No more celly driving

[Homicidalheathen]

I heard after or in the month of March....

no more talking or texting while driving.

Personally think this is a good idea....

In my day we used to have to find a pay phone and pull over and get out and find change...ect...ect...gawd I sound old...anyway...

Be happy you have a celly and a parking lot to do so and DONT TALK AND DRIVE

or drink, and text and drive...have actually had two people brag about being able to accomplish this feat to me.

Now if the cops see you talking while driving you can get pulled over and cited.

[Rev.Reverence]

[Homicidalheathen]

I saw a lady on gratiot the other day...middle lane mind you...going 35...in a 45 (we all go 50) anyway she has her celly UP IN HER FACE...like in the middle of her face...like she has bad eyes or something...

how the hell can you see if your staring at your celly???

I swear, you risk taking out someone's life I will report your ass.

you know you can get someones plate number and report them for reckless driving?

At least the cops cracked down on the heroin express...few weeks ago that bus stop at the mall was packed again worse than xmas season...there was like 60 people waiting.

today it was back to normal....like 2.

Edited March 1, 2010 by Homicidalheathen

[Tyger]

In Ontario (do not know atm if it's the rest of Canada aswell) cell phone useage while driving is already against the law. $155 a ticket I think it is. Which I think is great. To many accidents and injuries from cell phones.

[torn asunder]

i'm all for banning texting while driving, but talking? that's fucking insane. it doesn't take any effort at all to flip a phone open & talk. it does, however, take a lot of effort/attention to fish around for a different cd to play, or to change the radio station , etc... are they gonna ban radios/cd players/mp3 players? of course not, cuz people would have a fit over it, yet they're more of a distraction than talking on the bloody phone...

sorry, this just irritates me...

assholes.

[phee]

I heard it was just texting.

[pomba gira]

i'm all for banning texting while driving, but talking? that's fucking insane. it doesn't take any effort at all to flip a phone open & talk. it does, however, take a lot of effort/attention to fish around for a different cd to play, or to change the radio station , etc... are they gonna ban radios/cd players/mp3 players? of course not, cuz people would have a fit over it, yet they're more of a distraction than talking on the bloody phone...

sorry, this just irritates me...

assholes.

Actually they've done quite a bit of research that shows talking on the phone while driving does in fact substantially impair driving skills, road awareness, reaction time, etc. whether the driver's hands are being used or not. It's the extended division of attention, not the physical act of holding the phone that does it. Although looking at the phone rather than the road certainly exacerbates the distraction.

[TygerLili]

I think it's a good idea.

However, it would take a big adjustment for me because about 80% of the cell phone talking I do is done while I am in the car. *shrugs* I get better reception in the car, and I get bored when I am in the car alone.

[Tyger]

Actually they've done quite a bit of research that shows talking on the phone while driving does in fact substantially impair driving skills, road awareness, reaction time, etc. whether the driver's hands are being used or not. It's the extended division of attention, not the physical act of holding the phone that does it. Although looking at the phone rather than the road certainly exacerbates the distraction.

All very true.

Even the ear peaces are a distraction. But they wont ban those, I dont think.

[Msterbeau]

i'm all for banning texting while driving, but talking? that's fucking insane. it doesn't take any effort at all to flip a phone open & talk. it does, however, take a lot of effort/attention to fish around for a different cd to play, or to change the radio station , etc... are they gonna ban radios/cd players/mp3 players? of course not, cuz people would have a fit over it, yet they're more of a distraction than talking on the bloody phone...

sorry, this just irritates me...

assholes.

Gonna disagree. Some people focus on the conversation and their attention is not on driving. People using the phone often don't signal or observe nearly as much. I've seen it a billion times and I know that even when I'm "trying" to still focus on driving, I'm no longer 100%. I'd agree that eating and other control usage *may* be even worse.

Honestly, we're headed towards a two-tiered road system: You're either on completely automatic, the car takes you where you want to go and you can call, play, and do whatever you want. This is for people who really don't care how they get there. The other is exactly the opposite. You get full manual control over the vehicle, but the vehicle disables all distractions. Radio is permitted, Navigation aids are as non-distracting as possible and otherwise the car helps you focus strictly on driving and getting where you're going.

