Should there be strict laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving?

Question

Every single day in my short drive to and from work I encounter at least one person running a red light with a cell phone stuck in their ear.

Answer 1

You bet!
A person on a cell phone while driving is no more in control of the vehicle than a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Answer 2

It seems the more people whine about safety while using cell phones and driving, the more it will morph into a law. Why must everything be legislated? Wear your seat belt; wear your helmet; no more soda in schools; and soon, no more cell phones while driving. Let's face it, it's inevitable. We eat, tune a radio, change a CD, pacify our kids, smoke, drink, use laptops, read books and maps. I say we remove all radios and CD players, cup holders, battery outlets and ashtrays as they promote distractions. We must only be allowed to drive during the day because the night is also hazardous. No eating, no drinking, no nothing. Aren't people getting a little tired of it? I talk on my cell phone and drive ALL THE TIME. I'm attentive and in control of my car. There was, however, a time when I did stray over the line to install my hands-free device... which is supposedly "safer." Quite frankly, people that can't drive, simply can't drive. Don't penalize the innocent. Oh, by the way, did you know there is no link to cell phone "fires" at gas pumps? But, because of all the hullabaloo, we're now told - falsely - that we should not talk on a cell phone while fueling. Static is the culprit people NOT the cell phone. Nope stop whining and drive your car/truck. And for those of you driving SLOW in the far left (passing) lane... M O V E !!!

Answer 3

Well, making something illegal doesn't stop it from happening. There have been laws against drunk driving for years and the penalties for conviction can be pretty severe. Yet drunk driving remains one of the major causes of traffic accidents killing and injuring tens of thousands every year. People do a lot of things while driving including:
Putting on make up
Shaving
Turning around to talk to someone in the back seat
Funbling around with the radio, cd player etc
Using the CB radio (some still have these)
Trying to change baby's diaper at a stop light.
Looking at girls (guys)
Trying to find their cigarettes, and lighter to have a smoke.
Driving unsafe vehicles
Driving with suspended licence
Driving too fast for existing road conditions
Immature and dangerous bouts of road rage
Driving with their wife, kid, dog or cat on their laps
And of course talking on their cell phones.
I am sure you could come up with a whole bunch of other things as well. Passing laws id not what prevents accidents. Common sense does..

Answer 4

yes, I think there should be strict laws prohibiting cell phone use. Up here in Minnesota they are starting to pass cell phone laws. like, now its illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to drive while talking on a cell phone.

Answer 5

I dont think so. If you are so selfish to drive while on the phone, knowing you cant, and still do then I am sorry for you. BUT I think there are a lot of instances when it is necessary to be on the phone while driving. What if your friend needed you. Or you were late to work. Or there was a wreck right in front of you. I think you get the idea. Very few people have time to pull over and use a pay phone, hell, most of them dont work anyways. Its more convienent and in my opinion shouldnt have laws forbidding it.

Answer 6

Yes i think there should be a law its a big distraction and can and does cause accidents people need to get their talking done before getting into there car or need to pull over and use there phone so accidents are prohibited..
When a accident does happen they are not going to admit they were on the phone that caused them to run that red light cause they were in the middle of a conversation on the phone..

Answer 7

Yes, there should be strict laws in this regard.
However, getting the police to enforce such a law would be hard to do.
They would be stopping a whole lotta cars.

Answer 8

I know that it's illegal in the state of connecticut to drive with a cell phone.
Many states are like this as well.

Answer 9

if we do that, why not outlaw eating and women putting on makeup and people reading or listening to music, all of these things also distract people. While we are at it, why not old people and young people and people with heart conditions? Why not ban people who are in anger management or people on prescriptions medications? people with not perfect eyesight or missing limbs? need i go on further?