cell phones and driving

im not shure if this is ware i put this but o well what do you guys think about driving and talking on the cell phone personally i think its bad a person in my passerger seat was talking on the cell phone and was creating a big distraction and if it was me talkin it would be a huge distraction well whats your opinion

I don't have a cell-phone. I see people my age and older who just cannot seem to multitask very well. I've had to swerve out of the way on a 2-lane road because some horses-a$$ was talking on his cellphone. In MN, it is illegal for someone under 18 to talk and drive at the same time. I think its a damn good law too.

In NY it's illegal to talk and drive unless you use a hands free device. Unfortunately it goes over looked like The seatbelt law and the lights on while wipers on laws.

in the uk, it is technically illegal to be driving and talking on the phone without a handsfree kit (or car kit).
technically, you aren't even supposed to handle the phone unless it is to press a button to answer a call.

i didnt know that i live in canada im trying to get info for a speech on cellphones and cars

As said above, it's illegal in NY, and for the most part I think it's a great idea.

To anyone who thinks they can drive just as good while talking on the phone I ask this. If your son / daughter or loved one accidentally walks in front of a moving vehicle, which would you prefer; the driver of that car having both hands on the wheel and no phone, or the same driver yacking it up on the phone with only one hand on the wheel? It seems like a no brainer to me. The worst offenders actually talk on the phone with one hand, and smoke with the other. I see this quite often and just stay far away from them.

There is a reason race car drivers use both hands. It's because it gives them better control of the vehicle. This also holds true on the streets, except the streets are much more dangerous than any race track.

i never looked at it that way also this is really good stuff im putting this stuff on my speech keep up the good work i got about 2 weeks left to write this and outa all the info out their this is the best because your asking driver the people most at risk

The U.S. Department of Defense recently made it illegal to use cell phones (handsfree OK) while driving on any military base and are enforcing the two hands rule. Not fun going before a US Magistrate and the citation is not cheap either.

In NY it's illegal to talk and drive unless you use a hands free device. Unfortunately it goes over looked like The seatbelt law and the lights on while wipers on laws.
I agree on the lax enforcement of the laws concerning cell phone use and headlights on while wipers are on, however, here in Syracuse and other parts of NY state, tickets issued for failure to use seatbelts are steadily increasing. When the police set up traffic roadblocks to check for expired inspection, registration, and seatbelt use, they incorporate the use of "spotters". These "spotters" are other police stationed out of sight a short distance from the roadblock. Their job is to watch the vehicles in line before the roadblock to see who is trying to fasten their seat belt or trying to avoid the police by turning around.If they spot someone in line trying to fasten their belts before they get to the front of the roadblock, they radio ahead to the police staffing the roadblock, the vehicle's description and offense. The use of these "spotters" has increased the number of citations issued for failure to use safety belts.
I don't know what's worse though, innattentive drivers on cell phones, or innattentive pedestrians on cell phones. I can't tell you how many times I nearly hit someone or witnessed another driver have a close call with a pedestrian who "cuts" in front of them between parked cars, or enters a crosswalk against the light. These people are so engrossed in their conversations, they pay no attention to their surroundings, and put others in danger. Same thing goes in parking lots. You see people walking all over talking like the cell phone is glued to their ear and nothing else matters. Then they get bent all out of shape when you blow your horn at them to warn them. Just my:2cents:

I don't think it should be illegal, just because some people can't talk and drive at the same time doesn't mean all of us should be punished because of them.

But if someone does cause an accident because they were blabbing on their phone, they should be punished severely.

While I think there are some drivers can pull of the simultaneous talking on cell phone while driving, many can't but still try. A good friend of mine's father was hit in his brand new Avalon by a driver on the phone that ran a stop light. I would never do it. Many European countries have outlawed it. When you are behind the wheel, your only job is to be driving, everything else is secondary. Anything that hinders your ability to drive should be discouraged.

One thing i like about down here is that if you are in accident and you where on your cell during it then you are automatically at fault. While this is bad for the person on the phone its a good way to keep people from using them while there driving. Im distracted pretty easily but i have a friend who would get into arguments with his girl while i was driving not that big of a distraction cause i tune it out. Ive seen bigger distractions, girls doing make up, people arguing, rubber necking(if you want to look pull over otherwise just drive).