[torn asunder]

Actually they've done quite a bit of research that shows talking on the phone while driving does in fact substantially impair driving skills, road awareness, reaction time, etc.

i don't buy it - talking on the phone is no different than talking with someone in the passenger seat when it comes to distractions, road awareness, etc. so, are they going to ban talking between passengers in a car too? besides, the studies that i've seen required people to recall lists, or make calculations, or other taxing inferences during testing.

i'm willing to bet (but have zero proof) most of the conversations going on in a moving car have more to do with "i'll be home soon, do you need anything?" or "i'm not sure where i'm going, can you give me directions?" or "so how is ol' aunt sophie these days?" - none of which are that much more mentally taxing or distracting than they would be with a passenger in the car. also, as i said before, radio/cd/mp3 changing is more of a distraction than that. you don't need to take your eyes off the road to talk, but you do to see which cd you want to listen to & then find, then take out the old cd & put in the new, etc...

i just personally think it's a stupid law. we might as well pass a law that says "no talking in cars" period.

[Msterbeau]

I think it's a good idea.

However, it would take a big adjustment for me because about 80% of the cell phone talking I do is done while I am in the car. *shrugs* I get better reception in the car, and I get bored when I am in the car alone.

I don't mean to pick on you, but with the exception of long stretches of straight highway there should be no reason to be bored driving a car. If you're truly keeping good situational awareness and focusing on driving properly, your mind should be reasonably active.

This whole topic turns into a huge pet peeve of mine... how little people really care about having good driving skills and paying attention to them. On top of that, our driver training is crap. Another reason for good public transportation. Get the people that don't really care about driving well, off the road.

[Msterbeau]

i don't buy it - talking on the phone is no different than talking with someone in the passenger seat when it comes to distractions, road awareness, etc. so, are they going to ban talking between passengers in a car too? besides, the studies that i've seen required people to recall lists, or make calculations, or other taxing inferences during testing.

i'm willing to bet (but have zero proof) most of the conversations going on in a moving car have more to do with "i'll be home soon, do you need anything?" or "i'm not sure where i'm going, can you give me directions?" or "so how is ol' aunt sophie these days?" - none of which are that much more mentally taxing or distracting than they would be with a passenger in the car. also, as i said before, radio/cd/mp3 changing is more of a distraction than that. you don't need to take your eyes off the road to talk, but you do to see which cd you want to listen to & then find, then take out the old cd & put in the new, etc...

i just personally think it's a stupid law. we might as well pass a law that says "no talking in cars" period.

There's a psychological difference between how people treat another passenger and how they treat someone on the phone. There's a clear distinction and the phone conversation does take a larger proportion of mental power. I'll have to dig up where I read that...

You may be right about short, to the point conversations... But what I usually see is people very clearly carrying on long-winded ones... especially people all laid back and barely paying attention out the window. I want a huge air horn to blow them out of there complacency. *evil*

[torn asunder]

There's a psychological difference between how people treat another passenger and how they treat someone on the phone. There's a clear distinction and the phone conversation does take a larger proportion of mental power. I'll have to dig up where I read that...

You may be right about short, to the point conversations... But what I usually see is people very clearly carrying on long-winded ones... especially people all laid back and barely paying attention out the window. I want a huge air horn to blow them out of there complacency. *evil*

1) i disagree with the concept that there's a clear distinction, i think it's all situational. i'd rather see a solo driver talking on the phone, than a boat-load of giggling, hyper-bouncy teenagers talking & laughing & turning around to look at their fellow passengers while they drive.

2) it's not the phone that's the problem, it's the type of driver, and like i said, if we're worried about distractable drivers, then we need to ban music players in moving cars as well. hell, we should outlaw applying makeup, reading a map, eating any kind of food or drinking anything, etc. because they *all* are distractions. if people are easily distractable, they'll be distracted by anything, not just phones.

now that i think about it though, if the distractions were really the reason for the ban on phone conversations, why are bluetooth headsets allowed, but not holding a phone? obviously, it's not the conversation itself that's the problem, so it must be the act of holding a phone - maybe we should outlaw only having one hand on the wheel!?

