Should talking on a cell phone while driving be banned? Even though some places are banning talking on a cell phone, they allow using hands-free devices. Does just the fact that they are still talking interfere with the person's driving? Should there be some sort of punishment for people who
have accidents and kill people because of talking on a cell phone? Do you personally talk on your cell phone while driving? Do you think this interferes in any way with your degree of attention to your driving? If you think that cell phone use while driving should be illegal, is there any other kind of potential driving distraction that you think should also be illegal? Is it illegal to use headphones while driving? Do you think most people are more dangerous driving after having a few beers or while talking in a long talk on a cell phone? Any other input on this subject?
Jeremy Lamb
16 comments:
hmmmm...
well, today when I left class, i was on my cell phone before I even got off the parkland campus. And yes, I agree. Dialing a phone while driving is dangerous, but I don't think it should be illegal. When I am talking on the cell phone I am watching what is going on while I am driving. The only time I have heard about people having accidents are when they are dialing the phone, reading their emails on their phone, text, downloading and other stuff...that is just crazy! Anyway, I think talking on the cell phone really doesn't take anymore concentration than listening to talk radio in your car. and what about when you are having a conversation with the person sitting in the passenger seat - I bet you take your eyes off the road to look at them more than you do on the phone. A lot of it has to do with comman sense and isn't it illegal for teenagers to be on the phone while driving - they are way less experienced drivers - so that makes sense.
There are so many things that are distracting while driving down the road. Here are some I have observed .... Eating a bigmac, putting on makeup, reading the newspaper, kids fighting in the back seat, taking a picture of the sunset, 100 lb. dog deciding to sit on your lap to hang his head out your window...
In all seriousness - I think headset phones are the best idea for the car. People do not need to be looking down to dial or fumbling through their purse looking for their ringing phone while attempted to drive!
I think to ban cell phones while driving, would mean they would soon need to find something else to ban...I am personally surprised drive thru's haven't been made illegal...i have two relatives that had accidents while reaching for a drink of coffee or pop in their car!
from,
Jan Baker
I do talk on my cell phone while driving occasionally, and i think it affects some people more than others. Talking on the phone and having someone next to you are different... it takes more concentration to talk on the phone because you naturally dont want to interrupt the conversation for driving. but having someone next to you is more safe, because they are seeing what you're seeing as well, and they're with you. I do think its safer to talk on a hands-free device however. I admit though... sometimes i talk on my phone... and i have to drive a 5-speed!
-Blake
From Debra Porter:
I like the way the laws are now, it is banned in certain cities (like Chicago) and then all teens under 18 can't use one while driving. I think that banning cell phones completely wouldn't stop people from using them in the car, they would just be more discreet about it. When has a law ever stopped anybody? It would just be another law to break.
Like Jan said, there are thousands of other distractions that are the same or worse than cell phones use, but we don't hear any problems about those. I think the punishment should stay the same, because who will know if they were talking on their cell or not?
I think that it DOES interfere with people's driving, but allowing hands-free devices and not actual phones would be good. It allows two free hands and not an arm blocking your view with you look to the sides.
As far as I know, it IS illegal to use headphones while driving, but only music headphones, like if you were listening to your ipod. But hands-free devices are ok.
I think that anybody who has had a few drinks is more dangerous than a 100% sober person anyday, anytime, no matter what they're doing. If they're trying to pay 100% attention to the road, or if they're on a cell phone, they're still more dangerous regardless.
I will be the first to admit that I am on my phone constantly. I am when i drive, walk, go basically anywhere. I think that the hands free devices are very nice for driving. I like them much better even when I am just talking in my room. It frees up your hands in case you will need them.
I dont think that driving on a cell phone should be considered illegal. It really depends on the driver if it is really safe for them to do. If they are someone who gets destracted very easily, they dont even need to have the radio in thier car, little alone a cell phone.
I personally dont think that it really affects my driving habits. Eating food or something else that requires the use of my hands is much more destracting than the phone.
I definately feel that a driver under the influence of alcohol is much more dangerous than the phone. It completely impares your brain to function with its fine motor skills. Reaction time is much slower and your coordination is off. The worst part about it is that the only way you can get rid of the effects are time. With a phone, you can just hang up if the weather gets bad or you just feel like your concentration is getting off the road.
