Should talking on cell phones while driving be illegal even with headsets?
April 30, 2010
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53 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
April 30, 2010 by simon amet
if you are allow to listen to the music or change audio in a ( car ) vehicle while driving, why can we talk on cell phones with headsets or any hand frees with driving?
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May 2, 2010 by Patricia Meloy
Well, I think that investigations on brain function have evidence that as long as your brain is engaged in conducting a cell phone conversation while you are driving, you are severely impaired in terms of reaction times and just plain being aware of what you are doing as you drive. If you are involved in a conversation with someone who is unable to see the same conditions that you see in front of you, the driver, you will be giving too much attention to the person on the phone to drive safely. I tend to believe this since, when I am a passenger, I frequently hold back on continuing a conversation with the driver, or vice versa, as a driver I will frequently not respond to my passenger, if driving conditions are changing in front of me.
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May 15, 2010 by cbw
Great comment! My thoughts exactly.
May 15, 2010 by cbw
P.S. The most important part of your comment is about how the person you're talking with on the cell "is unable to see the same conditions that you see in front of you." That's the huge difference between talking to someone on a cell vs talking to someone in the car, who can see what you see. The driver's brain essentially forces them to keep talking to the person on the cell even if something potentially dangerous is happening on the road. Why? Because the other person has no idea about the potential danger and you subconsciously don't want them to wonder why you've stopped talking all of a sudden. You want to to appear as "normal" to them, not awkward. But your passengers see exactly what you do and so totally get it when you suddenly stop talking to them.
June 25, 2010 by Eileen
I wonder why this was not such a big issue during the CB radio "heyday" It seems to me that the CB could be more distracting than a call from from my kid who just wants to know how soon i can get to the field to pick him up.
May 12, 2010 by Yvonne Riddick
Anything to do with a phone while driving should be band. This little slap on the hand $ 25.00 fine that they will give you if you are caught is a joke. Make it $ 150.00 fine and you might get some result from this so called law. Many times while I was driving, if it wasn't for me paying attention I would of allready been in quite a few accidents from people talkin on the phone not paying attention.. I am so out raged about these idoits, that I put the words on the back of my SUV in big letters...... GET OF THE DARN PHONE.... SAVE A LIFE.. But how can the police inforce this law when I see them on their cell phones all the time.. Go figure ????? A police officer giving you a ticket for the same thing they do.. As for all these excuses people are using such as .. well you play your radio, or you talk to someone riding in your car.. we have been doing this for many years and you never heard of the horriable accidents that has happened from doing this and talking on your phone.. Wake up people.. Whats it gona take.... For you to loose someone you love or your own life before you stop using your phone while driving...
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July 7, 2010 by Jesse Knaub
I am so sick of people trying to ban cell phones from cars. There is nothing to show that you are more distracted by the phone than from changing the radio station or breaking up a fight between kids in the back seat. I do not need the government telling me how to drive responsibly, or any of you for that matter. Educate yourselves on how to remain focused on your driving rather than the conversation on the other end of the phone. It's not the responsibility of the person on the other end to know what the conditions. You can tell them that you will need to return their call later if you don't feel it's safe to talk to them. It has become the new American way to blame someone (or something) else for everything that goes wrong. I feel that I can responsibly use my cell phone in the car. If I become distracted, it's my fault, not my phone's. In response to a comment from before, someone who I knew well was killed when she looked down to change a CD and went into the path of a truck. So it does happen with things other than cell phones. People are just focused is having another right taken away. When will it stop? Soon we'll all be driving single seat cars with no radios, so that we don't have any distractions. What a joke it is to think that banning cell phones while driving will actually change anything. People need to get a life!
June 15, 2010 by donna
well changing and and listening to the radio is one thing but i personally witness my friend yelling and fighting with her husband over the phone while in the car. shes had 2 near wreck because the bicker on the phone . It's not safe . a cell phone should be allowed in the car but used ONLY if an emergency accurs.And texting should absolutely not be allowed. Say your looking down texting and a child run outs in front of you. I think that it should be illegal to carry cell phones in big rigs. they have radios on board for emergencys. I say this be cause while my friend is bickering with her husband he driving a big rig so how safe can that be?
