Rete

and the man I watched shaving with an electric razor and another reading the newspaper and the person who turned his head to talk with the passenger in the backseat while he was driving and was all over the place.

cpe111

Looking back at previous posts, I'm not sure that enforcing a hands free ban would be too hard. I admit it may be difficult to see if a person is using a phone but if someone is involved in a traffic incident it would be very simple to verify if a phone was being used at the time.

At that point the law can be enforced.

cpe111

I was watching a police car in my rear view mirror a few months ago - I could see the office was typing on his computer while he was driving. He veered to the centre line of the road, then veered the other way and almost drove off the road entirely. .. some example!

ChocolateBabz

Yes but also eating, putting on makeup, smoking....

jaxslad

No Ian mate...Open house for everyone..

chrisfromusa

What I don't get what is the difference between holding the phone and using a hands-free bluetooth? I don't see how it would make a difference, if holding something with ur hand distracts ur mind, why haven't I crashed into someone since my hand has to be on the gearstick a lot around here?

jaxslad

Cas both hands should be on the stearing wheel unless you change gears..

jaxslad

There was a cop here in Fl who hit a truck and was found Guilty of playing with that poxy lap top while driving, which there not to do when the vehical is in use...anyway not sure what happened to her after that but the city kept it a bit hush hush from then onwards....

here ya go guys.here is that link with that cop using her lap top while driving a police car..

http://forums.officer.com/forums/arc.../t-115029.html

Philgr

They should just standardize and enforce a "driving without due care and attention" law and enforce that. All the folks texting/doing their make-up/reading their paper/having their dog in their lap/watching TV and every other stupid thing I see people doing while driving to work each morning could then be prosecuted. Make them do community service in the County Morgue for a first offense and fry them for a second.

chrisfromusa

I agree with you wholeheartedly. My aunt got a fender bender from a girl in her early 20s talking on her cell phone, and the young driver ran the stop sign to boot

MikeyT

(begin rant)

As Poppy girl said, California has banned use of cell phones while driving but this hasn't stopped hordes of numpties hurtling along the freeway while weaving across lanes and tailgating me with a cell phone welded to their ear. See it every day sadly. Lax enforcement and relatively small fines are likely to blame (of course, it is essential they gossip to (or worse, text) their BFF while driving at 70+mph in a 2 ton SUV and risking a big accident :curse.

So as both an expat and now USC, I say flog and hang the lot of 'em (or at least give big fines and points on their license).

(rant over)

dunroving

this: http://www.avclub.com/articles/inven...ex-and-c,1612/

dunroving

It's illegal in the UK, but can't say it seems to make any difference - I see it all the time (usually notice it when someone is driving like a pratt).

Lazzza

agree with above ^ but it is I think much more common in the US, well at least in Houston. I was amazed by the fact that people drive at 80 miles an hour along huge Interstates (The I 10 - the biggest road I have ever seen!) whilst TEXTING!! Unbelievable. It feels like 75 lanes of nutters driving like maniacs and speaking on their phones. And do not even get me started on the drink driving thing.

I am not looking forward to driving in or around Houston one little bit. And I have driven all over Europe and in the US (it was a ling time ago and it was beautiful Pacific North West) and Canada before. I am not in any way phazed by driving in Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, London etc... but Houston gives me the heebie jeebies

cindyabs

I seldom talk on my cell when I'm on a day to day type travel. Normally it's when it's a long trip. However, I do use a bluetooth. Yes,most of the people I see weaving on the road or doing similar stupid stunts are on the phone.

Texting while driving- BIG NONO!!!