If You’re Stopped At a Red Light, Are You “Driving”? [Using cellphone]

The Volokh Conspiracy ^ | November 15, 2011 | Orin Kerr

[SoldierDad]

Speaking on the phone does not REQUIRE that you take your eyes off the road

How many people use a blue tooth device? How many stop, input the phone numbers, and then begin driving again? Having a law does not stop behavior. However, if a person elects to engage in a behavior that a reasonalbe person would conclude can lead to causing injury to another person, that person should be held accountable for that decision, period. The laws regarding using a cell phone (without hands free devices) is one I agree with.

By the way, have you EVER been behind, or witnessed, some of these people who are using their cell while driving and without a blue tooth and are weaving all over the road? Some people are incapable of multi-tasking, let alone walking while chewing bubble gum. Frankly, I don't want people using their cell phones while behind the wheel in traffic, even at a stoplight, unless they are utilizing blue tooth technology. We'll agree to disagree on this issue.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Not only that, I posted that parade of horribles to provide examples of other behavior that is just as “dangerous” as driving while speaking on the phone; I oppose not only such hypothetical laws, but also bans on driving while holding a cell phone.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Making a phone call where you are inputing the numbers REQUIRES that you take your eyes from the road.

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But the law doesn’t merely prohibit placing calls (which can actually be done with voice dialing). It also prohibits receiving calls, and merely talking on the phone (such as if a passenger handed you a call in progress).

[Betis70]

Oh, that’s a good one. I’ll have to try that.

I usually keep walking and never go back (if I can help it).

[SoldierDad]

But the law doesn’t merely prohibit placing calls (which can actually be done with voice dialing). It also prohibits receiving calls, and merely talking on the phone (such as if a passenger handed you a call in progress).

And? Use of a hands-free device will solve the problem. There is NO need for a driver to be on a phone where they must hold the phone with their hand. I hold no sympathy for those who are not using a hands-free device.

[discostu]

Actually hands free devices don’t help at all. What they’ve learned analyzing the accidents is the problem is not the hand off the wheel, it’s the brain off the task. People are focusing on the conversation and not paying attention to what’s going on in the world around them. And unlike talking to a passenger the person on the other end of the phone isn’t in the car and has no ability to pay attention when the driver isn’t and yell “RED LIGHT”.

[BobL]

“I oppose not only such hypothetical laws, but also bans on driving while holding a cell phone.”

Same here...but I do draw the line with women texting while driving. That has to be stopped!!!

[SoldierDad]

Some can multi-task - some can’t!

[discostu]

Some can multitask. Some can drink and drive safely too. But we have to write laws for the majority, and the majority can’t multitask effectively or drive drunk, that’s why the accident stats for those groups are nearly identical.