I keep seeing all these states/cities enacting laws banning the use of hand-held cellphones, and every time I shake my head in wonder. It's not using one hand to hold a phone that distracts people...it's talking on a phone period! I mean seriously, how many people drive with both hands on the wheel all the time? None. Does simply holding something in one hand make you not pay attention to the road? No. How many people do you know that pace aimlessly while talking on a phone at home? I've seen it many many times. Have you ever tried watching TV while talking on a phone? It's practically impossible (for me at least). These simple observations are so obvious to me that it blows my mind nobody else is talking about how dumb all these hand-held bans are. What am I missing? The simple act of talking on the phone while driving, regardles of whether it's hands-free or not, are behind all the millions of cases of distracted drivers. These laws will result in absolutely no change in the automobile accident rate in the US...you heard it here first.

I should note that I am not completely innocent of the sin of driving whilst chatting on the phone. I'll occasionally make a call when I'm on a long drive on the interstate. I've used both hands-free devices and a normal phone, and the result is exactly the same: distracted driving.

 

x100

exactly my thought

 

I think your missing the point.... what about the financial increase to 3rd party vendors selling hands-free sets.. This is AMERICA after all... jeeezz!!

(And yes, talkin on the phone is a distraction in and of itself, but unless your an actor or a porn star, don't plan on making any changes)

 

Either way, you'd be distracted. But you can NOT say that people will be EQUALLY distracted with or without a hands-free kit. Especially for people who drive a manual tranny.

I've found myself without a headset a few times, and now I refuse to answer the phone without a headset while driving. I feel much more comfortable with the headset on.

In a situation where someone would have to stop talking on the phone to avoid the accident, the guy with the hands-free kit would be able to respond quicker since he doesn't have a phone in his hand, and has the ability to grab the wheel with both hands.

I don't see anything wrong with putting the law into effect.

Besides, everytime some guy has cut me off, and I literally see them talking on the phone, I get more pissed and say "damn get off the phone"

now if he were on his headset, and did the same, I wouldn't know he was on the phone and I'd just assume he's a crappy driver

 

Our son was involved in a 50 MPH head on collision with a SAAB 9000 in his Integra GSR. He was adjusting his stereo at the time. It doesn't matter what is distracting your attention.

Fortunately the integrity of both cars allowed all four kids (2 in each car) to walk away with just minor bumps and bruises. The SAAB was bent up at the door post, the GSR the whole drivers side front end was crumpled. The passenger compartment was completely intact.

 

I'm on the fence on this.

Though I would highly be in favor of an automobile cell phone ban if that included hands free devices, the larger picture are people who have no business multitasking while operating vehicles twice the size you are used to.

What scared me the most about S2000 ownership was seeing people talking on their cell phones in large vehicles merging without looking, without a turn signal, and not even knowing they about killed you.

I think the solution is simple. Make it much more difficult to get a license. From what I understand, in Germany, it costs somewhere around $1500. Tougher laws for speeding and other moving violations, and banning people from eating/drinking while driving.

Ever know that there are no cupholders in some european vehicles? Why is there no speedlimit on the AutoBahn and fatalities are at a minimum?

Simple, drivers there are much more disciplined and know how to drive safely.

Though banning things would call a public outcry since no one wants to give up their right to talk on their cell phone, the only way to make it safer for people is to re-train EVERYONE how to drive, not just go to the BMV and take a 20 multiple choice test and get your license.

 

the even stupider thing is that people try to be all cool with their hands free set... but so often have the phone in their left hand... and are holding the cord with the mic on it in their right hand... what kinda hands free is that?

 

Whether or not talking on a hand free cell phone is dangerous or not, the people that are easily distracted are going to be distracted by one thing or another regardless if they are talking on a cell phone or picking their nose. There are just too many distractions out there that are not singled out. Is a car stereo a distraction? Is a passenger a distraction?

And of course the biggest distraction for most guys is an atractive girl walking down the street. Much more dangerous than talking on a cell phone. Lets ban attractive females from walking down the street. Or maybe we should ban people from driving in general. Obviously if 20% of the driving population gets easily distracted to the point where it's dangerous out there, then we need to punish and regulate the other 80%.

 

Is talking on a handsfree phone more distracting than talking to a passenger?

 

Talking to a passenger can be very distracting. I'm ashamed to say it, but I've ran red lights 3 seperate times(that I know of) because I was engrossed in the conversation I was having with my passenger. I had no clue i had ran the lights and would never have known if my passenger hadn't told me. I was extremely lucky to not have had any accidents. These incidents happened more than 10 years ago and I had only been driving a couple of years at the time. I was very embarrassed and shaken that this happened. Needless to say, I learned from it and today, if I'm driving through stoplights, I let the passenger do the talking and I pay attention to the road. I do say "huh?" alot more these days.

When you're behind the wheel, drive. Don't eat, talk on the phone, paint your toenails, .......just drive.