Driving and Cell Phones

[xBa380]

Note: If this is considered 'politics' I will delete with no problem. Not sure if this is really in that area though.

I was surprised... On our recent trip to Canada I saw a few people pulled over on the side of the roads using their cell phones. I noticed many signs warning if you use your cell phone, you will get fined (and heavily after multiple offences I might add). But I never saw that here in the US, people actually pulling off the road to make calls like I did there.

I know some cities and such have more strict rules... But I am wondering why this is not a nationwide law... Banning the use of any cellular device while operating a motor vehicle. Texting, phone calls, etc... Unless you have a proper blue-tooth or similar, hands-free device.

It is no mystery how dangerous texting and driving can be. And it baffles me how many people I can count in a single trip not paying full attention to the road while the drive… Looking down, for example. This is such a high risk to all drivers anymore. Is there a reason something has not been done yet about this?

It will only get worse as more and more people become “connected”. We have a few cities around Cleveland that prevent cell phone usage, but it is not enforced all that much, obviously.

Thoughts?

 

[river_rat]

I think the penalty--at least for texting--ought to reflect the danger/casualty level. That is, the same as for drunk driving.
Cars ought to come with a jammer that blocks all calls ecxept outgoing 911 when the car is in gear.

 

[supton]

Pulling over can be just as dangerous. Police cars get hit surprisingly often, despite the very bright lights on them. [I forget the name of the phenomenon--fixation? I think motorcycle riders know a bit about that, in relation to balance.]

Also, studies have shown that hands-free is just as distracting to the driver. This should not be that surprising. Who hasn't been in a car, engaging in a deep involved conversation--and realized they missed a turn (or worse)?

It's not the cell phone people. It's the attention given to driving. People drove off the road on a regular basis long before the cell phone was invented.

Finally, there are plenty of places where cellphone usage, even in a hand-held unit, might be appropriate. I'm not sure I've seen a more flat, more straight--and more tightly regulated to a fixed speed--road than I80 in Ohio. Might as well talk to someone about how bored you are.

 

[bluestream]

Iv'e never seen anyone pull over to use a cell phone, and I live in Canada. Many people still drive and use the cell phone from what I see. I think entering data into a GPS while driving is more dangerous.

 

[buickman50401]

In Iowa they passed a texting ban however they made it so broad ( wording it as handheld electronic devices) that it makes it illegal to use an MP3 player in your car... unless it is somehow tied into and controlled via the vehicles built in radio/infotainment system.

Its a defacto ban on any MP3 player other than an Ipod since those are the only MP3 players for which vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket stereo/electronic manufacturer companies make interfaces for that allow them to be operated through the radio's built in controls.

Its not a "primary offense" so you can't be pulled over for using one (texting on a cell phone either) but the cop can pull you over for another infraction and tack this on top of it.

Doesn't stop me from using my ancient Samsung (circa 2005 - still alive and kicking after a battery replacement) or my wife's Sansa Clip. They both plug in through the standard headphone jack into my Alpine head unit. I'm not going to go out and drop $300 on a radio with Ipod controls and another $300 on an Ipod just to listen to my podcasts in my car... particularly when I can operate the Samsung entirely by touch without looking at the device having owned it so long.

 

[Autobahn88]

Driving and cell phones should be banned period. It is ironic that this post should come up now because just last week a good friend of mine at work lost his sister-in law in a horrific crash last week. She was driving home on the highway when she picked up her phone to text someone but did not notice a that traffic had stopped. She slammed her Yaris into the back of a truck at 60mph. The paramedics said that she died instantly. To me it is as distracting as drinking and driving and should be penalized the same.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: river_rat
Cars ought to come with a jammer that blocks all calls except outgoing 911 when the car is in gear.


That is the ONLY thing that will work.

Even if there was a law down here in the jungle not to text/talk it would not be enforced plus no one would even care less about the law cause they know it would not be enforced..At least every second car on the road down here is texting or talking.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: river_rat
Cars ought to come with a jammer that blocks all calls except outgoing 911 when the car is in gear.


That is the ONLY thing that will work.

Even if there was a law down here in the jungle not to text/talk it would not be enforced plus no one would even care less about the law cause they know it would not be enforced..At least every second car on the road down here is texting or talking.


