Should all cities ban cell phones while driving?

[flwiii]

The fallacy here is "insurance rates going down". Don't expect that even if technology helps them stop the scammers. They will raise the rate because of the costs of gathering all this lovely info from your auto.

It really doesn't bother me one way or the other if they did enact such a law as I use handsfree anyway. I don't like taking my eyes off the road when I use the cell. I will avoid using it if at all possible.
I just stated that I can understand SoundGuy's viewpoint after seeing some of the pain caused by the DMCA.

<font color="blue"> I dont intend to get caught doing something wrong, so why do I care? </font>

This sounds a bit suggestive. Are you saying that you intend on doing things wrong, just don't plan on getting caught doing them? Or, did you mean you don't intend on doing anything wrong so you aren't worried about getting caught? Just wondering.

 

[HGM]

flwii,

I think you took it like I was directing my last post to you.. In fact it was more of a general question of why the post has turned down the conspiracy path..

The insurance point was mearly building on your comments..You're probably right about that, though thats the excuse we've been hearing for years explaining why our rates are the way they are... However, I must say that my rates have gone down a bit over the years... I guess its because of age and driving record more than anything else..

No, I dont intend on doing anything wrong, but if I did, I'd hope not to get caught /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif... Does that answer the question? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't think SoundGuy is defending the "inept" cell phone users as much as he is worried that a new law could be abused by others to include more than the laws intent. )</font>

Yep.. nothing like a little thing like passing a law to really muck up the situation you were trying to fix in the first place.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). After reading some of the absurd applications some have made with this law, I can understand SoundGuy's position.
)</font>

Unfortunately there are many examples of that.. But yes.. I agree... what could/should have been narrow in scope.. paints with a roller instead of a brush...

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I also think that SoundGuy is in agreement with you. We don't need another law. We need to, as you have said, enforce the ones we already have.
)</font>

Deffinately right.. you said it better than I was.

Soundguy

 

[BlueRidge]

<font color="blue"> Sounds like a class struggle to me. . . </font>

Those who think in terms of "class struggle", don't think.

 

[BlueRidge]

<font color="blue"> I guess I obviously don't see a huge difference to talking to someone on a handsfree cell phone vs talking to a passanger.. or i wouldn't be arguing the point. </font>

I don't understand the WHY of it, because what you are saying makes sense to me.

HOWEVER, there are too many studies now showing the same thing to ignore it. I usde to blow off those studies, but there's too much data now.

It's not the dialing, it's not the answering the phone that is the BIG distraction, it's the conversation with someone who is not in the vehicle. For some reason, for many people, this just about shuts down their awareness of what's going on in their immediate surroundings. Not EVERYBODY is affected this way, but most are to one degree or another.

I've seen it, too.

 

[flwiii]

HGM:
I didn't think that your comments were aimed directly to me. Who am I other than some words on a screen. I just thought I was not clear with my statements. My wife says I ramble too much so I don't always get the point I'm trying to make across properly.

Just heard a strange one on the radio. Someone rear ended a police officer because he was too busy eating a bowl of Corn Flakes while driving. Unbelievable. Now, that's a distraction.

I think driving record is probably the largest contributor to lower insurance rates. I am also glad to hear you aren't intent on doing things wrong. Thanks for the clarification /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's not the dialing, it's not the answering the phone that is the BIG distraction, it's the conversation with someone who is not in the vehicle. For some reason, for many people, this just about shuts down their awareness of what's going on in their immediate surroundings )</font>

I guess this could be attributed to 'tunnel vision' style thinking. Ever see people so engrossed in a task that you literally can not make contact with them without phisically touching them or something.. I.E. .. teens and video games .. hmm.. video games.. wonder if there is a connection.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not EVERYBODY is affected this way, but most are to one degree or another.
)</font>

Hmm.. that must be why I'm having a hard time understanding it.. as I'd ahve to say I'm not effected by it at all. I frequently am wearing a telex headset or other type of wired or wireless vox communication rig while working my night job.. sometimes 5-7 hours at a time.. multiple days in a week. All the engineers working on a project usually have a com line so that we can intercommunicate.. we actually rely on that in order to get specific info, so that we can concentrate on our work... go figure... Probably has to do with how each particular person's brain is wired or something.. ( some of us must be hi-fi with 5.1 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif while others are mono.. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Soundguy

 

[flwiii]

SoundGuy:
It may be the fact that a headset and the ensuing conversations are secondary for you as part of your job. In other words you have to be doing something on a control board while having the conversations.

I don't veg out when talking on the phone either, but that is probably similar to you. I spent 8 years as a Customer Service Supervisor. I would have to carry on a conversation while pulling files, collecting data on a computer etc. Over the years you develop the technique to put the convo into a secondary position.

A lot of people are used to doing nothing when having phone conversations. [IE sitting in a chair discussing today's events with a friend].

 

[flwiii]

Have any of you seen a show on Cable called MythBusters? They attempt to prove or disprove common assumptions people have. They did a test to see if cell phone use was similar to being somewhat intoxicated. It was a very interesting half-hour. If you get a chance to see it, you should, the results were interesting.

Each of the selected crew members had to drive a Police training course while sober. Then run the course while trying to answer math questions over the cell phone, then after the consumption of several beers over an hour period.

 

[NewToy]

I'm amazed at the people I see on the hi-way that are reading a book! Never paid close attention but I bet at least a few of them were on the cell phone too.

John