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From today's NY Times: "Long before cellphones were common, industry pioneers were aware of the risks of multitasking behind the wheel, but still marketed its product to drivers."
We know that cell phones, even when used "hands-free" are a distraction while driving. This begs the question: Shouldn't cell-phone use be outlawed while driving?
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Here in New Zealand a ban's recently come into law on the use of cellphones while driving. However, this ban only covers the use of handheld cellphones while driving (i.e. use of a handsfree cellphone while driving is still ok), which is an extremely weak effort by our government. Psychological studies and experts have shown that distractor tasks such as holding a conversation on a mobile phone negatively affect one's reactions and accuracy in tasks such as driving, making you more likely to have an accident or near-miss.
Personally, I believe that cell-phone use while driving, hands-freee or otherwise, should be banned in the interests of the safety of roadusers everywhere.
Its banned in the UK as well. You get a £60 fine if you get caught.
I think it should be illegal to hold one but not to use a hands free. After all, talking to your passenger is like using a hands free!
Same here in the UK as in NZ. Hand helds have been banned for a few years now, but not the fixed hands free jobs.
Not that you'd notice by the number of drivers I see using their mobiles whilst driving, I've nearly been hit by a few at roundabouts and junctions. Nearly knocked the razor out of my hand and spilled the coffee I was holding between my knees...
OK, I'll get my coat!
Seriously, they are lethal when driving.
Gareth
IIRC tests done a couple of years ago demonstrated that there was a difference between mobile phone conversation and passenger conversation. Passenger conversation was usually far less distracting than the mobile phone. Hands-free kits don't reduce the distraction factor at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stubear
Having the telecon while holding the phone is illegal in my state and the states surrounding CT. I agree with Mosely. It is the conversation that is the problem and I disagree with Stubear, talking to a passenger in the same car is not even close to being as distracting.
First of all, cars are designed to be driven with one hand. We shift gears, fiddle with the radio and use the cup holders. Holding the telephone has little effect on one's ability to operate a car. Having a conversation with someone in the car is not a problem simply because that person is in the car. When something happens on the road in front, the passenger will typically stop talking or at least adjust the conversation somehow to allow for safety. Sometimes (I know I've done it myself) the passenger will exhibit physical reflex actions in recognition of a driving event that may appear hazardous. Who hasn't reached for the dashboard and/or slammed your right foot to the brake pedal we wish was at our feet as a passenger in some folks' cars? Meanwhile the person on the other end of the cellphone call will keep right on demanding the attention of the driver.
Well, in that case using any form of mobile device whilst driving should be outlawed. I revise my previous statement..! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelP
No doubt they will be soon. Receiving attention from your passenger in that way is definately a recipe for disaster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Galopede
:)
No, I don't think cellphone use while driving should be specifically outlawed
Hm. I can assure you that talking to my wife in the car is as distracting as using the mobile phone hands-free.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelP
As the recent owner of a cell phone with a blue tooth I find its use to be simple and non distracting. In the past I have used a hand-held cell phone while driving and agree it is a dangerous thing to do *depending on circumstances*.
I have some driving that requires concentration, with traffic, side streets, exit and entrance ramps, etc. Using a cell phone in those conditions is foolish.
I also have some driving on deserted country roads and even near-deserted four-lane highways. No reason NOT to use a cell phone there.
It is a matter of judgment. Use of the blue tooth makes it safe to use the cell phone under a wider set of conditions.
I do see OTHERS using cell phones, smoking, and holding a cup of coffee while driving. They tend to have troubles keeping a constant speed and staying in their lane. A cop should be able to pull them over under *existing* reckless driving laws.
You all are missing the point. If i cannot talk on my cell phone while driving, we are one step closer to being communists.
Better dead than red!!!!
Ya know, we focus on the little things and tend to forget the big picture!Quote:
Originally Posted by Slartibartfast
This coming from someone who wears a red hat all over the forum is quite amusingQuote:
Originally Posted by TexasBob
NOT!!!
You will not get away with this!
If Lawrence Tierney were alive today you would be in BIG trouble!Quote:
Originally Posted by hoglahoo
Here's the movie still my avatar comes from ...
My (company) car's got a built-in hands-free set. Works very well and if the audio's clear and you're not a complete imbecile who thinks that the world evolves only around your communication pipe and the person on the other end, you ought to be fine driving a car.
i drive over the road for 3-5 days at a time and yes handheld phones are a potentially deadly thing. texting while driving is worse.
i wear a headset and enjoy it, both hands are free to be on the wheel or shifting gears with one. of course i do see people wearing a headset and still using their hands to text and use the touch screen and then we are basically back to being not hands free..
you would be surprised at how many people pull out in front of my truck and not notice me(75 foot long, white with bright orange stripe down the side)while they are touch screen working or texting or reading their email..people just please use a little common sense!!!!!
it's been demonstrated a multitude of times that driving and using a cell at the same time is worse than being on the drink drive limit. It's a seriously dangerous thing to do as your mind is otherwise occupied, you might physically be able to drive and hold a cell to your ear, but mentally you can't properly process all the info.
I think I've seen on TV, I will try and find the clip.
