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Nationwide Hands free Cell Phone Ban for Drivers Urged
- Thread starter MacNut
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Just to be fair, if that person walks into the street and a car hits another car while trying to avoid the person then they did cause damage to someone other then themselves.
Why is it a problem to ban something that causes accidents? Yes, car accidents will still happen. But there will be less accidents, less people getting hurt and less people getting killed. Is that a bad thing?
If I caused an accident because I was talking on a cell phone and someone got hurt I would never forgive myself.
I suppose I should state that my primary mode of transportation is actually a bicycle, not a car. And even with that, there are many good bikers but so many are rather stupid when on the road. Some people ride their bikes like they drive a car. I've almost been hit plenty of times on a bike. Even in crosswalks. Yet I realize that I have to modify my biking to avoid that ever happening. I'm a really small object on the road and must never forget that.
About motorcyclists weaving in and out of traffic, I have observed it happening countless times in various countries. I know it exists and rather common.
Yeah, I would rather not have a wreck with anyone. That doesn't even make sense. Of course I would feel bad if I was the cause of anyone's injury.
I despise it when people get in their car and the first thing they do is call someone and prop the phone up with their shoulder. Ironically I do think they should NOT be banned but that if another incident occurs while talking (accident, individual injury, moving violation) that the penality should be increased. (Kind of how fines double in some construction zones when workers are present.) If you outright ban them then it is a gateway to ban other things. The solution here is education (i.e. this behaviour is not the safest thing, but could be ok in small moderation or emergencies) rather than an outright ban.
As bad as this?
That's a lot of dead and injured people due to driving while phone drunk. I see a lot more people behind the wheel with a cell phone on their ear (even though it's illegal in California) than I see driving while eating cheeseburgers.
Considering the hundreds of hours of professional training, multitude of licenses and certifications in the US and abroad, 40 years and hundreds of thousands of miles of collision and citation-free driving in hundreds of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, in and on every imaginable weather condition, road type, and traffic, then yes, I'd say I'm fairly adept.
Why stop at cell phones, ban everything in the car.So stupid.
Not a chance at the national level... it's a simple states rights issue.
Not sure what the vitriol is about cell phones in cars. Cell phones in the wrong hands are annoying everywhere, not just in cars. It's a lack of manners, not an inherent danger in using phones.
It should be a state's rights issue, but this group is pushing for a nationwide ban, so that when I go to Teh Middle of Nowhere, Texas, I can't even use my bluetooth legally.
Heh. Just yesterday, I saw a driver trying to slowly round a city street corner with a phone in their hand, one hand on the wheel and having a conversation. They ended up on the pavement, had to put the phone down and reverse back onto the road while a group of us watched and cars behind were beeping their horns. Fortunately, he was only doing about 10mph and no-one was hurt.
People always over-rate their driving abilities and put their stupid trivial comforts over the safety of others.
No kidding. I've never caused an accident while using my phone, and I've never been hit by somebody who was using a phone.
I am a very defensive driver, however; in DC, the streets are so wild that you have to watch every other driver to make sure they are going to do what they are supposed to do.
I've seen people run red lights straight through, or make illegal turns from the wrong lane... if I had assumed my right-of-way in those cases, I would have been hospitalized.
The world is dangerous place. We should mitigate the *extremely* risky practices -- like drunk driving -- but cell phone usage doesn't have the same stark distinction in my eyes.
Because you'd like to continue the practice? Rather than anecdotes, let's look at some research:
I wonder how many people would rate their driving skills as being above average? Certainly more than half.
Yep. In this case, there are hundreds of 'what if' statements he could make. Of course, there are a hundred 'what if' statements that I could make to support the other viewpoint.
Anyway, 2 hands on the wheel. Simple. No mobiles, no food. Drinks are probably OK because you can pretty much drink anything nowadays without looking at it. Even with a burger, which I've eaten while driving, I need to look at it before I take a bite. Then I need to worry about crumbs from the bun getting all over my shirt, or ketchup and mustard stains.
Saying that, I don't believe there should be a complete ban on mobile phone use. As long as you're using a headset, you should be allowed to use it. Otherwise, there should be a fine.
Banning all cell phones is a horrible idea, since they were banned here in California I have just noticed that about the same ammount of people use them and they are worse drivers than before the ban since now they are just watching out for police instead of watching the road at all.
obviously its everyone else that sucks at driving lol never the person being questioned
Exactly. Will you sign my petition to de-criminalize DUI? Thanks.Why stop at cell phones, ban everything in the car.
There is a big difference between DUI and cell phones.Exactly. Will you sign my petition to de-criminalize DUI? Thanks.
Studies can be made to say anything. I think if anything can cause an accident in a vehicle no matter what it is we should ban it.
I go back to Andy's post. https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6919288/
i dont quite get your point. that doesnt disprove the studies that driving and talking is as bad as a dui.....
in fact, it supports the claim to ban phones. the only thing that article does is says that cell phones arent the only distraction which i have no issue in admitting.
you said theres a big difference between a dui and cell phones. give me data to back that claim up as opposed to deflecting and answering saying eating is a bad distraction too (which i am not really arguing it isnt)
I'm assuming you can substantiate this claim? And please, spare me anecdotal evidence.
Here's a study that found talking on a cell phone (hands free or otherwise) to be equally as dangerous as DUI: http://www.unews.utah.edu/p/?r=062206-1
DUI impairs your driving from the moment you get behind the wheel. Unless you are on the phone the entire drive it isn't the same.
My main issue is that why are we just focusing on cell phones when there are many things that can be distracting.
Would it be alright for me to drink while driving? What if I'm sober when I start the car?