Ok, time to duke it out. Cell phones and driving....
- Thread starter YoSteve
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TheOzzfather
Guest
I hate aholes with cell phones. Today on the way into work I saw a woman talking on a cell hone between her head and shoulder, putting eyeliner on with one hand and drinking coffee in the other. I want to swire at those people in the morning.
2wheelsx2
New member
I don't have problem with handsfree...I use it from time to time. However, there are people who will get on the phone as soon as they get in the car, even while they are backing out of the driveway. Those people are dangerous. If you are going to make a phone call, why not do it before you turn the ignition on?:nixweiss
If cell phone conversations with a hands free kit, voice dialing, etc. are outlawed, then we had better outlaw conversations with the driver of the car by passengers of the car. In fact, maybe we should ban conversations in the car completely, because even if the driver is not involved directly, what is said may distract him/her.
I do not believe that cell phones without HF options should be legal, as it definitely does cross the line. To ban what effectively is conversation (no physical distraction) goes over the line in my opinion.
As for those putting on makeup while drinking coffee, eating a doughnut and talking on the phone.... well lets just say there is an idiot born every minute, and if you legislate the cell phone away, then you have removed one of the four distractions for a driver who should not be licensed due to poor common sense. It is just a matter of application of some basic principles of logic that escape some people, and they should simply be taken off the road, because if it isn't the cell phone, they will inevitably be grilling on the habatchi onthe passenger seat whilst practicing kung fu that will cause their ultimate demise and more importantly some poor sucker who happens to get in their way.
While we are on the sunbject, why don't we enforce the laws we have now...for example DWI. I don't quite understand how DWI shouldn't be the same as walking thru town intoxicated while brandishing a 44 magnum. It is attempted assault. We need to wake up in this country and realize what a real threat DWI is.
Ok...off the soap box. I am tired.
Jeff
I do not believe that cell phones without HF options should be legal, as it definitely does cross the line. To ban what effectively is conversation (no physical distraction) goes over the line in my opinion.
As for those putting on makeup while drinking coffee, eating a doughnut and talking on the phone.... well lets just say there is an idiot born every minute, and if you legislate the cell phone away, then you have removed one of the four distractions for a driver who should not be licensed due to poor common sense. It is just a matter of application of some basic principles of logic that escape some people, and they should simply be taken off the road, because if it isn't the cell phone, they will inevitably be grilling on the habatchi onthe passenger seat whilst practicing kung fu that will cause their ultimate demise and more importantly some poor sucker who happens to get in their way.
While we are on the sunbject, why don't we enforce the laws we have now...for example DWI. I don't quite understand how DWI shouldn't be the same as walking thru town intoxicated while brandishing a 44 magnum. It is attempted assault. We need to wake up in this country and realize what a real threat DWI is.
Ok...off the soap box. I am tired.
Jeff
Jngrbrdman
New member
The problem is that talking is using one side of your brain and driving uses the other side. You can't use both sides at the same time. So you are either talking or you are driving. It doesn't matter who you are talking to or what you are driving. Those are the facts. I think that if you are going to be driving then you need to be able to put both hands on the wheel at a split seconds notice. You can't do that with a phone in your hand. If you drive a standard transmission then I think you should be required to have a hands free device of some sort. I don't think that people should be arrested for driving safely while talking on the phone, but if you are driving like a crazy person then you need to be stopped and cited. Those are my feelings. Working in the wireless phone industry I hear a lot about this kind of thing. I just want people to drive safely. That is with both hands on the wheel. If you are driving wrecklessly then I don't care what the reason is. You need to be cited.
You can take my cell phone from my hands when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Sorry, but I am not buying the media hype about this. There was a study in California that came out and they found very few deaths could be contributed directly to the cell phone. Gray Doofus didn't like that result, so he is having the report revised to show all accidents and fatalities where the driver was on a cell phone, regardless of whether or not the cell phone use contributed to the accident so the accident and death rate would be higher, no doubt to further his attempt to reign in as much freedom from California's as he can.
The problem is not the cell phone, it is the driver. Why not ban cup holders in cars since they encourage drinking which could distract the driver? Ban the vanity mirror on the driver's side visor also since it could be used for shaving or applying make-up while driving. No kids in cars either. Do you know how distracting kids are? How many times have you seen a parent turned completely around facing the rear seat trying to swat a kid? No radios, cassette or CD players either.
C'mon, people, don't fall for a ploy the states are using to collect revenue through fines. AAA did a study on distracted driving and cell phones were way down on the list. Eating and drinking was number one.
The police should focus specifically on drivers who are obviously distracted, whether it be by a cell phone, newspaper, shaving, waxing their legs, whatever. We already have reckless and distracted driving laws on the books in most states. We just don't enforce them. If we did, the cell phone issue would be moot.
Oh yeah, it should be obvious (according to votematch.com) I am a libertarian leaning conservative.