[Msterbeau]

1) i disagree with the concept that there's a clear distinction, i think it's all situational. i'd rather see a solo driver talking on the phone, than a boat-load of giggling, hyper-bouncy teenagers talking & laughing & turning around to look at their fellow passengers while they drive.

2) it's not the phone that's the problem, it's the type of driver, and like i said, if we're worried about distractable drivers, then we need to ban music players in moving cars as well. hell, we should outlaw applying makeup, reading a map, eating any kind of food or drinking anything, etc. because they *all* are distractions. if people are easily distractable, they'll be distracted by anything, not just phones.

now that i think about it though, if the distractions were really the reason for the ban on phone conversations, why are bluetooth headsets allowed, but not holding a phone? obviously, it's not the conversation itself that's the problem, so it must be the act of holding a phone - maybe we should outlaw only having one hand on the wheel!?

I really need to dig up what I read. It IS the phone. There was a study on it. The way we interact with the person on a phone was found to be distinctly different from a passenger in the car. We invest more attention into it for some reason. It made sense to me thinking about my own behaviors and observations of those around. Argue all you want, but it's just your opinion versus observed data. Totally agreed that it depends on driver and situation. You can never make a truly accurate statement that applies to all situations in cases like this. Having done hands free... I would say it's a significantly less dangerous thing strictly because you have both hands free. Not perfect, but better. I'd totally agree on bans for makeup, shaving, reading, playing games, etc. I might even be OK with banning food eating. As much as I like it as a convenience on a long trip it's WAY too easy to spill food and fuck up.

Driving is not cutting hair, applying makeup or any of dozens of other activities or occupations for which you need a license and significant training time. It's pretty easy to make one little fuck up that could cost you or others their lives. Until we have completely automated cars... I think more restrictions and more training are not bad ideas.

[TheGimp]

i think a lot of people are just ganna be switching to the ear pieces to use there cell phone as previously mentioned that way its not as noticeable if any while driving...a cop is just ganna assume there really strange and there talking to themselves or perhaps there singing along to there radio...either way people will find a way around it *shrugs*

[creatureofthenyte]

I do a lot of in-state traveling on the road(s) for work.

I am not making this up; I once saw a lady driving onto a highway entrance ramp, lighting a cigarette & texting & putting on make up all while Driving.

I have to say that law for Michigan is the same as the one here.

However, it doesn't mean a damn thing; UNLESS it is Enforced!!

That law has been on the books over here since October 1st 2005.

Have people stopped talking on the phone while driving? Noooo!

Over here, the law states that cops can do it in "emergencies".

If I had a dollar for all the times I've traveled behind a cop car and looked in the back window and seen the cop on the phone, I probably could retire comfortably.

I have an uncle who lives down in Maryland, and he once almost got t-boned by a COP who was talkin on her phone, 1 finger on the wheel, not paying attention to her surroundings.

There HAS to be a very stiff penalty for violating this law; a monetary ticket isn't gonna do shit.

People will just pay the fine and continue to chat/text.

How many people have to DIE, to get everyone else to realize how stupid doing this is???

I say there should be mandatory jail time on the 1st offense.

People need to wake and realize just how dangerous this really is.

It has been said that cellphone use behind the wheel is, in some cases, More dangerous then Drunk driving.

I'm a young guy, but I can remember a time when we had to wait till we got to where we were going to talk on the phone.

No conversation is important enough to put your life, and or the people around you's lives in danger.

Hang up the damn phone and drive yer damn car!

Driving is the ONLY thing you should be doing behind the wheel.

