Heard this gem tonight...(NY cell phones)
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,274
Likes: 4
From: Toronto, Canada
Hmmm, interesting. I agree with everyone. People should not be allowed to use cell phones, juggle Big Macs, apply eye liner and do other foolish things when driving. You would think that common sense (the least sensitive of all the senses) would tell people that yet they do it anyway. There are headsets and hands-free devices available at nominal cost and some use them, most don't. Passing yet another law is no answer, never has been, and the current laws should cover it but they are not enforced.
I never use my phone in the car when moving. Not because I'm smart but because I can't hear a goddamn thing
I never use my phone in the car when moving. Not because I'm smart but because I can't hear a goddamn thing
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Flevoland
Hi my 2cts:
I'm happy that in Europe they are forbidding this, since it's so dangerous, I see everyday a lot of dangerous situations because using a GSM. In Europe this is more of an issue because:
1) nearly everybody has a GSM nowadays (even most kids from 10 yrs up have one). Reports show that about 70% of the people (including toddlers) have a GSM overhere. A lot of people even have more than 1 (I have 2 for instance).
2) Our traffic is much more congested than most parts of the USA.
3) you're allowed to use it if you have a handsfree set.
4) Reckless driving is'nt allowed anywhere I believe. If they can show that you created an accident because you were drinking, eating of reading you could (should!) be in big trouble. I also don't understand the current craze about cupholders in cars, they're simply too dangerous (because it encourages drinking and driving).
I'm happy that in Europe they are forbidding this, since it's so dangerous, I see everyday a lot of dangerous situations because using a GSM. In Europe this is more of an issue because:
1) nearly everybody has a GSM nowadays (even most kids from 10 yrs up have one). Reports show that about 70% of the people (including toddlers) have a GSM overhere. A lot of people even have more than 1 (I have 2 for instance).
2) Our traffic is much more congested than most parts of the USA.
3) you're allowed to use it if you have a handsfree set.
4) Reckless driving is'nt allowed anywhere I believe. If they can show that you created an accident because you were drinking, eating of reading you could (should!) be in big trouble. I also don't understand the current craze about cupholders in cars, they're simply too dangerous (because it encourages drinking and driving).
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Dunnellon, FL
I agree with the law, only I think it should go further to include other distractions like reading a newspaper or novel while driving. I think driving is a full time job. When you get behind the wheel of a car, your focus should only be on driving, nothing else. I don't think this is about personal freedoms being taken away. It is about protecting the lives of other drivers and pedestrians (sp).
If you want to talk about a law that takes away personal freedoms, how about the seat belt laws. I believe if an adult chooses not to wear a seat belt, that's their right. The only life they are endangering is their own. If someone cares so little about their own life, thats their right. Not too bright, but their right. Same thing with motorcycle helmet laws. I think it's ok to pass laws that protect others from us, but not ok to pass laws that protect us from ourselves. I always wear a seat belt, but I would wear it even if there wasn't a law saying so.
Just my opinion.
Don
If you want to talk about a law that takes away personal freedoms, how about the seat belt laws. I believe if an adult chooses not to wear a seat belt, that's their right. The only life they are endangering is their own. If someone cares so little about their own life, thats their right. Not too bright, but their right. Same thing with motorcycle helmet laws. I think it's ok to pass laws that protect others from us, but not ok to pass laws that protect us from ourselves. I always wear a seat belt, but I would wear it even if there wasn't a law saying so.
Just my opinion.
Don
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Sydney
Originally posted by Bieg
They are not banning hand held cell phones, they are banning driving with them.
They are not banning hand held cell phones, they are banning driving with them.
Oh and yes I agree with banning the use of mobile phones while driving. Just because there are more dangerous things you could do while driving doesn't mean that using a mobile isn't dangerous.
One of my superhuman friends drives a manual car with a mobile phone on his ear while steering with his legs (don't try that one at home kids).
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Solvang
I agree with the law. I also think that it's ridiculous seeing people shave, brush their teeth, eat a full course meal(while driving), receive a BJ while driving at 70 plus during rush hour(I've seen it happen believe it or not), play with their laptop, etc etc.
If only people would just drive and hire an in-car secretary.
If only people would just drive and hire an in-car secretary.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County
As a NJ/NY driver here's my take. . .
Cell Phone conversations are NO more dangerous (probably less dangerous) than having a conversation with a person sitting next to you or behind you. A driver has a much greater tendency to take his/her eyes off the road to talk to someone in the car with than with someone on a phone. . .
HOWEVER, the act of holding a cell while driving (just like eating a sandwich, combing your hair, applying make-up, etc.) IS dangerous. . . This is especially true when the need for emergency steering is necessary. . .
