| User | Comment |
|---|
Galomorro   |
I approve of this new law. I don't drive nor use phones myself, and my concern is mainly for us pedestrians and bicyclists since the huge vehicles dwarf us. I walk all over the place, and many times I've seen people turning the corner right where there are people trying to walk across the street; driving with one hand, cells to their ears. I think cars are dangerous weapons and that cell phones held in the hand while driving just makes it that much more dangerous. One needs to be sharp and alert if they're gonna be driving. |
romkey     | | posted 2-Jul-2008 10:52pm |
I think it's great. I've seen way too many people nearly get into accidents because they were putting more attention into talking into their cell phone than they were driving. |
| LindaH | | posted 2-Jul-2008 11:02pm |
It seems like a reasonable law. Legally, you are supposed to have both hands on the wheel all the time anyway. People with cell phones stuck to their faces are already driving wrong. |
they  | | posted 2-Jul-2008 11:25pm |
As if now, this law hasn't been put into effect in my area |
| llamamama | | posted 3-Jul-2008 12:23am |
I like it very much. Driving while talking on a cell phone is dangerous..and you drive really slow which makes me want to whump you in the back of the head.
But yes, kudos to them..it's a great law. The other part about the people under 18 is true for us too..
But what does any of this matter anyway? It's a great idea, but the cops will still be driving by, talking on their cell phones right after they pulled you over for the same thing.
Ah, life's ironies. |
| LJD | | posted 3-Jul-2008 12:34am |
Yes, there have been lives lost probably due to cell phone users neglect, but all the people will suffer from a few unfortunately. PLUS, I feel the insurance companies are doing some dictation. The cities also, want to make money. |
| Kristal_Rose |
I thought it was crazy to be allowed in the first place. I recall joking that next they'd have cellular fax machines, and just a week later those appeared too.
In the old days they wouldn't pass your driving exam without both hands on the steering wheel except for shifting.
I'm not crazy about GPS maps being located on a center console either. Seems they should bounce that off the windshield like old arcade games, with a steering wheel button that must remain pressed to keep it activated.
I was once looking a map while on the freeway and traffic went from 60mph to a dead stop in just seconds. I ended up just tapping the bumper ahead of me.
Mostly I'm not crazy about the idea of a person dialing and not seeing me on my bicycle.
I rather prefer my old brother-in-laws proposition that you don't belong on the road unless you're aware of everything two blocks ahead of you. |
| Matty |
What's the big deal? This is already a law in many states. All you have to do is set your phone to speaker, or better yet, use your telephone headset. I suspect California did studies or cited studies that show this practice saves lives. However, I haven't done any of my own research, so I can't say for sure.
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Melf  |
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| Iseult |
I think it's all right. I understand thAT sometimes there are calls that ought to be taken while driving, but most people drive like idiots when they're on their cellphones (most people drive like idiots without their cellphone, but that's a completely different issue). |
| dab |
From what I've heard, studies have shown that using a handsfree device does not make talking on a cell phone while driving any safer. So this sort of legislation just confirms my opinion that legislatures are really stupid. |
bill  |
I'm not really sure. I don't know enough about it. Are there stats to back this up? Have there been more accidents because of cell phones, especially with teens? Or, is that just an impression people have? I guess I'm not opposed to giving this a try, then checking the new accident stats to see if it actually helped. If it didn't help, then they should remove the law.
I suspect that the people who sell bluetooth headsets are very happy about this new law. I wonder if they lobbied for it. |
| kirst |
I think it's good. We've had a similar law in Hong Kong for several years. Can't remember driving in Hong Kong without a hands-free or Bluetooth. |
| jettles |
i think all states should adopt that one. i know there are people here who think that they can drive just fine while on a hand held and that may be true but i find it to be rare that someone can. most people that i see driving erratically are talking on the phone. |
| Enheduanna | | posted 3-Jul-2008 11:59am |
I think it's a good idea. (And I live in California.) |
| Zang | | posted 3-Jul-2008 12:37pm |
I don't know if they already have it, but around here we have something called "undue care and attention" which would cover this. I don't see the point in adding new laws to cover things that already have perfectly appropriate laws. |
| aquawolfy |
I guess I see where people are coming from with that law. Talking while driving can be pretty distracting when you need both hands... But I think people under 18 should be able to use a bluetooth headset or something.. |
| Kristal_Rose |
*Auto-piloting*
Talking alone might be a problem while driving.
