Group Calls for Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving

As I've stated before in another thread about cell phones, I have no problem with hands-free devices. They are no more distracting than talking with a passenger or listening to the radio.

I still think the biggest distraction in driving is having kids in the back seat. My two were well behaved, but only because I remained alert as to what was going on back there. But I've ridden in vehicles with kids fussing and fighting. I don't hesitate to step in to settle 'em down, but heaven knows what she does when she's alone with them in the car...

 

Two words... Duct Tape...

 

I swear, some of these kids would probably gnaw through it...
I rode with one friend only one time. She had her two kids in the back seat and I swear she spent more time facing the back than forward. Scared the bejesus outta me. She was all over the road. I talked to her about it afterward, but she just brushed me off saying that's the way it always is.

Her kids pretty much ran the family. She and I have lost touch, but I often wonder what her kids are like now -- ten years later.

 

Hay Rat,
I agree with you !
Anything to make the trek behind an 18 Wheeler a bit safer and less stressful when some "Jawjackinglippedphoner" is cutting in front of you at 68 to 70 mph, in traffic on the pike or over a bridge.

 

In my opinion, hands-free device only while driving should be the law for everyone. It's simply a matter of safety for everyone on the road.

 

I hear they want to ban cb radio's as well!

 

Don't bother. All it does is transfer your usage to the CB so you still have to use the CB instead of the phone or headset. The new law in California prohibits the use of any cellular use other than through a hands free device while driving negating the CB but oddly enough you can still use the CB when not in cellular mode. I just use that blue tooth cobra for spare parts now. It drove me crazy anyway. Always interrupting the CB so I can't hear important info on it while talking through it on the phone. I just use a regular blue tooth headset now (not the ####roach looking kind but the Blue Parrot so I can be heard and people don't think I'm talking to myself which I do anyway). Still looking into systems that make the CB completely hands free outside the 2 way department as well.

 

It is not only the 4 wheelers it is also alot of truck drivers. I have dang near been run off the road by drivers with the phone stuck to their ear and even some that were talking on a bluetooth. You can see them yacking and not paying attention to the fact that they are drifting well into your lane and forcing you onto the shoulder.

So ven hands free devises are not the best option. I use my Blue Parrot very seldom unless the boss or someone keeps calling and calling and calling till I answer. I will answer and tell them I will call them right back after I get pulled over in a safe spot to call them.

Statistics say that talking on the phone with a hands free devise is about the same as driving with a blood alcohol level and .02 to .03. Talking on one without hands free is about the same as driving with a blood alcohol level or more then .04.

So basically it is the same as driving while intoxicated.

I am not going to go into text messaging while driving because that is about like driving with your eyes closed have the time since you have to be looking at the phone to do it.

 

Honestly, the one problem I have seen is when I'm talking to the girlfriend in a very serious convo (which happens only when I'm in the doghouse). I can't says she's directly responsible for me missing an exit, but at least I can recognize that I have done so and find a way to safely get back to where I'm supposed to be going. Other than that my driving while talking is no different (make all the jokes you want lol). However, I don't think that talking on a hands-free is the equivalent of a blood alcohol level of about .025 (technically that's just my opinion though).

I can't tell you how many times I've seen trucks driving all over the place then catching up to them and seeing the driver sideways in their truck (back to the driverside window) with a cell glued to their ear and then promptly decided to got the 'ell down the road a ways and let others behind know to watch out.

 

I don't have to worry about California, I'm on a dedicated midwest route.

How well did the Cobra BT work for talking on the phone? Was it as clear and easy to hear as a headset?