Should all cities ban cell phones while driving?

texbaylea · May 9, 2006

dooleysm

It is amazing how having to earn your first car will steady a kid. Many years ago, as our son was coming up 16, I acquire a 1966 Chevy Impala SS convertible that needed work. Our son was helping me work on it and we had it torn down. It was his birthday and I took him out to the garage and said "this is now your car". With my help and I paid for the parts he cleaned it all up, overhauled the engine and auto trans and put it back together.

His friends were complaining that he drove it like an "old maid" and it was one hot car.

He kept it into college but it was lost in a flood in his junior year while he went to school in Germany for that year.

Vernon

dooleysm · May 9, 2006

Speed limits are a tax on the unlucky and lead to state-sponsored extortion (pretrial diversion programs). They should be removed immediately. Merely one man's opinion.

See this video for proof:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5366552067462745475

Bob_Skurka · May 9, 2006

(
Don't need to ban all cell phones.. just make it where you need handsfree.

... how about 'onstar' You ban cell phones in cars.. and GM is gonna have to retrofit lots of vehicles.. that's a big 'backwards step' in progress.
Soundguy )

Sounds to me like rich people can have drive/talk on cell phones but poor people can't afford a special car kit for handsfree service. Sounds like a class struggle to me. . . I can see it now, line up on your left for government cheese, line up on your right for a free government supplied handsfree kit.

EddieWalker · May 9, 2006

I'm confused.

What difference does it make to a person who's talking on the phone and totally distracted to the point of not knowing what's going on around them if they are holding the phone in their hand or it's a headset unit? They still have to answer the phone which some of you have said is the most common time for an accident.

But on a day to day basis, it's still the person talking and in la-la land not paying attention to their speed or able to stay in the lane that gives me the most distress.

Eddie

flwiii · May 9, 2006

Interesting video. How would this theory work in a school zone?

If they were to remove speed limits on the highways, I would have to start driving a sherman tank in order not to become a casualty.

There really is no clear answer to the cell phone/distraction problem. It is just another one of those daily risks we all must take. It never fails, laws to protect the innocent, become the playground of the guilty.

Bob_Skurka · May 9, 2006

Eddie, I'm confused too. But the handsfree kits allow you to use voice commands to dial, they auto-answer incoming calls, auto-hang up when the other person hangs up, they even mute the radio when the phone is initiated so the good ones are truely hands free.

Dialing/fumbling with the phone is a major distraction. But just talking on the phone is also a problem because you are correct about people drifting into la-la land while chatting away.

Personally I have a handsfree kit built into my car that has all the fancy features. BUT I STILL HATE CALLS IN THE CAR. And what infuriates me are the rude drivers who sit in the left lane at 5mph BELOW the speed limit and hold up traffic while they chat to their friends. Most are women (I don't know why), most refuse to yield right in accordance with the law (I don't know why), and most look/act like you are disturbing them when you are forced to pass them on the right.

SHUT UP AND DRIVE. And I complain about people who eat, read and pick their noses while driving too. So I am an equal opportunity crabby person.

PineRidge · May 9, 2006

( Forget the "Onstar" thing. I don't want Big Brother following me around via satellite.
John )

In case you didn't realize it you can be tracked via satellite if you carry a cell phone and it is turned on standby, you don't even need to talk for them to know your location..

flwiii · May 9, 2006

In case you didn't realize it you can be tracked via satellite if you carry a cell phone and it is turned on standby, you don't even need to talk for them to know your location.. 

You can be tracked by anything electronic, or anything that interacts with electronic devices. This included credit/debit cards, gas cards, Cell Phones, Computers etc.

Are you so notorious that the Government has an interest in knowing your whereabouts? Based on the poor track record we have seen with keeping track of non-resident aliens in this country, I doubt you have much to worry about.

Just a thought.

NewToy · May 9, 2006

I know about the cell phones unique "signature" that allows tracking when logging onto different towers. I understand some actually have a GPS signal being emitted for 911 type emergencies. I just don't like the level of intrusiveness the "Onstar" system allows. No a particularly notorious fellow, just value my privacy. Lots of legal ramifications "Onstar" brings up. Just think if OJ Simpson had one when he paid Nicole and Ron a visit that tragic night.

John

NewToy · May 9, 2006

I understand how if you made a purchase with a credit card that would allow a "snapshot" of your location. I have a problem with a system that can monitor your conversations within the confines of your automobile unbeknownst to you.
Maybe the government can give all illegal aliens a new Caddie and then we'll be on top of that situation.
I don't know about "anything electronic" tracking you. I have an electronic alarm clock, electronic tire guage, camera, calculator and lots of other things that aren't tracking me. (I hope) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I'm really not "worried" about it, just a bit concerned where all the information might end up. Kind of like the discount cards a grocery store offers if you sign up for it. They have a detailed list of your purchases. They know if you like beer, cigs, unhealthy foods, etc. I'll wager the insurance companies would like to get their hands on all that very personal data.

John