Sounds to me like the government is finding more ways to intrude where it is not necessary. Very soon the insurance industry would see the issue and find a way to account for it. Why allow Joe Cop the power to pull me over and try to find another reason to give a ticket.

Honestly, after the first 6 months how often do you think a cop is actually going to pull someone over for using a cell phone, and how are they gonna prove you are under 18 BEFORE pulling you over to get a ticket. Nope, this is just gonna be a method to supply blame in the case of an accident, where it goes back to the insurance companies.

Hi Philip,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Regards, Ron

Personally, I don’t think phones, PDAs or computers of any kind should be used while driving a car. It’s ridiculous and for someone to think they NEED to talk on the phone while driving is a bit of self-importance if I do say so.

No one NEEDS to talk while driving. It’s not as though you can actually do anything else so what the hell are they talking about that they couldn’t do while parked OR at their office or home?

It’s this blatant apathy and inconsiderate attitude among thousands of people on the road that endangers everyone’s lives. You want to kill yourself–go right ahead. But, don’t put me in the path of YOUR vehicle because you think you need to yap on your phone about some insignificant issue or, worse, some personal crap that shouldn’t affect my (and my family’s) safety.

Get over yourselves people…put the damn phones down and concentrate on driving–which most of you seem to have problems doing when you have no distractions.

later..

The problem with this “solution” is that studies have shown that the distraction of talking is the problem, not holding a cell phone. In other words, talking on a headset will cause as many accidents as talking directly on a phone.

Hello Mike and mjc,
Thanks for sharing your opinions with us.
Regards, Ron

Multitasking is difficult, no doubt about it. So, when driving a car, the driver should not be allowed to listen to the radio, or an ipod, or to a passenger in the car. While we’re at it, people shouldn’t use a cell phone in resturants, but that’s another discussion. Actually, if you have a hands free device in your car, or ear, IMHO it’s fine to drive and talk on the phone. Oh, people who wear those blue tooth cell phone devices in their ears really look DUMB and worse….STUPID!

Add Washington to the list - our new hands free law takes effect July 1st too!! Woohoo!

M Free,
Agree about no cells in restaurants.

I own a cell phone, but rarely if ever use it while driving. Not because I’m concerned about my safety or the safety of others so much, but because I’m just not a big phone person to begin with. If my phone rings while I’m driving, unless I’ve specifically asked someone to call me back or I feel it may be some sort of emergency, I don’t answer it. Whatever or whoever it is can wait until I get to my destination. Be that as it may, I disagree with the law. It is just yet another of our freedoms being legislated away. Government deciding that we aren’t smart enough or responsible enough on our own to make the right decicions. I know that many will probably disagree with me, but I see this as yet another ’slip’ down the already slippery slope we’re on towards a socialist socety where everything is decided for us.

I am sorry Mike, but I will have to disagree. It is not that it is direly important to be talking on the phone, but if you are a person that has a commute of an hour or more, then safely using a hands free device and speaking with someone is not much worse than talking to another person in your car, or listening, much less adjusting your radio.

If we follow your ideas, it sounds like we should ban car pooling, it is too dangerous. Manufacturers would then need to take radios and CD players out of a car, in case they are used while the vehicle is in motion.

I don’t believe the root problem has to do with cell phone use, but more that drivers do not get proper training for operating a vehicle safely, and simply that our interstates are not perfectly designed.

@M. Free, how can you say that the Blue Tooth devices are sooo bad? I agree that someone walking around a grocery store, or sitting at dinner with one on is; however, using one while driving or while actually talking on the phone, then taking it off makes perfect sense to me.

All that said, I still agree that it is best practice to use a hands free device and not hold a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle; just if it should be law or not.