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July 21, 2010 by Gene Ewaldoh
We need to stop using anecdotal evidence in our arguments. My answer to "how safe is that?" is How many accidents has she had while arguing with her husband? See? There must be no danger since you would have listed the ones that did happen. Don't assume results based on your misconceptions.
October 30, 2010 by Janessa
Whats the difference of talking on the cell phone in the car then talking to someone in the car, the're both distracting. In fact if your talking to someone in the car you may be glacing over to them, and that second you may be looking away it may cause an accident.At least on a phone you have your eyes in front of you.
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April 30, 2010 by stormy pfeiffer
I will forever disagree that talking or texting while you are driving is a horrible idea. You and I know that this will never change some individuals. Just like drinking and driving we will continue to lose loved ones to that thoughtless crime. The best thing the rest of us can do is be more aware of the drivers around us. God help us all.
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May 7, 2010 by emma barton
just cause it won't change them, doesn't mean it's totally unsafe, should be stopped, and the fact that they can pay the 'toll to the troll' as it were with their fines and tickets! that is how you get the honor of distracting yourself beyond safety while driving, and if you are distracted enough times, #1 you deserve your license to be suspended and #2 someone will surely be hurt/die! (preferably the driver only that is so distracted as to drive off the cliff and not me, the pedestrian that he plows over!)
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April 30, 2010 by jeremy cook
All cellphones are a distraction while driving. handsfree or not. They are nice and convienent but not while driving. when you talk on a phone you get into your conversation and everything else is in the background. peole on phonesdon't see lights or road signs and make irratic lane changes or dont stop. you should talk on the phone while parked, before you leave, and after you arrive. stopping on the side of road can be dangerous also. people hit officers on side of road all the time. besides trying to get up to speed and merging in.
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April 30, 2010 by Chena Spielman
I agree with the comments already made. Doing anything other than driving is a dangerous mix. A handsfree device just gives some individuals the opportunity to say that this is ok and that they are doing the right thing. Wrong! I try to do things like change my radio station, while I am at a light. My whole family knows that I am not a big fan of talking and driving and so I let them know, before I get on the road. Spread the word - No texting - No talking. Thank you and God bless you all.
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April 30, 2010 by newlinzgirl
unfortunately no matter what i tell my 16 year old he still believe he is all knowing and can do anything behind the wheel. i am scared when he drives he thinks he is a great driver any way and the cell phone makes it worse. I wish the state would do something about it because i sure cant convince him and i fear for his life. All of his friend are in a car at the same time with the radio blasting and all of them using their phones and yelling to each other over the radio at the same time it crazy. hove can we convince these young kids of today. signed distressed
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April 30, 2010 by TRUVVY
I'm totally against texting while driving. However, what is the difference between holding a conversation with another passenger in the car and talking on a headset?
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May 6, 2010 by Ric bellefleur
i truely agree with you
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May 16, 2010 by cbw
There's a HUGE difference! The person you're talking to cannot see what you see. They do not see any of the potential dangers or problems that happen when you're driving, so they continue to talk and talk and talk, no matter what. And while these occasional problems on the road occur, your brain subconsciously tells you to keep talking as if everything is fine so that the person you're talking to won't know about it. That's because you don't want the person to know you're vulnerable in those potentially dangerous moments. You want to appear totally "normal" and calm and cool to the person. So this is where the difference between talking to someone on the phone vs someone in the car comes in! The person in the car can see what you see! Therefore, not only will you automatically stop talking to them (because you know they can see the potential danger or problem), but they will stop talking too. So there's your answer. Also, holding a phone or using hands-free makes absolutely no difference. The problem is about talking to someone who can't see what you see, not about HOW you talk to them. So whether you hold the phone, use hands-free, someone's holding the phone next to you're ear, the phone is hung by a string from your roof, or any other way, it doesn't matter one bit!
