Comments for Could Drivers Face Total Cell Phone Bans? »
Posted By Newperson 11 months, 3 weeks ago in NewsTo many Americans, driving a car without being able to talk on a cell phone might seem like a trip back to the dark ages. But that's what the National Safety Council would like to see -- a ban on all cell phone use by drivers.
In this file photo, a woman talks on her cell phone while driving in Los Angeles. The National Safety Council would like to see a ban on all cell phone use by drivers.
(AP Photo)Today, the safety group is launching a nationwide effort to try to persuade businesses and state legislatures to forbid drivers from using any cell phone -- hand-held or hands-free -- while behind the wheel.
"The science tells [us] when [we're] on the phone while driving, it is a high-risk activity -- very, very risky," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "But most people don't understand that."
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Newperson11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Bucotch11 months, 2 weeks ago
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When drunk, not a single subject rear-ended the pace car in the experiment. However, three of the subjects crashed into the car while talking on the phone.
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Drunk driving is, without a doubt, a significant danger. However, we may want to reconsider how we chose to doll out our moral outrage. Cell phone vs. can of beer, no difference.
http://www.duianswer.com/library/drunk-driving-ver...
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lvrofwolves11 months, 2 weeks ago
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People don't always tell the caller that they're driving, I called my Mom the other day and she was just talking away, then I heard her say 'Hi, I just want to make a deposit and another voice say ok', I said 'Mom, are you at the bank? she says yeah, in the drive thru' I said, 'well call me when you get home!'
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Geesh.........
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UnusualSuspect11 months, 2 weeks ago
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In NY they're banned while driving, not that it's enforced by any means.
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I'm a strong believer in driving safely...if I'm driving and I expect a call at a certain time or within a certain time period, I'll pull over and answer it. If I'm not expecting a call, I don't answer the phone at all while driving but will wait until I pull over or return to home or business. I'll also pull over to make a call (as much as I don't like to).
All states should have laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving... -
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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There can be a lot of difference. Do you look straight ahead when talking to your passenger or do you have an uncontrollable urge to turn to face them when you talk like most people do. You can tell your passenger that you need to concentrate on driving. If your passenger starts arguing you can ask them to shut up. And on and on ...
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Charlson11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I never talk on a cell phone while driving, too much of a distraction and dangerous too. I've seen a few instances of drivers on their phones not paying any attention to their environment and causing accidents. Accidents while talking on cell phones should carry a higher penalty and should be a citable offense.
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I actually pulled over on the shoulder to make a call and a cop gave me a ticket for driving on the shoulder without it being an emergency. I took it to court where it was thrown out and the cop given a really good tongue lashing by the judge.
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rightfromwrong11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I see it all the time and most people are not only distracted but they tend to a)not put on their blinker b)drive in the wrong lane c)looking at other things on the car at the same time d)go through lights which have turned yellow and they should stop for.
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I'm all for heavy fines and demerit points -
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aceofspades111 months, 2 weeks ago
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I've got to agree with you, Cajun - in my opinion there should be NO discussion on the driver's part with another passenger. How often do you see the driver looking at the passenger & not the road ? Very often.
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Certain hands-free operations should be allowed - like U-Connect system which is entirely voice activated. On long trips I believe a call breaks up the monotony & actually is a safety factor.
Now the use of radios & CD players & IPods can really be distracting- 500 decibels of hip hop - blanks out road noise & horns & create a real safety hazard
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Beau789011 months, 3 weeks ago
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On the one hand, I agree that drivers conversing on their cell phones are a hazard. We've all seen it distract people.
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On the other hand, I have to wonder...how is speaking on a cell phone with a hands-free headset different from having a conversation with a passenger in terms of the amount of distraction?-
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Newperson11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hey Beau Thanks for the comment I use to agree with that but I don't think people will abide by the rules. Alot of people don't even buckle there seat belts.
