Hats off too Torrence (price, dangerous, safety)

[uptown_urbanist]

Driving isn't a civil liberty; it's a privilege, not a right. Want to talk on the phone or text? Pull over. Not that hard.

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

Tell that too someone who has lost a loved one because of some jerk who wanted to text and drive at the same time.
Perhaps if it happened to you, you would appreciate the importance of not using a cell phone while driving.
My honest opinion is, you won't realize the importance until it hits home, and it very well could.
The cold reality is, ask yourself now, "how would I feel if I got a call from the police saying my loved one was killed in a traffic accident involving a teenager who was texting while driving"?
Still think it isn't an important issue that needs to be dealt with?
Bob.

I work in the auto insurance industry. Serious accidents do not occur very often due to cell phone usage. I actually know what I'm talking about, I don't think the same can be said about you. You make using a cell phone like drinking and driving. The whole talking on a phone while driving is overblown.

Drowsy & Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation

nhtsa is as legit as it gets. Talking on the phone is just as bad as eating or talking to a passanger. Lets ban passengers next too. I've seen alot more accidents caused by people playing with their radio. I'd say five times more than with a cell phone, its just not tracked like cell phone usage. Nhtsa basically states cell phone usage is just as bad as any other distraction while driving.

Cell phone usage has become the smoking ban craze of the 90's.

[CALGUY]

Originally Posted by Dub D

I work in the auto insurance industry. Serious accidents do not occur very often due to cell phone usage. I actually know what I'm talking about, I don't think the same can be said about you. You make using a cell phone like drinking and driving. The whole talking on a phone while driving is overblown.

Drowsy & Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation

nhtsa is as legit as it gets. Talking on the phone is just as bad as eating or talking to a passanger. Lets ban passengers next too. I've seen alot more accidents caused by people playing with their radio. I'd say five times more than with a cell phone, its just not tracked like cell phone usage. Nhtsa basically states cell phone usage is just as bad as any other distraction while driving.

Cell phone usage has become the smoking ban craze of the 90's.

According to you testimony above, I guess it's alright to have an accident while using a cell phone , just because there are not many accidents connected to cell phone use (by the way, I think that statement is bogus)
Get with it , one death caused by cell phone use is one too many.
Bob.

[drshang]

Few comments:

- cell phones have only very recently become prolific in their usage so you might see limited amounts of crash data/studies conducted. That link from the NHTSA largely comes to inconclusive results in regards to how unsafe they are. One major real world difference is you can control when you are eating, changing the station on the radio, etc. You can't control when you have an incoming call and have to grab your phone and talk on it. This creates a much larger real world distraction in my view

- many European countries have much larger penalties for driving while using a cell phone (excluding hands free devices) that rival the $1,000 penalty. We have $400-500 penalties for running red lights, $300+ penalties for riding in carpool lanes, $250+ penalties for parking in fire lanes, etc. Hardly an unprecedented or unreasonable fine if you ask me

- after market external hands free devices are fine for a stop gap solution while driving until people have sufficient time to integrate a hands free device into all cars, but they are a poor long term "solution"

- there are plenty of precedents for including devices in cars to increase their safety and efficiency (air bags, seat belts, smog standards, etc.) of cars so requiring devices to eventually have equipment to address the issue of cell phones/distractions is pretty reasonable if you ask me. Most of these hands free type devices also allow you to control the radio and mp3 player. CDs are becoming irrelevant anyway, but they are quite distracting too. You can kill two birds with one stone (cell phones and radios) by requiring controls on the steering wheel. Obviously you can't outlaw every possible distraction, but you can address/minimize the impact of a lot of the major ones

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

According to you testimony above, I guess it's alright to have an accident while using a cell phone , just because there are not many accidents connected to cell phone use (by the way, I think that statement is bogus)
Get with it , one death caused by cell phone use is one too many.
Bob.

