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Not if it is a distraction to other people on the road. A distraction is a distraction it doesn't matter what it is.

Cell phones, eating, smoking, the result is the same. You are not focusing on the road.

Exactly.

So how about we just have the useless cops enforce the current laws we have instead of trying to ban more ****? We have laws against reckless driving. If a cop sees someone who is on their phone/smoking/eating/whatever in their car and its causing them to drive recklessly, give them a ticket.

Some people can focus just fine while their on the phone.


Or we could go back to my original point. Ban all cars. Make everyone walk everywhere. But make sure you ban phones and stuff too, or people could walk in to each other!

Better yet, just ban people from leaving their bubbles.
 
Or we could go back to my original point. Ban all cars. Make everyone walk everywhere. But make sure you ban phones and stuff too, or people could walk in to each other!

Better yet, just ban people from leaving their bubbles.
Banning cars would stop the evil oil companies too.:p
But then where will speeding ticket money come from. You are walking to fast.:p
 
Not if it is a distraction to other people on the road. A distraction is a distraction it doesn't matter what it is.

Cell phones, eating, smoking, the result is the same. You are not focusing on the road.
Each distraction is different, however, and should be treated as such. Eating and smoking are distracting for mere seconds at a time, while cellphones divert the driver's attention for the entire duration of the call.

To a certain degree, all laws are hypocritical. A perfect example, again, being DUI. If reckless driving is already illegal, why did we outlaw DUI? It's an impairment, just like eating or smoking, right?

Some people can focus just fine while their on the phone.
Surely you have a scientific study to support this claim?
 
It only takes a second to cause an accident. Before cell phones we had no accidents? This claim that only cell phones cause accidents and reckless drivers is a little far fetched.
 
It only takes a second to cause an accident. Before cell phones we had no accidents?
So, the degree of any given distraction shouldn't pertain to its legality?

DUI is just as dangerous as drinking a cola? It's either both or neither?

This claim that only cell phones cause accidents and reckless drivers is a little far fetched.
Quit with the straw men. No one made such a claim.
 
So, the degree of any given distraction shouldn't pertain to its legality?

DUI is just as dangerous as drinking a cola? It's either both or neither?


Quit with the straw men. No one made such a claim.
If you get into a accident it doesn't matter what you are doing. You caused an accident by being reckless, DUI, cell phone, smoking, it doesn't matter.

Why should one penalty be worse if the end result is the same.
 
If you get into a accident it doesn't matter what you are doing. You caused an accident by being reckless, DUI, cell phone, smoking, it doesn't matter.
Should we not concern ourselves with preventing accidents, and just cite drivers after the accident and lives are lost?
 
Should we not concern ourselves with preventing accidents, and just cite drivers after the accident and lives are lost?
Cops should look out for reckless drivers, no matter what they are doing, why focus just on cell phones.

Do they ticket people or smoking? Are two hands not on the wheel?
 
MacNut I'm really lost on your side of the argument at this point, as far as this law being passed or not, do you agree that cellphones should be banned nation wide. If not why not?
 
Cops should look out for reckless drivers, no matter what they are doing, why focus just on cell phones.
And they do, however, police officers aren't available on every street corner. Make an activity illegal, however, and many people will stop doing it, leading to safer streets and lives saved.

It's well established that drivers cannot safely operate a cellphone and vehicle simultaneously. In light of such evidence, why should it remain legal?
 
MacNut I'm really lost on your side of the argument at this point, as far as this law being passed or not, do you agree that cellphones should be banned nation wide. If not why not?
I think all distractions should be banned, if you are going to go after cell phones go after all driving distractions. They should not pick and choose.
 
And they do, however, police officers aren't available on every street corner.
So how will they find all these cell phone drivers? Hire more cops just to look for cell phones? What's the point of the law if they can't enforce it.
 
You should certainly pick and choose when some activities are more dangerous than others.
They are all just as dangerous if it causes an accident. If your eyes are taken of the road for a split second you can get into a accident
 
So how will they find all these cell phone drivers? Hire more cops just to look for cell phones? What's the point of the law if they can't enforce it.
Believe it or not, some people just follow the law because they should. The seat belt law is a perfect example: it's not easily enforceable, yet over 80% of the population follow it anyway.

They are all just as dangerous if it causes an accident.
That notion is absurd. Some activities are more likely to cause an accident than others. E.g. DUI vs. drinking coffee: have you ever considered why one is legal and the other is not?
 
That notion is absurd. Some activities are more likely to cause an accident than others. E.g. DUI vs. drinking coffee: have you ever considered why one is legal and the other is not?
If you look down to get your coffee and a car stops abruptly in front what will happen? You will not see it and crash. Your eyes were off the road. It doesn't matter if it was 1 second or 30
 
It's well established that drivers cannot safely operate a cellphone and vehicle simultaneously.
No it is not established that they cannot operate both safely, it is established that they are more likely to be distracted if they do. Just to put the record straight.
 
If you look down to get your coffee and a car stops abruptly in front what will happen? You will not see it and crash. Your eyes were off the road. It doesn't matter if it was 1 second or 30
And if you blink you might miss that blue honda coming out of the alleyway, and you crash.

Yet blinking is somehow legal and DUI is not. Why is that?

No it is not established that they cannot operate both safely, it is established that they are more likely to be distracted if they do. Just to put the record straight.
Technically you're correct. It's a statistical correlation. Although I don't believe that invalidates my argument.
 
I am not saying DUI's for everyone, I am saying that distractions come in many forms. Just because you get rid of cell phones won't make the roads safer by default. Drivers will always be distracted by something.
 
I am not saying DUI's for everyone, I am saying that distractions come in many forms. Just because you get rid of cell phones won't make the roads safer by default. Drivers will always be distracted by something.
One less distraction is still one less distraction. Less distractions lead to safer roads.

You'd have a point if drivers replaced cell phones with another distraction, but I don't see how that would generally be the case.
 
GPS is becoming mighty popular now. Maybe worse then cells as there is no communication.
 
I think all distractions should be banned, if you are going to go after cell phones go after all driving distractions. They should not pick and choose.

well guess what, thats not how it is. some actions are illegal, like dui's and watching movies on the dash and some actions like drinking soda are not illegal

im still confused why you are taking this all or nothing stand.

are you afraid of hurting the other distractions feelings if they arent included? lol

GPS is becoming mighty popular now. Maybe worse then cells as there is no communication.

Have you not read the studies? the reason phones are dangerous is becasue one is formulating thought and conversing. last i checked i dont talk to my gps. If you want to make such a claim, back it up. Dont just give "well i think" scenarios
 
Technically you're correct. It's a statistical correlation. Although I don't believe that invalidates my argument.

Yes it invalidates your argument (unless you have a scientific study to support your claim). Leaving blanket statements that something is not only proven but proven to happen 100% of the time unchallenged leads to ill-conceived laws that target an activity 100% of the time, rather than focus on the real problem. MacNut and others (including myself) have pointed to the real problem: distracted drivers. The solution, have police cite anyone driving while distracted, no matter what the distraction is. Have the citation note why they were distracted. Make them go to traffic school and get lectured on the dangers of what they are doing and the consequences. If a driver shows a pattern of being distracted because of cell phone use, bar that person from using a cell phone while driving (do the same for any other identifiable distraction). Stamp it right on their license under restrictions right next to where "must wear corrective lenses" would show up. Then if they get caught again, move up to criminal charges or suspend their license. I guarantee that the message will get through.
 
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