Should Hand Held Cellphones Be Banned While Driving?

by minimus 56 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  tiki

  Absolutely. Any distraction can be a recipe for disaster. When in communication on phone ones attention is diverted to the conversation...awareness and brain reaction to moving surroundings becomes compromised. Save your communications via phone for when you park it.

  Don't misinterpret me here...I am not suggesting that drivers should be mute and not converse with passengers. Its that phone and mechanisms that are problematic. New vehicles have options to talk via phone hands off. Provided the conversation isn't emotionally charged or require serious brain concentration, go for it.
• 

  cofty

  The evidence that talking on a mobile while driving massively increases risk. Two offences in UK equals a driving ban although hands-free Bluetooth devices are legal.

  I sat with a young lad as he died a few years ago when he lost control of his car while using a mobile. His girlfriend died a few days later.

  The most commonly used word on insurance claim forms is "suddenly". What they really mean is "I wasn't paying attention when...".
  

  Put you phone away, get two hands on the wheel, and focus on driving. Everything else can wait.
• 

  WTWizard

  I would rather see someone get a ticket and points on their license for using a brain cancer machine (or, worse, texting) while driving than have an accident because of someone using the phone. Using a phone while driving, hands on or not, can distract a driver--and that can add seconds of reaction time. This makes the difference between safely navigating something and having an accident. Texting while driving requires you to take your eyes off the road for more than a football field's worth of distance (and that's going the speed limit, not going something like 160 km/h or more).

  In fact, I have seen experiments where texting while driving actually impairs one more than drink driving. And we all know how nice drink driving is--when you end up paralyzed from the neck down, or when you kill your best friend because you chose to drink and drive. Texting while driving is even worse. When your car is moving, do not use your cell phone at all--pull off the road where it is safe, and then use it. Or, if you are stuck in traffic and there is absolutely no way you are going anywhere for a while, you might be able to use your phone while stopped to inform your boss that you will be late for work (if that's the case). Passengers can use their phones, texting included, because they are not trying to drive.
• 

  StephaneLaliberte

  While I agree with not using your phone while driving, I am against the fact that they will give you the same penalities if they find that you are using your phone at a red light or even at the drive through.

  I would have put the line at: Are your wheels in motion? Then don't use the phone at all.
• 

  Doubting Bro

  If you are going to have rules surrounding driving (speed limits, stopping at red lights) then it would make sense to address other actions that can cause harm to others such as being on the cell while driving.

  While I'm against rules that don't impact others such as helmets for cyclists and seat beats, I'm all for reducing the number of reckless folks on the road.

  Incidentally, I'm not against using safety devices and would use them with or without a law. Just don't think the law should force you to do things for "your own good". If you don't want to wear a seat belt and get killed as a result, that's on you.
• 

  minimus

  Texting is pretty obvious! I do a lot of driving and I can always tell who’s texting because they’re driving slower typically than the rest of traffic. If your fiddling on your phone, that’s a problem too. But I can push a button and hold a phone when I need to. If I’m looking for a direction, I’ll put my gps on. Now even that might be problematic. The reality is almost anything can distract you while driving. If I see a pretty girl walking down the street, I’m distracted. I guess we should outlaw that too. 👩‍🦰
• 

  sir82

  If I see a pretty girl walking down the street, I’m distracted. I guess we should outlaw that too.

  The law you are referring to is regarding hand-held cell phones.

  In your pretty-girl scenario, I think it all comes down to what you're doing with your hand when you see her.
  
• 

  Incognigo Montoya

  I am torn. As a MC rider, I am for banning cell phone use while driving, especially texting. I think, texting while driving should be treated exactly like a DUI.

  Talking on a cell phone, I believe, can be problematic, especially for young and inexperienced drivers. However, I don't really see it as any more distracting than conversing with a passenger, or listening to a radio program. It's really about how much attention you allow yourself to divert away from operating the vehicle. Hands free does little difference, imo. Ultimately, we would all fare better if everyone stopped talking and focused their full attention on the road. So I suppose, If a ban on cell phone use was passed, I would be ok with it. We don't really need to be on our phones, while driving. The world functioned perfectly fine before cell phones. 99.9% of calls can wait.
• 

  minimus

  Sir. Lol

  Incog, I think there are many distractions that good drivers deal with. Technically, fiddling with your radio or music in the car can be distracting. Sipping on a coffee might be a distraction. To having both hands on the wheel might be a distraction... I’m not happy with government forcing us to do certain things.
• 

  Incognito

  Virtually all Canadian provinces have implemented distracted driving restrictions regarding handheld devices.

  In Ontario, it has been established that distracted driving is the leading cause for vehicle collisions resulting in death.
  

  This year in Ontario, fines were increased UP TO $1000, 3 demerit points and 3-day license suspension for the 1st offence. Even at that, too many people continue holding their phones while driving and a 2nd offence can be up to $2000, 6 points and 7-day suspension.

  Handheld devices which include other entertainment devices, may be controlled by the driver using a mounted control, or handsfree using a voice-controlled Bluetooth device or a wired earpiece.

  A Red light, Stop sign or construction delay is still considered the operation of a vehicle so devices are not permitted to be held while stopped for those purposes.