Using Cell Phones While Driving?

Question

In many states, including mine, it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving, unless you use a hands-free device.

So I'm curious. What is the distraction?

If the distraction is that you have one hand off the wheel when using a cell phone (thus the law for a hands-free device), then shouldn't the law have been that both hands must be on the steering wheel while driving a car?

Isn't it really that the cell phone is the distraction -- carrying on conversations while you should be concentrating on driving? If so, then they legislated the wrong thing, which is usually the case!

Opinions?

Answer 1

It has been shown that it is just as distracting as other things that you regularly do while driving. The only time its worse is when you take your eyes off the road to dial or text. These laws are just another case of overegulating our daily lives.

BTW, if your cell phone use causes you to drive erratically you can already be charged with operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner, so why do we need a special law for cell phones?

Answer 2

Most people cannot drive well enough without the cell phones, and a car or SUV are very dangerous things. No one ever multitasks as well as they think they do, so I honestly believe that you shouldn't be allowed to make phone calls while driving. But with everyone having the need to be in touch at all time more recently, the youngest drivers on the roads already have a cell phone before they can drive. It's a shame. Driving, alone, used to be enough for most people.

Answer 3

I had an idiot today stop in the middle of a left turn in a busy intersection because he was on his cell phone. Distractions like this cause wrecks. I see people texting or dialing on the road all the time which means they are not paying attention to driving. I'm tired of having to swerve out of the way because some selfish person can't pull over and talk on the phone.

Answer 4

It's a law of convenience for the police.

There are already laws in almost every state about driving in an unsafe manner, or driving while being distracted. However, the police would actually have to prove you were actually distracted.

With this law -- simply the act of using a cell phone is presumed to be a distraction -- whether it really is for you or not.

Answer 5

You are right on the ball! It's the intensity of the conversation that matters. Studies have found that distracted driving is as risky as drunk driving. Cell-phones fall in the category of distracted driving, along with eating, putting on makeup, reading (Yes, it's true), adjusting the radio, tending your child on the back seat, and others. Unfortunately, legislators legislate, so to appear to be addressing a problem without actually helping, they pass laws such as cell phone laws to pat themselves on the back! Even hands-free phones can be distracting if you are involved in the conversation!

Answer 6

It may not be the cell phone in particular - I agree that it's a law of convenience for the police. But in general people just don't pay attention anymore. I have been driving many of our interstate highways (and smaller slower roads) and have seen truck drivers reading the newspaper, seen women putting on their makeup, seen men shaving, I see people turned around to yell at their kids or bending down to pick up the cigarette (or whatever) they dropped. But, I have to admit what really gets my ire is when I see people dialing or texting on their phones - they're not even trying to look at the road!

The problem stems from the fact that our cars are safer and people take for granted that even if they are in an accident they'll walk away unharmed and their insurance will buy them a new car. Unfortunately, people do get injured and they do die. Another thing, high blood pressure resulting from stress is reducing the quality of life off the road. Could their be a connection? I think so.

Be responsible for your own actions and for Pete's sake, be polite. Will it really end your day to let some one in front of you or pause to let someone out in traffic? Yes, we all make mistakes and we all get distracted, but we must hold ourselves accountable rather than depend on our government to pass 4,000 laws to protect us from ourselves.

Sorry for the rant.

Answer 7

Like Duh! U really have the nerve to ask what would be the distraction r-u- serious some people can even pay attention to the road even when they do not have cell phones and u ask what the distraction would be.
Well let me put it this way my state of New Jersey,also has that law n if I got hit because someone was on a cell phone n I or a member of my family got hurt because of that person violating the law I would sue them for everything they got does that answer it for u!

Answer 8

I agree with you, it's not about one-handed driving...it's about a small group of people who can't drive well giving 100% of their attention to the road...trying to do two things at once.

Part 2: No, this law won't solve the problem. Getting bad drivers off the road will solve the problem.

Answer 9

cmon, haven't you ever been behind someone who's going 15 MPH less than traffic or makes a bonehead turn or cross into another lane without signaling and almost rams into you?? People get stupid behind the wheel when talking on the phone.
Only some people are ok when they are talking. It will be a little better when it's all hands free, but not a lot better

Answer 10

You are probably correct. Because many other distractions cause just as many ,or more accidents than the cell phone,. Such as Fiddling with the stero knobs, eating, children or pets, all are major distractions, but how do we fix these problems?