Bridgette Overmyer
Driving while talking on the cell phone while in the car shouldn't be illegal because there are to many distractions in the car already that are legal. If you were to ban the use of cell phone in the car I would then feel you need to get rid of the radio, passengers anything that could be a distraction. I find it more distracting to be talking to friends in the car instead of one friend who is on the cell phone While I'm driving. If people are so worried about 2 hands being on the steering wheel, use your own money and go out and buy one of those handless ear pieces. Cell phone use while driving shouldn't be illegal but should maybe be advised or suggested not to be done.
Dan Berger
Driving while on your cell phone should be a personal choice. Everyone knows how much they can handle and what they are capable of doing. Just as with anything else, there are consequences to every action.
To say that cell phones are a huge distraction is not true for everyone. It is no different than having a conversation in the car, turning the music up loud, advertisements posted on the side of the road, or eating in the car. You either choose to be alert or don't. You are a good driver or you aren't.
Richauna Williams.
No i dont think talking on cell phones should be banned. No i dont think it inteferes with people driving. Because i talk and drive all the time my cell phone is apart of me i dont go any where with out it. Yes i think there should be some sort of punishment because that is saying that they cant do two things at one and they shouldnt be on cell phones while driving. yes i do drive and talk. when i talk and drive i think i focus more on the road then what i would do while not talking. I think that most people are dangerous after dranking then talking on the phone.
edwidge
From Stephanie Einck:
I dont think talking on a cell phone should be illegal. I think there are many other distractions out there, talking on the phone is just like talking to your friends while they are in the car. Hands free probably would be a less of a distraction but you are still talking, just not holding the phone. If someone hurts someone while they are on their phone, then i do believe they should be heold resopnosible, they would be if they weren't on thier phone. They still hurt or killed someone and they deserve to be punished.
I personally do talk on my phone while i am driving. My parents told me i am not allowed to use my cell phone while drving, but i still do. I still pay attention to what else is going on around me. I dont think it distratcs me. When i have a car full of girls and i am driving and we are all talking, i usually more distracted when i am talking with them because i am trying to look at them and drive at the same time.
There are a lot of other distractions, texting, downloading ringtones and songs, putting on make up, eating, reading a newspaper, or a magazine. I see a lot of people in the mornings reading the newspaper while they are driving to work. I think that is more dangerous than talking on your phone.
I do think people are more dangerous after of been drinking. I dont think drinking and driving is right at all. I would rather have someone talking on their phone than drinking and driving.
I think that talking on your cell phone while driving is wrong but yet okay. I think that if it is banned then having a handsfree device has to be okay. There are tons of people who are always on their cell phones for work. I know that since teenagers get into accidents because they are talking on their cell phones just obviously makes people want to ban them. I think that is wrong. You can be the best driver and get into an accident. You can be the worse driver and still get into an accident. I really do not think that talking on an cell phone interferes with driving. You can have a person in the car and be talking to them and still get into an accident. I do NOT think that there shouldn't be a punishment for someone who happens to kill someone in an accident. I know that the family would think that, but you know it could have been the person who dies fault, but since the other person was on the cell phone they will attack that person because it's "their" fault. Personally, I think that talking on the cell phone does NOT interfere with others. It all depends on if you are a good driver and can handle multitasking. If cell phones is going to become illegel then i think music should be banned too. You know how many people don't really pay attention when they are driving becuase they are flipping through the radio stations, or change CDs, or something along that line. A cell phone they only thing you are doing is holding it up to your ear. Not taking your eyes off the road. Talking on cell phones and driving should not be illegal. It doesn't really interfer with your driving.
Sonja
I think hands-free talking might be OK, but I get really pissed off when someone almost hits me or someone else, and I look over and they are yakking on their cell phone. I saw a bumper sticker that said "Maybe you'd drive better with that cell phone shoved up your ass," and I thought it was hysterical! Driving while yakking on your cell phone is dangerous. When someone is driving with one hand, or no hands, while they dial, or worse yet TEXT!, on their cell phone, is extremely dangerous. Yet, I see people do it all the time. I think there should be a special penalty for causing an accident while you're on a cell phone, because it is something that the person could have chosen not to do. They could have waited until later, or pulled over and made or taken their call.
