Nationwide Cell Phone Ban?

[TheMercenary]

I know the UK has some serious restrictions on cell phone use while driving and I don't know about down under, but I think it is about time we come up with a national policy here in the US. This is a long slow process in the US to get these kind of changes as it was with infant car seat use. We need to do something.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...011101959.html

[capnhowdy]

Just what we need. More government control. Maybe they could let us use our phones only on the days they allow us to wear colored underwear.

[TheMercenary]

Eh, I thought about that. I am totally against more government in most cases. I would not say there should be a total ban, but mandate hands free use only. Most people should be able to deal with that.

[capnhowdy]

Studies say that hands free is safer but still very distracting. Don't have time to find a link. Gotta go to work.

[Happy Monkey]

I would expect it to be less distracting than someone in the passenger seat, where you might be tempted to divert some of your attention to their body language as part of the conversation.

[glatt]

I bet passengers pay attention to the traffic subconsciously and change their conversation style during stressful traffic situations so they are less of a distraction. (Not counting kids in back seats.)

[lookout123]

people make stupid decisions all the time and some people are just bad drivers. the same people who pay more attention to their phone than the road will still be fumbling with CD's, Ipods, cigarettes, etc.

Cell phone bans are ridiculously unenforceable and just give the cops another reason to randomly pull people over. if someone blows a red light or is driving dangerously cite them for the driving, not an item they may or may not have been speaking into.

[TheMercenary]

I see your point LO but the UK enforces theirs. And I remember from some of the reports that 6 states and all Federal Property already has an enforceable ban in place. I know if you are seen talking on your phone on post the MP's will pull you over in a second. When we were in the UK the people we were with were pretty strick about it and that was over 2 years ago. I think it is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by lookout123

if someone blows a red light or is driving dangerously cite them for the driving, not an item they may or may not have been speaking into.

As first glance, this makes a lot of sense, but couldn't you also say the same thing for drinking and driving? That you should be able to drive drunk, and cops should only pull over those who are sloppy drivers?

[lookout123]

i do say that about drinking and driving.

although i feel it is a foolish act I feel the big push on it has more to do with revenue than safety. I would much rather see police patrolling the streets and pulling over people driving in an unsafe manner rather than setting up roadblocks in bar districts and arresting anyone with a sniff of alcohol. I believe they'd probably arrest just as many drunks and they'd certainly get more idiotic behavior off the roads.

[piercehawkeye45]

Eh...I don't see a realistic solution for this problem because the you cannot prevent the cause or properly enforce it.

Problems occur when the driver becomes focused on something other than driving whether that be a phone conversation, radio channel, or the two kids in the back seat that are hitting each other. And since there is no limit to the amount of potential distractions a driver can have and its extremely idealistic to assume that people will follow these rules, attempting to eliminate the distractions would prove a failure.

Thats why I agree with Lookout123 and would prefer to see driving rules enforced based on a reactionary basis instead of preventative. If a person is swerving, pull them over. If a person is not swerving, don't.

Although, if cell phones (regular or hands free) do prove to be a larger problem, like drinking and driving, and there are statistics to back it up, this law wouldn't be bad even though it is naturally idealistic. You will not prevent all people from driving and talking on their phones and you will not prevent all crashes relating to it, but you might be able to lower the amount.

[TheMercenary]

The statistics exist to support a ban on anything but hands free.

[jinx]

Lots of bad/dangerous drivers out there, with and without cell phones and other distractions. We don't need more laws we need better drivers. Make the damn tests harder.

[classicman]

I agree with Jinx. Tired drivers are the worst though.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by jinx

Lots of bad/dangerous drivers out there, with and without cell phones and other distractions. We don't need more laws we need better drivers. Make the damn tests harder.

IMO - if you make it against the law for people to drive and call, or drive and text - yes, TEXT - some fruitloops in this country think that's okay! - then if you catch them you are already catching dangerous drivers.

I'm not being holier than thou, but I saw some dreadful driving practices towards other drivers when I had a car, and have obversed many more that put cyclists & pedestrians at risk (I am sure we have FAR more pedestrians here in this country) since not driving.

My Mum admitted seeing my sister driving and texting. I was so shocked. My MUM who gave me a dressing down today about going to an appointment a day too early (why didn't you check? you could have been a day too late and then where would you be? put them on the calendar in future! I suppose I have to check up on you like I do your Dad etc etc) let her older daughter drive and read and send texts.

There was a recent report that said driving and texting was more hazerdous than drinking and driving. I believe it. I'm sure I'll be shouted down, but personally I think if you love your children, you'll concentrate on the road.