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...

[Vendome]

I am going to fix that for future posts. LOL

Thanks for the catch. LOL

[Vendome]

If you are drinking I believe a judge will find it mitigating. LOL

[DYngbld]

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

We have 4 phones that share 300 minutes a month, we NEVER use them all. Heck I can't find my cell phone half the time, and my daughter rarely turns hers on.

[DYngbld]

Most accidents are caused by driver stupidity.

And being in a flippin' hurry.

[Petruchio]

I used to pull over to use the phone. Then I was hassled by a cop for being on the shoulder . . .

[ColdWater]

A study just released said that the states that have had bans for two years have had no measurable decrease in accidents. It is not the cell phone use in and of itself, it is distractions in general.

Mostly because there is no enforcement of the laws. Here in CA there are as many or more idiots on the phone as before the ban. Do to the increasing numbers of phones, we could probably say that there would be more accidents without the ban than now.

[Lazamataz]

Rapists and cell phone drivers are scourges of society, right below drunk drivers. Cell phones should be banned, period.

Agreed. However, talking IN ANY FORM causes misunderstandings, lies, and even wars.

Ban all languages.

[Lazamataz]

Driving causes accidents.

Ban all forms of transportation.

Do it for the children.

[sticker]

We just had a very tragic wreck in Nashville the other day. A deer went through the windshield of a car and killed a little girl in the backseat. Guess, we have to ban deer now

[moehoward]

"Distracted Driver laws are already on the books.....A distraction is a distraction..."

Amen.

[libertarian27]

I used to pull over to use the phone. Then I was hassled by a cop for being on the shoulder . . .

I've seen crashes on the highway where distracted drivers plow into cars on the side of the road - don't do that, it's dangerous.

[BenKenobi]

Here, here! Well said. I’ve seen texting as well, and it really is no different then driving drunk.

[ohioman]

This ban is coming for only one reason - revenue!

[Peet]

Driver’s tests should consist simply of having a large, buzzy, non-stinging insect

Whimp! (Just kidding - kinda.)

Try: Yellowjacket hits chin, goes down inside leather jacket (oh, did say try this on a motorcycle?) and starts stinging. Yellowjackets don't lose their stinger the first time. Do all this at ~60 mph. Maintain control of your vehicle AND concentration on the road while beating on your chest with one hand and coasting to the side of the road.

And let me add: I hate cel-phone-distracted drivers especially while biking...

[-YYZ-]

“Indeed. There are already laws [probably in every state] against failing to pay full and complete attention to the road while driving.”

Yes, there are. To my thinking, if you cause an accident you were not, by definition, paying full and complete attention to what you were doing. I think the penalties for not paying due care and attention while driving should be raised, in proportion to the severity of the accident caused. You cause an accident that kills someone? You go to jail, regardless of whether it was because you were drunk, texting, trying to find an item lost between your seats, or whatever - people should know better than to try those things while driving. This attitude of “well, it was just an accident”, as if it was some sort of random, totally unpredictable occurence, is a big part of why people feel they can get away without paying due care and attention while driving.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Whimp! (Just kidding - kinda.)"

I specified non-stinging for the test. The ability to readily discern and evaluate the severity of events inside the vehicle is also taken into consideration. I was thinking of the giant grasshopper, a buzzing cicada or a large carpenter bee...the kind that scares the the hell out of you when they buzz through your window.

I don't care if people are talking on their cell, tuning their radio or eating a sandwich when they're driving...provided they're paying attention to the road and the traffic around them. If they're driving wrecklessly or allowing their secondary activity to distract them, there are already laws for that. Passing a new law simply impedes on people who can enjoy their freedoms responsibly.

[Gilbo_3]

there ya go...

wife had an aunt die recently as a result of a bee or wasp in the car...

OTOH, will mr LEO be required to pull over to call for backup before entering into full throttle chases after seeing a plebe citizen talkin on a cell ???

[Gilbo_3]

mr leo: do you have a cell phone ???

you: yes SIR...

mr leo: heres your ticket for DWT...and one for the seatbelt too...

now goto court and prove him wrong...

[magritte]

My experience lately is that everyone who has pulled out in front of me, slammed their brakes behind me, or drifted lanes in front of me are all OLD people...ban ‘em ! ...magritte

[OpusatFR]

Are you implying I’m an old fart? ( -: