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“…Using a cell phone while driving delays reaction time the same amount as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08, the legal limit,…
“…by motorists talking on cell phones, including children in wheelchairs who were paralyzed.”
They should also be held CRIMINALLY negligent!
We have this law in Maryland for texting and cell phone use, but you never see it enforced as it is a secondary offense and really only gets tacked on it you are pulled over for something else. They need to make it a primary offense, and require the addition of hands free devices with all new cell phone sales in all states.
LaHood said, however, he was not as concerned about people who eat, apply makeup, or perform other distracting activities in cars because “not everyone does that.”
“But everyone has a cell phone and too many of us think it is OK to talk on our phones while we are driving,” he said at the summit, sponsored by insurance company USAA, the
HUH??? I didnt realize that “everyone” has a cell phone, I guess the folks I know that do not own one do not count?
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i am really liking this action. florida has been monkeying around with a ban for 5 years or so and isn’t any closer now than day 1. this state is full of elderly drivers who are a near miss as it is. add the phone and we have a real problem down here. i can see where a federal act is headed. if it passed and states didn’t adopt it, they lose federal funding for the interstate roads. just as it was with the reduction to 55mph. those who did not adopt lost the money. let’s get rolling with this now!
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Good luck getting this enforced. On my daily commute on the Interstate leading into the State Capitol area 1 in 2 drivers are on their cellphones. Legislation should force the communication service providers to terminate standard cellphone use while in motion. That and hold the cellphone service providers legally liable. Otherwise this won’t amount to much.
“Legislation should force the communication service providers to terminate standard cellphone use while in motion.”
That seems like a good idea until you are a passenger in the back seat of a car looking for directions and you can’t use your phone. That would be rediculous and there would be no way to regulate whether you were driver or passenger. Also what if you are on a train or a golf cart at the golf course. Should you be denied cell phone service because you are moving? That is just not going to work.
It’s about time!! Years ago when this was attempted, the major cell phone providers screamed bloody murder about lost revenue. Now that people have “unlimited call plans”, this is a non-issue. The fact is, nearly 80% of cell phone usage is still PERSONAL use; i.e. not business use, so no call is that important that you can’t pull off the road.
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This article: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100203/A_OPINION0619/2030310/-1/NEWSMAP
Debunks the myth that cell phone bans reduce accidents. The studies done by various states did not see a reduction in accidents post cell phone ban (some states saw an increase.)
I believe that what it comes down to is this: People who are distracted by cell phone usage and get into accidents will be distracted by other things just as easily, and also get into an accident.
I agree with you here. I use my phone (calls only, no texting) while driving on occasion and I feel that I am still being safe and responsible. On the other hand I’ve seen people do terribly unsafe things because they are talking/texting away and are mentally distracted. It depends on the individual. It would be nice if people would just choose to be responsible and pull over if it’s necessary.
You gotta love people who red-check in spite of factual data.
Some people just can’t handle the truth.
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The best way to prevent people being killed by cars is get the Idiots off the road. they can’t drive with out a phone and then they start chatting on a cell phone and they are deadly. They are the same folks who were causing accidents before there were even cell phones.
And as for the eating, make up, talking with the passengers,,,,,, they all can be deadly if your not paying attention, hence the distracted driving laws.
Enfore the hands free and pull licenes from those who can not walk and chew gum.
Yessir you nailed it. You could be talking on the phone and paying better attention than someone that is just absent minded. “pull licenses from those who can not walk and chew gum.”.. i’m dying over here. classic.
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Driving a vehicle is a privilege, not a right. When the use of that vehicle is done in a manner that endangers lives then consequences should be imposed. There is not an argument on this planet that can justify holding a phone in your hand while driving. Second hand smoke was rightfully utilized as an argument to ban smoking in public areas. Why then, is it such a fight to ban someone from dangerously operating a 4000lb piece of equipment at high rates of speed? Unlike second hand smoke, the act of distracted driving can instantly kill, maim or disfigure an innocent person. This is not big brother controlling our lives, this is a government reigning in an overly obnoxious, instant gratification, self absorbed society that selfishly believes that their desire to dangerously text or talk while driving supersedes my right to have my husband return home safely from a shopping trip.
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When you are watching television, the phone rings, you answer it. What happens? You miss part of the show you were watching or you are not listening to the person whom you are talking to on the phone. You cannot concentrate effectively to both at once. The same goes for talking on the cell phone and driving. Something suffers and nine times out of ten, it is not your conversation!!! I watch people pull out of their driveways and immediately get on their cell phone. Come on, couldn’t you have completed the call before you left the house and got behind the wheel? Cell phone useage and driving do not go hand in hand. Either drive or talk on the phone. Don’t do both. I would encourage a law and it must be enforced. Right now, the police department would make a fortune within a week!!!
You know where it’s safe to be on your phone (or even laptop) and in transit? Busses, subways, rail systems, and the backseat of a carpool. There are so many ills a push toward public transit could be a step toward curing. But in its absence, LD makes a great point- we’re just not wired to focus on two things that require concentration at once.
I am in agreement that people shouldn’t be holding a cell phone while driving. However, and unfortunately, a law banning it won’t stop it or reduce its incidence enough to matter. People will ignore such a law just like they ignore posted speed limits because the police will be unable to enforce such a law effectively.