Further, the act of dialing a cell phone number (just like reading a paper, magazine, directions, picking a CD, etc.) IS also quite dangerous. . . (I'll try to remember this as I figure out which CD I want to hear )
Therefore, requiring motorists to use a headset or speakerphone makes absolute sense. . . Unfortunately, that will not do anything to correct the other major distractions which I listed. . .
But, its a start. . .
Personally, I now use a hands-free headset virtually all the time & I notice a huge difference when I don't have it with me (especially when I'm driving my S2K, talking on the phone, looking for a CD, drinking a Coke, and trying to turn & shift gears at the same time)
Cell Phone conversations are NO more dangerous (probably less dangerous) than having a conversation with a person sitting next to you or behind you. A driver has a much greater tendency to take his/her eyes off the road to talk to someone in the car with than with someone on a phone. . .
HOWEVER, the act of holding a cell while driving (just like eating a sandwich, combing your hair, applying make-up, etc.) IS dangerous. . . This is especially true when the need for emergency steering is necessary. . .
Further, the act of dialing a cell phone number (just like reading a paper, magazine, directions, picking a CD, etc.) IS also quite dangerous. . . (I'll try to remember this as I figure out which CD I want to hear
)Therefore, requiring motorists to use a headset or speakerphone makes absolute sense. . . Unfortunately, that will not do anything to correct the other major distractions which I listed. . .
But, its a start. . .
Personally, I now use a hands-free headset virtually all the time & I notice a huge difference when I don't have it with me (especially when I'm driving my S2K, talking on the phone, looking for a CD, drinking a Coke, and trying to turn & shift gears at the same time)
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View
[QUOTE]Originally posted by gregstevens
[B]Seriously, one of the studies that they cited accounted cell phones as responsible for 1.5% of accidents, where climate control accounted for nearly twice that.
[B]Seriously, one of the studies that they cited accounted cell phones as responsible for 1.5% of accidents, where climate control accounted for nearly twice that.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,904
Likes: 93
From: Big Box suburb, IL
First my opinion.....this is an awesome move. I have complete faith that I can operate a vehicle, weeve in and out of traffic, hit speeds up to 100 in traffic all while talking on the phone. However, do you all have faith that I could and at the same time not pose a threat to other drivers?
Now the difference between eating and taling on a mobile phone. I don't have to think when I eat...I still concentrate on driving when I eat and drive. When I talk on the phone while driving, much of my concentration is on the conversation....not good.
Now a story. Recently my sister got into an accident trying to take a left hand turn at a light controlled intersection (Schaumburg Rd. and Roselle Rd. intersection). She took the turn after the light turned red but because she was in the intersection already. The lady was was coming in the opposing direction and had blown the recently turned red light. Right before the accident, my sister noticed she was on the phone. After the accident she noted that the rear view mirror was at an "affixing the make-up" angle.
She had the police officer note both observed facts at the scene of the accident on the accident report....in fact, the officer even called the phone number the other driver gave him (this made sure that the phone number in question was the right one associated with the phone in the car). The officer then gave my sister a moving violation ticket (the assumption was that the 49 year-old lady did not blow the red and had the right of way over my 20 year-old sister).
The insurance companies took over...they did their research and got a copy of the lady's phone bill. In court, our insurance company lawyer noted to the judge what time the accident occurred, what time the lady was on the phone, and at what time the light had turned red. Just guess who wasn't guilty, and guess whose traffic ticket was thrown out, and guess whose lawsuit was thrown out.
Aside from that story....there have been so many near misses I've been in because others were on the phone!!!! I can't wait until this law goes into affect here in IL!!!
Now the difference between eating and taling on a mobile phone. I don't have to think when I eat...I still concentrate on driving when I eat and drive. When I talk on the phone while driving, much of my concentration is on the conversation....not good.
Now a story. Recently my sister got into an accident trying to take a left hand turn at a light controlled intersection (Schaumburg Rd. and Roselle Rd. intersection). She took the turn after the light turned red but because she was in the intersection already. The lady was was coming in the opposing direction and had blown the recently turned red light. Right before the accident, my sister noticed she was on the phone. After the accident she noted that the rear view mirror was at an "affixing the make-up" angle.
She had the police officer note both observed facts at the scene of the accident on the accident report....in fact, the officer even called the phone number the other driver gave him (this made sure that the phone number in question was the right one associated with the phone in the car). The officer then gave my sister a moving violation ticket (the assumption was that the 49 year-old lady did not blow the red and had the right of way over my 20 year-old sister).
The insurance companies took over...they did their research and got a copy of the lady's phone bill. In court, our insurance company lawyer noted to the judge what time the accident occurred, what time the lady was on the phone, and at what time the light had turned red. Just guess who wasn't guilty, and guess whose traffic ticket was thrown out, and guess whose lawsuit was thrown out.
Aside from that story....there have been so many near misses I've been in because others were on the phone!!!! I can't wait until this law goes into affect here in IL!!!
