NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving ‎

[Ajax]

What do you drive, a Hummer?

The only way to solve this problem is get the phone companies to lock down cell phone use when the GPS on them, which would become impossible to turn off, is moving. So if you are walking, biking, riding, flying (who uses their voice phone when flying?), the communications piece, wi-fi would not work.

If people driving along want to use their phone to play a game and drive a 2, 3, or 80 ton vehicle, well then they are just plain idiots, but let's start here and nuke all comm with a phone when it is moving.

So I'm completely incommunicado when I'm riding on a bus? 

[Ajax]

Just so nobody misunderstands me, I'm against texting and driving too.  I think it's a bad idea, and I don't need to see any figures to convince me.  It's common sense that anything that causes me to spend less than 100% of my attention on driving is less safe. 

But I'm also against giving the government another reason to poke their nose in my car.  Every problem doesn't need a new law.  And I didn't agree with George W. Bush when he said something along the lines of "when somebody hurts, government needs to do something."   

[BridgeTroll]

I certainly understand that argument... However... would you repeal seatbelt laws?    How about DUI?  Speeding?  Registration and licensing?  What about the requirement to drive on the right hand side of the road?  These are all laws and or regulations designed to save lives.

I keep hearing a ban would be unenforceable.  Clearly speeding laws are not fully enforceable either.  What do you think the percentage of speeders is that are actually caught and issued a ticket?  1%?  10%  How about DUI?  How many are actually caught vs those driving intoxicated?  1%?  10%?

I would imagine enforcement of texting/cell use while driving would be roughly the same.

[Timkin]

Just so nobody misunderstands me, I'm against texting and driving too.  I think it's a bad idea, and I don't need to see any figures to convince me.  It's common sense that anything that causes me to spend less than 100% of my attention on driving is less safe. 

But I'm also against giving the government another reason to poke their nose in my car.  Every problem doesn't need a new law.  And I didn't agree with George W. Bush when he said something along the lines of "when somebody hurts, government needs to do something."   

^^^  The government pokes their nose in most everything , whether we like it or not.

I agree with M-train's theory ..only to a degree.    If I am riding as a passenger in a car, that should not mean I cannot text. If I am riding as a passenger on a bus or any other means to where it is not up to me to maintain control of the car, then I should if I so choose be able to text or talk.   But  train is right and so is the undelying message  of the thread.. Text and Driving or talking  without hands-free and driving should never mix. period.

On the other hand ... 30+/-  years ago we made it in this world without cell phones and texting at all.    I have texted while driving and especially after seeing these vids,  pass the cell phone to my partner if driving.. or put it on silent and in the console. out of sight out of mind.

If I were ever in an accident , at fault or not and it caused serious injury or worse to another person, I don't think I could ever get over that.

[mtraininjax]

So I'm completely incommunicado when I'm riding on a bus? 

Why not pick up a book and LEARN SOMETHING NEW?

Driving in a car came first, before talking on the phone in a car. If Alexander Graham Bell had intended us to talk on a phone in a car, he would have invented it before Ford worked to perfect the car.

Get with the program people!

[duvaldude08]

I agree with 100 percent. Just in the past week, I have seen SEVERAL vehicles almost run a red light and cause an accident. Each one of them were ON A CELL PHONE. They were distracted, had to slam on breaks and back up because they were in the middle of the streets. They had no idea that the light was red. It happens on 95 too. One morning this truck was driving SO slow and weaving in and out of lanes. He was on his cell phone. 

[BridgeTroll]

http://www.youtube.com/v/HSZ7BiL5pQY

[Ajax]

I certainly understand that argument... However... would you repeal seatbelt laws?    How about DUI?  Speeding?  Registration and licensing?  What about the requirement to drive on the right hand side of the road?  These are all laws and or regulations designed to save lives.

I keep hearing a ban would be unenforceable.  Clearly speeding laws are not fully enforceable either.  What do you think the percentage of speeders is that are actually caught and issued a ticket?  1%?  10%  How about DUI?  How many are actually caught vs those driving intoxicated?  1%?  10%?

I would imagine enforcement of texting/cell use while driving would be roughly the same.

I'm not talking here about repealing any laws.  I'm just against passing bad laws - especially knee-jerk laws.  I see the need for registration and licensing, driving on the right side of the road, etc. 

I probably would have been against the seat belt laws at the time they were passed from a personal liberty standpoint.  I agree that they've saved countless lives and you're not going to see me protesting on the side of the road holding a sign asking that those laws be repealed. 

I don't think that the speeding laws are in place entirely to save lives.  They're a great money-maker for local governments.  Why do you think it's against the law to flash your lights to oncoming motorists when you see a trooper hiding on the side of the road?  If it was about safety, the police would love it if people flashed their lights because it causes oncoming traffic to slow down. 

At least the enforcement of speeding laws don't require unnecessary search. 

Why do you think our current distracted/reckless driving laws are inadequate? 

[Ajax]

The government pokes their nose in most everything , whether we like it or not.

So we shouldn't speak out about it? 

[Ajax]

So I'm completely incommunicado when I'm riding on a bus? 

Why not pick up a book and LEARN SOMETHING NEW?

Driving in a car came first, before talking on the phone in a car. If Alexander Graham Bell had intended us to talk on a phone in a car, he would have invented it before Ford worked to perfect the car.

Get with the program people!

Thanks for the suggestion.  Maybe you could tell me what book I should read, too.  Are you implying that I can't learn something new on the internet? 

Thanks for the Bell joke though - at least you made me laugh after you yelled at me. 

[Ajax]

The government pokes their nose in most everything , whether we like it or not.

So we shouldn't speak out about it?

I'm not trying to single your out Timkin, but this line of thinking is so pervasive that it makes me think Bush and Cheney were evil geniuses for ramming the Patriot Act through. 

[BridgeTroll]

I certainly understand that argument... However... would you repeal seatbelt laws?    How about DUI?  Speeding?  Registration and licensing?  What about the requirement to drive on the right hand side of the road?  These are all laws and or regulations designed to save lives.

I keep hearing a ban would be unenforceable.  Clearly speeding laws are not fully enforceable either.  What do you think the percentage of speeders is that are actually caught and issued a ticket?  1%?  10%  How about DUI?  How many are actually caught vs those driving intoxicated?  1%?  10%?

I would imagine enforcement of texting/cell use while driving would be roughly the same.

I probably would have been against the seat belt laws at the time they were passed from a personal liberty standpoint.  I agree that they've saved countless lives and you're not going to see me protesting on the side of the road holding a sign asking that those laws be repealed. 

That certainly was an argument at the time... you know... the "What right does the government have to require me to wear a seatbelt" argument.  I guess the best argument against THAT argument is driving a motor vehicle is NOT a right.

[mtraininjax]

at least you made me laugh after you yelled at me. 

So sorry if you feel I yelled at you, by the way, how does one YELL WITHOUT CAPITALIZING? Just out of curious, hopeful that I may learn something new today, too!

[Ajax]

at least you made me laugh after you yelled at me. 

So sorry if you feel I yelled at you, by the way, how does one YELL WITHOUT CAPITALIZING? Just out of curious, hopeful that I may learn something new today, too!

Haha - I think capitalizing is probably the best way.  No hard feelings - I really didn't feel like I was getting yelled at - all in good fun. 

[mtraininjax]

No Problem. Great coversation!