Cell Phones - Is it just me, or

[Accountable]

are they treating cell phones just like drugs and alcohol, when it comes to driving?

 

[Zorak]

I'm pretty sure there have been a number of studies that show talking on a phone is more dangerous.

At least if people have had a few drinks they purposefully pay more attention to the road.

 

[Kyle B]

Maybe. Seems like most people don't follow cell phone laws anyway.

 

[Accountable]

How is talking on the cell phone hands-free any different from having a conversation with a passenger? Will they ban that next? Get a ticket if a cop sees your lips moving?

 

[Tuffdisc]

are they treating cell phones just like drugs and alcohol, when it comes to driving?

There have been a spate of accidents before the law made it illegal over here to talk on the phone whilst driving. People cannot control any vehicle comfortably with just one hand while being distracted by being on the phone

 

[Tuffdisc]

How is talking on the cell phone hands-free any different from having a conversation with a passenger? Will they ban that next? Get a ticket if a cop sees your lips moving?

Its not that, its two hands on the steering wheel to control the vehicle

 

[Kyle B]

How is talking on the cell phone hands-free any different from having a conversation with a passenger? Will they ban that next? Get a ticket if a cop sees your lips moving?

Oh ok, I thought you were referring to texting or holding the phone to your ear. I believe in NY, you're allowed to use a hands-free device.

 

[Panacea]

I've always had a fangirl interest in the brain, and in my browsing around I had once seen a video on the brain and it's ability to direct attention in certain tasks.

I will admit I cannot recall details of who conducted this, and it may disqualify this whole statement, but it was found in brain scans humans have limited ability to direct attention elsewhere, visually, when they are having a 'virtual' conversation. Apparently we use so much energy in a virtual phone call, hands-free, that our visual field is obscured by quite a bit.


I was really surprised, but they showed the visual field during a hands-free call versus a discussion with a passenger and it was pretty limiting. Plus, our reaction times slow by a bit.

Driving is an incredibly taxing activity, despite how automatic and subsequently boring it is. I was just thinking the other day, as I watched people text and talk and dig around in the seats while driving...we're totally going to see self-driving cars in the future; we are no longer capable of doing one thing at a time.

 

[Accountable]

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Cell Phone and Texting Laws

December 2011

This chart outlines all state cell phone and text messaging laws. Some local jurisdictions may have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis.

Handheld Cell Phones: 9 states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland, all laws are primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

All Cell Phone Use: No state bans all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers, but many prohibit all cell phone use by certain drivers:

Novice Drivers: 30 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.
School Bus Drivers: Bus drivers in 19 states and D.C. may not use a cell phone when passengers are present.

Text Messaging: 35 states, D.C. and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. 32 states, D.C., and Guam have primary enforcement; the others, secondary.

Novice Drivers: An additional 7 states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers.
School Bus Drivers: 3 states restrict school bus drivers from texting while driving.

 

[NoDak]

I read, somewhere, that a study showed that the reaction time of a driver using a cellphone (presumably handheld) is about the same as a driver impaired by alcohol.

 

[freakofnature]

How is talking on the cell phone hands-free any different from having a conversation with a passenger? Will they ban that next? Get a ticket if a cop sees your lips moving?

See that would kind of suck. I talk to myself all the time. :ninja

 

[Panacea]

I read, somewhere, that a study showed that the reaction time of a driver using a cellphone (presumably handheld) is about the same as a driver impaired by alcohol.

They have videos of people under the influence of alcohol (a buzz, not necessarily plastered lol) driving on a closed course versus someone texting or talking on a handheld and it's pretty scary.

 

[Panacea]

See that would kind of suck. I talk to myself all the time. :ninja

That reminds me; I was air drumming to Metallica and made direct eye contact with a police officer...he really should have pulled me over to give the department a laugh so embarrassing

 

[Natasha]

That reminds me; I was air drumming to Metallica and made direct eye contact with a police officer...he really should have pulled me over to give the department a laugh so embarrassing

LMFAO...that made me giggle...A LOT.

I hate talking on the phone while driving...I don't feel like I can focus properly, like I feel scatter-brained (shush, you guys!!!) or something.

 

[NoDak]

Lol! You don't have to shush me, Tash, I am the same way if I'm on the phone. I can't believe how many people can't seem to drive without one hand up to their ear. Currently, North Dakota hasn't outlawed using handheld phones while driving.

 

[Alien Allen]

How is talking on the cell phone hands-free any different from having a conversation with a passenger? Will they ban that next? Get a ticket if a cop sees your lips moving?

I remember reading an article about the difference. It appears there is a difference. When speaking to somebody in person if something arises you will tend to stop the conversation until the distraction/problem is over where as when talking on the phone you do not stop talking as a rule.

 

[Alien Allen]

are they treating cell phones just like drugs and alcohol, when it comes to driving?

Rightfully so

Numerous studies show it is more dangerous that being just a little drunk.

Here is one article I found

http://handsfreeinfo.com/drivers-better-off-talking-to-passengers

 

[Rawrrr]

The few times i drove and used a phone, i admit, i couldnt really do both. I would have had an easier time driving while high (which ive never done)

 

[Francis]

Quite frankly there are people who should not drive at all forget about even talking on a Cell Phone at the same time..

I have no objection to no texting because you should be giving attention to what you do and in fact endorse this type of law..

But talking in a bluetooth hook up in car is a bit extreme when people still have CB Radios in motorhomes, trucks and many other types of vehicles.

How many sing to songs while driving.. That's distracting to many.. Just has never been "statistically" checked yet.. Or how many have been in accidents while arguing with their kids who are in the back seat..

The fact is a vehicle will and always has been a place where someone has to pay 100% attention to what they do..

Removing the Cell Phone access from cars will not stop accidents from happening because they happened before Cell Phones and will continue..

Of course if you concentrated on a survey of people who were talking on Cell Phones you may come up with a higher incident of people who got into car accidents, just as you would those who were drinking Starbucks Coffee, Arguing with Kids or putting of lipstick at 70 mph of the highway while holding the steering wheel with one knee and drinking eating McDonalds in the other hand ( don't ask I have no idea how she managed :eek)..

 

[Panacea]

Quite frankly there are people who should not drive at all forget about even talking on a Cell Phone at the same time..

I have no objection to no texting because you should be giving attention to what you do and in fact endorse this type of law..

But talking in a bluetooth hook up in car is a bit extreme when people still have CB Radios in motorhomes, trucks and many other types of vehicles.

How many sing to songs while driving.. That's distracting to many.. Just has never been "statistically" checked yet.. Or how many have been in accidents while arguing with their kids who are in the back seat..

The fact is a vehicle will and always has been a place where someone has to pay 100% attention to what they do..

Removing the Cell Phone access from cars will not stop accidents from happening because they happened before Cell Phones and will continue..

Of course if you concentrated on a survey of people who were talking on Cell Phones you may come up with a higher incident of people who got into car accidents, just as you would those who were drinking Starbucks Coffee, Arguing with Kids or putting of lipstick at 70 mph of the highway while holding the steering wheel with one knee and drinking eating McDonalds in the other hand ( don't ask I have no idea how she managed :eek)..

Pretty much everything gets assessed statistically regarding accidents and distracted driving, including music/passengers, because if nothing else the findings can play into the car insurance industry.