I can recall going on walks with dates and having absolutely no recollection of any architecture or even how I navigated through the crowd of other pedestirians. Normally I tend to walk in non-intereference style but for all I know I just plowed through taking the right of way when talking with my friend.
I'd describe myself as having been on auto-pilot. If it's a divine auto-pilot, that may be fine, but if it's a purely mechanical auto-pilot using a limited set of faculties for reactive navigation, then I can't really trust it to have projected the possible trajectories of a skateboarder and previewed safe immediate lane changing options.
I hear that some people even without phones get into such a reactive auto-pilot trance that they will follow someone off the freeway even though it wasn't their own exit. I figure this sort of non-thinking driving must be worse when using a phone.
I don't do anything while talking at home except mindless sewing or coffee brewing. If someone were telling me what to buy at the store, I'd be picturing groceries, not what's in front of me.
When I bicycle somewhere I hope to clear my head. I leave wound up with all sorts of work planning and don't notice much my first couple of miles, and consider my ride a success when all I'm finally thinking about is the flowers and architecture I see along my way.
Admittedly, until that point I'm on some sort of auto-pilot myself and don't really see anything, yet somehow have a psychic sense for those who might open a car door ahead of me anyhow. - It does bring up a really interesting question.. Who or what controls traffic while we are 'gone' and does it do a better job than our conscious attention? Does it plan or just react. If it's a group consciousness thing, does everyone subconsciously know already where they fit in the plan? Is everyone plugged into the plan, and does the plan encompass those not plugged in, or does the presence of someone not plugged into group auto-pilot force everyone to be on alert? |
| JessicaWoman99 | | posted 3-Jul-2008 10:22pm |
Colorado does not have to worry about this for now yea yea |
| JessicaWoman99 | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 3-Jul-2008 10:26pm |
> I approve of this new law. I don't drive nor use phones myself, and
> my concern is mainly for us pedestrians and bicyclists since the huge
> vehicles dwarf us. I walk all over the place, and many times I've
> seen people turning the corner right where there are people trying
> to walk across the street; driving with one hand, cells to their ears.
> I think cars are dangerous weapons and that cell phones held in the
> hand while driving just makes it that much more dangerous. One needs
> to be sharp and alert if they're gonna be driving.
What about my plug in hair dryer i just dry my hair when driving down the road and oh yes my coffee maker
that plugs into my lighter got to have that coffee when driving hope they do not ban these weapons |
| Galomorro |
I didn't even know one could do such things in a car. Sounds quite dangerous to me. |
| JessicaWoman99 | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 4-Jul-2008 2:42pm |
> I didn't even know one could do such things in a car. Sounds quite
> dangerous to me.
Oh just so many things you can do while driving it is amazing even text messaging while driving and I eat a burger
and something to drink while driving along at 65 mph |
| Galomorro |
You better be careful... |
| JessicaWoman99 | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 4-Jul-2008 8:44pm |
> You better be careful...
Oh so far and so good and yes I will be careful this Summer thank you |
| Biggles |
It's been law in the UK for a while - it seems like a very sensible law to me. Though, I do wonder about some of the very long, straight highways in the US, with very little traffic - do many people have accidents on roads like those? |
| kcthedog |
I think it is long over due, I realize that drive time is a great time to catch up on business calls, or just chit chat when in traffic, but I see too much negligence towards safe deriving to feel comfortable when people are distracted by an emotional conversation with their boyfriend when changing lanes traveling at 70 miles an hour. I can drive and not talk on the phone, if needed I pull over if the call is necessary. I lived in an era before cell phones and life went on just fine. Cell phones are a connivance but highly over used and abused especially in pubic places. |
| LindaH | | (reply to kcthedog) posted 5-Jul-2008 1:44pm |
I think driving time is a great time to listen to music.
mmmmmmmm...... Zuma at 75 MPH....... |
| kcthedog | | (reply to LindaH) posted 5-Jul-2008 2:05pm |
I think the right type of music is good for driving, is calms you down and gets you into a good mood, cuts down road rage.
|
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Biggles) posted 6-Jul-2008 9:48am |
Because they fall asleep? We often have cut gouges or bumps designed to wake people who drift.
