Cell phone while driving...

CoeCEO · 03-23-2007, 10:42 AM

So a lot of folks get really ticked when people are driving with cellphones, in fact I know it is illegal in most of New England.

However, I do it all the time. In fact I think its a great way to utilize my time while on the road. Unfortunately my dog chewed up my headset and I have been too cheap to buy one so now im doing it the old fashioned (and illegal) way.

My problem is, I do not think it effects my driving, especially any more than listening to the radio or having a conversation with a passenger. So whats the big deal?

There are many people that just drive like idiots, phone or not.

galaxycrew · 03-23-2007, 11:10 AM

i watched a debate about this in my debate class... the opposition to the proposal argued what studies have found: its the conversation, not holding the phone.

Rockhound · 03-23-2007, 11:32 AM

I can't agree more! Holding a phone and talking on the headset is the same thing. How many people drive with 2 hands?????NONE! Some people can and some people can't talk on a phone and drive. When I talk on the phone while driving I am driving 1st, talking second. The people that can't drive while on the phone pay more attention to the conversation than the road. THESE PEOPLE PROBABLY SHOULDN"T DRIVE AT ALL

If the conversation is intense or I need to make notes I pull over.
Not that I'm bitter.

My 2 cents...

**gadget74** · 03-23-2007, 11:46 AM

Of course the rules are made for the few that can't and the rest of us suffer!

**P's Titan** · 03-23-2007, 11:46 AM

it's the fact that you get distracted ( by the conversation ). And of course you say your driving is no different. So does everyone else that does it. You don't realize it while your driving.

Examples I see all time since I was on the freeways for work 25-30 hours week.

Driving 75mph, then you get a call continue at 75, slowly you creep down to 70 maybe 65. May swerve a lil in the lanes, finally realize youve slowed down as the person behind you is on your a$$. You speed back up, then repeat.

Car cuts you off, you have one hand on the wheel and the other your holding your phone to your ear. You reaction time is shattered because you are so occupied with the phone conversation, and the one hand on the wheel in certain circumstances can't react to the situation like a person driving without a major distraction.

Theres more, it's amazing what you see. Like said above, some people can do it and drive perfectly and others.. well they can't drive to begin with and adding a phone makes it worse.

In CA a BS fine of $30 or $50 if your caught driving while on your phone and I dont think it goes into effect until next year. That fine is a joke, if it were a couple hundred people would really think about it before doing.

zembonez · 03-23-2007, 11:48 AM

IDIOT FACTOR Take 1

I think the bigger issue here is the fact that very few people ACTUALLY know how to drive. Add to that an iPod, a cell phone, a hamburger, or a billboard on the side of the road and you are asking for trouble. Couple that with the fact that about 85% of the human population are blithering idiots and you begin to see the picture in clear focus.

I travel 350 miles a day and use my phone about half of that time (and have for the last 5 years) and I haven't been flipped off or run over by anybody.

We have a lack of driver training in this country... it isn't the cell phone. Our population is getting dumber by the minute. Nobody has to learn anything because it's never their fault when something goes wrong... No amount of NEW rules for our safety will erase the idiot factor.

Could SOMEBODY pass this along to the liberals who think they know better than anybody how to run our lives?

OK... my rant is over.

**P's Titan** · 03-23-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zembonez

IDIOT FACTOR Take 1

I think the bigger issue here is the fact that very few people ACTUALLY know how to drive. Add to that an iPod, a cell phone, a hamburger, or a billboard on the side of the road and you are asking for trouble. Couple that with the fact that about 85% of the human population are blithering idiots and you begin to see the picture in clear focus.

I travel 350 miles a day and use my phone about half of that time (and have for the last 5 years) and I haven't been flipped off or run over by anybody.

We have a lack of driver training in this country... it isn't the cell phone. Our population is getting dumber by the minute. Nobody has to learn anything because it's never their fault when something goes wrong... No amount of NEW rules for our safety will erase the idiot factor.

Could SOMEBODY pass this along to the liberals who think they know better than anybody how to run our lives?

OK... my rant is over.

Very well put, I agree 100% with that statement.

Rockhound · 03-23-2007, 11:51 AM

AMEN!

Yeah, I drive a lot as well. See some...uh interesting things.

NismoTitan · 03-23-2007, 11:56 AM

I never do talk on the phone and drive. Usually I say that I am driving and will call back. Only when in a traffic jam I can talk. One thing that pisses me off though is person driving in the left lane while on the phone they slow down to like 40-50mph, every one starts passing them and in a few minutes there is a traffic jam. That's just my observation. I think people who talk on the phone in the left lane create unnesesary movements on a highway.

**gadget74** · 03-23-2007, 12:01 PM

I agree that there are many distractions that cause problems. The cell phone is NOT one for me, but is for others.

My problem is how do i get those da** kids in the back seat to be quite and leave each other alone!!!

CardShark · 03-23-2007, 12:01 PM

I've only been in a few accidents in my life, and ALL of those accidents followed the same pattern:

1) I am stopped at a red light. Dead stopped for at least 10 seconds mind you.
2) I get rear-ended by someone talking on their phone.

Sometimes they admitted to being on the phone, sometimes they didn't. Luckily for me the ones that didn't I saw approach in my rear-view mirror and could clearly see them talking on it. Once I made that clear the denials don't last too long.

I know most people can drive while talking on the phone and it would suck to penalize a huge majority for the idiotic minority, but at this point, I DON'T GIVE A F*CK. Ban the things from being used in cars nation-wide if you want, I won't shed a tear.

zembonez · 03-23-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P's Titan

Very well put, I agree 100% with that statement.

Thanks P... I was directly in line with yours as well there...

zembonez · 03-23-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoTitan

One thing that pisses me off though is person driving in the left lane while on the phone they slow down to like 40-50mph, every one starts passing them and in a few minutes there is a traffic jam.

I think I speak for everybody in here when I say:

I agree with your sentiment about the people who can't handle using a phone when driving. There are people whose skills are so taxed just "herding the Buick to work and back" that they can't handle ANY distraction without losing focus.

I know people that I would not dare even TALK to when they are driving!

I think there are idiots in all walks of life. Didn't we have an astronaut drive across country wearing a diaper recently?

**Carbeaux** · 03-23-2007, 12:22 PM

Talking on your phone is a distraction to your driving. Period. If you believe otherwise, you're kidding yourself. Having said that, I'm NOT for banning them. I protect my liberties whenever, and wherever possible. Common sense is what is required. Unfortunately, you can't legislate that.

nymxer932 · 03-23-2007, 12:59 PM

I'm usually not one to hop in on debates, but this issue is asinine, in my opinion. I have driven one handed and talked to passengers in my truck, what's the difference? No one is putting barrier walls between the driver seat and the passenger seats. I feel for anyone who has gotten in an accident "because" of a cell phone, but there are plenty of other things that cause distraction as well. Cheeseburger in hand, radio controls, cigarette, map, dvd, etc. In my opinion this is just "rules for the sake of more rules".