Your opinion is meaningless because you hold no merit on this topic. You are obviously extremely liberal on this topic. I never said its ok to get into an accident. In fact, let me explain your point since you are doing such an awful job at it. Your point is using a cell phone causes a traffic incident not an accident. My point has been clear throughout, talking on the phone is no different than talking to someone in your car. In your case, singing along to Michael Bolton songs and applying lipstick.

I see police reports on a daily basis, I have hardly ever seen a citation for causing an accident due to cell phone usage. Of course, that is nearly impossible to proof. Any prolonged distraction while driving causes 98% of people to be distracted.

I understand this anger towards drunk drivers because they do cause alot of serious accidents but cell phone users?

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by drshang

Few comments:

- cell phones have only very recently become prolific in their usage so you might see limited amounts of crash data/studies conducted. That link from the NHTSA largely comes to inconclusive results in regards to how unsafe they are. One major real world difference is you can control when you are eating, changing the station on the radio, etc. You can't control when you have an incoming call and have to grab your phone and talk on it. This creates a much larger real world distraction in my view

- many European countries have much larger penalties for driving while using a cell phone (excluding hands free devices) that rival the $1,000 penalty. We have $400-500 penalties for running red lights, $300+ penalties for riding in carpool lanes, $250+ penalties for parking in fire lanes, etc. Hardly an unprecedented or unreasonable fine if you ask me

- after market external hands free devices are fine for a stop gap solution while driving until people have sufficient time to integrate a hands free device into all cars, but they are a poor long term "solution"

- there are plenty of precedents for including devices in cars to increase their safety and efficiency (air bags, seat belts, smog standards, etc.) of cars so requiring devices to eventually have equipment to address the issue of cell phones/distractions is pretty reasonable if you ask me. Most of these hands free type devices also allow you to control the radio and mp3 player. CDs are becoming irrelevant anyway, but they are quite distracting too. You can kill two birds with one stone (cell phones and radios) by requiring controls on the steering wheel. Obviously you can't outlaw every possible distraction, but you can address/minimize the impact of a lot of the major ones

1. Just because you get a call doesnt mean you have to answer it. I ignore most of my calls until I am done driving unless it is important which is rare.

2. Comparing this fine to running a red light or parking in a red zone is a real stretch. We all know how dangerous running a red light can be. Parking in a red zone can cause hell if a firetruck needs to be at the same place.

3. Most newer cars being made still require you to use your hands to operate a mp3. The only one I can think of that isnt a luxury vehicle are Fords with Sync. Most others require an expensive GPS unit installed to get that feature.

[Joseph Marnix]

Is this posted in the Daily Breeze or something? I'd like to see a newspaper article about it.

[CALGUY]

Originally Posted by Dub D

Your opinion is meaningless because you hold no merit on this topic. You are obviously extremely liberal on this topic. I never said its ok to get into an accident. In fact, let me explain your point since you are doing such an awful job at it. Your point is using a cell phone causes a traffic incident not an accident. My point has been clear throughout, talking on the phone is no different than talking to someone in your car. In your case, singing along to Michael Bolton songs and applying lipstick.

I see police reports on a daily basis, I have hardly ever seen a citation for causing an accident due to cell phone usage. Of course, that is nearly impossible to proof. Any prolonged distraction while driving causes 98% of people to be distracted.

I understand this anger towards drunk drivers because they do cause alot of serious accidents but cell phone users?

Perhaps you should read the REAL facts concerning how many accidents are caused by cell phone use.[SIZE=3]NSC estimates 1.6 million crashes caused by cell phone use and texting[/SIZE]
Bob.

[White_rolex]

It seems like you can get a ticket for everything nowadays. I have to agree txting and driving is prob one of the most dangerous things to do. It seems like everyone face is glued to their phone. If you have a bluetooth and someone txt you while your driving. Just give them a call. It's much easier then txting and driving.

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[californio sur]

Even Maria Shriver was caught twice since Arnold signed the law