Edited March 2, 2010 by creatureofthenyte

[the_fairy_gothmother]

Yeah using a ear piece will be a tiny bit better but it was proven on mythbusters when they did a few tests one while under influence of alcohol and one while takling on phone . The person on the phone drove worse than the person under the influence. C'mon the mythbusters here I dont think you can argue with them. but texting that really irks me. My ex does it all the time. I keep telling him he better knock it off especially if I am in the car and he tells me to shut the fuck up my voice is more distracting and i will get him into a accident. He even textxs while roads are bad. Well I hope the police get his ass good.Cause i really hate hearing his constant mario theme go off when his lil preppy girly friend texts him. They never actually talk on the phone and have meaningful conversations. I got nothing wrong with texting but they do it for hours solid and you hear this mario theme go off every minute and you wanna rape him with the cellphone and goomba!

[candyman]

Texting while driving is stupid so I don't care about that. Talking on the phone may be a different story though. Personally, if having a conversation distracts you from driving then you should really check your driving skills. I see people talking and doing something else every day and they don't have to stop what they are doing just to speak. Ear pieces should be a must if your car does not have a Bluetooth connection, but those are easy to install anyways. If they ban talking on the phone while driving ANYWHERE I am going to be pissed...either they give me a special permit or I kick them in the nuts. Try doing a road rally where you have to keep in contact with the track controller AND your navigator all while driving a really curvy road track...that shit should be your final drivers test before you can legally drive! I will say it again...if you can't talk on the phone and drive you may want to go over your driving skills again...or take a bus.

[pomba gira]

I really need to dig up what I read. It IS the phone. There was a study on it. The way we interact with the person on a phone was found to be distinctly different from a passenger in the car. We invest more attention into it for some reason. It made sense to me thinking about my own behaviors and observations of those around. Argue all you want, but it's just your opinion versus observed data. Totally agreed that it depends on driver and situation. You can never make a truly accurate statement that applies to all situations in cases like this. Having done hands free... I would say it's a significantly less dangerous thing strictly because you have both hands free. Not perfect, but better. I'd totally agree on bans for makeup, shaving, reading, playing games, etc. I might even be OK with banning food eating. As much as I like it as a convenience on a long trip it's WAY too easy to spill food and fuck up.

Driving is not cutting hair, applying makeup or any of dozens of other activities or occupations for which you need a license and significant training time. It's pretty easy to make one little fuck up that could cost you or others their lives. Until we have completely automated cars... I think more restrictions and more training are not bad ideas.

Well said.

And actually, there have been numerous studies on this and they all reached the same conclusions.

And saying "If people can't...... then they shouldn't......." is utterly useless in just about any context, since the people who "can't " aren't generally self-aware enough to realize it, and/or are too self-absorbed to care about the danger they pose to others. If EVERYONE were self-aware and responsible enough to monitor and control their own behaviors... we wouldn't need laws of any kind.

[synthier]

And actually, there have been numerous studies on this and they all reached the same conclusions.

Who wants studies? I can give you 1000's of them...literally. Oh, and .pdfs of dozens. Extra to the research-oriented.

For example:

Drews, Frank A.; Pasupathi, Monisha; Strayer, David L.; Passenger and cell phone conversations in simulated driving. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Vol 14(4), Dec, 2008. pp. 392-400.

Strayer, David L.; Drews, Frank A.; Johnston, William A.; Cell phone-induced failures of visual attention during simulated driving. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Vol 9(1), Mar, 2003. pp. 23-32

Beck KH, Yan F, Wang MQ, Cell phone users, reported crash risk, unsafe driving behaviors and dispositions: a survey of motorists in Maryland. Journal Of Safety Research [J Safety Res], ISSN: 0022-4375, 2007; Vol. 38 (6), pp. 683-8

Charlton SG, Accident; Driving while conversing: cell phones that distract and passengers who react. Analysis And Prevention [Accid Anal Prev], ISSN: 1879-2057, 2009 Jan; Vol. 41 (1), pp. 160-73

Ishigami Y, Klein RM, Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone? Journal Of Safety Research [J Safety Res], ISSN: 1879-1247, 2009; Vol. 40 (2), pp. 157-64

