Do you still use your cell phone while driving? (cost of, law)

[Ultrarunner]

Only once in the last year and it was to report a couch that I saw fall off the back of a truck on the freeway... the 911 operator thanked me for calling.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

I use the phone all the time. I have a bluetooth as well and can call anyone on my list by voice. It is so cool the technology that we have now. For me I don't see it as any differant than having someone else along for the ride. With the bluetooth you are totally hands free. I am an attentive driver that has only had a wreck while sleeping at the wheel. Now sleeping while driving is something that you should never try.

It's better to have your hands free but still, it's not the same as driving and talking to your passenger.
It's about, as much as free hands, where ones attention is ... how present one is.
When you're talking to a passenger in your car, you're there ... the communication is happening in the same space and your attention ... your conscious awareness ... is more focused in that space that you are both occupying together.
Also, if you have a passenger, he/she is there with you and, consciously or not, he / she is, to some degree at least, aware of what is happening with your driving and with what is happening on the road around you.
If a pedestrian darts out into the road, you've got a second pair of eyes that may spot the person before you do.
So, as i see it, it's not the same.

[loveCali]

I have a bluetooth and still don't use the phone while driving unless there is something very important that cannot wait. But what do you say about people texting while driving??? It just scares the hell out of me. You can see them wondering on different lanes at high speed...

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by loveCali

I have a bluetooth and still don't use the phone while driving unless there is something very important that cannot wait. But what do you say about people texting while driving??? It just scares the hell out of me. You can see them wondering on different lanes at high speed...

Yep, it's crazy.
And it's like no-one knows how to just be with themselves for a relatively short period of time ... always gotta be plugged in ... kinda borg-ish.
The Transportation Dept. just banned texting for commercial bus and truck drivers today.
Transportation Dept. bans commerical bus and truck drivers from texting

[sunshine7793]

Talking while holding the phone is no more hazardous than talking hands free. It's the loss of concentation that counts. Stupid nanny laws - even Arnies bride doesn't follow them.

But the rest of you sheeple can feel good like you're doing something worthwhile. If they tell you to wear two left shoes are you gonna?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by sunshine7793

Talking while holding the phone is no more hazardous than talking hands free. It's the loss of concentation that counts. Stupid nanny laws - even Arnies bride doesn't follow them.

But the rest of you sheeple can feel good like you're doing something worthwhile. If they tell you to wear two left shoes are you gonna?

I would tend to classify you as one of the "sheeple" ... actually ... borged ... brainwashed/duped by the dominant culture ... consumer driven ... can't be with yourself ... silent ... alone ... within your own field of awareness ... need constant communication with the flock ... constant validation from others ... that you exist ... an so on.

[RJay123]

Originally Posted by sunshine7793

Talking while holding the phone is no more hazardous than talking hands free. It's the loss of concentation that counts. Stupid nanny laws - even Arnies bride doesn't follow them.

But the rest of you sheeple can feel good like you're doing something worthwhile. If they tell you to wear two left shoes are you gonna?

I wouldn't use my cell phone even if they told me to. Life and the lives of people who are driving near me are more important than increasing the risk I'll mess up while driving.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by RJay123

I wouldn't use my cell phone even if they told me to. Life and the lives of people who are driving near me are more important than increasing the risk I'll mess up while driving.

Yeah, forget about the politics of it.
It's just about common sense and caring.

[Rob98LS1]

I try not to make calls while driving, but if its important enough then I'll answer a call if it means not having to miss it and then fumble around with the phone trying to dial the number back. I don't know...
some people drive remarkably better than most even while talking on a phone...

and then there are those who can be 100% sober, no phone, both hands on the wheel and end up being the one who can't drive and run into other people or things.

And then to be fair there are those who wouldn't have caused an accident if they weren't looking down at their iphone loading an app.

Point is it's good forward thinking to try to make people recognize that it does help some people drive more conciously because they need it. For the others, I'm sure it doesn't mean much.

[Wurzig]

Originally Posted by sunshine7793

Talking while holding the phone is no more hazardous than talking hands free. It's the loss of concentation that counts. Stupid nanny laws - even Arnies bride doesn't follow them.

But the rest of you sheeple can feel good like you're doing something worthwhile. If they tell you to wear two left shoes are you gonna?

Is 'sheeple' in the dictionary? Are they related to lemmings?

Good one, Sunshine!