Yes, but think of the passengers who should be able to chat sans jammers. Prisons and movie theaters would love jammers
too but so far the FCC is in cahoots with the wireless carriers.

What we need is for personal injury lawyers to be able to sue someone who was gabbing/texting when an accident happened, and for auto insurance companies to not pay out because the driver was breaking the law. Maybe when someone has to sell their ipod and big screen on craigslist to pay for their own mistakes it'll shake some sense into them.

Forget progressive's little OBDII datalogger, how about a phone logger?

Things were better when cell phones were 50 cents a minute. (Maybe we could tax things back this way?

) They should be used for quickly exchanging information, not women complaining about how mean everyone was at work that day. Watch an evening commute sometime; ten cars in a row will have drivers with phones sticking out of their ears.

 

[bradepb]

Originally Posted By: river_rat

Cars ought to come with a jammer that blocks all calls ecxept outgoing 911 when the car is in gear.

As much as I hate a nanny state, this would not be a bad idea, and is the only thing that would work.

 

[hattaresguy]

Driving and talking isn't bad, its texting that gets you.

Problem is most people are poor drivers normally and not that bright so when you add a cell things happen.

 

[bradepb]

The cops will check phones after a serious accident to see if they were in use but of course its too late then.

 

[Michael_P]

Smart phones log all text activity real time, So even if you do not send the text and delete the message and history, they can still find out if you were texting.

 

[Autobahn88]

Originally Posted By: bradepb
The cops will check phones after a serious accident to see if they were in use but of course its too late then.


That is exactly what they will do. They found out that she was texting because of her phone record. She never did finish her text before her death.

 

[4D-56]

Here in South Florida, i see it as a BIG problem that is getting worse. fast.

I see now that its actually making driving harder for all of us. Cell phone use and the constant need to be looking at it, checking it, texting, on the web etc tec is taking away from peoples awareness, focus, concentration...of everything around them. I dont think they realise but is makes them [censored] selfish, they are not thinking about other people around them.

In general, people are dumb enough when it comes to driving, put a cell phone in there hand and its a tough world out there on the roads...there is little pleasure in driving anymore.

Im forever blasting the horn at people to move, "get on with it" and think of others behind them, esp at left turning lanes where those lights are back at red before you know it, again, lack of focus, no sense of urgency, no thought that the 10 cars behind them might just not want to wait another 5 minutes for the next turn signal....this [censored] drives me crazy.

it all adds up to more accidents, more congestion, longer journey times, more stress, less driving pleasure.

I like the idea of a jammer built into the car. good one.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Driving and talking isn't bad, its texting that gets you.

Problem is most people are [censored] poor drivers normally and not that bright so when you add a cell things happen.


Exactly. Agree 100%

 

[SLCraig]

I like how cell use is banned here, unless of course its hands free.
So I went hands free in my car. It's great.

 

[Smokescreen]

I agree with hattaresguy and JHR2...

to me, anything that will get people to pay more attention while they are behind the wheel is a GOOD thing. We have banned cell/gps/mp3 (except hands free) use here in Alberta Canada too, it just took effect in September, I couldn't be happier.

 

[ARB1977]

Although its legal to chat at least here in North Texas. I hate chatting while driving. I keep it short and tell folks ill call them later.

 

[supton]

I have yet to understand what the big deal is. With talking on the phone, all the time, that is. Just what on earth are these people doing that is so interesting to everyone else? I can't come up with enough to talk about in a month's time to fill a 10 minute call, let alone enough to fill an entire commute to work--and then again on the way home.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I have obvious anger management issues, and few things set me off as much as drivers who feel they must text and talk whilst negotiating traffic.

How freaking irresponsible. I don't care how well you think you can multittask, when you are driving you have a responsibility to pay 100% attention to what is going on around you.

Checking who texted you is bad enough, replying to a text while driving, even sitting at a redlight is disgusting.

The world does not revolve around me, it certainly does not revolve around you. Hang up and drive. Have some consideration for others. The ME ME ME attitude that is so widespread in the populace is really a sign pointing to larger societal ills.

Put the phone down, look around you, and drive.