Why haven't more state legislatures banned the use of cell phones behind the wheel?

Question

It seems as though public opinion is firmly on the side of regulation: people who talk on cell phones while they drive are almost universally ridiculed. And I assume that there are ample studies showing a link between cell-phone usage and careless driving. Therefore, the fact that this practice hasn't been more widely banned by now strikes me as very odd. Any explanations?

Answer 1

Actually, the research link between cell phone usage and careless driving is not as strong as you might "assume." Research shows there are MANY distractions linked with careless driving, including eating, fidgeting with radio/CD/music settings, reaching for things on the passenger seat, etc.

For example,
A study released in April 2006 found that almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event. The study, The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), breaks new ground. (Earlier research found that driver inattention was responsible for 25 to 30 percent of crashes.) The new study found that the most common distraction is the use of cell phones, followed by drowsiness. However, cell-phone use is far less likely to be the cause of a crash or near-miss than other distractions, according to the study. For example, while reaching for a moving object such as a falling cup increased the risk of a crash or near-crash by 9 times, talking or listening on a hand-held cell phone only increased the risk by 1.3 times. The study tracked the behavior of the 241 drivers of 100 vehicles for more than one year. The drivers were involved in 82 crashes, 761 near crashes and 8,295 critical incidents.


These findings confirm an August 2003 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that concluded that drivers are far less distracted by their cell phones than by other common activities, such as reaching for items on the seat or glove compartment or talking to passengers. That study was based on the analysis of videotapes from cameras installed in the vehicles of 70 drivers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

It would be difficult to target just one of these activities to outlaw via statute and ignore the others. Additionally, the practical enforcement of outlawing cell phone use, while hardly ever considered by legislators who are trying to look like they are doing something useful by their constitutents, is something to actually consider. Do we really want our police officers spending their time pulling people over who are talking on cell phones? If so, what about the people with those ear attachments??Do they get a free pass with respect to this type of legislation because an officer can't tell if they're actually "on the phone" or not?? Why make a law that is darn near impossible to enforce other than it gives some who have not fully thought out the issue a false sense that something positive is being done??

Answer 2

Public opinion is not on the side of regulation. More people than ever have cell phones and most of them have found themselves using it while driving. Actual studies (that can easily be found on-line) have found that while cell use is to an extent distracting, many other factors were more likely to cause an accident, such as reaching for a falling object. These findings confirm an August 2003 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that concluded that drivers are far less distracted by their cell phones than by other common activities, such as reaching for items on the seat or glove compartment or talking to passengers. That study was based on the analysis of videotapes from cameras installed in the vehicles of 70 drivers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Since evidence of the dangers of talking on a cell phone are slim (not counting idiots that actually try to text while driving) and people are against excessive regulation, it is unlikely that new laws will be passed.

Answer 3

It's already against military base regulations to be using a cell phone and driving by ANYONE. And with nimrods like MISSY who TEXT MESSAGES AND DRIVES? YEEE GADS, how STUPID can anyone be? I came up behind someone one day who was weaving all over the interstate and even ran off onto the shoulder. I thought the person was drunk. I went around them to get way from them and when I came alongside, the person was leaning over holding the cell phone to her ear, writing on a note pad! There was a company name and phone number on the car. I got home, called the company and described the car and the driver. The person said, "Well, she won't be doing THAT anymore." I hope the ignorant child got fired! She could have killed someone because of her stupidity.

Answer 4

I have to agree with the money quote whoever gave that a thumbs down is either blind literally or stupid.

Money is always the biggest issue but population control is the other..just look at your government and what they promote.

Look at these issues :

Abortion
Money
People <-- a very broad range of answers here.
Communities
Technology

There are too many people and the government will chop the population down any way they can, if you are too stupid to understand or see that well look at global warming and cooling effects that are going on now. We have sped up the process I don't give a damn what the government tries to brainwash into your little minds - scientists have been shut out and up on this issue Bush who has the cure to cancer and or aids has that being kept secret through a feeding tube.

And what does all of this have in common that the cell phone issue has? - No one cares.


Well almost no one :) *doesnt use a cellphone yet*

Answer 5

Talking on the phone while you drive is a skill, it gets easier with time. Maybe states should start requiring you to do it during a driving test, I don't know.

Personally, I've had two wrecks messing with the radio. I've driven while talking on the phone thousands of times and never had a wreck.

I notice you said, "I assume there are ample studies". You have to question who conducted the studies, what controls there were, who participated, etc. There could be numerous factors contributing to how someone drives while on the phone.

Do you also think there should be a law banning conversation in cars? That could also lead to an accident, talking to a passenger while you drive.

Answer 6

Yes, even though this country is free, its based on the good of the people for the most part. they should ban cell phones but not all the way.

Answer 7

Apparently not enough people have died to bring it into law in whatever area. It goes into effect here in July and personally, I like it. I have been hands free for sometime now and I like it, not just driving, but in general. With the technology now, it's so much easier to be so. Hope this helps!!

Answer 8

We would then have to pass laws on distractive behaviors behind the wheel:
- Applying make-up
- Eating and drinking
- Reading the newspaper (see this all the time!)
- yelling at your kids
- reading a map
- listening to voice on your GPS
and the list goes on.

The reality is that this is just one more issue behind the wheel in a long line of issues that drivers have.

Answer 9

The wireless industry made over 11 Billion dollars last year! That kind of money buys a lot of influence and lobbyists! They say talk is cheap? ;-)=

Answer 10

Money, sonny. The marketers of cell phones and cell service are paying BIG bucks to legislators to forestall such restrictions on such uses of the devices. Pain and suffering and property damage does not matter to these people, only money counts as far as they're concerned. See, they're REPUBLICANS...