Stacie Carlson
From Barb Beals:
Should changing a CD while driving be banned? Should talking to other passengers while driving be banned? Should singing at the top of your lungs with the stereo blasting be illegal? Should we make a law for everything that people with no common sense do? That is what this is to me, common sense. If you have a hard time driving at night do you make sure you have the proper eyeware to make a safe trip if you have to? Of course you do, so if your an idiot with a cell phone and you cant walk and chew gum, yes for you there should be a ban on using your cell phone while driving. For the rest of us that are responsible and safe, it's all in moderation, and making the decision if it's important enough to answer the call while driving. It is very illegal to use headphones while driving! You can't hear traffic, like a train for instance. It's very irresponsible to claim that driving while intoxicated is comprable to driving and using a cell phone.
I always believed talking a on cell phone was distracting to drivers, but I never was totally convinced until I watched the monkey and the ball video. I personally talk and drive while on my cell phone like most I'm sure. Am I distracted at times I'm sure I am, but for some reason that thought never crosses my mind, and I find myself jibber jabbering away. I would be in favor of laws banning cell phone use while driving, because you are a hazzard to those around you much like someone who has had a few beers and decides to drive. Now will laws banning cell phone use stop people from doing it? I say no. We have laws against drinking and driving and unfortunalty we still have a huge problem with it, but laws might make a person think twice before they do it.
I think some people can handle driving while on a cell phone, some can't. There should be some kind of punishment for talking on a cell phone and getting in a wreck, maybe a ticket for talking, and a ticket for the accident. I usually talk on my cell phone while I am driving, and have never gotten in any accidents. I think it is illegal to use headphones while driving. They interfere more with not being able to hear ambulances, or police cars. It is really hard to say if driving after a few beers is more dangerous than being on a cell phone. Everyone handles beer differently, and everyone handles distractiond differently. If I had to say, I think most would be more dangerous after a few beers, depending on your tolerence. Then again, some young teenagers get lost in the gossip of a conversation while driving, and that can be pretty dangerous too.
Caitin Parker
Some people can drive and talk at the same time on cell phones, ehich is good for them. But then you have people trying to be cool and talk on them, but they cant drive. While taking on the phone they only have one hand to use; making it her for them to turn cusing a accident. Or people can just use ear pieces while driving so they can use both hands; but talking may cause the driver distraction. so util people can become hundred percent good drivers, which probally want happen. Phines shuld not be used while driving
I don't think banning the cell phone or making a law about not using them would help. As several others have stated creating another law isnt going to keep people from using cell phones. I have seen reports that say cell phones cause accidents, however anyone can be distracted by virtually anything at anytime. If it's not the cell phone, the radio, even something as simple as cruise control some people attribute to accidents.
Should there be extra punishment for people who kill people while talking on a cell phone? I don't think extra punishment is warranted, however punishment for taking a human life is and should be punishable.
Do I personally talk on my cell phone while driving? Heck yea,shave,drink, sing along to the stereo as well. Sometimes I add in to the mix reading and drive through food. If you bans cell phones only outlaws will have cellphones. I dont think it interferes with my driving anymore than all of the other things I do while driving. I like multi-tasking, I do it often. I dont think drinking a few beers and talking on the cell phone are even in the same ballpark to compare.
Dave Crain
I think if we let the government decide on any more of our lives it will be terrible.
When will it end? If people are willing to let the government take over their personal choices, what freedem are our soldiers..past and present..fighting and dying for??
I think if they ban cell phone use the next things will be eating-do you think McDonalds will close their drive thrus-NOT, smoking- will the manufacturers of cigarettes let that happen-NOT, and lets not even go into one of the newest car must haves-DVD players-how distracting is that?
Not to forget about the older stand-bys reading the news, putting on make-up, I have even seen people dressing while driving!!(ties and blazers-keep it clean-LOL)
I know that in other cities they have banned it-I just dont know how. I think it would be too hard to drive rush hour in Chicago on the cell phone-so I do understand the concern.
I definately think drinking beer is more dangerous than talking on the phone.
Pam
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