by HEAVY FINES. I see many talking on phones. Cops see them also. They also see when a seatbelt is not on. Now, stipulate that the local government imposes a $1500.00 fine for using the phone while in motion. No going to court and hoping for a reduced fine for showing up. Full fine is imposed. That is enough for me not use it.

So they just go to using handfree mode and now neither you or the cops can see anything.

Personally i'd rather they use use their phone in non hands free mode. At least then it gives me a chance to see they might be distracted.

[August]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

What about conversations with your co-driver? Are they less distracting than a phone conversation?

Yes, because a passenger in the car has the chance of seeing a potentially dangerous situation occuring and can stop talking whereas the person on the other end of the phone can not.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by August

Yes, because a passenger in the car has the chance of seeing a potentially dangerous situation occuring and can stop talking whereas the person on the other end of the phone can not.

In that case interesting radio shows/interviews should also be banned, after all the radio also can´t see a potentially dangerous situation occuring and stop talking.

It´s the responsibility of the driver to drive carefully and not to be distracted too much by conversations, or the radio, your co-driver, crying children on the back seat, blinking advertisements and the myriad of other things that can possibly distract you while you´re driving.