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I have seen people get in accidents trying to grab a seat belt strap when they is a police officer going by.-
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Beau789011 months, 3 weeks ago
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I'm really not sure what I think about making a law against being on the phone while driving...I've never heard a satisfactory answer as to why a cell phone conversation while driving is different from an in-person one.
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It's true that many people won't follow some laws (like the seat belt example you gave), but that's the case about any law...I'm not sure it means we shouldn't have them.-
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lvrofwolves11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I don't really know why it's different either, it just seems to be. Maybe because when you're having a conversation with someone already in the car, they're in the same space as you are, while on a phone, you are using an object to bridge that gap, answering, dialing all take your attention away from the road. Same as programming a GPS, fiddling with stereo and CDs , women putting make-up on, noisy kids....,etc....
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Less then a year ago, my cousins husband was driving and hauling a cigar boat, took his eyes off the road to mess with his cell, ran a stop sign because he wasn't paying attention and smashed into a a Father of 4, killed him. My cousins husband had no record, doesn't drink, will probably have to file bankruptcy and had to go to prison for awhile. PRISON!He's back home now but he has nightmares every night and cries all the time. Is chatting on the phone really that important that one can't wait till they're done driving, or pull off the road????
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willottica11 months, 3 weeks ago
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When speaking to passengers in the car, the passengers are an additional source of information about what is going on. You are distracted by them, but they can in turn provide additional warning to you.
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Also, if an emergency situation comes up, your passenger can stop speaking to you and causing a distraction, the person at the other end of the phone will not know to do the same. And politeness (and years of training) dictates that you not hang up on someone on the phone without warning, whereas a passenger will not need an explanation or be offended if you suddenly shut up to avoid a collision.
In my own experience, there is also the matter of focus. When talking on a phone, your attention is directed to a very small object. You must concentrate your hearing and your speech to a very small area. In a one-on-one conversation, when you speak, the other will hear, you don't have to speak up into the mouthpiece, nor strain to hear past static. This may explain why hands-free sets have been shown to be almost as distracting as physically holding the phone. The exception to this is when the hands-free set is directly in front of the speaker. This also fits the theory, because the focus is then directed forward, in the direction of the road. -
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Actually more of a distraction talking to the passenger because most people have to look directly at who they are talking to thereby taking their eyes off the road when doing so. It also depends on the nature of the conversation on the hands-free. Idle conversation, not too bad, arguing with the other party, bad!
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lvrofwolves11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I agree, ban them. The other day this stupid woman was at a red light in front of me, talking on a cell, she didn't notice the light turned green, I waited about 5secs and gave her a little beep, 5 more seconds..she still didn't move, I gave her a full beep, she tore off like a bat out of hell...still talking away. I try and keep my distance from those I see on a cell, most just don't pay attention, like they're the only ones on the road.
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ELISHEVA111 months, 3 weeks ago
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Wow, I thought we were the last place in the world to FINALLY ban cell phones while driving. Of course, the legislature is soft meaning that GPS devices and ear pieces are 'fine.' (I thought we were in the dark ages! People need to pressure their local government for this kind of change. The problem is in the way the brain is engaged while talking. Many 'don't agree' but they are not brain experts. The response time is slower - than the usual time for an given individual, for everyone! Stat's like that and no laws to ban them completely?? Maybe the communication companies have more influence than is good for our health - again.
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Ciera-Marie11 months, 3 weeks ago
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No Shana children aren't more distracting than cellphones. I know more parents who will pull over and stay put until the children are done.
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I've seen too many PARENTS of both sexes either a. drive way to slow, then honk at you when you try to pass them b. drive way too fast while talking on the cell phone.
I've seen a driver of a SUV talk in the cellphone, while reading a book and smoking and yes they were in the driver's seat.
I worked with a woman who a. has epilepsy and takes meds for it, b. smokes c. went out drinking every night after work and would brag about how sick she got and on the first day of driving brand new Volkswagon Beetle rear ended the car in front of her and couldn't understand why she was in trouble and her insurance would go up. She was talking on her celll phone in rush hour traffic, dropped it and while driving bent down to pick it up.