The problem is not the cell phone, it is the driver. Why not ban cup holders in cars since they encourage drinking which could distract the driver? Ban the vanity mirror on the driver's side visor also since it could be used for shaving or applying make-up while driving. No kids in cars either. Do you know how distracting kids are? How many times have you seen a parent turned completely around facing the rear seat trying to swat a kid? No radios, cassette or CD players either.
C'mon, people, don't fall for a ploy the states are using to collect revenue through fines. AAA did a study on distracted driving and cell phones were way down on the list. Eating and drinking was number one.
The police should focus specifically on drivers who are obviously distracted, whether it be by a cell phone, newspaper, shaving, waxing their legs, whatever. We already have reckless and distracted driving laws on the books in most states. We just don't enforce them. If we did, the cell phone issue would be moot.
Oh yeah, it should be obvious (according to votematch.com) I am a libertarian leaning conservative.
I think people should use common sense. Unfortunately, that can't be legislated. I think that banning cell phones completely would be futile. As someone else pointed out, some people are just going to distract themselves from their driving with other things. In some traffic situations I just quit listening and ask people to repeat what they said when the situation is over. Sometimes I tell friends to be quiet while I'm driving. Once, on a long drive, a friend was surprised that I didn't promptly have the answer to some arithmetic problem. I explained that I need that processing power for driving.
I'm pretty much in favour of banning hand held cell phones while driving, even though I've been known to answer my cell phone if I believe the current driving situation allows me to do so safely.
edit: I just read Scottwax's post. I agree, just enforce laws we already have, about driving while distracted, etc. and don't make a specific law about cell phone use.
end edit.
There was some study that indicated that it was more dangerous to drive and talk to the boss or clients, than to talk to friends or family. They figure you are more likely to say, "Wait a minute" during a casual call than during a biz call.
I'm pretty much in favour of banning hand held cell phones while driving, even though I've been known to answer my cell phone if I believe the current driving situation allows me to do so safely.
edit: I just read Scottwax's post. I agree, just enforce laws we already have, about driving while distracted, etc. and don't make a specific law about cell phone use.
end edit.
There was some study that indicated that it was more dangerous to drive and talk to the boss or clients, than to talk to friends or family. They figure you are more likely to say, "Wait a minute" during a casual call than during a biz call.
Well, I don't even know if those figures are still valid today 
But I remember hearing that.
They didn't test shaving, eating or reading.
The same discussion started up when they first put radios into the car. Accident rates went up and people wanted to ban radios. However that trend stayed and we are all used to it now.
I think cell phones will be the same. People will continue to use them in the car.
I admit that I use the cell phone while driving sometimes. I don't hold conversations, but I do call for directions etc. WHILE driving. Each situation is different. If i'm driving downtown during rush hour on a cell phone, i'm clearly a hazard to others. But I see less harm driving on the highway 2 in the morning with no cars around.
I doubt a ban will follow through. What people should push for is proper education when it comes to common sense + driving + distractions (cellphones,eating,reading...). This education should be held in driving schools.
But I remember hearing that.
They didn't test shaving, eating or reading.
The same discussion started up when they first put radios into the car. Accident rates went up and people wanted to ban radios. However that trend stayed and we are all used to it now.
I think cell phones will be the same. People will continue to use them in the car.
I admit that I use the cell phone while driving sometimes. I don't hold conversations, but I do call for directions etc. WHILE driving. Each situation is different. If i'm driving downtown during rush hour on a cell phone, i'm clearly a hazard to others. But I see less harm driving on the highway 2 in the morning with no cars around.
I doubt a ban will follow through. What people should push for is proper education when it comes to common sense + driving + distractions (cellphones,eating,reading...). This education should be held in driving schools.
Redcar GUY
New member
I dont own a cell, I use to but I wanted to be harder to find 
But I dont think that you should be talking on one as you drive, just my .02$
But I dont think that you should be talking on one as you drive, just my .02$
VetteToVair
New member
i drive a standard and i've never even thought about answering my cell in the car while i'm driving. because i am not THAT important and they can just wait until i get where i'm going.
okay here's the thing
many of us grew up in a very different generation than the one before us. Our evironment is much more technology oriented, etc.
I grew up a phone person. My ear was planted to the phone from as long as I remember dialing. I've always been on the phone, while watching tv, while doing homework while everything.
I type 60+ words per minute, I can beat like every video game,
The point is it's something I'm completely used to. Hand eye coordination is better learned in this day and age becuase of the environment.
So when I see some idiot with a phone that can't talk and drive at the same time, it totally pisses me off. They shouldn't take away our phone privelages, the should take away their driving privelages.
Just yesterday, I was trying to figure out a song on piano, and I was on the phone at the same time. I would argue that figuring out that song is more diffcult from driving home from work and I could do both.
There's a story of a guy who was overflowing his gas tank because he was on his cell phone and not paying attention. I mean WTF, are you totally clueless. Ban the guy, not the cell phone.
Tony, I think that if people are 1 phone call away from being a terrible driver, then that's a lot of scary drivers on the road. Just because other people can't drive and talk doesn't mean it should take away the ability for the ones that can. If at any time there was a situation that was urgent, the phone would be the first one to go.
many of us grew up in a very different generation than the one before us. Our evironment is much more technology oriented, etc.
