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Proposed in car phone ban

(34 posts)

Started 1 year ago by gracie
Latest reply from momnballard

gracie

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This on the internet. What do you think about it? I'm totally against texting while driving or using your cell phone without a hands free setup. Now they are proposing banning any use in a car.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/9418504-us-calls-for-ban-on-in-car-phone-use-even-with-bluetooth

Posted 1 year ago #
Edog

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If you can talk on your cell, or navigate menus on your smart phone while you drive, I want it to be legal to drive drunk. Its only fair!

Posted 1 year ago #
SEdholm

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I disagree on complete ban of use. I use my hands free speaker when I get a call and use my GPS all the time, it would suck if all the sudden I couldn't use my GPS. It seems like if you are not parked, you can't touch it.

Posted 1 year ago #
onederfullone

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Edog, totally, I draw the line at texting drunk while driving with my knees, anything else should be okay. ;-)

Seriously, multi-tasking is beyond most people's reach, and just doesn't belong any where near a car driver. Distracted driving is illegal, just enforce it.

This message delivered by thumbs off of steering wheel. *hiccup*

Posted 1 year ago #
Edog

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The reason why a total ban makes sense is that its not simply a phone, its a small personal computer that does everything, and people are dumb enough to try and do everything. There are simply no boundaries anymore. People sh*t where they eat with no regard for the consequences.

Posted 1 year ago #
great idea

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@SEdholm,
the article says that GPS devices will still be allowed.

what's funny is that these cell phones would be legal in an 'emergency'
I can see that interpreted in any number of ways..

on the other hand, 80% of people said they'd answer their cell phone while driving. I think this may be one of those good laws for a species too stupid to know any better.

Posted 1 year ago #
onederfullone

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I was with my dad last week and was not impressed when he answered his phone while driving, literally fishing it from his pocket, bracing the wheel with his knees, because, apparently, it takes two hands to answer a 'smart phone'.

I gave him a 'what the facebook' look, and he said, quote...

"I've got a hearing aid, so I'm exempt."

I'll yank that license asap. But seriously, I checked the law when I got home, and ordered a hearing aid online. I don't need it, don't put batteries in it, but it works for these revenue mosquitoes quite well. lol

Seriously, another law? Broad as hell, guaranteed, drunk legislators are exempt as well. Again.

Another law? lol

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar Bob

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I see so many people on their phones/ipod when they drive. They seem to be texting too. You can always tell, they have a moon-eyed "getting away with something" expression as they look down then up and then down.

The current law is unenforceable, what makes them think enacting this law will change anything? Personally I would rather have the police concentrating on other crime.

Posted 1 year ago #
Edog

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I don't think it really a case of enforcement the way they go after speeders. Rather I see a few people getting busted and hit with maximum harsh penalties. You know make some extreme examples of people.

Posted 1 year ago #
oldcrimson

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I'm not really in favor of a law like this for safety purposes - I know generally what the data say, but I guess I believe bad drivers are bad drivers and cell users and cell users and no law is really going to change that.
HOWEVER: I like the idea of this law if for no other reason than it creates a cell-phone-free zone for me somewhere in my waking hours. I now no longer am reachable all the time. I can behind that.

Posted 1 year ago #
dsomers

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Old Crimson,

The gods invented the off button for a reason! It is amazingly effective at creating a cell phone free zone! <friendly grin from a heavy cell user who whouldn't know an off button if it bit him in the ....well....you know>

DS

Posted 1 year ago #
onederfullone

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I, for one, would love to know how diet squirt has been reformulated.

...and how I could find some...

Posted 1 year ago #
crownhiller

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I can't help but think back about what - 15 years ago or so? when very very few people had a cellphone, and yet we all managed to get along just fine. I say that as someone who's job depends on being "on-call" though in reality, short of a true emergency, little of what comes on my work provided crackberry can't wait. And then I just happened to read this story out of Missouri - which illustrates why it might just be a really really good idea

Driver sent or got 11 texts in 11 min before crash

Posted 1 year ago #
iPlod

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Just put a one word message on your voice mail greeting: "Driving!"

Anyways,don't worry for too much longer.

Real soon now, Google will convince AT&T, et al. to purchase their autonomous car driving technology as a downloadable app which will safely take over your car navigating responsibilities for you as soon as you, the driver, answer or initiate a call on your phone.

Who needs another damn law?

Posted 1 year ago #
onederfullone

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Interesting Iplod, I was just saying it wouldn't be much longer before we would have to agree to release control of our vehicles to drive on certain roadways.

As long as you don't mind the Taco Bell drive through, it will work very well. Zero accidents are the future. Who owns it will be brilliant.

Posted 1 year ago #
iPlod

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I will die, DIE!, before I allow my cell phone app to recommend a Taco Bell drive thru. (That is, unless there is some sort of sacrament involved.)

Posted 1 year ago #
gracie

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iPlod - LOVE the voicemail greeeting "DRIVING." Perfect. Here at work i'm so sick of people not putting their cells on vibrate. They leave them on their desks and leave office with the ring on loud.

Posted 1 year ago #
chrisd

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I may be crazy, but I've always thought insurance companies are the ones wielding the real power in the driving while talking/texting wars. If the costs associated with being caught in the act were anything like the impact a DUI can have on your insurance rates, I think alot more people would pay attention. As it is, I believe it's not even on your driving record unless you have an accident?

