They can pass laws dictating where people can smoke...

[Oeditpus Rex]

but they can't pass any to make people PUT DOWN THE FUCKING PHONE AND DRIVE WITH THEIR ENTIRE BRAINS?



:popcorn:

[In_The_Wind]

1. They tried to in NY.

No hand held phones is better than allowing full usage as they do in most states..

[bigwillq]

2. In CT

it's a state law that while driving, you must use an ear piece device. Not everybody follows it but it seems like most people are.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Not good enough

Study after study has shown it's not the number of hands on the wheel that's the danger but the number of brain cells devoted to the task of driving.

[bigwillq]

5. Which is true

but I think the hands free law is good enough. I'm all for safety but I'm also for the less people telling me what to do the better.

[DS1]

8. So I suppose we should all ride around in separate cars

:shrug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. I don't understand your point

:shrug:

[DS1]

15. Your argument seemed to be that talking hands-free or not was distracting

so I'm wondering if we should ban passenger to passenger communication as well

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. Invalid point

Passengers have the same sense of their surroundings as the driver, so the distraction is virtually nil. If you don't believe it, try it.

[DS1]

18. I don't see how your point works, either

Hands free allows people to have a normal conversation.

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Okay, try this

Get a ball game on the teevee, then call somebody. Try to talk to them about something besides the game while you watch it. You can do one or the other well, but not both.

Now watch the game with someone sitting next to you. Talk amongst yourselves. You can do both easily because you're both doing the same things.

I don't surrender an inch of attention while I'm driving. I'd greatly appreciate it if others would return the courtesy.

[Redstone]

12. Only seems like about 50% where we are. I almost get run over about

every third day by someone yacking on the goddamn phone.

Redstone

[DS1]

4. They should at least quadruple fines/punishments/sentences

for people who cause accidents while on the phone.

[greendog]

23. People who cause accidents while talking on the phone...

...should have to eat the phone.

[tjwash]

6. Yeah, that's one of my pet peeves too.

Just makes me wonder if they ever did a study of how many accidents there were while someone was drvng while talking on their phone.

[Katherine Brengle]

7. I think it is harder bc the car is your private property--

but at the same time, we have laws regarding how you may use that property, so I think laws regarding cell-phone use while driving are perfectly reasonable--in the interest of public safety.

[SeattleGirl]

17. Cars are private property, yes, but there are movements afoot

to ban people from smoking in their cars when children are also riding along.

[LynneSin]

9. They're working on it - it's a big fine in New Jersey

if they catch you they will nail you on it.

Like the smoking ban, it's something that's going to take time. A few big states will make the jump, like New Jersey and soon we'll see it across the country

[anarch]

10. against the law in DC

Hmmm...I wonder if I can make a citezen's arrest the next time some jackass talking on his cell phone nearly hits me in a crosswalk.

[no name no slogan]

11. There's laws against driving and talking in many states

In Minnesota it is illegal to drive and talk on your phone. The problem is enforcement.

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. According to this

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/transportation/cellphone05apdA.htm

...the only law in Minnesota forbids DWT by those under 18 who have a permit or provisional license.

Perhaps there's a new law.

[no name no slogan]

19. It was passed in 2005 as part of the transportation bill

you are correct-- the current law bans it for under 18s, and and took effect 1/1/2006

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/sscellph.pdf (sorry, it's a PDF)

New York and Connecticut also have laws on the book regarding DWT, according to this source.

[RevCheesehead]

20. Is that a new kind of phone I'm unaware of?

Granted, my social life hasn't been all that great lately, but still... I thought I'd at least have read about it. :silly:

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. You haven't heard of the Fucking Phone?

You live in a hole or somethin'? Got your own juniper bush?

:hi:

[TheBaldyMan]

24. or carry firearms

[bridgit]

25. ppfftt, you do have that just right friend, seen people all over the...

capitol today sneaking smokes like alleged criminals, while nearly crashing into dozens of shit-heads trying to drive and talk at the same time all over the landscape...i thought there was a law against that :shrug: