Figures show that eating while driving causes four times more accidents than the use of cellphones....However, when an accident occurs, does anyone admit to causing the accident because they were eating, or talking on the phone?...Of course not!...So how can they possibly quote meaningless statistics like this?...Everyone knows how dangerous eating and using a cellphone can be, but they continue to do it anyway....In my mind, people talking on cell phones are much more likely to cause accidents than to be personally involved in them.

With cellphones getting smaller every day, it's just plain ludicrous that people are dialling 7 or 11-digit numbers using tiny buttons, while trying to drive a 2-ton vehicle at 70 mph, in traffic....Then, for the next ten minutes, they're juggling between driving and talking, with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the phone....And these people are more worried about any restriction to their personal freedom?...How can anyone believe that a call from their cellphone is really necessary and more important than either their own, or someone else's life?

 

Good point. I agree whole-heartedly.

 

I'm not worried about the restriction on my freedom per se. However, as I've already noted, there are ALREADY laws that cover this. So by enacting another law that is specific to cell phone use our lawmakers have not changed anything. A ticket could already be given. However, what they have done is restrict the use of the cell phone when it might be appropriate, or even necessary. So the end result is taking away the ability to use the phone properly while not actually improving anything. A better solution would be for our trusty law enforcement officers to get off their butts and write tickets using the laws already on the books that cover this type of behavior.

 

One of the US TV networks recently did a story on distractions while driving. They filmed a number of tests but the one that was most telling in my mind had nothing to do with phones or objects. They asked the driver to count backwards from 100 by 7

 

Sorry Greg, but I've got to strongly disagree with you about banning phones.

Every time I'm on the road and I see a driver driving poorly, it turns out they are on the phone. I had this conversation with Jason a couple of weeks ago and I suggested that it would be a great idea to ban phones while driving.

I see people exiting from the middle lane because they just realized they were passing their exit, changing lanes without signaling because one hand is holding the phone and the other is driving, etc. I know that when I talking on the phone, I'm about 90% not paying attention to driving. Usually it doesn't matter, but I've been lucky.

As for saving us from ourselves, it goes further than that. If you screw up while driving in traffic, the odds are that you are going to hit someone else or cause them to also lose control. Since it's no long just about you, the government has the right and the necessity to intervene.

 

OK, sorry I haven't responded, but I'm spending the day at King today...getting all kinds of stuff done...it's making me do this ---->

OK, here's my point on this whole morass. At least in Illinois, there are laws on the books that prohibit "distracted driving" ... This INCLUDES cell phone, make up, oral sex...whatever.

The bigger point is this, at the risk of sounding dramatic, it's all about freedom. I would like to commission a study that went at looked at how many laws/ordinaces you are under at any given moment, including all local, state and federal bodies of government. I am sure that it is a staggering amount and that is what disturbs me.

Strike, you are absolutely correct. There are ALREADY laws on the books that prevent this kind of behavior. Making it so specific to cell phones is what the problem is. Laws are necessary, but only when they are enforced. Simply put, if a law is on the books and never gets enforced, what good is it?! Zip, zero nada...that's what.

So, as more and more of my and your freedoms slips away, we, at least in NY, are now unable to use handheld cell phones while driving, which may not be such a bad thing for most people. But wow, I feel so much safer now, yet, strangely I don't mind as yet another small chunk of freedom slips beyond my grasp...

I actually DON'T use a handheld cell phone, I use a headset and I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, often times I get right on the phone as soon as I get in the car. I consider myself a VERY alert driver and I have never had problem numero uno.

What we have here is a problem with society at large. Most people in this country are horribly poor drivers and now amount of law or regulation will change that. You cannot believe some of the things that I see people in Chicago do on the streets. It's amazing...

Interesting responses. I agree with most of what was said, actually. I hope my point was taken that it's a bigger issue than using a cell phone. It has more to do with liberty, that concerns me personally, more than a phone.

 

I think this law is designed to get the word out about cell phone driving above all else. I've seen toll operators warning bimbos in their SUV's that drive through the toll booth while talking on the phone. This law has been in the news for weeks.

No law is totally pointless, even if it isn't enforced.

 

Greg,

Got your point. . . And you're right. . . Unfortunately, we (Americans) tend to believe that ALL problems can be fixed with legistlation and litigation. . .

So, whereas all states probabaly have motor vehicle laws that address cellphone usage and similar behavior in general, people will feel better knowing that there is a specific law on the books. . .

Go figure. . .

 

I say "more power to them." I have lost count of the number of times I've been nearly involved in crashes in S. Florida because some person was dialing a call or fiddling with their phone instead of watching the road.

I've heard that in Singapore, using a cell phone that is NOT mounted to the car, while driving, is an offense equal to a DUI.

I'll bet they have a lot fewer phone-related accidents than we do...

 

Sorry to come in on this topic late everybody. It has been heads down and bums (butts) up at work for the last fortnight (two weeks )

Greg, I agree with you on a lot of things and think you bring a lot of common sense to this forum,..... but......

in this case you are spouting the typical yank angle of demanding and insisting on your personal freedom (a theme which understandably does NOT endear USAliens - I deliberately don't include Canadians in this) to the rest of the world.

Freedom - and I know sunny boy will probably come down on me like a ton of bricks on spelling this out - implies accepting responsibility for your actions. There can be no freedom without responsibility, nor can one truly be an adult without understanding and accepting the consequences of our actions

Not everybody understand this and demands the RIGHT to act like a moron if they feel like it. This is NOT freedom and I politely request people do not use the word if they are not going to use it correctly.

Here in Australia we have had laws against mobile phone useage in vehicles (1992), use of radar detectors (early '80s) and Victoria (the state I live in) was the first to introduce mandatory seat belt use back in 1973!!

We learn to live with, and heed, these laws because they are for the overall good of society. If we were all truly responsible there would be no need for laws. Unfortunately till everyone understands the balance of the rights/obligations equation we will need to have such laws to protect us from ourselves and from each other.