US calls for ban on in-car cell phone use even with bluetooth!

Parent Cafe
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<p>[U.S&lt;/a&gt;. News - US calls for ban on in-car phone use … even with Bluetooth](<a href=“http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/9418504-us-calls-for-ban-on-in-car-phone-use-even-with-bluetooth]U.S”>http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/9418504-us-calls-for-ban-on-in-car-phone-use-even-with-bluetooth)</p>

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<p>While the NTSB is part of the government, its recommendation does not mean that it will become law. Indeed, traffic laws are generally the domain of the state governments (though the national government does arm-twist the state governments with highway funding), so it is entirely possible for different state governments to act (or not act) differently in this respect.</p>

<p>As far as phone use while driving, it is very useful to be able to answer and say “I’ll be there in 20 minutes” and end the call at that, or inform someone that you will be late due to being stopped in a traffic jam. But those who have long conversations that require a lot of attention (distracting from driving) ruin it for everyone else by providing reason for banning phone use while driving.</p>

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<p>The NTSB is right. I have seen so many bad drivers focused on their phone calls rather than driving. They are dangerous.</p>

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<p>By that logic they should also ban any driver from having passengers in the car…particularly any passenger under the age of 8. </p>

<p>this is silly and will never be implemented…talking on a hands-free phone is comparable to having a passenger in the car…if i get a call i hit the button on my steering wheel and start talking; no need to fumble around with my phone, etc. How is it different from having a passenger in your car that you are having a conversation with? I agree that they should ban (like many states have already done) talking or texting on your NON hands-free phone as it impacts driving ability sigificantly as you have to use only one hand and have to glance back and forth at your phone.</p>

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<p>Most people do not weave back and forth in the lane, speed up and slow down while engaged in a conversation with someone in the car. It see that all the time with people using the phone.</p>

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<p>Although there may be a correlation between agressive driving and phone usage the point of baning phones is related to being a DISTRACTED driver not an AGGRESSIVE driver. Even if you take an aggressive driver’s phone usage away they will still probably be an aggressive driver. Like I said at the end of the day this will never fly as it relates to distraction and using a hands free phone is just as distracting as having passengers in the car. If it were implemented then there would a strong case for banning having passengers under age 8 in the car as that is much more of a distraction than someone talking on a hands free phone.</p>

<p>Edit: And btw I’ve seen a plethora of aggressive drivers that do the same things you described above while having passengers in the car.</p>

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<p>There have been studies that show phone conversations (even hands-free blue tooth) are far more distracting than having actual passengers in the car. The main reason is that passengers are participants in the trip–you don’t have to “hang up” on them in stress situations.<br>
I never endorse blanket laws but I do not talk and drive anymore. Or answer my phone on the road. I’ve been the near victim way too many times of cell phone drivers. You can always spot them–they drive slower and react slower than is needed on busy highways.</p>

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<p>The difference is that a passenger can also see what’s going on around you, can alert you to another car you might not see (in your blind spot, for example), and will stop talking if there’s suddenly an issue. The person on the other end of your phone call can’t.</p>

<p>Edit: x-posted with gouf78.</p>

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<p>I remember when I was a kid my father used to turn around while driving to take a swing at us in the back seat. Very impressive driving! He never had an accident, although he did smack us a few times. (No damage done)</p>

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<p>How about just ticketing any person driving erratically? It is possible to drive and talk on a bluetooth type phone without being distracted…if this becomes a law, i will call my congressman and ask that women not be allowed to put on mascara ,eye liner,or lipstick when driving…have you ever seen a woman driving with her mouth wide open staring at the rear view mirror as she applies her eye liner?</p>

<p>Or how about a law banning coffee drinking, or eating a McDonalds Egg Mc Muffin while driving? ;)</p>

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<p>I think thery should be banned period. I pull over if I need to make or receive a phone call. No ones time is more important than my life.</p>

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<p>I recently got bluetooth for my car, and I can tell you I am much, much safer talking to a passenger than being on the phone. It is much easier to take a break when you need to concentrate, and your passenger provides a second set of eyes as well. The main reason I got it is that I have a client who has a habit of calling me to tell me appointments are cancelled or postponed when I am already on the road.</p>

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<p>gdogpa</p>

<p>Honestly some of the stuff you mention would get people pulled over for reckless driving.</p>

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<p>If you do talk on your phone while driving please inform whomever you’re talking to that you are driving and they can expect to get cut off any second with no warning.</p>

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<p>I am glad that the NTSB is finally admitting that it is the act of talking - not the act of holding a 5 ounce device next to your head - that is distracting.</p>

<p>For years, people have tried to say that it is having only one hand on the wheel is what makes cell phone use while driving unsafe. I disagree. I normally only drive with one hand on the wheel, and rarely (almost never). What is distracting is the act of trying to hold a conservation that requires concentration and drive which also requires concentration.</p>

<p>This is particurly true when driving in town / surface streets / intersection driving. I don’t find talking on cell phones while driving on long drives that don’t require lane changes, etc, to be distracting.</p>

<p>However, texting while driving is unsafe in any circumstances in my opinion.</p>

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<p>Heck…my H was weaving when our dog jumped to the front seat unexpectantly. oops.</p>

<p>Bluetooth should be fine. This is getting ridiculous…like “zero tolerance” at schools where a kid gets expelled for bringing in a pic of his soldier dad in Iraq and there’s guns in the pic. </p>

<p>People sing, yell at their kids, etc in the car. Talking with a Bluetooth is no different than talking to a person in the car. This is unenforceable anyway…</p>

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<p>No, that’s incorrect. There is a huge difference.</p>

<p>When you talk on your cell phone, there other person is in a different environment and you try to stay focused on your conversation. When talking with a person in the vehicle with you, they are in the same environment and are more willing to accept your puases in your conversation when you need to focus on driving.</p>

<p>Think about an airplane pilot. Do we want airline pilots to be on the phone with their mother or wife or boss while flying the airplane? Absolutely not, even with bluetooth.</p>

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<p>Like it. Now just get the Prius drivers out of the fast lane.</p>

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<p>“talking on a hands-free phone is comparable to having a passenger in the car…”</p>

<p>No . . it’s comparable to having drunk 4 beers</p>

<p>“Conclusion: When driving conditions and time on task were controlled for, the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk.”
<a href=“http://www.hfes.org/Web/PubPages/celldrunk.pdf[/url]”>http://www.hfes.org/Web/PubPages/celldrunk.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.civil.utah.edu/~zhou/cell_phone_and_distracted_driver.pdf[/url]”>http://www.civil.utah.edu/~zhou/cell_phone_and_distracted_driver.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>That’s the cool thing about science . . . you can narrow down to a particular question and get some interesting results that make some people quite upset.</p>

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<p>There’s something about a phone conversation that’s very distracting to a lot of people whether they’re driving or in the kitchen. Even if they manage to not drive 50mph in the left lane weaving back and forth it doesn’t mean they’re as focused as they could be or should be and almost certainly not as focused as if they weren’t on a call. </p>

<p>Regarding passengers in the car, some drivers are overly distracted by passengers as well. Have you ever been a passenger of some driver who can’t talk to you without taking their eyes off the road and looking at you? I’m sitting 2 feet away - I can hear you fine - keep your eyes on the road! These drivers scare me.</p>

<p>Regardless, the argument that because drivers are distracted by passengers as well doesn’t justify having them distracted by cell phones or to carry it further - texting, using an iPad, accessing the internet, watching a DVD on their center dash (illegal but some people do it), etc. - ala two wrongs don’t make a right.</p>

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Ha ha - I agree.</p>