[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by ferret111

Not true. Unless something has changed recently, Florida has a law which prohibits local municipalities from passing cell phone laws.

Well they can and are. I have heard of people pulled over and ticketed for talking on their cell phones. Now when I go through this Village I put my phone on speaker and hold it below the windows. Now I know even if I have the phone on hands free I am still distracted, I have two hands on the wheel though.

Advisory Legal Opinion - Municipal regulation of cellular phones while driving
http://www.cellphonedriving.com/florida-laws.html (broken link)

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by Red.Apple

I know Florida is not the only state where cell phone is allowed while driving - but I get annoyed when I see drivers talk on their cell phones and text message while driving everywhere, even in front of the police.
No wonder why there are car accidents everywhere, and people don't concentrate because of that damn cell phone.

I can't wait for Florida to pass a law like many other states including California, New York, New Jersey etc.

No thanks. CA, NY and NJ have passed plenty of nutty laws telling you what you can do, where you can do it and when you can do it. And they tax the hell out of you when you aren't doing anything

If anything, we need a strong court system so that people who are careless are held accountable with lawsuits and jail time.

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

Then pull over. And why do you always need to be connected and why would you want to?

I agree. I cannot talk and stay focused on the road and other drivers....it is impossible no matter what the cowboys say. I can't tell you the number of times I am sitting at a red light, it changes and someone ahead, on the phone, is zoned out. Even when people blow the horn, they still act like zombies....since there are many more people on the roads, it is scary to have someone in a 6000 lb missile only half aware of what they are doing.

When I am on the road and have to use my phone, I pull over, period.

[Parothead]

Again, I'll take my chances in Florida behind a business person on their cell phone on a blue tooth, over a blue haired old lady peeking "through" the steering wheel like a mouse peekIng out of a bush.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by Parothead

Again, I'll take my chances in Florida behind a business person on their cell phone on a blue tooth, over a blue haired old lady peeking "through" the steering wheel like a mouse peekIng out of a bush.

I wouldn't. It's a no-win situation either way.

[rogercobb]

Florida will never pass a law that makes sense but then people should not be talking and texting. It is nearly as dangerous as driving drunk. Talking on a cell phone is FAR more dangerous than eating a snack while driving. While talking your mind is preoccupied with the conversation and picturing more images. This is not at all the case when you are eating. I still cannot believe one would equate the two.

[rogercobb]

Originally Posted by Parothead

Again, I'll take my chances in Florida behind a business person on their cell phone on a blue tooth, over a blue haired old lady peeking "through" the steering wheel like a mouse peekIng out of a bush.

How about not taking your chances on either?

[bbronston]

Talking on a blue tooth headset or a speaker is no different than talking to a passenger there in the car. It takes no more thought and is no more distracting because it is the same thing. No one is calling for a ban on passengers or conversations with passengers while driving so why go after cellular use of this type? I don't know if any research has been done but I have no doubt that it is the physical holding of the phone to your ear and mouth that is distracting because you are doing three physical actions at once (positioning the phone, driving, and conversing) instead of two and, I believe, most people can handle two readily but more than that begins to take a toll on one's ability to dedicate "sufficient mental resources" to all activities.

[Red.Apple]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

No thanks. CA, NY and NJ have passed plenty of nutty laws telling you what you can do, where you can do it and when you can do it. And they tax the hell out of you when you aren't doing anything

If anything, we need a strong court system so that people who are careless are held accountable with lawsuits and jail time.

That's why CA, NY and NJ residents are more educated and better than states, like Florida, with no laws. FL is very laid back with everything - but people complain why there are accidents and crap drivers everywhere

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by rogercobb

Florida will never pass a law that makes sense but then people should not be talking and texting. It is nearly as dangerous as driving drunk. Talking on a cell phone is FAR more dangerous than eating a snack while driving. While talking your mind is preoccupied with the conversation and picturing more images. This is not at all the case when you are eating. I still cannot believe one would equate the two.

So should we ban talking to passengers while driving?