by Jack
We’ve had the cell phone law now for awhile and I’m wondering how’s it working out for you? Do you comply with the law or do you think its silly and pretty much use your cell phone like always? Do you text and drive?
Cell phone laws exist in 32 states and given this momentum chances are it will be almost universally applied in the near future.
Have you been in an accident or had a near miss because of a cell phone violation? We would like to hear your story.
2010 – Washington, DC – The National Safety Council announced today that it estimates at least 28% of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year – involve drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year involve drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year involve drivers who are texting. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of NSC’s call for a ban on all cell phone use and texting while driving.
“We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes involve drivers using cell phones and texting,” said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. “We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use is a factor in many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text,” she said. “That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads.”
I don’t use a cell phone while driving…and I’m frustrated by drivers who are obviously distracted while talking on the phone or texting while driving.
Enforcement of our laws would be helpful…and bring in some much needed revenue.
I think most users believe they are the one person in the universe that can drive and text or talk at the same time. (Observation of most of them says otherwise) Some are better than others but why are they so willing to take the chance with the lives of others? Driving that big potential weapon is a big enough risk requiring a responsible, alert driver. It’s only common sense and common courtesy to wait until you park to use the phone.
Paying a fat fine might discourage this dangerous practice.
I can’t imagine trying to text and drive at the same time. When my wife or myself are behind the wheel our phones are out of reach or on vibrate.
Last week we watched a person on a cell phone pay zero attention while entering the driving circle by station 5. You can be on the lookout for @$$ holes like that, its the ones who drift over the line into oncoming traffic that will end you.
I am ready for a law that calls for cars to have cell signal jammers installed so cars will not allow cells in the car to operate while the key is in the ignition.
Who will pay for it you ask? How about the cell phone companies? Maybe split the cost between cell phone providers and cell phone manufacturers.
How bout if you are pulled over for being on your cell while driving, your privilege to drive is suspended for 90 days. Your car is locked up on a dirt lot out in the weather and you take the bus.
If you are dumb enough to do it again, you forfeit your driving privilege for 5 years and your car is crushed.
I think this would work for DUI’s as well.
This will save lives and tons of money from day one.
I eagerly await input from any and all on this idea, should make for interesting reading.
My thinking is the law is bogus and does not do much to stop the problem. Why not simply abolish the law and when an accident occurs, you check the cell phone records. If the person involved in the accident was using his phone at the time… Blammo! Throw the book at him. Impound his car for say 60 days and then he also has to pay a big fee to get it back. If it inconveniences the person, too bad. Lose theri job, too bad. Do something like that and the cell phone problem would dry up pretty fast.
Only thing is the municipalities would lose out on all those ticket fees. Too bad!
Cities are missing om the revenue, they rare cite for cell phone violations, unless it is connected with another traffic violation. Seems like cities get to keep at least 50% of fine money.
Hey I like your thinking Toby! I really like the idea of a cell phone jammer, where can i get one so I can knock violators off the air? I think that would be hilarious to pull up along somebody yaking away at a stop light, jam them and then watch them start looking at their cell phones and banging it on the dash trying to get it working. I want a cell phone jammer!!!! lol
My car is equipped with bluetooth, this enables me to answer a call without having to take my hands off the wheel. It is no different than having a conversation with a passenger in the car. As for texting, I do not text while driving. The newest technology (Siri) by Apple is scheduled to be installed in many autos within the next three model years. This technology allows the user to give voice commands to Siri and she will call or text at the drivers request. This technology is available on the Iphone IV now. (No, I dont work for Apple or have an Iphone.) I think that there will always be people that do not behave responsibly while driving. That includes women applying makeup or men shaving while driving. I think we have too many laws that arent really necessary if everyone used common sense.