Should cell phone use while driving be banned

http://www.examiner.com/x-33782-Ann-Arbor-Christianity--Culture-Examiner~y2010m2d18-Should-cell-phone-use-while-driving-be-banned ^ | February 18, 2010 | Kevin Fobbs

[Kfobbs]

Traffic safety is typically the reason given by municipal or state legislative leaders when there is a consideration to ban the use of cell phones and texting while driving. The NCS announced in January that it estimates approximately 28 percent of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year – are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting.”

Think about that when you or your teenage driver is taking a minute while driving to text or take your attention away from oncoming traffic. It could be...

[ctdonath2]

using cell phones and texting

Awright, which are we talking about here? A recent study exonerated cell phone use from the charge of causing accidents. Texting, however, _requires_ taking your eyes off the road for non-trivial periods. Kinda like saying "brushing your teeth, and jabbing yourself in the eye, is dangerous" - conflating the two is statistically stupid.

[qwertypie]

I don’t know how many times where I’ve been in a weaving situation because a cell phone driver was doing 10 or so under the limit; sometimes in the FAST lane. I once saw a man so engrossed that he was doing 40 in a 70. Evidently, the first brain function to go is cognizance of the speedometer.

[RandallFlagg]

I'm convinced most accidents are caused by cigarette-smoking Muslim pit bulls with assault rifles.

Actually, them thar pit bulls were using ecigs.
;-)

[SkiKnee]

That is an excellent point. I can’t help but shake my head in amazement when I see a family van cruising along the freeway with a television set built in. I both marvel at the advancement of technology and tremble in fear at what could be going on inside the driver’s head. (”Should I increase my distance from that semi in front of me or will Superman be brought down by that hidden kryptonite?”)

[sticker]

There is a car I see every morning that I go into the office, the person drives 10-15 mph under the speed limit, if on the two lane(in each direction) part in the left lane and in one of the middle two lanes on the five lane section has their hands at the 10 and 2 positions and is obviously NOT talking on the phone.

[CajunConservative]

Yes. I’ve been hit twice by irresponsible and distracted drivers.

[Sacajaweau]

When did we get so desparate that we have to be on the phone at a drop of the hat. I think cell phones are great ....for emergencies and nothing else....which means you're NOT driving but at the side of the road.

Sick of seeing folks with a phone stuck in their ear.

[DJ MacWoW]

Most accidents are caused by driver stupidity.

[qwertypie]

One bad example of dangerous driving does not excuse another. “Johnny did it too” never cut it.

[DJ MacWoW]

Never had anybody swerving at us while using a bluetooth. Although makeup application and breakfast has caused near misses. :-)

[discostu]

There’s a lot of legislation of common sense in traffic laws, pretty much all of them are common sense or formalization of structure. What these laws do is allow police to issue tickets hopefully before the person causes accidents. Because we have a system where cops can’t give tickets just for being a crappy driver, there needs to be a formal charge like failure to control, speeding, or what ever else the crappy driver is doing. The fact is a significant portion of cellphone blabbing drivers present a clear and present danger, and could probably be nailed with existing laws but then it would come down to who’s got the bigger lawyer (depending on the lawyers “failure to control” is either a handy catch all or completely useless). People presenting clear and present danger, especially on publicly owned land like roads, should be legislated against.

[sticker]

WE HAVE A WINNER

[wordsofearnest]

I want a phaser set to vaporize on my front bumper.

[sticker]

I wasn’t trying to excuse anything, I was only pointing out that there are people that drive well under the speed limit for reasons other than cell phone use. If you don’t like cell phones don’t use one, but like I said also don’t eat, drink or talk to anyone in your car while you are driving otherwise you are being a hypocrite

[discostu]

One of the reasons I only own sticks is that when I’m driving an automatic (especially on the freeway with cruise control) i find myself slipping into “passenger mode”. Without all the actions and decisions of a stick I have a really hard time keeping the brain on the job.

[Notary Sojac]

Ah, a Left Lane Safety Monitor!! Does the car have Florida license plates?

[mysterio]

My opinion is no. Distracted driving is already against the law in every state.

As for texting while driving, that should be considered distracted driving. It's dangerous, and should not be done.

The most distracted drivers I've seen are parents disciplining their children in the back seat. Again, it shouldn't be illegal to have kids in the car, but if you're putting everyone in danger by staying turned around to scold them, that's distracted driving. See how easily that existing law can be applied? No need to pass more.

[sticker]

Tennessee tags, an I Work for TN sticker(state employee) and obama/biden 2008 decal

[sand lake bar]

No, it should not be banned. Every new technological advantage poses risks. People need to use common sense. If obvious negligence contributes to an accident, we already have laws to deal with that. Laws banning cell phone use will not be obeyed. I seldom use my cell phone when driving, but there have been times when I needed to and could not simply pull over to the side of the road.

[Arrowhead1952]

She slammed into the back of the line of cars next to me and wrecked at least three cars.

A couple of years ago the PM talk show in Austin was discussing cell phones while driving. One gal called in and said there was nothing wrong with that behavior. Just as she was about finished, there were tires squalling and a loud CRASH. She hung up.