[Lunatic Fringe]

Well, I dont recall the Constitution guaranteeing the right to drive and talk on the phone at the same time. I encourage laws that make sense, and this law makes sense. Hands-free devices are much safer, and come with all cell phones now.

I was cut off in traffic the other day by an oblivious woman talking on a cell phone. She was holding it up on her shoulder. As I passed her I yelled, "I bet you would drive a lot better if that phone was shoved up your a$$!"

[AbsoluteJustice]

There are a lot of things that are not guarunteed by the constitution that are allowed and are inherent rights. The document I have begun to relize is not a restrcting document to any right not proclaimed within it. So to announce that it is not in the constitution so therefore is not a right is nonsense.

[thatsnotnice]

I encourage laws that make sense, and this law makes sense. Hands-free devices are much safer, and come with all cell phones now.

Everything I’ve read suggests that hands-free devices are no safer.

The authors suggest that banning hand-held devices, but permitting hands-free devices in motor vehicles is not likely to significantly reduce driver distractions associated with cell phone conversations.
[http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/08/16/cell.phone.driving/]

Or:
http://www.nsc.org/news/nr012703.htm

[tahiti]

"Well, I dont recall the Constitution guaranteeing the right to drive and talk on the phone at the same time"

Let me refresh your memory.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, SHALL NOT be construed to DENY OR DISPARAGE others (rights) retained by the people."

You and I and all of the U.S. citizens have so many rights, retained by the people, to try list and/or mention them would be impossible.

James Madison new that and that is why this amendment was enacted over 227 years ago.

"I'll bet you would be a better citizen if you were familiar and profficent with the application and meaning of the Bill of Rights."

[Puppage]

prohibiting any driver from using a cell phone without a hands-free device.

Yep, but NOTHING about looking down TO DIAL THE PHONE!

I encourage laws that make sense, and this law makes sense.

Says who..YOU? What about the AAA study that showed 10 other "distractions" that cause MORE accidents, hmm? Chief among them children in the backseat that cry/complain, etc.

Do we pass a law that bans children in the car? If not, WHY? If it'll save lives...

I was cut off in traffic the other day by an oblivious woman talking on a cell phone. She was holding it up on her shoulder

Oh, I get it...so because THIS person can't drive & talk at the same time EVERYONE should be banned from doing so?

[tru_degenerate]

I can think of a lot of distractions in a car while driving.

1. kids
2. the radio
3. the a/c - heater
4. power windows

Has a study been done to see how any of these may cause accidents?

The law makes no sense because it did not distinguish how many of the people in the accidents were using hands-free-devices already.

[freedomcrusader]

Hands-free devices are much safer, and come with all cell phones now.

Bull! The only stuidy I've seen is tyhe one from the New England Journal of Medicine, which found a HIGHER rate of accidents among hands-free users, although it wasn't a statistically significant difference.

Bottom line: not proven that hands-free are safer and the may be more dangerous.

If you're serious about reducing accidents to cell phones, and you're serious about the science, hands-free have to go as well.

Unless you have another study to counter mine. Then let the scientific debate begin.

[Lazamataz]

I was cut off in traffic the other day by an oblivious woman talking on a cell phone. She was holding it up on her shoulder. As I passed her I yelled, "I bet you would drive a lot better if that phone was shoved up your a$$!"

Well, tell us, man! Did she?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

When you hold a cell phone up to your head, you can only use one hand to drive. You can't use a turn signal if you have a hand on the wheel and one hand on the phone. If you want to do anything other than steer, you have to take your remaining hand off of the wheel.

Smoking, adjusting the radio, screaming at kids do not happen 100% of the time, whereas you have to hold the phone to your head if you are not hands free.

I use a hands free phone and have voice activated dialing, so I can drive and never touch a phone. I see no problem with people spending the $5-$15 to buy an earpiece and drive safely.

[stumpy]

If that is the case, the Ca. Legislature better remove all the computer terminals from the police vehicles, and install hands free devices in all the emergency vehicles in the state to make it a level playing field for all.

If I can't use my phone as I purchased it, then the emergency vehicles should be equipped the same way.