Should Colorado prohibit holding a phone while driving? (Denver, Fruita: insurance, high school)

[Vision67]

It looks like this issue is getting some traction:

Let


"Now Colorado lawmakers are trying again to make the brain dead pay attention.

A bill before a state Senate committee has been held over for a vote on Wednesday. It would charge $500 and add five points against a license. There are some trivial ambiguities holding it up. What if the driver wasn’t among the brain dead, but simply making a call?

As a daily commuter in this besieged metropolis, I say it’s not enough. This is not a Nanny State worry. Lawmakers need to realize they are dealing with a uniquely powerful and stunningly amoral techo-cultural invasion that exists only to please itself and public safety be damned.

The brain dead must be stopped.

All jokes aside, those typing while driving are killing and maiming and tying up traffic for thousands of hours a year."

[Gorges]

I would love to see it. We moved here from Maryland where a hands-free law has been in effect for years, and not just for texting. I would guess the law is somewhat effective because when we got to CO, I was unpleasantly amazed by the number of drivers with phones in their hands. We never saw this many people handling phones when behind the wheel in the DC area.

[smdensbcs]

A healthy percentage of people everywhere have always been selfish obnoxious boors but the addition of phones with screens in their hands has taken it to a new level of insanity in recent years, in so many many many ways. Laws against distracted driving are only common-sense, but really should just be the starting place.

[Wheatridger]

No- It's not holding the phone in one hand that's the real problem. It's looking at it and typing on it with the other hand, which leaves none of these critical resources to the task of driving.

Glancing at Google Maps while stopped at a light creates virtually no danger, but that would presumably be treated the same by such a new law. Hand-free phone laws discriminate against owners of older cars that are not so equipped. And in my judgement, the full suite of complex, screen-driven tech that comes with modern hand-free calling is a much worse distraction from the road. Most dash-mounted screens I've seen are too dim for easy daytime use and are distractingly bright at night. They demand precise attention to read text and select small buttons, with no haptic feedback, all in a moving vehicle bouncing around on our lousy roads.

So I will continue to use my hand-held phone for essential calls. It's just inconvenient enough not to tempt me to talk to excess. My dash will be dark by day and night, with only simple analog controls that offer hot or cold air, loud or soft music, and no other connectivity whatsoever. My dash will be so boring that my eyes will be on the road. See you there.

[C24L]

I think Colorado should ban holding a phone while driving.

[katharsis]

CDOT reports sharp increase in traffic fatalities in 2016 | FOX31 Denver

"Distracted drivers" -- how much do you want to bet that the majority of the "distractions" were phones?

And perhaps if cellphone usage carried the same penalties as DUIs or, at least, driving without a seatbelt, perhaps more lives would be saved. (Of course, that would mean more vigilance and enforcement by police and state troopers, but imo, it would be worth it.)

[Vision67]

Colorado toughens penalties for texting while driving

"DENVER — Colorado’s penalty for texting while driving has increased from $50 to $300.

Drivers also will get four points on their license instead of one point per violation under a bill signed into law Thursday by Gov. John Hickenlooper."



Although this is a step in the right direction, we ought to follow California and prohibit people from holding cell phones while driving. I see people doing this every day.

Most newer cars have a bluetooth wireless connection built in so there is no reason to hold a phone other than ignorance or laziness.

[BarryK123]

Agree

[Gorges]

Originally Posted by Vision67

Although this is a step in the right direction, we ought to follow California and prohibit people from holding cell phones while driving. I see people doing this every day.

Most newer cars have a bluetooth wireless connection built in so there is no reason to hold a phone other than ignorance or laziness.

Agree. This is what we had in Maryland as well. I thought about this thread yesterday when I was once again almost hit by a driver losing control at an intersection because he was driving one-handed with a phone to the ear while making a turn. This happens way too often.

[TCHP]

Originally Posted by Vision67

Most newer cars have a bluetooth wireless connection built in so there is no reason to hold a phone other than ignorance or laziness.

That's assuming you're driving a 2008 or newer vehicle. Not everyone has a car that new, but I believe every cell had a hands free option.


We had distracted driving in CO long before the advent of cell phones and will have it long after such a law passes mandating hands free devices or connections.