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April 30, 2010 by Angelo Delpasen
More and more vehicles are equipped with bluetooth which helps when talking on your cell. There is still a lot of distraction when you are talking because unlike listening to your radio , is just that..listening, even singing along.
When talking it requires thought and that is where the distraction comes from.This is the age of technology and it is more difficult now to just concentrate on driving because you are mult-tasking appts, schedules..etc..etc..
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May 4, 2010 by Ed Coughlin
I have read that, on average, people are impaired while talking on the cell phone (hands free or not) at about the same level as they are impaired at a .06-.08 alcohol consumption level.
It is, in almost all states, legal to drive at a .08 level (or even higher) and so if driving with that level of impairment is legal in one avenue it should be legal in all avenues. If banning cell phone headsets is to be a law, then the threshold for drinking and driving should certainly be lowered as well.
I have no problem with safety regulations if they're consistent. I would also say there are more valid reasons for talking on the cell while driving then drinking and driving (I really can think of no valid reason for driving at a .08 level to be honest). A one drink limit seems reasonable (.03-.04 tops) though, of course, the restaurant and bar lobby would not be happy with that choice.
As a final thing that level of impairment when talking on the phone is not universal. Some people, studies found, can successfully multi task while driving with no impairment whatsoever, any law should have an exemption if through testing one can prove that is the case.
Texting though, 100% wrong, you're not even looking at the road in that case and it is far more dangerous then driving.
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May 6, 2010 by Kimberly
Do you talk to the passengers in your car? I doubt you remain completely silent.
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May 13, 2010 by rachel
i have to agree with u i was just saying that to my grandmother that yes i am talking to u while i am driving but both hands are on the wheel and i am paying att. cause it would not be any diff. if u were sitting right next to me i am 25 years old and i have prefect driving lic and i live up north were we have deer and anmails running out all the time i know when i can trust my self to make the call to answer or not but i dont beleave in texting that drives me crazy i dont have it and i dont want it
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May 7, 2010 by emma barton
the reason we can't be trusted with the cell phone while driving is there is simply too much going on. simon points out that we can fidget with the mirrors, talk, use the radio and change stations all we want. add into that all the conversations that could be going on, traffic, the kid's dvd's playing in the background and their fighting over who is or isn't touching whom, and you get one too many draws on the driver's attention!
and yes, if it's bad for one driver, it is bad for all. err on the side of safety in such matters, and we are all a bit safer! i don't want someone that is talking on the phone, eating hot pizza and dropping it in their lap causing them to spill their icy soda on their legs to come barreling at me in their car!
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May 7, 2010 by Hamby Hutcheson
Signing the "No Phone Zone" is foolhardy and down right dangerous.
Option #1: works for the entire driving and talking world: NO TEXTING!
Option #2: works for the entire auto industry and most of the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE). "HANDS FREE CONVERSATIONS with both hands on the wheel. SAT WHAT ??? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE "NO PHONE ZONE? TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF YOUR MOUTH OPRAH!
Option #3: IS JUST PLAIN STUPED! Pull over, park and chat. Nobody thought that one out. I can see I-95 during rush hour ... about a dozen rear enders an hour.
JOIN THE "HANDS FREE ZONE" AND TAKE THE PLEDGE AT:
WWW.HANDS-FREE.ORG
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May 10, 2010 by Arlene
I personally think that cell phones should be made inoperable in a running vehicle (if that were possible). That way we would not have to rely on each individual's idea of what is safe and what is not safe. Obviously the people that are currently talking on cell phones while driving are going to agree with it remaining legal to do so. I can't image what anybody would need to say while driving that is worth risking someone's life for.
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May 25, 2010 by PD
I was thinking the same thing! Make it so the cell phones won't work while the engine is on! Great minds...
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July 26, 2010 by lindy
I agree 100%. If the car is on, the cell phone should become inoperable. It is a very simple addition to the technology of the phone.
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