Love the idea - can't wait until they ban the practice here too. I can't think of how many times I can attribute a lack of attentiveness behind the wheel to someone with a cell phone stuck to their ear.

 

The fine for the use of the handheld cell phone in an automobile is 100 dollars.

What is the fine for eating a cheeseburger? Or applying blush?

Does anyone else sense a double standard here?

 

Well, they should just issue licenses for those trained in driving with cell phones.

 

It's been banned in Australia for years. Good idea.

 

Reports say that accidents are down where this is enforced. I say learn to drive!
I'm a salesman, on the road almost all day. If I had to pull over everytime I got a call, I'd be lucky to get out of my driveway!

 

In the early '90's I agreed with you Greg. Then one day I was on my way to North Sydney for a meeting and the phone rang. So I'm driving along talking on the phone. By the time I'd hung up I was in Sydney itself. What that means is that I had taken a left, gone through a toll gate and crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, all on auto pilot. I couldn't really recall any of it.

How many times have you seen someone not paying attention to the traffic, missing a green light, weaving all over the road etc and it turns out they are on the phone talking to their hairdresser.

I realise that there are other things you can do in a car that distract you from driving, but few require as much attention and last as long as the average phone call. When was the last time you spent 5 minutes playing with your climate control?

My opinion: When you're driving, drive! Hamburgers, lipstick, newspapers, cell phones, should be for another time. And if people won't self regulate, bring on the law.

 

Stupid laws. They've talked about it in certain cities out here too. There are already laws related to being distracted, driving unsafe, etc...that are general enough that cell phone use when unsafe could be ticketed. There is no reason to pass a law singling out cell phone use except that it makes the author look good for his next reelection.

 

[QUOTE]
[B]In the early '90's

 

Passenger seat no, blonde maybe! They should all be sentenced to life in my bedroom. But I digress....

I'm glad you mentioned the comparison of a conversation with someone next to you and with someone on the other end of the phone. There is a world of difference. The person in the seat next to you shares the same part of the world with you. The same scenery, the same sounds, the same inertia, the same smells. The person on the other end of the phone is probably in an office somewhere. As an example you can say to a passenger "Hey, look at that" and they'll probably know what you mean. Say that to the person on the other end of the phone and they'll think you're nuts. Only about 30% of communication is verbal. On the phone you have to make up for the other 70% by being more descriptive and thoughtful and this takes way more attention than talking to the person next to you (specially if she's blonde ).

I agree we should have more driver training before getting a license. I agree that there are other things that should also be changed, but I also fear with all my heart driving around with a bunch of people in SUV's arguing with their mother-out-law on the phone.

 

It's a proven fact that talking on a cell phone while driving isDANGEROUS , it's illegal in most of Europe. I don't even understand how anyone can question that fact!!
I DO answer my phone while I'm in a traffic jam, but never when I'm seriously driving. As AusS2000 said, when you have long phone calls in your car, the whole journey becomes a blurry period of time, where everything seems to happen smoothly, almost automatically.
And anyway it's no big deal in the US cause cell phones are not too common over there...