Experts: States will continue to put brakes on cell phone bans

(CNN) -- The National Transportation Safety Board's big, bold stroke encouraging all states to prohibit drivers from using cell phones faces a long, tortuous process in the nation's statehouses, experts said Wednesday.

This political reality stands out: Since states began legislating distracted driving or cell phone use in 2000, none has gone so far as to impose a complete ban on mobile devices behind the wheel, and only one state -- Alaska -- has considered such a blanket prohibition, just this year, said Anne Teigen, senior policy specialist with National Conference of State Legislatures.

Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, said opponents don't like big government intrusions and savor their personal freedoms.

"This is a controversial issue so you can assume it's not going to pass right away," Harsha said. "It's going to take a long time for legislatures to pass laws, and a long time for states to begin to enforce the laws, and then a long time for behavior to start to change.

"The first seat-belt law was passed in the mid-'80s, and we're now at 84 percent of drivers who are buckled up nationwide," even though all states now have laws requiring drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, Harsha said.

"People like to be connected. They like to respond to e-mails and voice mail," Harsha said.

DUI laws started out well intended to get actual drunks off the road. Where it ended up is a completely different manner just like most such laws. The legal limit was lowered, then lowered some more, then yet even more. Now a person best think twice about even having a drink such as wine with a meal when eating out. No I don't drink. I do not consider sobriety roadblocks at zero dark thirty a good idea either. It's a danger all in itself.

BTW I can not pass a field sobriety test {chalk line, touch nose, etc} either. Never could even in my youth. I about went to jail over the issue one night. That was back in the late 70's though.

But the Nanny Staters in government aren't through yet. Medications is also on their target list. The fact that like alcohol medications effect persons differently won't matter. Nor will the fact you have taken a medication regularly for nearly two decades and have driven safely.

What lies did I tell you? Show them. Opinions are not lies. My experiences tell me older cars are safer. With today's vehicles I would not place my family in anything less than a full size pickup, full size SUV, or full size van. In the wreck I was in at age 5 in he back seat of a 55 Chevy I would be dead in todays cars. It totaled the car as it was hit in the rear at about 50 MPH. Totaled but no one was penned in. All I got was a broken tooth with a busted lip and I was an unrestrained back seat passenger.

Every day drivers operate far more complex vehicles than a car. They can drive and steer, eat a snack, drink coffee, smoke a cigarette, shift through 8-10 gears, get info talking on a radio or phone, monitor a large cluster of gages, even write down fast information like state line mileage off their odometer and have done so safely for decades. They are truckers.

If you can't talk on a phone hands free and drive at the same time safely then by all means get off the road because you likely are a poor driver under any circumstances. For such drivers removal of cell phone will not improve their driving skills. They have poor driving skills too start with. That is the real problem. Not the phone usage.

If not for his cell phone, I can’t even imagine what might have happened to my husband one day. Driving home from work on the 118 in the San Fernando Valley he was being harassed by another driver in a larger car. (DH does stick to the speed limit, so he probably pissed off one of the insane California drivers.) Anyhow, he was able to call 911 with his cell, and the other driver was dealt with by the police. Turns out this guy had a history of intimidating other drivers, and violence.

The cell phone issue is like anything else; people need to be responsible. As you said, you can’t fix stupid.

My problem is not with hands-free phones, although they are also a distraction. My main problem is idiots (who seem to be mostly teenage girls and drivers of company pickups) who drive holding a cell phone in one hand and are totally unaware of their surroundings. I agree that driver skill plays a large part in being able to talk and drive at the same time, but it's usually the worst drivers who think they can drive and phone at the same time. I disagree that truckers are such safe drivers, it's just that other drivers give them more leeway out of fear of being crushed by a semi. I've seen some pretty terrible driving by truckers, even being run off the road by 2 idiots trying to pass each other on a 2-lane road.

As far as old cars being safer, that's only by way of their being heavier. Some new roller skate cars are ridiculous. I looked under a Saturn on a grease rack once and decided never to get in one. The rear undercarriage was more flimsy that the coaster wagon I had as a kid, the tiny rear axle “supported” by 3/8” steel rods. However, new cars are designed to protect the passengers, not the car, and the car self-destructs around the passenger compartment. The car is totaled but the passenger space (usually) remains intact. Look at some old accident photos from the 30’s, 40’s, and ‘50’s. Those ‘40 Fords remained largely intact, but the people inside were reduced to hamburger from being slammed around in a steel cage full of broken glass. Anyway, I drive an extended cab 4x4 Chevy Silverado with airbags and seatbelts (and only carry a cell phone to make emergency calls), so when some kid plows into me while yakking with her friends, I'll probably be OK.

I disagree that truckers are such safe drivers, it's just that other drivers give them more leeway out of fear of being crushed by a semi. I've seen some pretty terrible driving by truckers, even being run off the road by 2 idiots trying to pass each other on a 2-lane road.

Every profession has idiots. That's why I hated driving Team. One partner could not read a word and another one would not sleep except while driving dropping down into L.A. off the mountain. Most are safe though. I drove OTR for about a year 27 years ago. I liked getting a decent paycheck and being home better so I quit LOL.

A company has $200K- $300K depending on rig invested in tractor and trailer plus the liability of the load which can be several million dollars. Most companies will not hire someone without either some OTR experience of a year OJT or a commercial driving school completion and even then you are teamed for a while with an experienced partner. Biggest issue as far as the driving was fatigue.

Several basic things to know about trucks can save your life. Stay far back unless passing. If a tire is coming apart they can bust through even todays windshields. The same thing with the cap {can} on the trailer air brakes. If you can't see their mirror they can't see you. Riding their draft can get you killed. I would never, ever, pass a rig on the right side on say a six lane interstate unless there was just no other choice.

I had persons ride in my blind spot for several miles. When I would attempt a lane change too my right I did several defensive maneuvers first. First was too signal. Look in the mirror, speed up 3-5 mph, then slow down 3-5 mph, then while looking in mirror slowly move right. That was an attempt to expose any hidden vehicles in the blind spot. I mainly drive a conversion van or pick up with camper cover and still use that method. Next thing you know once the truck moved right the person beside me would suddenly make their presence known.

Some folks tag beside or directly behind trucks to avoid speeding tickets. It can get you killed. Basically anything from the rear trailer tandems forward to the front bumper should be considered a blind spot on the right side of the rig.

Yea I have seen some who tick me off especially one on my bumper knowing I can't get out of the way. Heres a trick. Without actually braking tap the brake pedal to where the lights come on. Keep doing it. They'll get the message. Not many drivers will stick around for that LOL.

With the CB I could usually tell what truckers too watch out for. I'd listen for the one cussing and mouth running 90 miles a minute. Good chance you had a wired driver. Harder to get by with in these days of drug testing. I haven't turned a CB on since 1985.

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