Using a cellphone in a car..should or should not be permitted???

Question

Why?? supportting details!!

Answer 1

Hi Courtney. I see you are a new user. Welcome to Yahoo Answers!

You question is common enough on this site, but it's still a fair question that always gets people to offer many opinions. Let me be one of the few who will actually argue the case against cell phone laws. (Bear with me, there is quite a bit to say.)

The problem with cell phones is too many people have the things anymore! There are also a lot of "bad drivers" on the road as well. So with cell phone use at an all time high, the problem becomes that you see bad driving, so you look; and sure enough you may well see a cell phone! The natural tendency is to blame the phone for the bad driving. Me personally? I'd blame the driver! I also see plenty of people driving just fine and take a second look and see a cell phone there too.

Confession time! I will admit that I have been driving for over 20 years and have had a cell phone in my car since they were installed as briefcased sized units under the seat. I have never been involved in an accident. (Knock wood.) I work in fire protection and having the ability to take emergency calls is critical to my business. Before cell phones came around, we had dispatch radios in many of our vehicles. I have enough common sense not to use the thing in heavy traffic and try to keep the use to a minimum while the wheels are turning. If it's that much of an emercency, I will pull off the road in a safe manner to have the discussion. Chances are I may need to write something down and that CAN be risky while driving! All that being said, I really don't think I'm that much of a threat talking on the phone while rolling down the interstate anymore that I would be talking to a passenger in the car.

Do we penalize good drivers for the idiot who probably can't walk and chew gum at the same time?

And to all those that make the argument that a hand's free device is better (one of those bluetooth things stuck in your ear...), last I checked, aren't headphones also illegal while driving? How is that device really any different from an MP3 player headphone stuck in one ear? Which is actually illegal in most states. If you really want to go "hands free" I think one of those things that plays the call through your radio speakers might be a better option.

How about those that "text message" on their phones while driving? Some teenager texting on their phone while rolling down the road behind the driver's seat is a threat to us all. But where do we draw the lines? Would age limit restrictions work? How about 25? Yet, is that fair to the 24 year old who uses his phone only in light traffic and never texts? And what devices do we ban along with the phone? Blackberries too? Laptops? If we ban those things, then what's next? CB Radios? On-Star? GPS devices? Radios? Go ahead, legislate everything, before long it will be illegal to be seen talking to a passenger.

It's really this simple. A driver who is weaving over the lines on the road, not signaling, or otherwise driving recklessly and irresponsibly needs to be pulled over and cited, cell phone or not. A law enforcement officer shouldn't have to have a "cell phone" law to cite drivers who are driving like that even IF they were talking on the phone while doing it, and last I checked, they didn't!

I'm for enforcing the laws on the books, not passing a slew of new "common sense" laws.

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Anwyay, that's my take. Don't forget to come back and read all of your responces and take the time to pick a best answer. Community voting isn't that much fun!

Answer 2

ahah this is a funny question it shouldn't be permitted it isn't here in Australia. It is dangerous as it takes your attention away from driving as you are focusing on the phone call and what you are talking about to the person on the phone. It also means that you maybe looking around the car to find a specific document which you need to continue you conversation. PLEASE PULL OVER !!! It could save yours and other lives its nothing to pull over for 5 or 10 mins

Answer 3

I feel that once and awhile talking on the cell phone is not a problem, but I do have a huge problem with texting while on cell phones. I feel that it's totally distracting and have heard of several accidents right in our area, that were caused while driving and texting. There should be some kinds of laws against it, but not sure how they'd go about enforcing them.

Answer 4

Using a hands-free headset is OK to use, but there are many people who aren't talented enough to multi-task so there is still a problem with them paying more attention to their conversation than the road and what's happening there. Years ago we all left our homes with the phones inside and did our errands without having to talk on the phone. Why is it so important now to constantly be on the phone???

Answer 5

No way. Most people are barely capable drivers. That's being real generous too.

Add a phone, a cup of coffee, and and argument and it's all over. They drive like they are drunk.

Don't get me going on texting while driving. That should be called committing suicide.

Answer 6

Yes, it should be permitted, and drivers should be taught how to keep their $&*(%) attention on the road, and explain that to the caller. In turn, callers need to accept only getting a fraction of the driver's attention.

The cops have enough to do without having to try to see if someone is talking on a cell phone (how would they tell with hands-free devices? Should police cars be outfitted with signal monitoring equipment?)

Prior to cell phones, there were plenty of people on the road who knew how to converse on a radio without piling their cars/trucks up on other cars/objects, they are called "public saftety officers" - i.e. cops, firemen; and also anyone who had a radio in his/her car/truck, such as plumbers, salesmen, cab drivers, ham radio operators, etc.

Proper use of the cell phone can be taught, and while they're at it, also teach proper use of a car stereos, hamburgers, softdrinks, coffee, ice cream, etc. Those things cause as much distraction as cell phones, but you don't see people trying to outlaw them!

Answer 7

Not while driving...It draws too much attention away from the task at hand....driving. I have witnessed too many accidents caused from inattention. Have a passenger make the call or pull off the road.

Answer 8

SHOULD NOT use while driving unless an emergancy..........

The concentration should be on driving not socializing.......

Many people are killed and or injured by cell phone use....its attention or i should say lack of attention is almost as one being Drunk....your perceptions are misjudged.....thus causing accidents.........

STAY OFF THE PHONE..
IF ITS THAT IMPORTANT TO TALK
THEN GO HOME AND DO IT !!!!!!!
BEFORE YOU KILL THE REST OF US PLEASE !!

Answer 9

i do it sometimes but if i had to say yes or no i would have to say no only because i have almost got in accidents when on mine while driving but if it were the law i wouldn't use it in the car!

Answer 10

They should not be used when driving. That is just crazy.