Does you state ban cellphone use while driving?

[whale]

What is the big deal using a hands-free device while driving? Whether it is blue-tooth, corded hands-free or speaker phone it is clearly better than gabbing away distracted with one hand on the wheel. In CT it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless you use a hands-free. I can't tell you how many yahoo's have cut me off or not seen me due to their very important cell phone conversations. I have no interest in getting wrecked due to a cell phone conversation.

It is banned in several other states and many many countries including Japan, Germany, France, the UK etc etc.

Texting while driving is completely moronic....like reading a newspaper or a woman putting on makeup while driving!

I'm sure this one incident is not the only reason this bill was proposed in MA.

[willy]

I hate the proliferation of laws but as we all have seen, I know I have dozens and dozens of times some people cannot chew bubble gum and walk. put those same people with a cell phone and a moving car and people are going to die. They already have. To make matters worse many young people today don't talk on the phone they text. Text! They cant call and say I will be right there they have to type in IWBRT. It is rather crazy but it is true.
The hands free is OK and they should not do anything about that or a speaker phone but this other stuff will cost you a loved one someday, and that is pretty much a guarantee if it is not stopped.

[Monkey Butler]

Originally Posted by whale

I'm sure this one incident is not the only reason this bill was proposed in MA.

They were pretty much basing it on one case. Like the time a state senator proposed a ban on crossbows after someone used one to kill a person in a road rage incident. Her speech in front of the senate went something like...

"Mr. Speakah, how many more must die before we ban crossbows?"

[randlemanboater]

Here in NC drivers under 18 cannot use cell phones while driving.

I would estimate that of those I stop for excessive speeding (20 + mph over the speed limit) over half are on the phone.

I don't know why you can talk to someone in the car with you with no problem but when talking on the phone, some people completely zone out and drive like morons.

I think Myth Buster's did a thing where they did a comparison of drinking drivers and cell phone distracted drivers, the drivers on the phone drove just like those at or near .08 BAC.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by randlemanboater

Here in NC drivers under 18 cannot use cell phones while driving.

I would estimate that of those I stop for excessive speeding (20 + mph over the speed limit) over half are on the phone.

I don't know why you can talk to someone in the car with you with no problem but when talking on the phone, some people completely zone out and drive like morons.

I think Myth Buster's did a thing where they did a comparison of drinking drivers and cell phone distracted drivers, the drivers on the phone drove just like those at or near .08 BAC.

I believe it was more like a BAC of .12 there RM. I remember that one and the drivers that were at the legal limit did MUCH better than those on the phone.

[overboard]

Over here in CA, the cell phone ban goes into effect on July 1st. It only took me 3 tickets to conform to the seat belt law, I guess we'll see how long it takes me to conform to this new law. (I'm a slow learner!) I just hate the Blue-Tooth ear pieces. Mainly because of the people who wear them around like they are a fashion statement or something. It's funny, those people never actually seem to be using them, just wearing them:)

[parishht]

I thought about one of those BT headsets,
but then I remembered, if I get one then I can't screen my calls
and I am just not that important.

It's like being in a plane, some peope feal they can't live without the cellphone.
Are they afraid that they will miss something?
I don't answer the cell in the car except for my wife and kids
and then I tell them I am driving and I will call them back later, not more than a 15 second conversation.

[randlemanboater]

I think you are right FERM.

And as for people wearing those earpieces, its a great way to disguise schizophrenia, on one knows if there is really someone on the line or if your just talking to your self.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I feel that I am a safe driver, and can do simple tasks while driving. But I refuse to spend more than 2 minutes on the phone while driving. I'll pull over and finish the phone call or whatnot before I'll keep talking and driving. Hands free does help, but the real danger is it seems everytime you get a call while driving you need to write something down or read something off to somebody.