Long ago when falling asleep on winding highways I would go into Speed Racer mode, taking the turns as quick and close to the center divider as I could to keep my senses alert.
On one vacation through Canada where highways can really go on straight for long distances with no diversions at all, after about 30 hours of straight driving I fell asleep on the highway. I just crawled to a stop at 4 am with no traffic around and my wife noticed we weren't moving any. When I got out of the car to trade places, I saw there was no adjacent lane, which put into question the vehicles that had passed me on that lane, and the gas stations we had passed as well. |
| rustygirl50 | | posted 6-Jul-2008 10:33am |
It's about time. . I don't remember anything in drivers ed about text messaging or how to dial while steering. Can you say," accident waiting to happen??" |
| Gomezy3k | | posted 6-Jul-2008 11:14am |
I like the law..in fact any stupid *F__k who can't go for more than 5 minutes without being on a cell phone should have that phone shoved up their A$$..... I hate it when idiots who think they are so self important that they cannot be out of touch with other people try to do stuff with a cell in one hand. I have a sign in my car that I put up when I see a twit on a phone driving... "HANG UP AND DRIVE!!"... I have a cell phone and hate the damn thing. I don't turn it on half the time...
There is NO ONE I can't go without talking to... So if you have to spend every second talking on the phone or texting others, come see me and after I am through, you will have to have your proctologist dial numbers for you craphead... |
| ElvisFan67 |
If it reduces accidents, then I'm all for it.  |
| they | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 8-Jul-2008 8:43am |
Is it true you can still legally text? |
| Galomorro | | (reply to they) posted 8-Jul-2008 11:14am |
It looks like you still can if you're over 17 --
"If it is illegal to hold a phone while talking, how is it possible to dial it or press a button to answer the phone or take a call, even if you talk hands-free?
This is where things may get a bit dicey because the laws are silent on these issues.
The Law basically only bans talking on the cell phone without a hands free device for non emergency calls, therefore, you are allowed to touch the phone to make a call or take one, said Mike Marando, a spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles. "As long as you don't hold the phone to carry the conversation," he added.
Will text messaging while driving in California be illegal?
Text messaging will be illegal only for 16 and 17 year-old drivers. The law silent as to adults. I strongly recommend that no one text message while driving!
Tom Marshall, a CHP spokesman, has stated that "If you are text messaging and we see it's affecting your driving, we can still pull you over" for distracted driving.
The offense is not distracted driving or, for example, driving with a bag of French fries in your lap. What Police actually cite you for what happens as a result of being inattentive, such as impeding traffic or an improper lane change."
This is from an online news source. |
| they | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 8-Jul-2008 11:22am |
Wow -- that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. |
| Biggles |
> Because they fall asleep?
In that case, talking on a phone might actually be helpful!
There have been a few high-profile cases of people causing death by dangerous driving after falling asleep behind the wheel (including a driver who ended up causing a train crash) in the UK over the last few years. There have been some pretty hefty prison sentences handed out (by our standards). |
| Galomorro | | (reply to they) posted 8-Jul-2008 3:19pm |
It sure is -- they didn't research this very well. |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Biggles) posted 8-Jul-2008 5:44pm |
There is a law against driving too long here. Most people probably don't know about it. It was written for truckers who try to drive cross-country in one shot. |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 8-Jul-2008 5:47pm |
So my Wii and other video games are are still ok as long as they don't call for talking?
The car of the future will probably drive on cell/satt assisted On-Star auto-pilot while the driver plays Death Race 2000. |
| Galomorro |
Silly, isn't it... And what about those navigation systems -- are they not also distracting to drivers? -- they talk to YOU but you don't talk back... |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 8-Jul-2008 6:07pm |
I already commented that I found their central consoles inappropriiate. |
| Galomorro |
I was first introduced to one of these a year or so ago when I rode in the backseat of a car that had one. Interesting but the little robot-like voices got on my nerves. |
| cerealkiller |
Totally approve of this. Cell phone use by the driver should be prohibited period. |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Galomorro) posted 9-Jul-2008 6:58am |
Thankfully I didn't encounter that from the back seat I was in. I'm guessing my step-dad chose one that could be shut-up. I don't think he'd go fo a robot voice either. |
| Biggles |
I think we have laws like that too - but a lot of haulage companies secretly pressure their drivers into breaking the law  |
| Cain |
This has been in effect in the UK for quite a while now.
