WA. cell phone law --Update: takes effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2008!

[Freebird2007]

smoking weed is also against the law but apparently thats not stopping people either

[70Ford]

A state law that takes effect on Tuesday makes it illegal to drive while talking on a hand-held cell phone.

Cell phone bill, text message ban signed into law | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

[Adrian71]

*sigh*

When will these lawmakers understand that it's not having a phone in one hand that's the problem. The problem is distracted driving, and there are laws for that already on the books.

If you're having a heated argument on your cell while you're driving, it's no different from having a heated argument with someone inside the car. In either case, you're not paying attention to the road. But having a casual phone conversation is, again, no different from having a casual conversation with someone in the car. Most of us can multitask just fine.

Having a phone in one hand and glancing down to dial is no more or less dangerous than changing the station on the radio.

For the record, I hardly ever talk on the phone and drive at the same time. But it's not an issue when I do.

[redrum]

Originally Posted by YoAdrian

For the record, I hardly ever talk on the phone and drive at the same time. But it's not an issue when I do.

I agree that it's the intensity of the conversation that is the distraction (and I think every study concurs), but even a "light" phone conversation can be distracting, whether you're conscious of it or not (that is the whole problem, people are not cognizant of the distraction level until it's too late).

There was a story on the news yesterday where they asked someone who'd conducted a cell phone study about phone conversations vs. conversations with passengers. They said it was not comparable because the passenger is aware when your attention needs to be on the road (lane changes, stop-and-go traffic, etc) and will stop talking when needed, whereas someone on a cell phone has no idea what's going on. Also, the passenger serves as "another pair of eyes" on the road and can warn the driver of trouble, whereas again, someone on the other end of the phone cannot.

Not saying cell phones should be banned from cars, but the reality is they are a provable and preventable distraction, whereas "driving distracted" is so difficult to enforce as to be practically useless.

[Freebird2007]

I know there are some people out there that just shouldn't be talking on the phone and driving but this law is stupid nonetheless. Its going to be hard to enforce first of all. And whats stopping people from text messaging which is worse!

[ochoco]

Give me the days when you had to go home or to a phone booth to make a call. Not a cell phone fan, don't own one, and they should NEVER have been allowed to be used while driving!

[redrum]

Originally Posted by Freebird2007

Its going to be hard to enforce first of all. And whats stopping people from text messaging which is worse!

It's no different than any other traffic law where the proof is the cop's word against yours. Actually, it's easier to enforce because if you try to deny it the prosecutor can simply subpoena your call records.

Text messaging while driving has been banned in the state since January 1.

[PNW Proud]

After everything I've seen over the years, from someone going 20 mph on a I-5 on-ramp because the person was texting to *** *** I don't care if I'm weaving all over the place, I'm glad this law is here.