A manager would talk on cell phone, check and reply to his e-mail at the same time. He was driving with his knees and was a single father of driving age teens at the time who were in the car with him at times.
A relative who works for Sam Brownbeck does the same thing in the DC area even though there is a ban on doing so while driving.
Cell phones / hands free / head seats / driving while texting for any age should be banned in all 50 states and all US territories. Except for emergencies when the driver of said car is on side of rode with motor off.-
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lvrofwolves11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Driving shouldn't include multitasking. Nanny 911 did a show about kids being distracting while driving, she said pull off the road whenever it happens and attend to your children, it's not worth risking their lives and others who are on the road.
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My Dad would just calmly pull off the road and beat our butts with a hair brush, didn't take long for just a glance in the rear view mirror to work, I'm not suggesting beatings, but if you know your kids are distracting, it needs to be dealt with. -
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BillieMaxer11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Most people who want a ban are the same ones who still use them while driving.
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Try this next time you are on a cell phone while going home, say chatting with your spouse for the 5 to 10 min trip home.Once you get home try remembering if you had any red lights or any green lights on your path home. Fact is almost everyone who is talking on the cell on the way home can not remember if they had any stops or not.The phone seems to have its users in a trance.Your attention is not what so ever on the road, only your reaction is, which means your reaction does not happen from advance attention of whats around you or ahead. Also while one has a hand held at the side of their head and making a turn at a main intersection, they do not have a full radius of the surroundings as if you would without the phone and arm stuck to your ear, try it, if you haven't already.People should not have their cell up to their ear while turning.My new truck has a built in phone, all voice activated, its more like talking to someone in the passenger seat. You will see them in all vehicles shortly. -
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BillieMaxer11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I think Its a little different jordan. You don't have your passenger stuck on the side of your head. A phone on your ear seems to have one in a trance while they are chatting. You seem to pay more attention to the person on the phone than you would to the person in the other seat. Not saying you can't be distracted with a passenger. Just not the same.
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lvrofwolves11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Pretend you're at home watching a movie with a friend, you're talking to each other, it's a little distracting.
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Then pretend instead of a friend being over with you, they call on the phone, you answer it, try and watch the movie and concentrate on what the caller says on the phone. Most people pause the movie, or say I'm watching a movie, I'll call you back, or they don't answer.
It sure seems VERY different.
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shrimpet111 months, 3 weeks ago
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In our state you are permitted to use hands free phones, although I CONSTANTLY see people with the phone plastered to their ear. I constantly see police cars with the police officers on their cell phone! This is no joke, don't they have a two way radio?
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I don't see any problem with hands free. If you see a problem with hands free then we shouldn't also adjust our interior climate settings, touch the radio, turn our wipers on/off, talk to our passengers, smoke, drink, chew gum (some people can't chew gum and talk at the same time), or drive with our KIDS in the car.-
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gasp789011 months, 3 weeks ago
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Next to impossilbe to enforce, yes. If a cop pulls you over for talking on your hands-free, then ask how he/she knows that. Because your mouth was moving and no passenger to talk to. But officer I was singing to myself along with the song on the radio ... Now what? :-)
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pgroot11 months, 3 weeks ago
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I have seen a driver who turned her head to talk to the passenger. She passed me and continued straight, yakking away. Too bad the road curved left. She crossed my lane and hit parked cars, then ricocheted across the road into a vacant lot.
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I also narrowly missed a girl who made a U-turn in front of me while on the cell. First time the anti-lock brakes got a workout. She didn't seem to notice how close I was.
I have been hit from behind twice with serious damage. The first one, the driver was yelling at another driver and failed to notice that I was stopped. The second time the driver could have been on the phone going full speed and traffic was stopped on the freeway. -
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skeptic27111 months, 3 weeks ago
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Okay, let's say talking on a cellphone while driving is as dangerous as you're saying it is. What would we expect the change in the rate of traffic accidents per 100 million miles driven to be compared to 1983 before cell phones were introduced? The NTHSA's statistics indicate they've gone down by a whopping 40% and in 1983 we had the national 55 mph speed limit! In going from 0 cell phones to about 150 million cell phones we've lowered the accident rate in spite of driving more miles at higher speeds. The statistics just don't bear out the propaganda. If cell phones are really so dangerous, why don't the statistics bear that out?