One thing i will add though is that these people with loud ass sound systems blasting them are more of a distraction granted i have a setup thats pretty damn loud in my blazer i dont drive around blasting it till my ears bleed because when i was back in school i couldnt hear the sirens behind me until i looked up in the rear view to see a cop with his lights flashing behind me. He wasnt going anywhere important he was just going to 7eleven for some reason.

To anyone who thinks they can drive just as good while talking on the phone I ask this. If your son / daughter or loved one accidentally walks in front of a moving vehicle, which would you prefer; the driver of that car having both hands on the wheel and no phone, or the same driver yacking it up on the phone with only one hand on the wheel? It seems like a no brainer to me. The worst offenders actually talk on the phone with one hand, and smoke with the other. I see this quite often and just stay far away from them.

There is a reason race car drivers use both hands. It's because it gives them better control of the vehicle. This also holds true on the streets, except the streets are much more dangerous than any race track.



i drive with 1 hand and im ok...i think anyone with a manuel trans drives with one hand...nice one..

I honestly don't see the difference between cell phone usage and speaking to a passenger or using your radio. Are they going to ban car radios next? :shakehead


don't get me wrong i'm not saying it doesn't affect your driving, but I just feel like its pinpointing one thing while allowing others that people would openly voice their discontent about being banned (radio, speaking ot passenger). It should somehow just be up to the discretion of a ticketing officer.

I live in the Syracuse NY area, and I have seen sevreal incidents where many people aren't wearing seatbelts. This violation doesn't bother me as much as the other two do unless it involves children.

hell i used to never weear a seatbelt till my mom got a new 2005 freestar that makes a beeping noise if u dont so wen i riding in that i have to
ps: i ride with my mom because im only 15 and yes i do have my own car but cant drive it alone

Good for you i hope you have enough sense to wear a seat belt when you drive by yourself. Damn things have saved my life twice and i dont go anywhere without wearing a seatbelt. To the comment on the 5 speed i like the comparison there i have seen a guy drive a 5 speed while on a cell and smoking a cigarette. That took some skill.

you know what iv realized this is a really touchey issue i never thought id get this much info thanks guys keep up the good work also iv seen somone chattin on their phone driving manual had a pop between their legs eating smoking and driving horid now thats bad
ps: il post my essay here when im done see if you like the finished product

When I am driving I either ignore the phone or pull over to answer it (never call someone while driving).

Worst thing I ever saw was some guy reading a newspaper on the freeway though. That was just idiotic.

lol now thats dumb and i kno thats illegal

I think its the " dialling the number" while driving that's dangerouse.

I think its the " dialling the number" while driving that's dangerouse.
And phones with voice dialing is not any better.
Because the phone cannot recognize the name or mis-recognize which results more time not paying attention to the road.

I personally believe that every state has to ban cell phone while driving, unless using handsfree(Well, it still distracts but at least both hands are on the steering). I still remember that Escalade's driver holding her phone on her hand and a cigarette on the other one while trying to shut the kids up at the back and about to cut into my lane...

One concern about the 2 hands on steering thing though is that I use one hand on the steering and the other on the shifter when driving my 7, and I believe most people drives manual like that, what should I do about it?

The only thing worse than talking on the phone while driving, is text messaging while driving. I've seen so many people do that!


One concern about the 2 hands on steering thing though is that I use one hand on the steering and the other on the shifter when driving my 7, and I believe most people drives manual like that, what should I do about it?

There's a difference to driving 1 handed with a manual, and driving 1 handed on a cell phone. When you're shifting gears, you are paying the most attention to your car/driving (i.e. when to shift, clutch, downshift). When on the phone, your mind can wander elswehere very easily.

I dont think they should ban it. Some people just cant multitask SIMPLE as that. I can txt/talk on the phone while im driving with no problems. Txt'ing isnt hard at all. As long as you dont have to look down every 2 seconds to see if you spelled something right then go ahead. Its the people that cant multitask that mess everything up. Just because you cant talk and drive doesnt mean i cant.

