does talking on the cell phone hinder your ability to operate a car? if so y is it legal?

Answer 1

yes it hinders your driving, and it's legal because nobody's got the balls to make it illegal, thereby disturbing all those dumb blondes in their SUVs or little sports cars with their head glued to one and their mouths chattering a mile a minute, and the fool men talking to them. God Bless you, (unless you're on a cell phone in your car while driving!) Nah. You'll need His Blessing all the more then.

Answer 2

Studies have shown that using a cell phone in both the traditional manner and in a hands-free way can hinder your ability to operate a car safely. And in many municipalities it is illegal to talk on a cellphone while driving, but is legal to use a phone in a hands-free manner.

Answer 3

It's a distraction from a critical task. So is putting on make up (my all-time favorite peeve), reading maps, books, newspapers, etc. (my second all-time favorite peeve), eating, and watching TV.

A number of studies have been done, particularly in Europe, that proved a conclsive link between talking on a mobile phone and causing an accident. Interestingly, using a hands-free device did NOT improve the situation significantly. For this reason, talking on a mobile phone is illegal in most of Europe. Even using a hands-free device will get you an expensive ticket -- several hundred $$$ worth expensive from personal experience.

The European studies, as well as the few done in this country, all equated talking on the phone while driving with driving with a blood alcohol level of about 0.15% or twice the legal limit in most states, as far as accident likelihood was concerned.

Some jurisdictions in the US are starting to follow suit, though almost all of them mistakenly allow hands-free devices to be used.

Answer 4

Doing anything in the car will hinder your ability to focus on the road, including having a passenger. Maybe having two people in a vehicle should be outlawed, having a conversation with your passenger can be a distraction and definitely reduces your attention on the road.

I wonder how many police whiners that want to outlaw talking on the phone and driving would agree to disabling their radios while driving. :)

Answer 5

In a lot of major cities like Detroit you can receive a ticket for talking on you cell phone if and only if you are pulled over for a different offense too.
As to your ability to drive, every person is different, but the less distractions the better.
Try not to use it well driving. I would hate to have to live with "what if I was not on the phone would have that happened"

Answer 6

Of course it does. While truck driving, I've came up behind people
who were driving 15-20 less than the speed limit because of they
were on the cell. I was in the Denver area this late winter & I was
just about to drive through a 30mph intersection on MY green light
when this lady driver approached the traffic light from my right,
came thru the intersection & made a left hand turn. She had ran
HER red light directly in front of my rig. She had NO IDEA that she just about got T-boned by an 80,000 pound KENWORTH rig!

Answer 7

Recently I drove through Massachussetts and saw signs saying using a handheld cell phone while driving was illegal.
Studies show that driving while talking on a phone is worse than drunk driving. When I see someone weaving all over the road or lagging behind blocking traffic, almost always they have a cell phone up to their ear.

Answer 8

Does it hinder your ability to drive? It depends on how good u are at multitasking. Women are better at multitasking than men - it has been scientifically proven. I have no problems doing both at the same time! (I am a woman!)

In my country (South Africa), it is illegal to use a cellphone while driving. The fine is a minimum of 1000 RAND (our currency)! (Which is a lot, by the way!) You can only use a cellphone if u have a hands-free car kit.

Answer 9

Some people can multi task safely and some can't. Women seem to be a little bit worse. (sorry ladies... not trying to be mean) I can always tell without looking if a woman is on her cell phone without even looking becasue she will ride right next to me and go the exact same speed regardless of wether I speed up or slow down.

Answer 10

Yes it does impair you (studies have shown as much as a single unit of alcohol), and if it's affecting your driving, it's not legal. Most places have interpreted (if not amended) their "reckless driving" statutes to include driving while on the cell phone. There are a few places (NY, if I recall the article) where it is a seperate law.