What do you think about using a cell phone while driving?

[Radio_Lady]

We had a 31-year-old woman who was talking with her sister while driving her SUV here in Portland, Oregon. She drove onto a bridge, said she slipped on the metal road surface, slid through the retaining wall, and fell 60 ft. into the river. The car plunged another 55 ft. to the bottom. Luckily, she was able to get out, and swam and floated until rescued -- escaped without serious injury.

Here's the link in the Portland Oregonian newspaper. Cut and paste:
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1112007388319291.xml?oregonian?fpfp

BUT, my husband and I think that it is a terrible distraction to talk on a cellphone -- even "hands free" which this woman said she was doing -- eat or drink, fiddle with the radio, put on makeup, etc. etc.

All of these things take over the processing functions of your brain, and leave the "driving" to "habit level" which had a lower reaction time.

My husband asked me if I remember that busses used to have a sign, "Do not talk to driver while coach is in motion." Whatever happened to those signs?

I think the U.S. and/or each state should ban cellphone use in cars! A couple of states have done it -- New York, I think -- but not sure of others.

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. I always use my handsfree

and voice dial...no problems!

[Radio_Lady]

4. Problem is YOUR BRAIN is engaged in thinking about the...

...conversation, not your driving. (Yes, you can have a problem if you're talking with someone in the car, too. I once had an accident while fiddling with a cassette tape.)

Hand-free does NOT equal SAFE-TY!

[Not_Giving_Up]

I think I pay more attention to the road because I'm on the phone

I didn't have one for years, and my favorite saying was "Put the fucking phone down and DRIVE!!!!" I refuse to be one of those people. I don't yap on the phone while driving unless I really need to...never on the freeway or in bad weather.

[Radio_Lady]

9. We avoided cellphones too, until a job came up that had us...

living out of state four days a week in a small apartment. We got them and use them now.

[4morewars]

2. Guess who is fighting such a ban?

Go ahead, take a shot.

[Radio_Lady]

5. Um-m-m, I give up. Cellphone companies? Undertakers? Who?

[4morewars]

13. I'm not sure about the undertakers....

But the phone companies send out a fleet of lawyers to any state that even thinks about such laws. You would think they'd want their products used safely. You would think they'd want their customers safe and alive. You would be wrong though, apparently profit is more important than everything else.

[Radio_Lady]

31. Hey, that was just a joke! n/t

[cestpaspossible]

33. I would guess, people who use their cellphones while driving.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Is it impolite to use a cel when having sex?

How 'bout a "hands free"?

Does it depend on the ringtone?

[Radio_Lady]

6. OK, that's funny. But this is a serious subject...

Second to last post. Get 'em while they're hot!

[ChoralScholar]

8. The last thing I want is to hear

a pathetic monophonic version of 'Nessun Dorma' play on a freakin cell phone... much less during.. ... ahem... relations

[jdots]

16. ... " using a cell phone while driving is like so modern "

it's bullshit communication that could be done better with more attention to the other person you are talking to and the people driving around you. Talking on a cell phone during sex is great if you are having phone sex with a recorded message.

[intheflow]

7. I do it.

But I still think it should be illegal. It is in some parts of the country. And I've seen too many people more intent on their cell phone conversations than on driving. Myself included--my first speeding ticket in 8 years came the week I got my cell.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Good for you. When a call comes in while I am driving, I try to...

... pull over before I even look at the phone display to see who it is. We all like the convenience of using the cellphones, but the police everywhere are now aware of the danger and we should be aware, too. I think I read that in 60% of car accidents nowadays, cellphone use plays some unfortunate role.

Last post of the day.

G'night, all. Say hello to the sun for me, East Coast America. You get it three hours before I do. ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[notadmblnd]

15. I refuse to let the cellphone be my leash

most of the time I leave it at home.

[intheflow]

42. Yes, me too, but

I work an hour and a half from home 3 days a week. It's just too tempting not to use that drive time in some kind of contructive manner beyond getting from here and there and back again. But if it was illegal, I wouldn't do it.

[gyopsy]

19. I do it too

I wouldn't mind seeing it outlawed. But since it's still legal, I'm going to take advantage of it.

[Floogeldy]

10. Isn't that what they're for?

How can anyone accurately blame this accident on the phone?

Maybe the driver was simply a moron.

Maybe it was as yet undiscovered mechanical failure?

Maybe an unknown driver swerved, caused the accident and then left the scene?

B-)

[cestpaspossible]

20. Yeah, the whole point of having a mobile phone

is to stay in touch while you're mobile.

Eating while driving is much more distracting and causes a much higher number of accidents. (I have no idea if that's true, btw) Why aren't we banning that? Speaking about talking to the driver while the coach is in motions, should it be illegal for passengers to speak to the driver? Und so weiter.

[Floogeldy]

21. Good points!

B-)

Edit: Although I believe one can be ticketed for "failure to devote full attention" for eating while driving, in some states.

[cestpaspossible]

32. I'm sure it is already illegal in every state

to drive a vehicle in a hazardous manner, or to fail to pay proper attention, however, I would be surprised if any state legislature made the foolish mistake of making it illegal to eat while driving.

[hfojvt]

11. I think cell phones are evil

nice to have when travelling, if your car breaks down or the weather gets bad, but still very, very evil. I hate them because they are another way for the world to ignore me while they make me listen to them yak, yak, yakkity yak.
If the rest of the world ever paid attention to me, they would notice that I am telling them to fut the shuck up. Listen a little bit more, yak alot less.
I am a bad lounge lizard because I do not care for either yaks or cats (I am a dog person).

[Radio_Lady]

61. I'm a dog person, too --

Boston Terriers
Cocker Spaniels

And today, I saw an Australian Red Heeler today -- do you know that kind of a dog? Here's a link to a photo:

http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?i=24923&j=t

Agree with you about cellphones. There is something evil about them. Especially when you're in a small restaurant and some is doing their business (vocally) while you're trying to eat lunch.

Ugh!

[notadmblnd]

14. I think it's just as bad as drunk driving

perhaps if the woman had her mind on the road and both hands on the wheel she would have avoided going through the guardrail.

[zann725]

17. Good analogy! I've witnessed too many times where drivers using phones

were entirely wreckless in their steering of their car, held up traffic while they lost track of their driving while on the phone, or did entirely stupid things in their driving while on the phone. It's like the old cliche...'chewing bubble gum and walking in a straight line at the same time.' Most people can't focus capably on both at the same time (myself included).

It SHOULD be outlawed.

[ForrestGump]

59. Hell, most people, it seems can't even drive well at the best of times

Awful. Worse in some places than others, but there's a significant proportion of car drivers who have no business being on the roads at all.

[gyopsy]

18. I use it, don't care

If I need to make a call, I'll use the phone. It's not like I'm one of those people that spends more than 30 seconds at a time on the phone anyway.

[bridgit]

22. some people can't walk & chew gum...

a cell phone tossed into the mix only complicates that fact.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. I drive cross country every summer

Cell phone users and aggressive drivers cause a surreal percentage of accidents.

I never root against anyone on the road, but I must admit I got a degree of satisfaction after one horn-blasting cell-phone user smashed his sports car outside Ballys in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. It was an incredibly windy day. The street, Flamingo Road, was bumper to bumper and everyone was patient except one college-aged gem who leaned on his horn for blocks while yaking on his cell phone and throwing his hands into the air in disgust. He was one lane to my right.

Finally, there appeared to be a clearing in the right lane and the guy swerved to the right and accelerated to a ridiculous speed. Wham! A row of newspaper racks had blown out into the street, causing the right lane to be blocked. The ace in the sportscar had no clue and barreled into the newspaper racks. His car was all but totalled. I stopped, along with several others. The kid was shaken up, scratched and bruised but otherwise OK.

[Telly Savalas]

27. Ah yes.

The old "I'm in bumper to bumper traffic, but these hundreds of cars will move faster if I just honk my horn enough" trick. I can't stand assholes who do that. You're in a fucking city. If you can't deal with traffic congestion either take transit or fucking move to Mayberry. Then when you add the "by making numerous erratic and dangerous lane changes I can shave 30 seconds off my travel time" mentality, you've got all the necessary conditions for someone who needs to have their driver's liscence suspended for 20 years. As someone who's a frequent pedestrian and spends a fair share of time on sidewalks near newspaper racks, part of me is a little bit disappointed that the kid was OK. (Yeah, I know that's wrong, but too many people get hurt because there are dumb punks out there who subsituted Grand Theft Auto for proper driver's ed. It maketh me angry.)

Edited to add: One night while out jogging I saw the scene of an accident where a car hit a pedestrian who was lying on the ground holding his head groaning in pain. Sure enough as I travel a couple of blocks, there are people in the back of the line of backed up cars honking their horns in the idiotic and insensitive hope of getting traffic moving again.

[Skittles]

24. very stupid

if I answer it is only to say I am on the road and will call them back

[Misunderestimator]

25. I don't think NY banned cell phone use, they just require a headset.

...at least as I understand it.

I use my cell in the car, but always use a headset. Not anymore distracted than if I'm talking to someone in the seat next to me... Less even, since I never have the inclination to turn and look at someone on the phone.

Some people don't know how to drive in the first place, or panic at every thing, or are distracted doing two things at once. Banning cell phone use in cars? That would piss me off.

[johnnie]

26. I use mine

It's about staying in control. Fortunately our brains are designed to handle more than one operation at a time. Yes, I have seen idiots yapping on the phone and not paying attention, but I have also seen women applying makeup, people eating, reading the newspaper, having their pets jump all over the front seat and also people playing rock star while singing to whatever is playing on the radio. All of them seem to be just as distracting. Maybe they should ban music in vehicles, that can distract also.

[Radio_Lady]

49. Don't you LOVE it when the dog is in the driver's lap -- ???

-- it looks like the dog is driving! At least the dog isn't likely to be talking on the telephone.

[mr blur]

28. Illegal to use one while driving here in the UK

or, I should say, to use one that you have to hold.

[Radio_Lady]

51. Well, you drive on the left side of the road -- decided not to try that --

-- when we visited London and Hong Kong. In Bermuda, I don't think they rent cars to foreigners. The busses were fine (but some weren't air-conditioned as I recall).

My husband wants to rent a car when we go to Scotland and England, probably next year. I disagree completely. With the orientation of Americans, we don't even LOOK in the correct direction for oncoming traffic! He got knocked over, but not injured, while in the shopping area of Stanley Market -- because he was looking the WRONG way!

[Cooley Hurd]

29. Only if that person is a master at multitasking...

...which, sadly, many aren't.

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. Make it illegal. Only self-absorbed assholes do it without a hands-free.

All states should make talking while on phone illegal.

Whenever I see erratic asshole driving, it's almost always a clueless douchebag on the phone.

It's not quite as self-absorbed assholish and dangerous as drunk driving, but it's damned close.

Make your choice, people: either you talk on the phone, or you drive. One or the other.

When I get phone calls when driving, I either pull over, or I don't answer, unless I'm on the Interstate with no other cars around, then I'll answer long enough to say "I'll call you back in a bit - let me pull over".

[jswordy]

34. I HATE THAT! I have been SO CLOSE to wrecks so many times...

...because of these idiots. In fact, I hate cell phones altogether for what they have done to our society. I do not own one, nor will I. I did agree to carry one when my mom was dying, but I gave it up as soon as possible afterward. And the fees are outrageous to those of us who are unaddicted.

[AlCzervik]

35. i think having a hands free thing makes no difference

i don't think your brain can do both functions at once.

[Radio_Lady]

54. Right on!! (Does anyone still say that?)

[ConcernedCanuk]

36. Almost got run over by a guy on a cell phone . . .

.
.
.

Hadda dive in the ditch(lucky me - was winter time and lots of snow to land on)

and the guy blared his horn at ME while I climbed outta the ditch . . .

'nuff said

[Hand]

37. DEATH BY WONGA WONGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's what I think.
:grr:

[curse10]

38. I never use my cell phone in my car because I value my life

it's a distraction. Even with the handsfree stuff. I was reading an article a while back that said it didn't matter whether or not you used handsfree- your reaction time was the same as if you were drunk.

I'm not so important that I need to answer the phone right away. I can always check my voicemail or have a passenger in my car answer for me.

[Book Lover]

39. If we ban cellphone use

then we have to also ban eating, drinking, fiddling around with the radio knobs, rummaging through your CD case, hunting around for the two bnucks for the toll, talking to a passanger, etc, etc....

[cestpaspossible]

41. exactly right

[alarimer]

40. There have actually been studies on this

A person using a cell phone (not hands-free) has about the same reaction time while driving as if they were elderly. I can't remember the source of this but I read it somewhere.

I do know that is distracting to me, far more than anything else I could be doing, like eating. I think it's because I try to concentrate on the conversation as well as driving.

I have nearly been hit more times than I can recall by people driving and talkin on the phone.

[Radio_Lady]

46. Eating while driving should be avoided, too. It's very distracting. n/t

[bigwillq]

43. I'm guilty of it all the time!

We're not "hands free" yet in CT.

Just imagine me on my cell phone, smoking a cig and driving with my knee. Yea, I'm a hazard!

[Radio_Lady]

47. Oh -- oh, I wouldn't want to meet you head-on, Bigwillq! n/t

[bigwillq]

52. I'll try not to hit you!

:P

[Radio_Lady]

56. I'm swerving to the curb even as we speak -- WATCH OUT!!!!

[amazona]

44. people will always talk in cars

It doesn't matter what you think about it. People talked in cars before cell phones were invented, and they'll talk in cars after cell phones are outlawed. When cell phones are outlawed, only outlaws will have cell phones.

Come on. Be honest. We have all eaten in our cars, drunk (hopefully non alcoholic) beverages in our cars, talked on the cell phone, talked to friends, changed the station on the radio, and, shocker of shockers, even looked down to read a road map.

It is not realistic to set up a society where people have to spend so much time in their cars and then make it illegal for them to talk, eat, drink, or put on mascara at the stop light. If someone can't talk and drive at the same time, they don't need to have a driver's license. The bus driver who can't drive and talk at the same time definitely needs to have his chaffeur's license revoked, because driving is all about managing distraction. Let Darwin take its course with people who can't manage chewing gum and just hope they don't take too many other people out in the process.

That said, yeah, one time I saw a driver working on his laptop while driving. Now I'm sure he had on the cruise control. But there's a limit.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Radio_Lady]

48. Add one thing to your list --

My car was rear-ended (and totalled) by a salesman who was going over his meeting notes while driving!

This was in the 1980's -- no cellphones yet!

[MissMillie]

45. I'm just wondering

If I have another person in the car with me, am I allowed to talk to them, or is that banned too?

[politicat]

50. The only time I use my phone while in the driver's seat is if the car is

OFF.

Otherwise, that's what voicemail is for.

Nothing is that important that it can't wait ten minutes for me to get to a place to pull out.

[BlueIris]

53. People who must talk and drive are selfish,

IRRESPONSIBLE fuckwits. To me, there's only a slight difference between talking while driving and being intoxicated while driving. Assholes.

[Radio_Lady]

55. You tell it like it is, Blue Iris --

[eek MD]

57. Sometimes there's no choice involved.

My company makes me keep my cellphone on while i drive. (yes i do have a handsfree device, and it's set up with voice commands for dialing).

I'm a repair technician, and am always driving between customers. many weeks i'm on the road for 30+ hours, and only working for 10-20. People can drive well while talking on cellphones. I'll admit, it does take some getting used to though.

Cellphones can also be a force for good on the roads. I've used it on a few occasions to report accidents, and to report traffic problems to the local radio station. (i know you're going to say "pull off the road when you call", but if you've seen some of the freeways i wind up driving on, you'd know better than to try to pull off onto a non-existant shoulder to make a phone call)

I've seen many irresponsible "fuckwits" on the road, and many of them had no cellphone at all with them.

[ForrestGump]

58. Grounds for execution

The stereotype of the "soccer mom" tooling around cluelessly in an uneccessarily-huge Suburban Assault Vehicle while oblivious to all except whoever's on the other end of her telephone call is NOT a stereotype -- these silly cows try to kill me each and every day I ride my motorcycle, which is to say each and every day. And don't get me started on sorority girls (and I don't mean in the good way).

:grr:

Book 'em all for attempted murder. And terminal self-centered willful ignorance.

[guitar man]

60. It depends

when I am in city traffic, absolutely not. I have a 92 mile commute to work that is almost all 4-lane through the open countryside and traffic is light/spread out most of the time so I will talk under those conditions. If I start getting into traffic that is going to require my full attention it's "gotta go" and I hang up and drive. I am not going to put others in danger so I can yap on the phone.