Posted on 12/18/2010 7:51:26 AM PST by libstripper
The U.S. government on Friday proposed prohibiting commercial truck and bus drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel.
The Transportation Department rule would affect approximately 4 million drivers, who are already banned by the government from texting while working
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Truckers probably have no legitimate reason to be using a cellphone while on the road. /s
Now 17 year old girls named Buffy, can just blither away about whatever, but those truckers are a menace.
They also will slip in the freerepublic ban in the bill.
“Really?????”
[That is one of the greatest commercials ever made, especially the restroom scene.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHlN21ebeak&feature=channel
Using a mobile phone in the traditional way impairs ones ability to properly operate their vehicle. However, the advances in technology (bluetooth, voice activated commands) render most of the issues moot.
IMO, cell phone users are more dangerous than people that drink and drive. I don’t have an “studies” to prove it. I only have 2 hours of commuting each day and an observant eye. Almost every time I see a driver weaving back and forth in their lane or changing lanes without looking or slamming on brakes to turn suddenly, I see a cell phone stuck to their ear. I’m not saying that 100% of bad driving is due to cell phones or that all cell phone users are dangerous but at least drunks are watching the road. And, let’s face it, since schools stopped teaching Drivers’ Ed, driving skills have really gone to hell and all you need is an unskilled driver who is putting more effort into his phone call than his driving to cause a serious problem.
One of the actual jobs of government is to protect good people from dangerous people and a cell phone ban for drivers is the same as DUI laws.
I know of one beautiful 16 year old who never reached 17 because of the combination of a cell phone/not wearing seatbelt/SUV rollover accident. The funeral was ultra-sad. Hope I never go to another like it.......
There are some out there on the road that still have all the brain cells they were born with and have the ability to drive, chew gum and talk on their cell phone, all at the same time. I am beyond sick of generalities stated as actual facts.
Texting is one thing but using cell phones to talk? Truckers have been using their CB radios for years and nobody had a huge problem. Now with hands free dialing for cells what is the problem? F’n democrat party is trying to shut down commerce.
FUBO & FAD
Sad to hear that.
I hate talking on the cellphone when I am driving.
I rarely do it.
Maybe not worse but at least as bad. This was the subject of a speech & position paper I did in college. People who were driving and talking on a phone were just as dangerous as drunken drivers according to the research that I found. I usually commute on a motorcycle and I am always on the lookout for yakkers.
WOW! That's stunning. At least you prefaced that line with, IMO
As an added note; all highway patrol and police vehicles should be prohibited from the use cell phones or their radio sets because that distracts them from their driving.
I think we should just ban driving and save about 35000 lives a year.
Shouldn’t be distracted with GPS. Take it out.
Shouldn’t be distracted with an annoying passenger like a whinny person saying “we are lost”, “you are driving to fast” (always cracks me as I watch cars go flying by), “Why don’t you just pass this idiot and why are you in the slow lane. Don’t you know how to drive? (Cracks me up again, from the same person who complained about driving to fast.)
“Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera”
Shouldn’t be distracted with kids in the car. Leave them home.
All wipers should be federal mandated to have laser on them so they wipe as needed and you don’t have to figure out what speed to put them on or where the “turn on switch thing is”.
No cute toys or ornaments any where near the front window, on the dashboard or hanging from a mirror. (Sorry bobble head Chihuahua)
No cute toys or ornaments any where near the back window, on the deck or stickers. (Again, sorry bobble head Chihuahua)
No stickers on the side windows (impairs your view)
No dry cleaning hanging from anywhere in the car. Makes noise and impairs your view.
No ashtray, no smoking, no eating and drinking anything in the car (you should have both hands on the wheel at all times, in the 10 and 2 O’clock positions.
No putting on lipstick or make up ever and no shaving.
No more vanity mirrors, you shouldn’t be looking at anything but the road.
No pets ever. Never know what they are going to do.
Exceptions:
Police -
3 to 5 radio channels transmitting information all the time, computer sending info all the time, GPS sending info all the time, they can talk on radio and switch to secure channels, Cell phone use is frequent.They do have drinks in car; have to look at license plates as they travel down the road, look for people in distress, look for crime, look for infractions, etc.
Truck Drivers -
CB is allowed, GPS is allowed, and Radio is allowed, pets in the front seat or back of cab, lunch, dinner and snacks. Cooler for their drinks and yes drinks, Cell phone, a bunch more dials of information to ensure the truck and trailer are running correctly.
Airline Pilots -
Just look at all that crap in the cockpit! How do they do it?
Probably supported by the makers of the CB radio lusting for the days of “Smokey and the Bandit,” “High Ballin’” and other trucker flicks.
Maybe I’ll ask Uncle Sugar for a couple million $$$ to do a study and then I can change “IMO” to “According to a study”! :-)
I’m not talking about the drunk who is semi-conscious behind the wheel. I’m talking about the guy that has had a few too many and is over the limit. Note that I am not condoning either behavior. I don’t drink any alcohol (and never have) and I don’t talk on the cell phone while driving. I have Bluetooth in the car and can talk 100% hands-free and I still won’t have a conversation. If you call me, I’ll tell you that I’m driving and will call back later when its safe to talk.
Texting while driving is downright dangerous.
Talking on a cell phone - some can do it, some are really bad at it.
I drive quite a bit and I see the cellphone list — that is where the driver’s head is cocked to one side (usually the right) and they drive slower than normal.
Where cells are really bad, IMHO, are left-hand turn lanes.
Not that Mythbusters are a definitive answer to anything. But watching the show where they compared talking on the phone (yes, even hands free) vs. .08 driving. Cell phone usage was much more dangerous. A distracted driver, is a distracted driver. A driver can not concentrate on the road when they are concentrating on having a conversation.
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