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<p>No, but I did see a guy driving while reading a book not long ago. We were on a highway, and he had the book resting on the steering wheel.</p>
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<p>LOL. </p>
<p>25 years ago, I was a school teacher at a middle school and found an adorable kitten in the trash can in the girls bathroom. I decided to take it home, get it to a vet, and see if I could pawn it off on my Mom (she did take it). On the way home, the kitten was freaking out, crying, howling, etc. She finally had enough and used her claws to crawl up my arm and park herself on the top of my head! I’m sure I was swerving-I tried to get her off, but she dug in (ouch), so I finally just left her there so I wouldn’t have a wreck. No telling how people who passed me reacted to that image.</p>
<p>^^ That’s a funny image.</p>
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<p>The government always takes an extreme case (19 year old hands-on texting 11 times in 11 minutes) and then makes an overreaching policy (trying to ban hands free cell phones). I agree with banning texting while driving and banning non-hands-free devices. But I am okay with limited blue-tooth and hands free devices, although I must admit I am uncomfortable when someone calls me while he or she is driving (even with blue-tooth) and always make it a short conversation. I would think a quick “I’m going to be late” or “I’m lost, help!” or “where are we meeting?” on blue-tooth actually would decrease driver distraction.</p>
<p>Insurance companies are losing money because they are paying for negligent driving. However, if use of a cell phone while driving is against the law, then insurance company will not cover illegal/criminal actions. </p>
<p>Not a lawyer. But I think there is a conspiracy. If you killed by an undocumented alien who doesn’t have a driver’s license and who therefore doesn’t have auto insurance because they can’t drive an auto, you are SOL no matter. Therefore you have to buy additional life and whatever insurances to cover your risk. Insurance companies win whether there is a regulation or nonexistent.</p>
<p>I first heard about the recommendation a couple of hours ago, driving in a state where using a cell phone is illegal, and just as my phone rang. Since I was just a few minutes away from the border of my state, where we can use cell phones, I managed to wait, but I was tempted…plus I waited until I could pull over to check the call.</p>
<p>A couple of months ago H and I were rear-ended by a young girl on a cell phone. It took $5000 and a month to get the car fixed.</p>
<p>I worry because my D, although 22 and a good driver, doesn’t heed my advice not to call or pick up when she is driving.</p>
<p>I think the time has come for the prohibitions…</p>
<p>Tell the Nanny to stop already!!</p>
<p>There are already some states that do ban it. My question is what about police officers, EMTs, firefighters, etc? Not only do people see them on their phones, but also they have radios, some have computers, etc! How is it “safe” for one but not for another? </p>
<p>I try not to answer my phone when I am driving but sometimes I do. I’ve also been known to peek at a text or an email as it comes in. Not saying it’s right, but I know it happens…</p>
<p>I’m wondering if in addition to insurance companies is also a desire by some drivers to have laws to cover them so they can ignore cell phone calls from impatient bosses, spouses, etc until they pull over/get to destination because they can blame the law for not answering the calls immediately?* </p>
<p>Granted, I’m of the opinion that this is one area where the emphasis should be on enforcing already existing laws against distracted driving causing problems than enacting new zero tolerance oriented ones.</p>
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<li>Never saw the need myself because I make it a point to tell everyone I don’t have the leisure time available to answer my cell instantly considering all that goes on in my daily life. IMHO…people need to dial back their expectations of instantaneous responses when it comes to cell phones.</li>
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<p>I think driving requires both hands and ones complete attention. I’m not sure what’s so controversial about that.</p>
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<p>Be honest now… The quality of driving - staying in one’s lane, maintaining appropriate speed, etc. - is markedly worse by some drivers since cell phones came into use. If they do make this the law, I think I’ll videotape the weaving, drifting drivers for posterity. We all know that they are distracted by their phones. I don’t remember seeing anywhere near as many of them pre-cell phones.</p>
<p>In IL they prohibit cell phone use in construction zones. It has a liberating effect - I don’t have to call, answer while in the zone. I only feel comfortable calling someone when I’m on the highway in areas where use of cruise control is viable (little traffic). Otherwise, I always feel like I’m taking a chance.</p>
<p>This law will never happen. People like being able to call while they are stuck in traffic. </p>
<p>Just last week on the 5 between San Diego and L. A., I counted the number of people either texting or talking on a cell phone. I’d say it was one in three drivers. One woman was even reading a Kindle, holding it against the steering wheel. It’s not safe but we were all stuck going below 10mph. due to an accident. </p>
<p>I don’t make calls in the car though. I find that my mind goes elsewhere.</p>
<p>That would make folks like my sister who bought their car BECAUSE it could respond to voice commands and can dial and can drive (badly) while talking mad. She’s a bad driver with lots of “surprises” even if she is silent, worse when she’s talking to anyone–in her car or on her car phone. </p>
<p>I think car makers & folks who are frequently stuck in gridlock would put up a huge fuss. With those who are using the car speaker phone, it’s much tougher to know that they’re on a phone–they could be talking to themselves, singing, or who knows what? Those of us who use hands free or speakerphone, similarly, how can anyone know that a phone is being used?</p>
<p>Well, if you do get into an accident, I guess they could check your phone records. </p>
<p>I’m with the folks that have observed how many drivers are distracted by phone conversations–and it’s not because they’re holding the phone. I drive up and down a long highway every weekend, and it’s clear who’s on a phone, from the lane drifting, weird cutoffs of other drivers, drastic speed changes, etc… Dangerous behavior is dangerous behavior–I don’t quite get why it’s Nanny State to want to keep people from trying to kill me, whether they mean to or not.</p>
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This is being done more and more including with some tragic train crashes.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/09/16/us-train-crash-idUSN1538421220080916[/url]”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/09/16/us-train-crash-idUSN1538421220080916</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10Boston.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10Boston.html</a></p>
<p>I don’t know why it is that a cellphone can be so distracting, but I totally agree with this. I absolutely hate to be behind someone who isn’t focused on driving. Then when I see why they were poking along, I want to hit them. The worst is getting behind some teenager who’s texting. Whoa!</p>
<p>But why are cell phones so distracting but listening to the radio isn’t? Well, maybe it is, but for some reason, radios aren’t banned, thank goodness.</p>
<p>*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>*</p>
<p>Yes…my H does that! Ugh. And when the kids were little, when he was driving and I was in the passenger seat, when I would turn around to say something (or give something) to the kids, he’d turn around, too!!! I’d have to say, “keep your eyes on the road!!”. Oh my! (and, yes, he did rear-end someone once while doing this!!! and still kept doing it!)</p>
<p>BTW…to respond to an earlier post… When I’m talking (hands free) on the cell phone while driving, I never hesitate to say “wait” when I have to pay attention to something in particular (like changing lanes, etc). I’ve had numerous people do that with me as well. No problem…be an adult about it.</p>
<p>Its a Proposal/Recommendation. My post #25 was only partially said in relief. The other part I will state now. </p>
<p>ChicagoBear, garland: You are not the target of these distracted drivers. Your children are the targets. </p>
<p>I got various insurances on DS when he started to drive. He’s now 26. He was over insured then and still over insured now. The insurance was for: What may be something that he had done. And more importantly for something that someone else had done to him. The later insurance is for Me, to really make the life(s) of the other party really, really miserable.</p>
<p>And to think I just bought a windshield-mounted phone holder… :(</p>
<p>a few studies (when i have a bit more time to find the reports I’ll paste them here) have also proven that passenger children under the age of 8 are far more distracting than hands free phone conversations…hence we should also ban children under 8 as passengers. :)</p>