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What really happens is when we see somebody do something stupid while driving and see that he's using a cell phone, we attribute his stupidity to his using the cell phone whether it is or not. When we see someone do something stupid while not using a cell phone, we don't rember that it was done in spite of not using a cell phone.-
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BillieMaxer11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Read this cell phone accident stats, so why not add more chances to have an accident, that makes sense, why not make an excuse for something that doesn't help the situation, but enhances it.
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http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_C... -
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wtagg11 months, 3 weeks ago
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The trouble with applying such statistics to one contributor is that you have no way on knowing the cell phones impact due to so many contributors. Have cell phones actually prevented a larger decrease than what actually occurred? You cannot answer that question.
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I've been rear-ended TWICE by a driver having to look down at their cell phone to dial a number. The stat for me is 100% due to cell phone useage as I've never been rear-ended otherwise. However, I DO understand your point. Cell phones are not the cause, the driver is. The cell phone is simply attributed to being an additional distraction.
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jljoh10969911 months, 3 weeks ago
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Need to ban the use of Cell Phones unless it's an emergency. Saw a lady yesterday talking on the cell phone and putting on her make-up at the same time, while driving. Very Very Stupid! The best bumper sticker around "HANG UP AND DRIVE"! If you have to talk on the phone, do it at home, or pull over off the road and yap that mouth all you want, but do it off the road and out of every ones way.
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jljoh10969911 months, 3 weeks ago
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Need to ban the use of Cell Phones unless it's an emergency. Saw a lady yesterday talking on the cell phone and putting on her make-up at the same time, while driving. Very Very Stupid! The best bumper sticker around "HANG UP AND DRIVE"! If you have to talk on the phone, do it at home, or pull over off the road and yap that mouth all you want, but do it off the road and out of every ones way.
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sunnydays14011 months, 3 weeks ago
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I am sorry. I have almost caused quite a few accidents and have almost gone off the road quite a few times due to talking on the cell phone. BUT i have also almost gone off the road due to lighting a cigarette, changing the radio station, adjusting the heat, putting on makeup,fixing my hair, drinking coffee and eating donuts while driving. IF they ban cell phones, they will also have to ban a lot of these other things too!!!!
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earthlingerer11 months, 2 weeks ago
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New Hampshire (Live Free or Die) has a law that makes eating, drinking, really anything that could be a distraction, an offense.
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Really, anywhere cops can pull you over if you swerve, or otherwise drive erratically. This is perfectly fine with me, and most others, I'm sure.
"i have also almost gone off the road due to lighting a cigarette, changing the radio station, adjusting the heat, putting on makeup,fixing my hair, drinking coffee and eating donuts while driving" That says a lot about you. You should use public transportation...
Like the short bus. -
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lvrofwolves11 months, 2 weeks ago
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sunnydays140-well if you put on make-up, drink coffee,fix your hair, eat donuts, talk on your cell while driving and you get in all those 'almost' accidents, maybe if you'd concentrate more on driving and less on multi tasking, your driving would greatly improve, even if it is just you're a lousy driver!. What's it going to take? will it if you maimed someone for life or how about killing someone??? how many times you think it's going to be 'almost'??
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earthlingerer11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Well, if someone was stopped, and there was no way they could prove they had been calling emergency services (phones call list, confirmation call, etc.) they would be fined for the phone AND for lying to an officer.
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But they should have been off the road before they called anyways. -
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william-sire11 months, 2 weeks ago
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The profound stupidity of this is 1) Prior to cell phones truck drivers have been talking on CBs for decades, as well as police, and other public service agents. Then there is the addition of the CB enthusiast over the years. 2) if you have a passenger in the car with you and were talking to them it's the same thing as hands free cell phone use.
