jaxslad

Just wondering how US Citizens feel about a ban on cell phones behind the Wheel..

Do you think It should be made Law and maybe a fine and points on your D/L?

Thoughts anybody...

Lorna at Vicenza

Check out this link.

http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/

jaxslad

Thanks Great Link....

ian-mstm

So... you don't want to hear the opinions of those who aren't USC's?

Ian

Duncan Roberts

I think they should, but make the penalty something to make people pay attention. I think destruction of the phone would be enough to make people put them down when driving!

TracyTN

I think they should be. I get sick of unsafe driving c**** that I narrowly sneak past when they veer into my lane only to look over and see them on their damn phone.

If I'm on mine, it's only to say, 'I'll be there in 5 minutes' and then I hang up. I just don't like to drive and talk.

ukintexas

I'm definitely guilty as charged of using my phone way to much behind the wheel but with recent publicity truly proving our brains simply cannot handle the multi-tasking involved in driving and talking on our cells, I really think a ban is important. Additionally, I think car companies should look at developing a block on cell phone signals for vehicles so that every time you're in your car you cannot access your phone. With On Star and other such emergency measures available to cars these days, this would not hinder you accessing emergency assistance if you needed it, but would make you have to pull over and get out of your car to make a general call. As a mum of a child about to reach the legal age for driving in the US, I would buy a car, or device you could fit to an existing one, that had this ability in a heart beat. Right, got that off my chest................

Rete

While there aren't many USC's on these forums, I do happen to be one. I would think that an immigrant's opinion is just as valid and important as a Yanks.

Yes, hand helds should be banned as the are now in most states. Should the cell be banned altogether? Well it would be nice to have a driver's completely focussed on the traffic around them, but no, because like with handsfree cell useage, the ban would be too difficult to enforce.

Bluegrass Lass

If something similar to On-Star is available in all vehicles, then a jamming device is definitely worth considering. For various reasons, I have no plans to ever buy American-made cars, so I do think it's a good idea to make this type of emergency assitance available on all cars not just a few manufacturers.

That being said, I'm of the mind that we should make it mandatory for all phones to dock (maybe via bluetooth?) with your car so you can simply say out loud "call Lisa" and the call is routed through your vehicle speakers. That is far safer than having to hold a phone to your head. Again, I think this option is only available on higher end models and it should be a necessity. Being able to simply speak out loud to talk to someone on the phone is no different than speaking to a passenger. So, unless we decide to ban passengers because of their distraction to a driver, this is a very reasonable alternative.

EDIT: The real question is, what do you do about people who can't walk and talk at the same time because they don't pay attention to their surroundings?
http://www.silive.com/westshore/inde...alls_into.html

ukintexas

I would agree that this bit makes perfect sense, but a program I watched recently (dare I admit to watching Oprah?!), said that our brains react different to in-car physical conversations (ie with passengers) allowing us to continue with full periphery vision intact to how our brains react to a cellphone call whether it be handsfree/bluetooth/speaker etc. I know that sounds weird but there was a science bod I then saw interviewed (on a different program) who was showing reactions in the brain under both circumstances. Really was interesting, but he concluded by saying therefore that the cellphone conversation is a big no-no on any level.

Zonie

Well I'm not a USC but you're getting my opinion anyway.

Yes to the question and to putting on makeup and eating your breakfast cereal and ...........

AdobePinon

Wouldn't make any difference since the cops only want to play with their radar guns.

Poppy girl

Hand helds have been banned her in CA for a while and most folk take no notice of it, they did to begin with but the novelty wore off and it's back to normal.

Dan725

I think they should have a strictly enforced hands-free type law here as per the UK. No-one will ever go for a total ban - heck, here (in Florida at least) there is so much opposition to even a handheld ban.

I heard the issue being discussed on a radio show one morning a couple of months ago, and the pervading attitude was - its MY RIGHT to talk on my phone in the car....and never mind anyone else's rights to be spared injury or death when I plough into them.

Rete

My cell does this. DH bought a little inexpensive device that plugs into the cell and routes the speaker through the car's speakers. Our cell has voice command and we tell it who to call.