Ban Cellphones While Driving?

[Rowdy]

Oklahoma City (AP) - People who use cell phones while driving could face jail and a fine under legislation being proposed by state Representative Paul Wesselhoft.

The bill calls for 20 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone who has an auto accident that's caused by using a cell phone.

School bus drivers would be fined $1,000 if caught using a cell phone while driving a bus. And anyone with a learner's permit would face a $500 fine for using a cell phone while driving.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office says about one-fourth of all auto accidents in the state occurred while the driver was talking on a cell phone.

The legislation would be named after Brittanie Montgomery who was a New Orleans Hornets cheerleader killed in an auto accident last December while she was text messaging on her cell phone.

I agree that something should be done, but 20 days in jail is a bit too stiff of a sentence I think.

[cannon_fodder]

I think any jail time, loss of liberty, is excessive for communicating while driving.  Studies have shown a person is just as distracted when speaking to a passenger as when talking on the cell phone.  It isnt the phone that's the problem, its the interaction.

Unless we are talking about dialing/texting while driving.  Clearly that posses an additional hazard as your eyes are not on the road and/or hands on the wheel.  

Furthermore, correlation does not equal causation.  Just because 25% of the people were on a cell phone when they got into an accident does not mean 25% were CAUSED by cell phones.  What percent of the driving population is on a cell phone - it would not surprise me if it approached the 25% mark.

If you want to talk about causation, lets see what this bill does for lying about talking on a cell phone.  Who is going to prove that I was on a cell phone when I crashed?  The person I ran into - then they should have been watching the road and not me talking on the phone.  

The law is foolish, without adequate foundation, and cannot be readily enforced.

[Conan71]

How about a law addressing general stupidity while driving.

When did they quit putting functioning turn signals on BMW's and Benz's?

[dbacks fan]

Speaking of texting and driving......


http://www.azcentral.com/community/peoria/articles/0815fatal0815.html

[PreserveSouthTulsa.com]

That's OK if they fine us for causing an accident while using a cell phone.  However, nobody, I mean NOBODY, will stop me from reading the paper while driving to work.  I have perfected my technique.  However, it gets a little tricky when I have to answer my phone. []

[YoungTulsan]

My favorite thing is eating a subway sandwich while driving.  A big one of course, that requires two hands and special attention to make sure I dont drop any of that shredded lettuce or mayonaise all over myself.

[PreserveSouthTulsa.com]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

My favorite thing is eating a subway sandwich while driving.  A big one of course, that requires two hands and special attention to make sure I dont drop any of that shredded lettuce or mayonaise all over myself.

I just lay my newspaper down on my lap when I'm finished...a perfect napkin!

[Rowdy]

Im going to open up a driving school for those people who want to learn how to drive a slalom course by utilizing their legs only.

You can get a lot done in the car if you take my course.

[deinstein]

No.

[Wilbur]

quote:Originally posted by Rowdy

Oklahoma City (AP) - People who use cell phones while driving could face jail and a fine under legislation being proposed by state Representative Paul Wesselhoft.

The bill calls for 20 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone who has an auto accident that's caused by using a cell phone.

School bus drivers would be fined $1,000 if caught using a cell phone while driving a bus. And anyone with a learner's permit would face a $500 fine for using a cell phone while driving.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office says about one-fourth of all auto accidents in the state occurred while the driver was talking on a cell phone.

The legislation would be named after Brittanie Montgomery who was a New Orleans Hornets cheerleader killed in an auto accident last December while she was text messaging on her cell phone.

I agree that something should be done, but 20 days in jail is a bit too stiff of a sentence I think.

A ridiculous law and one nearly impossible to prove.  How do the police conclude a cell phone was the cause of a wreck?  They don't.

Last year the legislature took away the ability of police to issue tickets for inattentive driving.  Now, you can only be issued a ticket if your inattention leads to a collision.  Although, it's a little too late then.

So, you can now read the paper, write in your journal, talk on the phone, put on makeup, eat dinner, ...... all while driving.  

Wesselhoft wants to make a difference, correct that major mistake.  We've got far worse problems then cell phones.

[tulsa1603]

They already have the power to ticket people who are driving and not paying attention.  I had a friend who got a ticket 5 years ago for "inattentive driving" because he was on his phone and drifting inside his lane.  To outright ban phones while driving?  Give me a break.

[Rowdy]

It will be the banning of cellphone use while holding it to your head but I dont see them banning cellphones altogether.  Hands-free use and bluetooth should be acceptable.

I foresee in the not too distant future all new vehicles coming with bluetooth or like technology as a standard for phone use.

[cannon_fodder]

As I stated above, the problem when TALKING on a cell phone is not the cell phone, its the talking.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/01/030129080944.htm

Dialing, texting, answering and other activities are a different story.  But those are not really helped by hands free either (most cell phones have voice dialing, as well as handhelds, so its even).

So once again, talking on cell phone with or without hands free units is equally dangerous.  Its the distraction of conversing, not the phone.

Thus, it wont help.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by PreserveSouthTulsa.com

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

My favorite thing is eating a subway sandwich while driving.  A big one of course, that requires two hands and special attention to make sure I dont drop any of that shredded lettuce or mayonaise all over myself.

I just lay my newspaper down on my lap when I'm finished...a perfect napkin!

When I was in high school, the basketball coach/driver's ed instructor lived in my neighborhood.  I would pass him going down Lewis in the mornings and there would be Coach with the sports section spread across his steering wheel while he was tooling along.  Great lesson!

[T-Town Now]

One of the reasons cell phone usage while driving is so dangerous is because many people hold them in their left hand, which reduces visibility greatly to the left side. They can't see their outside mirrors, and their peripheral vision is compromised.

Add that to being more interested in the conversation, and it's a deadly mix.

People should not use cell phones while driving. Get a hands free unit or pull over and talk.

I hope they outlaw it.