Cell phones while Driving

[Luvin Labs]

its illegal in some places to do so.

The problem is 99% of on-the-phone-while-driving seem to think yapping on the phone is way more important than watching the road and not getting into an accident. They HAVE to answer a ringing phone no matter what. I cannot count the number of times I've been almost rearended or been hit broadside because of these 'people'. If you are merging concentrate on the ROAD!

The other pet peeve with this is driving while on the phone in the left/passing lane. They are going 5-10 miles under the speed limit in a passing lane.

I've got a cell, and the ONLY times I'll answer is if it is my fiancee, mom, dad, or brother. The rest get voicemail until I'm at a stop light or parked. With my mom and dad I'll tell them I'll call them back cuz I'm driving. My bro I'll talk to real quick and mention I'm driving let me get back with you when I can concentrate on the call. My fiancee I'll answer and talk to (I'll actually get into the far RIGHT lane if I'm not already), but he knows I'm concentrating more on the road than the call.

Ooh that felt good

[mugsy]

Once again, I have to agree with Johanna. It's not the phones that are the problem...it's idiot people. I have not had an accident since I have owned a phone and I use it a lot when I am driving. I also make sure that as I am talking I look in all the mirrors and to my side.

I know people who can be doing nothing but driving and still not have a clue as to what is going on around them...

[mruffruff]

Sparks19, you said it all!

10 years ago we learned to make our calls before or after we drove. We did other stupid things while driving, but phone calls weren't one of them. Yes, we had accidents, but now we've increased the probability.

When you are behind the wheel, you should be doing only one thing---driving!

I've always wondered why they couldn't fix either the vehicles or the phone so they won't operate while the transmission is engaged. There are 'zappers" that will disable cell phones, but their use is illegal. I'd love to get my hands on one anyway.

I've seen the bumper stickers "Hang up and Drive". I want one on each bumper and I want to put them under ever wiper blade I see.

[mugsy]

I have more problems with people putting make up on as they drive or yelling at their kids in the back seat (even so far as to be turned around yelling) than people on cell phones (although the oblivious ones make me nuts).

[Prairie Purrs]

It's true that there are some people who can drive and talk on the phone simultaneously without having an accident, but it would seem that many people cannot safely operate a car and a cell phone at the same time.

It's also true that some people can drive with an alcohol level that's over the legal limit without getting into an accident. But that's not a very good argument in favor of eliminating the drunk driving laws.

If cell phones are frequently identified as a factor in causing accidents, then their use while driving should be banned.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Yesterday I was on the interstate. Five lanes wide and moving at about 65 mph. In the center lane was a pickup. Two guys in it. One of them was flipping through an atlas and reading the various maps. Unfortunately, it was the same guy who was driving.

I have seen people on this interstate eating cereal while driving, putting on makeup and turning around to converse with the backseat occupants. I have seen woman in a hot little sports car with her parrot sitting on the dash.

What I want to know is.....who are all these people talking to? Really, at 7:00 in the morning...WHO are they talking to????

[wolflady]

...What I want to know is.....who are all these people talking to? Really, at 7:00 in the morning...WHO are they talking to????

LOL LOL you know, I've always wondered that too! What is so bloody important, you know?

Oh my gosh Kay, that is incredibly rude! People should be curteous enough to get off the freaking phone for 2 minutes to order food if they drove up to a drive-through window. *sigh* I have to agree that people in general have become so much more rude than they used to be. It's rediculous that you would have to wait for them to finish their stupid call, and worse yet...that they TELL you to wait! WTF? Ugh! I would almost consider not waiting on them and tell them to keep going if they can't shut their yap for two seconds to order their food. *sigh*

catlady, good points...all. It is so true. I have to agree that rude and irresponsible behavior, lack of ethics, morals, and plain and simple curtesy is the source of the whole problem. It's sad that in just a few short years, people have become this way, but I've really noticed it this year. I really miss the days when people were more considerate. Now everyone is so self-involved...that nothing but them matters.

[RICHARD]

What I want to know is.....who are all these people talking to? Really, at 7:00 in the morning...WHO are they talking to????

Calling the Highway Patrol to report the idiot who cut them off for driving while talking on a cell phone.

[sparks19]

Sparks19, you said it all!

10 years ago we learned to make our calls before or after we drove. We did other stupid things while driving, but phone calls weren't one of them. Yes, we had accidents, but now we've increased the probability.

.

I was going to say exactly the same thing LOL. I mean seriously, we had car accidents before cell phones so it doesnt matter if they are happening more frequently because accidents happen anyway?! I just can't see justifying something that has OBVIOUSLY caused a lot of problems for a lot of people. Yes there are accidents without cell phones but there are just too many that involved cell phones to simply ignore that it might be a problem, IMHO.

CatsinDenver, you also make a very good point. Just because some people have been lucky to have not been in an accident that involved a cell phone does not make it OK for others who are incapable of doing so to endanger peoples well being. Like it was pointed out before, a vehicle can be a very dangerous thing when you are fully concentrating. Why are we trying to promote adding in a distraction that could possibly impair your judgement and reactions? it has been pointed out on this thread that people have been involved in accidents without distractions. obviously we have difficulty with our vehicles and other drivers as it is. We don't need cell phones to make it a more frequent occurance.

[Lady's Human]

I'd like to see it made a secondary offence, enforced like seatbelt laws used to be in Mass.

An officer could not pull you over for not having a seatbelt on, but if he was giving you a ticket for another offense (speeding, etc) and you weren't wearing a seatbelt, it was an additional fine on top of the speeding ticket.

So, if you got into an accident while talking on a cell phone, or were weaving lanes, or committing another moving violation while talking on a cell, the officer could add to the ticket. However, if you were driving in a sane manner but talking on a phone, the officer could not pull you over for that alone.