I approve, it's not hard to stop somewhere and take a call if it really is necessary - anything to cut down traffic accidents has to be good. |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Biggles) posted 9-Jul-2008 6:39pm |
I'd have thought one could drive from Fanghorn to Cork or Land's End in six hours. |
| Biggles |
Fanghorn? I can't find any such place when I Google it (except Fangorn, in Middle-earth...)
John O' Groats to Land's End (most northerly part of mainland Britain to the most southerly part) would take almost 16 hours, with decent traffic. I suppose a more realistic journey within the UK would be something like Glasgow to Portsmouth, which would take over 7 hours with ideal traffic and no stops. But you have to remember that we're pretty close to Continental Europe with good links via the Channel Tunnel and ferries and journeys can easily go from Northern England to the south of France or further... |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to Biggles) posted 12-Jul-2008 12:17am |
Findhorn maybe? That psychic gardening commune in Northern most Scotland.
Oh, it hadn't occured to me in the driver restfulness context that you were somewhat connected to the continent. In that case I supose there might even be trucks from Turkey through Germany, or even from China. It's all ship and plane here from such places, mostly the Long Beach California, Oakland CA, and Seattle Washington ports on the West Coast. I'm not sure about the East Coast.
Yeah, Fanghorn to Land's End would be quite the long drive. |
| southernyankee | | posted 12-Jul-2008 2:16pm |
I think that it should apply to everyone equally. Either everyone (18 or under) is allowed to, or no one is. If its handheld, thats way different than cordless anyway. I don't think it should be illegal to talk on a handless phone, as that would be like talking to your passengers. |
| LindaH |
> I don't think it should
> be illegal to talk on a handless phone, as that
> would be like talking to your passengers.
 
|
| Kristal_Rose |
It's looking at their dialing instead of the road, or not steering when shifting which bothers me most.
Even talking with passengers though, certain types of thinking which require rummaging through visual memory probably shouldn't be done while driving. I have respect for my step-father who calls demanding conversation to a close when traffic situations become more demanding.
Today's youth seem to be brought up multi-tasking conversations and computer activities or other chores. It results though in an overall lack of deep conversational engagement. It's just a superficial skimming sort of listening, while doing superficial work, and I think that becomes their averge overall method of engagement in any activity. I know for myself, I listen to the radio while working, but if work is going well, I can't recollect what songs even went by, let alone ever notice the vibrant interplay of violin string harmonics. I consider it disrepectful not to give someone my full attention in conversation, but this technical multi-tasking culture is producing people who operate otherwise. |
| southernyankee |
"It's looking at their dialing instead of the road, or not steering when shifting which bothers me most."
So the next step is outlawing changing your radio station?
"Even talking with passengers though, certain types of thinking which require rummaging through visual memory probably shouldn't be done while driving."
A bit difficult to enforce, no?
"Today's youth seem to be brought up multi-tasking conversations and computer activities or other chores. It results though in an overall lack of deep conversational engagement."
As well as less traffic accidents. Zinger!
I think that giving up a deep conversational engagement in exchange for safer roads seems like a pretty good trade-off, but thats just me. But enough of my usual smartassary.
"I consider it disrepectful not to give someone my full attention in conversation, but this technical multi-tasking culture is producing people who operate otherwise."
On a more serious note, what some people consider disrespectful others think is perfectly kosher. People once thought making jokes about political leaders, religious leaders, certain institutions was considered disrespect. Nowadays, people learned to tolerate irreverance, and don't mind taking pokes at one another (or themselves). People will learn to adapt and move on. Multi-tasking, half-assing everything seems to be pragamtic these days. |
| Kristal_Rose |
30 years ago I designed a car radio control that allowed eyes-off control of everything. It had a menu knob with left-speaker voice feedback which could then be pushed to make a selection, or used to set things like EQ. They probably have such a thing by now. I also thought up radio controls on the steering wheel, and I know they have those now.