I dont think they should ban it. Some people just cant multitask SIMPLE as that. I can txt/talk on the phone while im driving with no problems. Txt'ing isnt hard at all. As long as you dont have to look down every 2 seconds to see if you spelled something right then go ahead. Its the people that cant multitask that mess everything up. Just because you cant talk and drive doesnt mean i cant.


That's like saying that drinking and driving shouldn't be illegal. Just because you get into a wreck, doesn't mean I will.

ok heres my long awaited speech that iv been working so hard on

cell phones and driving is a dangerous mix

with over 130 million cellular phone
subscriptiptions in north america
and an estmated 60% of phone use
happening on the roads. studies
show that cell phones are more
distracting than radio this is
partly because you get more
distracted talking to somone
and trying to keep a conversation
going while driving.


did you know that using a cellular phone
while driving not only doubles but quadrouples
the risk of collision on the roads!
in europe they have much more strict laws
towards cellular phone use in cars.
in north america we basically have total freedome
over using cellular phones in cars.
if you dont use your cellular phone while driving
well good for you.

but your still not safe maby somone has taken
their eyes off the road to punch in a phone number
on their phone and they might not notice you crossing
the street and they end up hitting you. so if you see
somone talking on their phone while driving tell them
to hang up and drive. in 2003 newyork was one
of the 1st places in north america to do anything
about cellular phone use in cars they passed
a law stating that people talking on their phones
must use a hands free divice also knows as a
car kit. unfourtunatly this law is over looked like
the seat belt law. but it has been proven
that most cellular phone related acidents
happened when the driverwas dialing the number.


unfourtnally their are people that dont only talk on thier
phone and drive their are people that talk on their phones
and smoke at the same time. when your talking on a cellphone
you miss so many things. for example your reaction time
slows down. or you might be distracted by talkin on your phone
and not notice that your speeding or even worse you might run
of the road.

if you ever decide to have kids think of this.
if your kid got in the way of a moving vehicle who would you
perfer to be driving? the person with bolth hands firmly
on the wheel completly undistracted. or the other person
yacking away on their phone completly distracted with
one hand losely on the wheel.


their are many things that cause acidents the cellular phone
is one of them.
hope you like it post what ya think

Not bad. I like how you opened with some figures. Maybe you can add a few more. The second to the last paragraph sounds familiar! :wink:

Let us know what grade you get.

ya i used some of ur stuff because i can but i had to make awhole speech and i dont kno my grade on it yet tho

Full blown headlights on during rain is not necessary. We've got some dorkishly overbright headlights out there waiting to distract you so you won't see that kid running across the street. The best thing to use is your marker lights.




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You can add to your report, that talking on your phone was the equivalent to driving drunk, when it comes to reaction times. I"m not sure where I read this before, it's been a while. But studies showed that talking on cell phones was just as risky as driving drunk. The numbers were basically identical. If I can find the article I'll let you know, but I think it was in the newspaper a couple years ago.

I think its the " dialling the number" while driving that's dangerouse.

No, it's the talking that is dangerous. Because of that reason allowing talking with a handsfree isn't better than allowing talking directly with the phone in hand. Age or how long the driver may have had his/her license has no effect.

Basically driving and talking is the same as watching TV and read a book on the same time, there is no way that you can be focused at both on the same time. However, when driving you may end up causing an accident.

A Swedish report on the subject can be found on the following link. Summary in english at pages 45-47.

http://www.vv.se/filer/27923/VV%20mbl%20slutrapport%202003%20(1.03).pdf

Thats terribly pathetic that talking on a phone while driving is compared to drunk driving. They are in no way the same at all. If a cell phone distracts you that much you need help. Its not hard to pay attention to the road.

ya i disagree about cellphones equaling drunk driving i dont reccomend either of them while driving but id rather be on a phone than drunk while driving and about adding it to my report well iv already presented it and im waiting for my mark