Strayer DL, Drews FA, Crouch DJ, A comparison of the cell phone driver and the drunk driver. Human Factors [Hum Factors], ISSN: 0018-7208, 2006 Summer; Vol. 48 (2), pp. 381-91;

[torn asunder]

question is, how were these studies conducted? i saw the one on myth busters, and some of the things they had people doing were things like, "here's a list of ten items, were going to read them to you & you have to recite them back." or some kind of complex story-problem kind of math. they were asking things normal people will never/rarely encounter in their typical phone conversations.

besides, i think most people are aware enough that if they see something about to happen, they'll drop the phone and take action. this is really no different than bringing your hand up away from changing the radio, putting a cd in, getting the cap off your bottle of pop, or any of dozens of other things that require one hand to be off the wheel. i can see it being a ticketable offense, depending on road conditions, or along with involvement in an accident, etc. but being able to pull someone over solely because they're talking on the phone seems assinine to me.

texting? i agree with that, because it requires too much focus and takes one's eyes off the road far too long. talking on the phone doesn't.

i'd like to see these tests conducted without intending to make the conversations so difficult, like a simple "how's the family" conversation, & see what those results would be like. i'll bet they'd be different.

[synthier]

question is, how were these studies conducted? i saw the one on myth busters, and some of the things they had people doing were things like, "here's a list of ten items, were going to read them to you & you have to recite them back." or some kind of complex story-problem kind of math. they were asking things normal people will never/rarely encounter in their typical phone conversations.

besides, i think most people are aware enough that if they see something about to happen, they'll drop the phone and take action. this is really no different than bringing your hand up away from changing the radio, putting a cd in, getting the cap off your bottle of pop, or any of dozens of other things that require one hand to be off the wheel. i can see it being a ticketable offense, depending on road conditions, or along with involvement in an accident, etc. but being able to pull someone over solely because they're talking on the phone seems assinine to me.

texting? i agree with that, because it requires too much focus and takes one's eyes off the road far too long. talking on the phone doesn't.

i'd like to see these tests conducted without intending to make the conversations so difficult, like a simple "how's the family" conversation, & see what those results would be like. i'll bet they'd be different.

Yeah, it's interesting... since it's not quite ethical to test this out in 100% real life situations they need to design a study using what they can - a driving simulator that might be crappy and from 1989, a list of words instead of "now just chat", etc etc. I'm friends with a few of the researchers who do this work... not that I'm biased, of course! ha ha... But I know what you're getting at, and I also know what they're dealing with. While it's not completely the same, I think the body of evidence points to true problems with cellies. And, simply, I think that *most people* don't have the reaction times or cognitive reserve needed to make good decisions in tough situations. But I've been called a pessimist before.

Personally, though, I think it sucks that they will be able to ticket you for chatting and driving. I'd like to take a test that shows I can multi-task better than the average idiot, and therefore be allowed to talk to my grandma while driving home. But I doubt that's gonna happen, so I guess I will have to be OK giving up some freedom for some safety. Sniff. Sucks being an adult.

[candyman]

The tests use statistics...which doesn't tell the story when you are dealing with people...

There are so many people that suck at driving when that is ALL that they are doing. I know plenty of people that can't handle the simple task of using the pedals and steering wheel while staying within the line...and that is in an automatic. Now factor in a few manuals...maybe some traffic...a bad or good experience that linger on the mind...daydreamers...people with allergies or a cold...your favorite song or issue on the radio...the radio not working properly.

Yeah the radio is a big factor too...and moving the buttons onto the steering wheel doesn't seem to have helped much either...more confusion for some people it seems. Almost all the new innovations in cars have been or are being made to make the vehicles idiot proof. People can't use mirrors for some reason...so an elaborate camera system is installed...and they still back into my fucking car and drive away. Out of all the idiot proofing done to cars very few to none of them have much to do with talking on the phone while driving.

I will admit that texting while driving is stupid...but to add talking on the phone while driving makes no sense...the conversation has to be really intense to fuck you up THAT much and if it is you simply hang up until later or pull over...if you cause an accident because of it YOU are to blame not the phone.