For those living NJ – you understand that subject line, those of you who don’t…well, with cost of living in the Garden State – driving penalities is no surprise. Insurance costs, gasoline, tolls and endless fines (tickets) – this just adds another link in the chain of financial weight the residents must hold. Safety – yeah, that’s the reason. More likely another cash cow they want to milk, BOHICA!
I live in PA & it isn’t any better here. Last weekend my husband & I were on a main highway. At the green light we proceeded to go straight & the person in the right lane which was a turn only lane came veering into our lane as she’s yacking on her cell phone.
It is a problem every where I’m afraid and there’s not much anyone can really do about it.
So will this snowball into ticketing drivers who are “eating” while driving? Or changing the radio station or changing CD’s while driving? Or turning around and slappin’ yo kid as you’re toolin’ down the highway? What makes cell phones more of a distraction than others I mentioned. Because it’s more visible…and you’re right…fattening up the CASH COW! Personally, I think this is ridiculous, however, if it saves one life then it would be worth it. But, technically, anything can be determined a distraction. What about billboards? I suppose they just pick & choose.
No doubt that other issues can be distractions as well and there are plenty of other items that should probably be added to the list.
But don’t get rediculous. How long is the average cell phone call? Let’s say it is 3 minutes. How long does it take to change a radio channel… 5 seconds?
Eating, putting on makeup, shaving… those are all things that would be long term distractions and should not be tolerated by the other drivers on the road (just like cell phones).
Other items like radio channels, adjusting your heat/air, etc. Be real.
There is no one, sober, more dangerous than someone using their cell phone while driving.
Easy Cure – if your in an accident or cause an accident while using a cell phone, you are considered At Fault and charged with Driving While Impaired – garnering all the same punishments as someone that has been driving drunk.
Don’t make it illegal – just make the punishment severe enough that no one will want to take the chance (which sounds reasonable until you consider how many people still drink and drive – wait, they’re drunk, certainly a sober person wouldn’t want to risk it).
It’s a choice – you don’t have to beat your kids in the car (wait til you get home); you don’t have to read the billboard; and there AIN’T NUTHIN’ so important that you can’t wait to get to safe place to use your cell phone (just people that want to look important).
I agree completely! It ain’t the 2 minute call to tell someone you’ll be late and then hang up. Some people do nothing but yack on the phone the whole time they are driving; I hate my morning commute where the passing lane is slow because some idiot is chit-chatting for 15 minutes, and when I try to pass him on the right, he speeds up! As you noted, inattention is the problem, not the cellphone; one of our neighbors went off the road because she was trying to get out a CD from a case in the backseat. I can only recall maybe one or two accidents where the drive admitted they were busy reading a billboard, or eating or putting on makeup (saw a lot of close calls for that though). I just think people ought to do one thing at a time, and since driving can be dangerous, then, if you must talk, stop the car. What did all these blabbermouths do before they had cellphones? Stop and use a payphone? You can bet the only time people stop to use a payphone was in an emergency. All other conversations could WAIT until they go home…..
As a Jersey native I know the answer to your question… It is already illegal in New Jersey. The bill passed in 2005 commonly known as “the ham sandwich bill” is our distracted driving bill which specifically makes illegal eating, shaving, putting on make-up , dressing, tieing shoes and talking on a cell phone without a hands free device.
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For those living NJ – you understand that subject line, those of you who don’t…well, with cost of living in the Garden State – driving penalities is no surprise. Insurance costs, gasoline, tolls and endless fines (tickets) – this just adds another link in the chain of financial weight the residents must hold. Safety – yeah, that’s the reason. More likely another cash cow they want to milk, BOHICA!
I live in PA & it isn’t any better here. Last weekend my husband & I were on a main highway. At the green light we proceeded to go straight & the person in the right lane which was a turn only lane came veering into our lane as she’s yacking on her cell phone.
It is a problem every where I’m afraid and there’s not much anyone can really do about it.
So will this snowball into ticketing drivers who are “eating” while driving? Or changing the radio station or changing CD’s while driving? Or turning around and slappin’ yo kid as you’re toolin’ down the highway? What makes cell phones more of a distraction than others I mentioned. Because it’s more visible…and you’re right…fattening up the CASH COW! Personally, I think this is ridiculous, however, if it saves one life then it would be worth it. But, technically, anything can be determined a distraction. What about billboards? I suppose they just pick & choose.
Ace,
No doubt that other issues can be distractions as well and there are plenty of other items that should probably be added to the list.
But don’t get rediculous. How long is the average cell phone call? Let’s say it is 3 minutes. How long does it take to change a radio channel… 5 seconds?
Eating, putting on makeup, shaving… those are all things that would be long term distractions and should not be tolerated by the other drivers on the road (just like cell phones).
Other items like radio channels, adjusting your heat/air, etc. Be real.
There is no one, sober, more dangerous than someone using their cell phone while driving.
Easy Cure – if your in an accident or cause an accident while using a cell phone, you are considered At Fault and charged with Driving While Impaired – garnering all the same punishments as someone that has been driving drunk.
Don’t make it illegal – just make the punishment severe enough that no one will want to take the chance (which sounds reasonable until you consider how many people still drink and drive – wait, they’re drunk, certainly a sober person wouldn’t want to risk it).
It’s a choice – you don’t have to beat your kids in the car (wait til you get home); you don’t have to read the billboard; and there AIN’T NUTHIN’ so important that you can’t wait to get to safe place to use your cell phone (just people that want to look important).
I agree completely! It ain’t the 2 minute call to tell someone you’ll be late and then hang up. Some people do nothing but yack on the phone the whole time they are driving; I hate my morning commute where the passing lane is slow because some idiot is chit-chatting for 15 minutes, and when I try to pass him on the right, he speeds up! As you noted, inattention is the problem, not the cellphone; one of our neighbors went off the road because she was trying to get out a CD from a case in the backseat. I can only recall maybe one or two accidents where the drive admitted they were busy reading a billboard, or eating or putting on makeup (saw a lot of close calls for that though). I just think people ought to do one thing at a time, and since driving can be dangerous, then, if you must talk, stop the car. What did all these blabbermouths do before they had cellphones? Stop and use a payphone? You can bet the only time people stop to use a payphone was in an emergency. All other conversations could WAIT until they go home…..
As a Jersey native I know the answer to your question… It is already illegal in New Jersey. The bill passed in 2005 commonly known as “the ham sandwich bill” is our distracted driving bill which specifically makes illegal eating, shaving, putting on make-up , dressing, tieing shoes and talking on a cell phone without a hands free device.