Agreed – The time spent and the degree of distraction on the cell phone is significantly greater than the time spent in adjusting the radio or heat, although those, too, are distrations. Wish I had seen the Drunk Driver – Cell Phone Driver comparison. I have no doubt they were equally abysmal. Maine is making a first step. The problem is the message is it’s okay for people over 18, not under 18, creating a perception that it’s just a matter of experience. I’ve had mature drivers trying to buy auto insurance from me while driving – trying to reach for their registration or license, at which point I tell them to pull off the road to continue the conversation or call me back. I explain I do not want to live with the sound of their auto crash replaying in my dreams. All states should ban all cell phone usage for all drivers. Hand free, included.
PLJ: While I agree that you can’t trust human beings to obey anything, I don’t think it reasonable to just let people get away with everything because our society and legal system has failed to find a deterrent. I ride a commuter bus from New Jersey into Manhattan. In spite of clearly posted signs that cell phone use should be for emergencies only, and requests to respect the space of other commuters, there are always a few jackasses that insist on talking the whole commute. My solution would be to throw them off the bus, or confiscate their phone. But who would ever support such draconian measures? Therein lies the problem. Our society lacks the fortitude to enforce anything. With every right, there used to be a responsibility. This concept has eroded over time. I think it’s a sad commentary that law abiding people will continue to suffer due to the arrogance and irresponsibility of a few morons.
If we wanted to get serious about protecting the public and banning phones while driving, here’s a thought. Give the violation a serious consequence. Like having personal automobile liability policies exclude coverage if use of a cell phone is a factor in an accident. Or, a mandatory 3 year license suspension. But we all know our society doesn’t have the stomach for that. We’ll just have to get used to the carnage. Let’s make it “politically correct” and call it “collateral damage”.
Talking into my cell phone does not require that I take my eyes off the road. Changing settings on the AC or radio does. Also, people occasionally LOOK at passengers when they talk to them, taking their eyes off the road. And you want cops pulling people over for eating while driving? Maybe the police should be arresting business owner that hire illegals rather than someone eating a burger or telling his wife on the cell that traffic has made him late.
Why don’t you just make Castro president and we can have the govt running our entire lives instead of just our car time.
Imagine what rush hour would be like if police were pulling people over for eating and talking on the phone.
Swerve, apparently you aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around you either. Cell phone users block traffic, change lanes and pull out without any concern for traffic around them far more than any other drivers. They are so caught up in their conversations that they forget to pay attention to the world. Not all drivers, but more and more all the time live on their cell phones. I can live without mine for a few minutes and I really mean live. This is a serious problem and needs to be treated seriously. I’m sorry perfect freedom to do anything you want doesn’t exist, but it can’t because what these self-absorbed individuals do affects everyone around them.
A lot of people have memorized their AC/Heat settings and don’t have to take their eyes of the road to change them. I know how many “clicks” it is between Defrost and Vent. I know which way to turn the knob for hot or cold.
Regarding my radio, I don’t have to take my eyes off the road to use that either. I have memorized the functions of the knobs and buttons. Easy to do, I just sat in the driveway after I got the car and played with it for a moment. Same thing with the AC.
Therefore not everyone does take their eyes off the road to make adjustments to their radio or climate control settings.
There are certainly plenty of morons out there who DO jack with their iPods and XM radios while they’re driving and those fools should knock it off.
But I just wanted to let you know there are some people who can change the station without actually looking at the radio.
I think doing ANYTHING behind the wheel in addition to driving is dumb. Driving and multi-tasking don’t mix.
Whether a law is going to help the situation, I don’t know.
What do you think would make an effective deterrent from people doing bone-head things behind the wheel?
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Did anyone see the episode of Mythbusters where they compared a drunk driver and a driver on a cell phone?
It was confirmed that being on a cell phone makes one just as dangerous behind the wheel as a drunk driver.
They compared things like reaction time, consistency of speed and staying in the middle of the lane.