We all do it, but there should certainly be a punishment. I would much sooner see more action on this than endless speed traps on motorways (for example)
Here you go, it's a 3 parter though sorry
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It absolutely should be banned. It's not only a hazard to other motorists, but to the person talking as well. I can't tell you how many times, I've been pushed out of a lane, or cut off, or stuck at a traffic light because the person in front or me, or next to me is distracted by their conversation. Teenager's text while driving and some adults.
Most of the people that talk and drive are as bad as drunk drivers. Most don't pay attention to driving. It's a fact. I ride a Motorcycle to boot, now that's the worst. People would rather kill me, than hang up the phone. I bet most accidents today are phone related. I think the fines should be hefty, and God forbid if you injure or kill someone while talking and driving. I hope police check phone records. How did we ever manage before cell phones....
Since we're on the subject. How many times have you been in line at a store, or fast food place and the person in front of you doesn't have the common courtesey to hang up and place their order. They continue to yap......I find this very rude.
Way :OT
This all reminds me of a scene in a book I am reading -- one of Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms books (for those in the know).
For those who don't know, Serge Storms is a "lovable psychopath" (sort of) who has a very active imagination.
Serge decided to wear a fake blue tooth on his ear so people around him don't freak out as he goes around town talking to himself.
When you are driving that is all you should be doing. It requires 100% attention. You shouldn't be telephoning, eating, drinking or anything else that prevents you fully concentrating on the road. If you need to use the telephone, park the vehicle.
the fact you're driving in a car and you can do some serious harm is just scary, everything happens so quick
dont cellphone and drive for your own safety but also for others, you don't wanna risk hurting yourself or someone else really bad knowing you have to live with it the rest of you're life, that is if you're lucky enough to even still have a life
I was riding a motorcycle to work one day (when I had both a job and a motorcycle) when traffic slowed to a crawl. I slowly rode along between the two lanes when I passed a guy who was using one hand to hold a girly magazine to his steering wheel. Guess what he was holding in his other hand. Hint: it wasn't his cell phone. I've heard folks say the were "pulling off the road" but never pulling off on the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by welshwizard
The province of Ontario has recently banned cell phone use here, as well as eating and any portable device including GPS and MP3 player use while driving. You can still use handsfree phones however.
Well banning GPS use is a big mistake. A GPS actually allows you to pay *more* attention to your driving. I have taken a number of trips using a GPS and it makes things *much* more relaxing.Quote:
Originally Posted by livingontheedge
Banning a GPS is a bit like banning the instrument panel on your car so you won't be distracted by looking at the odometer or gas gauge or speedometer or clock etc...
That is nanyism gone wild. (Maybe we could make a video!)
[QUOTE=TexasBob;502659]Well banning GPS use is a big mistake. A GPS actually allows you to pay *more* attention to your driving. I have taken a number of trips using a GPS and it makes things *much* more relaxing.
I am sorry, I ment playing with a GPS while driving, if you want to enter a location you have to pull over, not attempt it while driving.
I'm sure if you were to think of all the people you know, you'd be able to name some who are very good at multitasking and some who are terrible at it. Accordingly, I think there are probably many people who can safely use a cell phone while driving and many people who cannot. Maybe it should be something people are tested for when getting their liscence, with different liscenses depending. Then, if someone looked unsafe while using a phone, police could pull them over, instead of just pulling people over for using them. If you are unsafe while on the phone, you get a ticket or whatever, and if you are pulled over without the proper liscense, the penatly is much more severe. Knowing that you must be driving safely while using a phone may be an incentive to pay more attention to the road than the phone.
I have driven while using a phone, before it was illegal, and I didn't find it overly distracting. That said, I don't know if I would pass a safe driving test while using a phone. I do, however, think the whole phones while driving example is a case of a few ruining it for everyone.
:OThow many times have you and your family been in a nice restaurant having a nice meal and there is some idiot on the phone? many of those people forget or don't care where they are. the words are obscene and most are very loud in their conversation:rant:. i always try to be nice, but my favorite thing to tell them is "this is not a phone booth and we are not interested in your conversation, we are trying to enjoy a nice meal in quiet"
one time i took the phone away from the caller and politely dunked it into her drink because of her cursing...i got thrown out of the place, but it was fun:y. i bet she will think again about calling while in a nice restaurant...
On the radio the other night. Suggestion for a new I phone app - drives a metal spike into your ear if you talk too loudly on the train or in a restaurant.Quote:
Originally Posted by 59caddy
I remember when cell phones first came out (and drunk driving enforcement first became very popular in the US), an independent experiment was conducted comparing a drunken driver, someone using a cell phone and a third driver who did nothing but fully concentrate on the road.
The cell phone user scored overall just about even with the drunken driver.
This knowledge has been around for years and years.
Why is it still legal? I can only speculate. But at the time of the study there probably wasn't enough people killed with a direct relationship between cell phones and driver error.
The city in which I live in has recently banned cell phone use while driving. If caught, you get yourself a nice $300 ticket... and it is still business as usual out there on the streets.
"Using" a cell phone is a very wide range of things. Talking to somebody through a carkit or headset feels less intrusive to me than typing a text message. The latter I do in a traffic jam at most, if it's really important, they'd have called, wouldn't they? :)