I don't think people should be adjusting their radio either while on the road unless it's an eye-free radio, or on an open highway. The way I see it, a kid should still have a decent chance if they suddenly run into a boulevard, or drivers aren't being responsible.
"A bit difficult to enforce, no?" - This reminds me of our old discusions on objective/subjective law. I don't think there should be laws on any any of this stuff. People should just know better, and if a cop spots someone half behind their dash to adjust a radio while turning at an intersection, he should just site them for unsafe driving. There's safe adjusting of radios or use of cell phones, and unsafe, and laws will never catch up with what any reasonable concerned person could simply observe.
"Today's youth seem to be brought up multi-tasking conversations and computer activities or other chores. It results though in an overall lack of deep conversational engagement."
-- As well as less traffic accidents. Zinger!"
Perhaps, but who wants to live amongst safe brain-dead morons.
"I think that giving up a deep conversational engagement in exchange for safer roads seems like a pretty good trade-off, but thats just me. But enough of my usual smartassary. " - You're stuck in context again. The 'cell phone' subject was just a spring-board for the 'deep conversational engagement' topic. I wasn't even thinking about safe driving anymore by the time I brought up that concern. - Sure, it's a fine trade off in the road safety context. Personally though I can't imagine why a person would even want to bother conversing if they can't pay real attention to what's being discussed. I once got a cell phone, but got rid of it because there was never a time I wanted to divide my attention between a call and my immediate environment, except at home where I could just tune out my environment and pick it back up after the call.
- But safe-driving wasn't my point anyhow. My point was that if people spend a great deal of time in superficial attention multi-tasking, they will likely spend the rest of their life in that mode as well. I have new neighbors who spend half their time talking on a cell phone, and although I never talk to them at those times, I've found that they only hear half of anything I say at even an objective level, and so I'm really doubting they've given philosphical introspection to much of what I've had to say. Unfortunately they also give no indication if they haven't fully procesed something, and I make the mistake of presuming a person gets it all unless they say otherwise, as I would.
We can joke about ourselves with irreverance and still know we are caring for each other. Such irreverance can be a form of honesty, looking at the whole person, and not just the idealization. It can also be that people have realized that a sense of gravity is not necessearily the most helpful energy to have when dealing with grave situations of genuine concern. I'm generally annoyed by anything half-fast. I look at shoddy work like painting an apartment without removing the oulet covers, and surmise that the painters have little pride or appreciation of their time spent working, and imagine it must extend to how they view life in general. Yeah, skimming half-fast like a robot can be pragmatic, but I wouldn't care to marry a robot. The people I respect are, in a matter of speaking, married to the planet and whatever they do in life. - good observation about the similitude between the cultural trends of irreverent joking and shallow attention. |
| cloudhugger | | posted 21-Aug-2008 6:39pm |
Caleeeforneeyah is so cool |
| cloudhugger | | posted 21-Aug-2008 6:46pm |
It is a law in Cicago, but not where I am. Other drivers who talk and drive holding a phone is very annoying, most really suck at both. Even in the country. I think there are several drivers who are a bit embarrassed to let anyone see them holding a phone and driving at the same time, like smokers having to hide their cigarrettes. |
| LindaH |
Sometimes when I rest my head in my hand, I wonder if people think I'm on a phone. |
| cloudhugger | | (reply to LindaH) posted 21-Aug-2008 9:26pm |
If they are giving you dirty looks, than I would say "yes". |
| LindaH |
 That would be a sign.
I don't think I've ever looked around to see if anyone was looking at me, though. |
| cloudhugger | | (reply to LindaH) posted 22-Aug-2008 12:38am |
It's kinda creepy to look and than see someone looking at you. |
HMC35  |
Whoever has to take a phone call whilst driving must be dumb. Cell phones and driving will never mix well. |
| Kristal_Rose | | (reply to HMC35) posted 3-Sep-2008 7:57am |
I've noticed a stupid new trend since the law, people pulling over to make cell calls. Life was simpler before cell phones. When you were at home you made calls, when you drove you drove. |