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Regardless how intelligent that study may sound, the entire thing is blatant stupidity. It's just creating statistics to support a position. One that very easily can be contributed to another factor entirely that is not conditional to cell phone usage.-
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Question .. when you talk on a cell phone do you look ahead and when you talk to a passenger do you look ahead or turn your head to face the passenger? Most people turn to face the passenger.
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You can't eliminate the passenger but you CAN eliminate the cell phone distraction element.-
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william-sire11 months, 1 week ago
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OK ... this topic was so stupid I forgot about it. You CAN eliminate the passenger. But that's not necessary, you can just eliminate the CONVERSATION WITH THE PASSENGER while driving. But the point is, because you are not going to, it's the same distraction as talking on a cell cell phone while using the hands free option.
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Whether you look ahead or look in the direction of the source of your conversation has not and as of yet cannot be measured into this as a factor.
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bktobin1411 months, 2 weeks ago
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just another thing for cops to pull people over for and overcrowd out jails and waste the taxpayers money. get serious. You people won't get it until you get pulled over and cited for driving while on your phone..and then they try and get you for something else
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Harbeas11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Getting people to stop using their cell phones while driving isevery bit as important as stopping drunk drivers. It's too bad we have to pass a low to prevent this. anyone with a whit of intelligence knows they should not be talking on the phone while driving.
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tikno11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I almost got an accident when willing to answer a cellphone call, when I'm drive a car.
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Since then, I see the caller ID first. If not from family, I will re-call them after my car stopped.
Safety first, for me, because I have a LOVED family.-
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CajunChamp11 months, 2 weeks ago
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martinbekal12311 months, 2 weeks ago
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let see alternative articles
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http://www.imeem.com/people/R5BiryE/blogs/ -
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RedRiverJ11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Heaven forbid we expect people to actually drive while behind the wheel of a car. Too many accidents and too many near misses because of people being on a cell phone while driving. Restricting their use while driving sounds as if it might save some lives.
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razorbackcampers11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I absolutely think driving and talking on the phone should be banned. Where I live, people can't drive when not on the phone. Just the other day I had to wait for this woman to back her truck, which was the size of a tank, out of a parking spot putting it in drive then reverse, drive then reverse and steadily talking on the phone. I was hot because she just needed to hang up the stupid phone and drive!! I am all for the ban and with stiff punishment if caught doing it!!
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BB6411 months, 2 weeks ago
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Total cell phone ban? I don't think that's a good idea. I think there should be huge fines associated with talking on the cell phone if you cause an accident. When I'm driving my own car my hands free is wonderful. Blue tooth through the factory radio. I like it very much.
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As to distractions, my driver was taking me to the office and I watched a woman in the lane next to us. She was putting on makeup, talking on the cell phone, taking notes, yelling at the kids in the back seat, smoking and eating. Oh, did I mention this was at about 75 miles an hour? She was trying to pass us in the emergency lane. This is as bad as the other guys reading the paper while driving. What we need to do is charge more people with inattentive driving and pull their licenses for a while. Walking, cabbing or taking a bus to work will be helpful reminders to drive responsibly. -
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gsgtaz11 months, 2 weeks ago
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I am a salesman, I drive thousands of miles per year. And yes, I us a cell phone while driving. It is dangerous That is a FACT! I have not been in an accident. I am very carefull. Beening careful is not really paying attention to your driving.
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Even with a blue tooth which I use is helpful but not enough. I have used a cell phone from when they first came out. Yes, there needs to be a ban on using them while driving. I complain constantly about others around me driving using their cells. They dont pay attention and cause death to others, for what ? talking about a date they had last night. END CELL USE WHILE DRIVING SAVE A LIFE! Pull off the road !!! -
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JUSTKIDNG11 months, 2 weeks ago
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As well as banning cell phones; I think they should ban kids from being in the car. I have been more distracted by arguing kids...cyring...trying to get out of seatbelts..spilled drinks, etc. I turn around to see whats going on and you know the rest....
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