Not that I think insurance companies need to make more money...

Posted 1 year ago #
Curtis

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I used to be so "connected"...at some point, I just got weary of it, and now turn it to "silent" and check it maybe every hour. So far, I can't think of anything that has suffered from it. I'm tired of being "so connected" all the time!

Posted 1 year ago #
ballardmike

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I know... how about DRIVING!! And no g0ddamned putting on the makeup while driving either!

Grrrrr....

Posted 1 year ago #
Curtis

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Hmmm...how do you feel about a simple eyelash curl?

Posted 1 year ago #
Mondoman

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Why the hate for Taco Bell? Dispensing sour cream with a caulking gun is one of the great innovations in American history.

Posted 1 year ago #
GAM

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The logic behind "hands free" ban has always eluded me. The problem is not that someone's hand is not on the wheel (I drive stick - my right hand is often not on the wheel). The problem is people are paying attention to their conversation and not the road. If it takes banning phones to get people's attention on my safety when I'm sharing the road with them, I'm for it.

I feel like the crotchety old-timer: "Back when I was young we drove without cell phones all the time - and we liked it!"

Perhaps my opinion wouldn't be so extreme if most of the time when some idiot has done something either dumb or dangerous I didn't see them on the phone while (allegedly) driving their car.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ernie

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The reason why a total ban makes sense is that its not simply a phone, its a small personal computer that does everything, and people are dumb enough to try and do everything

So will the cop that gives you the ticket still have an actual personal computer with a full sized keyboard in the car, that does everything?

If so, that would be kind of ironic.

Posted 1 year ago #
Cate

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At about 5:10 this evening I was in the left turn lane at the intersection of Market and 15th. The driver in front of me did a U turn. In the intersection of Market and 15th! Yes, he was talking on his cell phone.

Posted 1 year ago #
teigyr

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"I feel like the crotchety old-timer: "Back when I was young we drove without cell phones all the time - and we liked it!""

I remember getting pulled over after almost taking out a car or tree or something. I was messing around with the car stereo when I was 20ish. People are going to do stupid things whether it be cell phones or eating or whatever. I say enforce distracted driver laws instead of coming up with any little thing that could happen.

A few years ago I drove home after about a 30ish hour away from home work day. I had not slept at all. It was about 4am and I swear I was seeing imaginary things walking around on the freeway. I was probably as dangerous a driver as someone on the phone if not more so. Is easy to hate on the cell phone people because it's obvious when they are on it but trust me, there are worse things out there.

Posted 1 year ago #
allisonw

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Pretty much every stagehand has a story about being pulled over for driving while tired. I got a ticket for going 5 over after a long technical rehearsal last spring.

I assume I was really pulled over because the cop assumed it was either drunk or on my phone but I was really just hurrying to get to Ballard Market for milk.... At midnight.

Posted 1 year ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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ballardmike, you spoilsport, I was reading from the top of this thread, wondering about the legality of putting on mascara while looking at the pull down mirror. I know lipstick is banned, but putting on lipgloss IS allowed.

I have texting turned off on my phone. Dear Ms Insurance, do I get a discount for that?

Posted 1 year ago #
teigyr

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alli, I had the same thing once ages ago. Was in Los Angeles but I got off the freeway to get gas. In my normal fashion, I got lost trying to get back on the freeway. It was maybe 1am...fortunately I was in uniform and badged and not the least bit drunk. As the officer tried to let me know his airline grievances, I told him please PLEASE just give me directions (or better yet lead me to) a way to get back on the freeway. Compton is not where I want to be in the wee hours.

Posted 1 year ago #
racerX

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Driving? Turn off your phone, please. O_o

Edited to add: and use your blinkers too.

Posted 1 year ago #
great idea

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"but I was really just hurrying to get to Ballard Market for milk.... At midnight. "

ahhh allie, but did the cop know it's a 24/7 store? busted!

I used to work a job that brought me home in the wee hours. sleepiness can definitely be as bad as drunkeness. I had to crank the windows open and stereo up just to stay awake sometimes.

I've definitely hallucinated before from lack of sleep, but never driving. yikes teigyr!

Posted 1 year ago #
wolfden

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Yes, please ban all cellphone activity. Also, meh @ cellphone ban when you have the newer car dashboards looking like Ipads. Oh look shiny, I wonder what I can do when I press this - forget the fact that I am doing 75mph on a freeway, gotta press THIS.

Posted 1 year ago #
Alferd Packer

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I think about 8 or 9 years ago, my sister-in-law was on her cell when she hit another car. She was determined to be at fault by her insurance co. even though she wasn't cited by the cops. Her car insurance company got her cell phone records, saw she was on the phone to a friend at the time of the accident, paid for the damage to the other car, refused to pay the damage to her car, and dropped her policy. Another state, but indeed the insurance companies can make it untenable to yak-n-drive. I wonder how much of that could play out here on the upper left coast? She still talks on the phone in the car "but only at stop lights."

If you've ever had a front tire blow out, you realize the fallacy of being able to have one hand and 95% of your mind occupied with an electronic device and remain in control of the vehicle. Even with both hands to control the car and no distractions ....

Posted 1 year ago #
momnballard

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+1 racerX and alferd. a blow out at 60 should do it. if one is on the phone, they probably won't live through it.

Posted 1 year ago #