I grew up a phone person. My ear was planted to the phone from as long as I remember dialing. I've always been on the phone, while watching tv, while doing homework while everything.
I type 60+ words per minute, I can beat like every video game,
The point is it's something I'm completely used to. Hand eye coordination is better learned in this day and age becuase of the environment.
So when I see some idiot with a phone that can't talk and drive at the same time, it totally pisses me off. They shouldn't take away our phone privelages, the should take away their driving privelages.
Just yesterday, I was trying to figure out a song on piano, and I was on the phone at the same time. I would argue that figuring out that song is more diffcult from driving home from work and I could do both.
There's a story of a guy who was overflowing his gas tank because he was on his cell phone and not paying attention. I mean WTF, are you totally clueless. Ban the guy, not the cell phone.
Tony, I think that if people are 1 phone call away from being a terrible driver, then that's a lot of scary drivers on the road. Just because other people can't drive and talk doesn't mean it should take away the ability for the ones that can. If at any time there was a situation that was urgent, the phone would be the first one to go.
To throw a tangent in here, it still cracks me up to this day how people obviously think they're "cool" because they're having a conversation on a cell phone in a public place.
"Hey, call me in 10min on my cell"
"Why?"
"Because I'll be in line at the Post Office/bank/grocery store and I want people to know that I have a really important job and since I didn't get enough attention as a child, I want to let people I don't know or care about know how important and obviously better I am than they are since I have a cell phone."
10min later
ring ring
"Dork Nutz here, what's the problem? Uh, yeah the cap on that stock exceeds the daily quota limit for maximizing ROI in a tax-free CD because of the no load nature of the parent company in BFE."
What ever...get a life
"Hey, call me in 10min on my cell"
"Why?"
"Because I'll be in line at the Post Office/bank/grocery store and I want people to know that I have a really important job and since I didn't get enough attention as a child, I want to let people I don't know or care about know how important and obviously better I am than they are since I have a cell phone."
10min later
ring ring
"Dork Nutz here, what's the problem? Uh, yeah the cap on that stock exceeds the daily quota limit for maximizing ROI in a tax-free CD because of the no load nature of the parent company in BFE."
What ever...get a life
Nagchampa
Oh I'll Bring the Shizzle
DP-Jedi said:
I always wanted to try that scene from that horrible movie Freddy Got Fingered!
Jngrbrdman
New member
Let's try to keep this from being a venting thread. We all know that there are some bad drivers out there and them talking on cell phones just makes them worse. Let's just be careful about what you are venting about. 
SouthernBoy
New member
Scottwax said:
I think it was Mark Twain who said something to the effect of, "There are only three kinds of lies. White lies, damned lies, and statistics."
While the numbers can generally be massaged to prove any hypothesis, I can say from an anecdotal perspective that almost everytime I finally pass the slow car in the fast lane, the driver has a phone clamped to his/her ear.
I say if you can't go hands-free, then go phone-free.
My two pennies.
Almost every "bad" story I hear of a cell phone driver points at the driver and not at the cell phone.
Case in point, slower driver in the fast lane. A cell phone shouldn't stop people from looking in their mirrors, at their speedometer, especially when their is more than one lane. Assuming it's a highway that's like the easiest road scenario to deal with. This driver is obviously poor reguardless.
Case in point, slower driver in the fast lane. A cell phone shouldn't stop people from looking in their mirrors, at their speedometer, especially when their is more than one lane. Assuming it's a highway that's like the easiest road scenario to deal with. This driver is obviously poor reguardless.
imported_Aurora40
New member
I'm not a big fan of studies being used to push laws. I don't really think it matters. In America, the government has a certain role and citizens have certain freedoms. I really hate to see the government try to regulate behavior. If someone is driving erratically or unsafely, then pull that person over and ticket them, or revoke their license. Who cares if it's because they are eating and talking and applying makeup, or just because they are a crappy driver. It's irrelevant. There are certainly people who can drive safely and use a phone, so to punish these people is, in my opinion, completely counter to what America was founded on. Whether 80% of people are distracted isn't the point at all. You either drive appropriately or you don't. However you acccomplish that is up to you.
I know I'm not saying this very well, but what I mean is that laws should be passed because you feel it is something government has a right to regulate and it isn't a right individuals should have. I don't think it really matters if the law will stop accidents or crime or whatever. I wouldn't want to live in an America where there are no accidents or crime because the government regulates every aspect of our behavior. That isn't America. (Not to mention that government domination doesn't really stop crime.)
I know I'm not saying this very well, but what I mean is that laws should be passed because you feel it is something government has a right to regulate and it isn't a right individuals should have. I don't think it really matters if the law will stop accidents or crime or whatever. I wouldn't want to live in an America where there are no accidents or crime because the government regulates every aspect of our behavior. That isn't America. (Not to mention that government domination doesn't really stop crime.)