Cell Phones

[obert1]

Looks like the next thing is to ban the use of cell phones while driving. California passed this and there is talk already for banning the use of them in CDL vehicles country wide (if you can believe that one). So, should they be illegal to use while driving?

[whisker]

yes - It's a no brainer.
100% concentration tasks should recieve 100% concentration.

[HAMMER]

Good luck with that one. With blue tooth now it would be nearly impossible to tell who is talking on a cell. I think this ban is stupid for the simple fact that you won't be able to enforce it. Just my opinion.

[Husker1911]

From the OWH:

"California and Washington state officially went hands-free on Tuesday, enacting a $20 fine for drivers talking on a wireless phone without a hands-free device. To help ease the transition — or perhaps reward lawlessness — Headsets.com is offering a free Bluetooth headset with proof of a ticket.

While basic hands-free devices can be found for $20 or less, the giveaway headset is the $150 Plantronics Discovery 925. That might make the $20 ticket worth it."

Ah, good ole' American marketing! Ya just gotta love it!

[Bigfowler]

I would say that even if you would pass a law like that there still is too many gagdets to distract drivers......ipods that hook into you vehicle, sirius, xm radio, DVD players, and the list goes on. Its a uphill battle.....

[obert1]

I think it's impossible to enforce. But I'll bet you many will try..

[2labs]

As far as I'm concerned, its just another piece of crap law controling your personal lives like seat belts, helmet laws, smoking laws & most of the other BS our government spends its time on, instead of tackling the real problems. Besides, they can't enact that law without spending tens of thousands or millions of dollars, studying the problem for ten years. Or maybe we can. After all, if the idiots in California are doing it, it must be what we need! They certainly know what is best for us & the country!

[Husker1911]

I would truly like to see the quality of the overall driving population increase. Let's face it, there are some absolutely horrendous drivers out there, barreling down the hiway at 65 mph.

Some of us here are old enough to remember, in our youth, when it was a requirement to actually go to the courthouse, every four years, to take a driver's test. Over the years, more and more lax requirements have come down the pike, until you now simply send in your renewal with two cereal boxtops and you've got your license. (OK, I'm exaggerating, but only slightly.)

I believe it would vastly improve the general public's driving skills if, once every four or five years, you had to actually go take a written test and then actually drive a vehicle with a driving inspector in attendance.

Yes, it would be a pain in the ass. I'm fully aware of that. But driving is truly a privilege, and if it consequently improved driving skills, then I'd certainly be in favor of that.

Scream away at me, I'm heading for my sandbag bunker!

[2labs]

A-Ha!!! A solution, not just a complaint. A much better idea then making a bunch of feel good laws & calling it good H1911. Put some teeth in the test too. Make em back up & show they can do that as well. Make them show some skill. I would much rather see that, then add a bunch of stupid extra laws. Bravo for a good idea & possible solution to a complaint!!

[obert1]

Good solution except for the cost of staffing and everything it takes to do all of that. I agree, I just don't see it happening. Though they could always just raise our taxes.....

[Sorny]

I think you should have to take an IQ test in order to drive. If you fail you move to a city and take the bus or other mass trans. That way we could get rid of the bad drivers and the stupid people in one shot!!

[tmrschessie]

Yepper another thing to keep the cops busy, we don't need them cracking down on drug users, robbers, and other users of our free society. A big rig on my butt and the cop is looking at me to see if I have a seatbelt on....Gotta love it. Tom

[Wildfire]

Yes, they should be. I use it periodically when I drive. Not very often though. That being said, there are some people that HAS to be on a call the minute they step into the car to the time that they get out of the car. They swerve, change lanes w/o looking, miss the green light and a bunch of other stuff. You can't regulate tell who uses it 5 mins or 45 mins....so might as well ban it all. If the call is that important, pull over and talk. This is my humble, humble opinion.

[tmrschessie]

I agree, pull over and take or make your call, Just about got into another accident with a trucker pulling onto the highway with a cell in one hand and the wheel in the other, seen him let go of the wheel to shift ....this happend last Friday...Tom

[ogre]

think about how I have to take about an hour a day honking and taking both hands off the steering wheel to flip off every jerk that makes a stupid traffic move while talking on his or her cell phone while i'm forced to slam on my brakes.

honestly, what is so important that it can't wait for a stop?