Posted on 12/14/2011 8:21:25 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Texting on a cell phone and driving might be banned nationwide.
(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.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
You just seem to have a hatred for phones in general period. Whats a matter you have no family or friends who ever want too talk too you? From your post I wonder.
BTW what about the mandated lowered manufacturing standards which made vehicle accidents far more likely to involve serious injury and death? I think that is the reason for injury increases and fatalities.
Got any data to support your proposition that accidents today are "far more likely to involve serious injury and death", or are we just supposed to take your word for it?
Texting and driving should be banned. Yeah, I’ll say it. Not sure how such a law could be enforced. That said, Siri might help...
Many of the so-called "drunk driving" laws go way too far and should be repealed.
There are some people who are incapable of any sort of multitasking while driving. They have trouble not just with cell phones, but with myriad other things they may be trying to do or think about. There are others who have no difficulty giving maximum 'priority' to driving-related tasks, and adjusting the amount of mental effort given to other tasks. I'd have no problem if cops with camera-mounted cars ticketed people who drive badly with cell phones, subject to the following standard: if the driver in the video were blurred out so one could just see the car in relation to its surroundings, would someone examining the video regard the driver's conduct as objectionable?
For years, I drove 50 miles each way to work. But that was back in the days before cell phones were so ubiquitous.
From what I saw, I can say who seemed to me to be the MOST distracted drivers which probably amounts to the most dangerous ones making the most mistakes. Changing lanes without signalling, drifting in and out of their lanes, sudden stops, traveling in the wrong lane depending on the traffic conditions, you name it.
The NUMBER ONE most distracted drivers?
Mothers with kids in the car in a hurry to get to soccer practice or whatever...
You are correct. Headphones should be banned. Actually, they should not allow radios in cars, especially those boom boxes. Those keep people from hearing emergency vehicles. I did not think of that one. Definately adding it to the list. Thanks.
You are correct. Headphones should be banned. Actually, they should not allow radios in cars, especially those boom boxes. Those keep people from hearing emergency vehicles. I did not think of that one. Definately adding it to the list. Thanks.
My best friends wife was decapitated by a teenage girl texting while driving and the devastation to the family was unspeakable.
I hav ezero sympathy for folks like you that think it is your “right” to unsafely operate a 4,000 lb. piece of equipment. Just as I do not have any sympathy for drunks driving those same 4,000 lb. cars, just like the one that killed my grandmother 40 yrs. ago.
I do not give a crap if they kill themselves and only themselves but when the do so to others is when it is an invasion of their rights.
Blanket assumptions like yours make you look foolish FRiend. You automatically assume that I do not practice discretion regarding distracted driving and am indifferent to anyone except myself. You are wrong.
My objection to this proposed rule has to do with the inappropriateness of the federal government insinuating itself into a matter better left to individual states.
That's the correct conservative POV on this issue - not turgid emotion-based hand-wringing or juvenile threats.
Thanks. It is the sheer ignorance of these people that think their rights trump my rights. If their argument was tenable then we might as well get rid of speed limits, stop signs and lights, licensing of drivers and cars as well as all traffic laws. Hell, lets just get rid of all laws. How about legal murder, manslaughter, bribery, robbery, and burglary.
Who needs data when the evidence is obvious. Anyone who is 50 years old knows older cars took accidents better thus you chances on non injury were higher and chances for death were lower. In 1960's and early era cars most of them a man could stand on the hood. Today a kid sitting on a car hood leaves a dent.
Maybe you need your guns removed from you for the safety of all? I use headphones because I can not use Bluetooth. I can not use the Bluetooth due too wearing hearing aids. I have yet too miss hearing or seeing an ambulance or LEO with light bar and siren even with the radio on. Most headphones for phones are for One Ear.
How about this. Use proper driving methods including constantly scanning your surroundings front, back, and to the sides? Use your mirrors. Do you have Vote for Obama bumper sticker on your car? You should. He too thinks government should rule all aspects of our lives. I bet you love CFL bulbs in your home and think no one should have incandescents. LOL
As a 5 year old in the back of a 55 Chevy I survived a high speed impact without serious injury even without a seatbelt that would have completely destroyed a car of today. In 1994 I drove my 78 Blazer off and the Honda Accord was totaled by a low speed rear end collission cause by the other driver. My Blazer had a very small nick in the bumper. What does that tell you? I really don’t trust government data on this matter nor should you.
I purchased this for my 2 teen drivers cell phones...it works extremely well and I have piece of mind. A small price to pay for such important things in my life....
http://phoneguard.com/default.aspx
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