I realize it’s only a TV show. However, after watching BOTH drivers operate their vehicles, it was hard to tell the drunk from the talker.
Food for thought at any rate.
Agreed – The time spent and the degree of distraction on the cell phone is significantly greater than the time spent in adjusting the radio or heat, although those, too, are distrations. Wish I had seen the Drunk Driver – Cell Phone Driver comparison. I have no doubt they were equally abysmal. Maine is making a first step. The problem is the message is it’s okay for people over 18, not under 18, creating a perception that it’s just a matter of experience. I’ve had mature drivers trying to buy auto insurance from me while driving – trying to reach for their registration or license, at which point I tell them to pull off the road to continue the conversation or call me back. I explain I do not want to live with the sound of their auto crash replaying in my dreams. All states should ban all cell phone usage for all drivers. Hand free, included.
PLJ: While I agree that you can’t trust human beings to obey anything, I don’t think it reasonable to just let people get away with everything because our society and legal system has failed to find a deterrent. I ride a commuter bus from New Jersey into Manhattan. In spite of clearly posted signs that cell phone use should be for emergencies only, and requests to respect the space of other commuters, there are always a few jackasses that insist on talking the whole commute. My solution would be to throw them off the bus, or confiscate their phone. But who would ever support such draconian measures? Therein lies the problem. Our society lacks the fortitude to enforce anything. With every right, there used to be a responsibility. This concept has eroded over time. I think it’s a sad commentary that law abiding people will continue to suffer due to the arrogance and irresponsibility of a few morons.
If we wanted to get serious about protecting the public and banning phones while driving, here’s a thought. Give the violation a serious consequence. Like having personal automobile liability policies exclude coverage if use of a cell phone is a factor in an accident. Or, a mandatory 3 year license suspension. But we all know our society doesn’t have the stomach for that. We’ll just have to get used to the carnage. Let’s make it “politically correct” and call it “collateral damage”.
Talking into my cell phone does not require that I take my eyes off the road. Changing settings on the AC or radio does. Also, people occasionally LOOK at passengers when they talk to them, taking their eyes off the road. And you want cops pulling people over for eating while driving? Maybe the police should be arresting business owner that hire illegals rather than someone eating a burger or telling his wife on the cell that traffic has made him late.
Why don’t you just make Castro president and we can have the govt running our entire lives instead of just our car time.
Imagine what rush hour would be like if police were pulling people over for eating and talking on the phone.
Swerve, apparently you aren’t paying attention to what’s going on around you either. Cell phone users block traffic, change lanes and pull out without any concern for traffic around them far more than any other drivers. They are so caught up in their conversations that they forget to pay attention to the world. Not all drivers, but more and more all the time live on their cell phones. I can live without mine for a few minutes and I really mean live. This is a serious problem and needs to be treated seriously. I’m sorry perfect freedom to do anything you want doesn’t exist, but it can’t because what these self-absorbed individuals do affects everyone around them.
Bill,
I agree with you fully and well written statement hopefully one of our government officials reads our concerns.
Be well!
Swerve,
A lot of people have memorized their AC/Heat settings and don’t have to take their eyes of the road to change them. I know how many “clicks” it is between Defrost and Vent. I know which way to turn the knob for hot or cold.
Regarding my radio, I don’t have to take my eyes off the road to use that either. I have memorized the functions of the knobs and buttons. Easy to do, I just sat in the driveway after I got the car and played with it for a moment. Same thing with the AC.
Therefore not everyone does take their eyes off the road to make adjustments to their radio or climate control settings.
There are certainly plenty of morons out there who DO jack with their iPods and XM radios while they’re driving and those fools should knock it off.
But I just wanted to let you know there are some people who can change the station without actually looking at the radio.
I think doing ANYTHING behind the wheel in addition to driving is dumb. Driving and multi-tasking don’t mix.
Whether a law is going to help the situation, I don’t know.
What do you think would make an effective deterrent from people doing bone-head things behind the wheel?