The reason laws are so lax on phones nation wide is that statistically accidents caused by cell phone use are very low, then again how many people in an acc. will admit to being on the phone. I personaly think it should be against the law. It is comparible to drunk driving, but not as extreme, it slows reaction time but does not hinder your decision making capabilities. For those that think it is the same as talking to a passenger, think again. When you talk to a pass. their voice is blended in with all other sounds around and the mind naturally processes those sounds together, when you are are the phone, that voice is direct to your ear and overpowers other sounds. The brain naturally gives that hearing and thought process priority. When that happens all other activity comes as second place priority, and as such you do not notice and react to situations the way you normally would. Everything else becomes somewhat of a blur. If you don't believe it, think of how many times you past your turn while on the phone, or remember what kind of cars you passed. So much of driving has become second nature that we can do it easily while doing something else, but when reaction is needed, that is not habit and needs a quick reaction time. I have noticed it myself on the phone, which is why I only use speaker phone now. Just think about when you are in a conversation at home on the phone and somebody else is trying to talk to you, how distracting that is. I know what I would feel like if I injured or killed someone because I made a mistake because I was on the phone. There is not a call that is worth that. One more thing to think about is liability. If you cause injury or death to someone because of negligence, accident or not, you are responsible. It will change your life in a blink of an eye, possably prison. Is that worth a phone call?

Well I make brief calls to my friends like "Well I'm traveling on blah road and you want me to pick you up." I have a tracphone so it would cost me a fortune to carry out long conversations. I live in a sparcely populated area so it's not that big of a deal.

i finally got my mark back i gota 50% o well better luck next time

Did you know that there are more accidents caused by people looking at billboards then there are by cellphones. Its just that certain things get amplified, the same thing with pitbulls, there are way more dog attacts by other breeds of dog they just choose to target 1 type of dog. Same thing with SUV's they say there not safer becuase their easier to roll over, but the problem isnt with the vehicles its with the idiots that drive them. I'm not saying that cellphones arent a problem their just a little blown out of proportion.

Did you know that there are more accidents caused by people looking at billboards then there are by cellphones. Its just that certain things get amplified, the same thing with pitbulls, there are way more dog attacts by other breeds of dog they just choose to target 1 type of dog. Same thing with SUV's they say there not safer becuase their easier to roll over, but the problem isnt with the vehicles its with the idiots that drive them. I'm not saying that cellphones arent a problem their just a little blown out of proportion. I think you need to do your homework. Yes, statistically cell phones cause few wrecks, but how many people who cause accidents actually admit they are at fault and tell the truth. As far as pitbulls,( and I have owned my share) It is not the amount of attacks that is the concern, it is the viciousness. Up until a couple years ago, they caused more deaths by attack than any other dog, now it is the rot. Even if a mini poodle had more attacks, they certainly aren't going to kill someone. And yes, pitbulls did have more attacks on humans than any other breed. As far as SUV's, they do have a higher center of grvity and will roll easier than a sedan, that is pretty obvious to anyone with more than one brain cell. But the actual concern with them is not so much with the roll over rate, but it is the damage that is cased to other people and vehicles when they get into an accident, that has nothing to do with idiot drivers. Full sized pick-ups are linked into this category also. My opinion on this is every time a person gets on the road, there is a chance for injury, they have a choice on what vehicle to buy. I need my full sized truck for it's work capabilities, if they are woried about getting crushed then they should get something bigger, don't try to take away the larger vehicles to appease those with smaller ones. Now the reason cell phones are on the chopping block now, as you said, there is a problem, but it's blown out of proportion. Our society is so anal about fixing a potential problem before it gets bad. If they wait, and many people find a way to sue someone because of a cell phone causing an acc., then they will say "why was there no law against them in the fiirst place?" That is why it is such an issue now, they want to stop it before people get killed.

i talk and drive all the time and it doesn't really affect my driving...on mythbusters they "proved" that talking on a cell phone is like driving drunk...i think that's a pile of crap.

i talk and drive all the time and it doesn't really affect my driving...on mythbusters they "proved" that talking on a cell phone is like driving drunk...i think that's a pile of crap.


I hoenstly dont think thats something you can prove. Its like saying 1 beer will get EVERYONE drunk. No. It wont. Its different for everyone. Some people are just morons and shouldnt be allowed to multitask, EVER.

I hoenstly dont think thats something you can prove. Its like saying 1 beer will get EVERYONE drunk. No. It wont. Its different for everyone. Some people are just morons and shouldnt be allowed to multitask, EVER.

agreed

Well I just got rear ended from someone who was looking at a cop sitting there. The cop saw the accident so it's all good. I was just sitting there wiating in traffic.