Should cell phones be banned while driving?

[habanero]

Yes. I park before I use mine. I'm a cyclist with too many friends and acquaintances who've been hit by people using their cell.

[Ric]

YES.. Ive almost been hit too many times to count, buy people trying to talk on the phone or texting while driving.

[oly884]

Hab, that's a personal choice. Like I said, stupid people will always be stupid. Banning cell phones perhaps could have prevented accidents that your friends have had, but what about food, GPS, etc? A good driver is better at driving with one finger than a bad driver with both hands on the wheels.

Once again, this all boils down to personal responsibility. I talk on my cell phone when driving, not in heavy traffic, not on curvy roads, and not when there is a sheet of ice on the ground, it's pretty easy to know when and when you should not talk on your cell phone while driving. If people are too stupid to know the difference, then THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO PAY THE PRICE. Not the law abiding common sense oriented citizen.

But, I'm sure it will pass, then it'll be food, then GPS devices, radios, on and on. Welcome to the age where the government is going to run your life.

A little story for you guys: Back in bozeman there was a guy with "HANG UP AND DRIVE" plastered across his rear window in his truck, all the way across, big bold letters. This guy was the biggest asshole I've ever met. He tailgated, cut off, and was generally a POS when it came to driving. I personally was almost hit by this douche.

"but wait David, he wasn't talking on a cell phone, in fact he's against talking on the cell phone while driving..."

Right, but once again, I'll point out that bad drivers will ALWAYS be bad drivers. Cellphones don't cause the accident, PEOPLE DO. This guy was the classic example of what I'm talking about, they are taking a problem, and removing blame from the people and putting it on a device.

Is it the gun that decides to murder someone? Is it the car that runs the red light? Is it the alcohol that magically goes into someone's stomach? Do I really need to continue?

This law is removing blame from people. You hit someone on a bike while talking on your cell phone, then you pay the price as you were clearly being reckless. You rear end someone because you were on a cell phone, then you are to blame because you were not paying attention. It's REALLY that simple folks. If people were pulled over for driving like idiots more, due to cell phones or not due to cell phones, then the message would get out that "DON'T DRIVE LIKE AN IDIOT."

[Good Times]

This law is removing blame from people. You hit someone on a bike while talking on your cell phone, then you pay the price as you were clearly being reckless. You rear end someone because you were on a cell phone, then you are to blame because you were not paying attention. It's REALLY that simple folks. If people were pulled over for driving like idiots more, due to cell phones or not due to cell phones, then the message would get out that "DON'T DRIVE LIKE AN IDIOT."

exactly!

[CJM]

I feel the same way as Oly, they were already a bad driver to begin with.

Also due to my job I constantly use my cell/work pager/cell thing and yea I aint perfect but im better than 99% of them out there. Not only do I talk on my phone, but I need to work the pager one like a computer, and I have a 2 way to contend with and other people calling me on my cell. I have had close calls, but I never really wrecked anything besides the time I was sick and passed out behind the wheel.

In all honesty bad drivers are just bad and really annoy those of us who can drive well. I am no stranger to accidents-but every one that was on a real road (backing into someones car who parked DIRECTLY behind you isnt exactly your fault..what idiot parks behind a driveway??) Were caused by the other drivers.

If the speed limit in my area says 50mph, people do 55-60mph, do 40-45 and most people will pass you even if its a double line. Thats a major problem, if you cannot comfortably drive the way everyone else does let faster traffic pass. Its amplified 100 fold on a cell, but then again putting on make up, texting, playing with your thumping sound system or using your gps isnt good either. Hell, do you know statistically women (and those who are over cautious moreso) cause more accidents than guys do?

But in the end cell phones make bad drivers even worse, really if your not paying attn to the road then dont bother driving. Its like people and snow here, if its snowing and you can only crawl along get out of the way for those of us who have 4wd and know how to drive in the stuff? How is it I can safely do 25 and you cant get over 10?

[Ric]

This law is removing blame from people. You hit someone on a bike while talking on your cell phone, then you pay the price as you were clearly being reckless.

IMO thats a whole other issue. DO NOT freakin ride a bicycle on the highway... if you do, knowing that there are drunk drivers out there, people not paying attention, etc. and you do it anyways
I can still hear my mom yelling at me, "get out of the street, your going to get hit"
thats all im gonna say about that (forrest gump)

[CJM]

I know how you feel Ric, we have a large population of illegals here and they all ride bikes all over. I swear if another one of them cut me off im running them down.

[gabe]

first off, let me say that I agree that there are bad drivers. And I think that there are times to use the phone and times not to use the phone. I also believe that a bluetooth headset, if used properly, can be safer than a hand held.

But, lets say that you, being a good driver, are driving down the road and during a safe time are using your hand held phone. During this time, you are using one hand to steer or maybe even, as my wife does, steering with your knees. You most likely are not concentrating as hard on driving and focusing a little more on the conversation at hand. Suddenly, a crazy driver flies up behind you, and as their car passes you, they begin to lose control. Their car veers hard, and is destined to ram the rear side of your car.

You have a split second to decide. Should I speed up, slam on the brakes, turn left, turn right, drop the phone, hold the phone, use one hand, use two hands.
Too Late, the car rams you. Your car is going 65 mph down the highway (if you are a "good" driver) and is spinning out of control.

Can you honestly say that you would be able to maneuver just as well with a hand held at that particular moment?

For me, I would have to say no. I consider myself to be a great driver. And I would consider it to be okay to use the phone during safe times of driving. But, I do think that there are people out there, that could cause a situation, I would not be able to handle while using a hand held phone.

As far as, making it a law.... I don't know. Personally, I am totally against government stepping in and running our lives.
But, I do think it would make things safer.

[slosurfer]

Yeah, maybe you can add a few more options to the vote or explain it better. Is this for a full cell phone ban (including hands free) or is this just a ban on handhelds?

I'm all for banning handhelds and texting while driving, and I believe you already can get pulled over for other things like shaving, reading, etc... if they see you and consider it a threat to others safety.

Banning hands free is just rediculous!

[made in canada]

Here in nova scotia they are banned and have been for a while, and the next town over from me has banned smoking, yes that means in your rig too, I talk on my cell all the time, and normally have a cigar if driving for a while, i have never got a ticket, you just have to keep your eyes open for cops.

If you are a "good" driver, you are always aware of your surroundings, so therefore you should never get caught doing them bad things.