Ban on ANY cellphone use while driving

[DrPhil]

INCLUDING Bluetooth and UNLESS the cellphone devices are built into the car.

Originally Posted by MSNBC Article

The government's transportation safety experts recommended Tuesday to ban all American drivers from using portable electronic devices — including cell phones, even if you use a hands-free device.

Originally Posted by MSNBC Article

The recommendation, which isn't binding but which is likely to influence the decisions of Congress and state legislatures in writing new safety laws, makes only two exceptions: You could still use GPS navigation devices, and you could use your cell phone in an emergency. Besides calling for government action, the NTSB also urged consumer electronics manufacturers to figure out a way to "disable the functions of portable electronic devices within reach of the driver when a vehicle is in motion" while at the same time allowing the driver to make a call in an emergency.

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


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I think that would be equally dangerous if you are calling or texting through a device that is built into the car. But, I guess that can make it only as dangerous as adjusting the car radio or changing cds. (I hope GCers are safe drivers who aren't looking in the mirror, taking a nap, using hands to eat, looking everywhere but on the road, closing their eyes for ANY reason, and touring Jamaica while they are driving.)

[knight_shadow]

Many of the cities in DFW have similar bans (along with all school districts). It's not hard to hide a Bluetooth, though, so I don't know how they'd enforce that.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Many of the cities in DFW have similar bans (along with all school districts). It's not hard to hide a Bluetooth, though, so I don't know how they'd enforce that.

Are you talking about your big ass ears which hide the Bluetooth OR are you talking about a police officer not being able to see the Bluetooth and the person talking?

"Distracted driving is the NEW DUI."

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Are you talking about your big ass ears that hide the Bluetooth OR are you talking about a police officer not being able to see the Bluetooth and the person talking?

"Distracted driving is the NEW DUI."

LOL. I'm talking about police officers not being able to see the device.

I have also heard of many people arguing against overall bans because singing along to the radio or laughing about something can be mistaken for talking on the phone.

[DrPhil]

In that case, how does the officer know whether you were on the phone if the phone call is not "traced?"

Do officers say "let me see your phone" ???

[knight_shadow]

I have no idea. None of the cities I frequent have bans, so I haven't had this issue *shrugs*

[JDCookMS]

So, my question is, what about stuff like iPhone's Siri? I mean, you can just tell it to send a text and it can read them, so in that case i don't see what the big deal is

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

*shrugs*

I have always wanted to ask, does this mean "I don't know" or does it mean "I don't care, stop talking to me"?

LOL.

Originally Posted by JDCookMS

So, my question is, what about stuff like iPhone's Siri? I mean, you can just tell it to send a text and it can read them, so in that case i don't see what the big deal is

That still seems like a bit much for a driver to be doing.

If we would not want truck drivers, bus drivers, passenger plane pilots doing it, should the rest of us be doing it? There are more car crashes than plane crashes and cars encounter more traffic, etc. than planes.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I have always wanted to ask, does this mean "I don't know" or does it mean "I don't care, stop talking to me"?

LOL.

Can't it be both?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Can't it be both?

Not when typing to me.

[AGDee]

I don't text while driving but I do use my car's phone. I can hit a button on the steering wheel with my thumb, say "Call <kid name>" and it dials them and I can talk. It is like they are in the car with me. It's an Onstar thing. I am no more distracted when doing that than I am when they are in the car and we are talking. What scares me often is when I see someone who is talking to the other person in the car and feels a need to make very frequent eye contact with them. Scary. I want to yell at them "Look ahead!"

At some point, the government is going to have to realize that you can't regulate stupid and you can't regulate every single thing that has harmed somebody at some time. Day dreaming is distracted driving. Driving when emotionally distraught is distracted driving. All kinds of things are distracted driving.

As for how they would enforce it, I would guess that if you were in an accident and were on the phone at the time, and the accident was your fault, then you would be ticketed for it.

[Kevin]

I don't really see the difference between my Bluetooth with iPhone voice dialing and having a newer car equipped with a Bluetooth speakerphone except my system probably has better sound quality.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I don't really see the difference between my Bluetooth with iPhone voice dialing and having a newer car equipped with a Bluetooth speakerphone except my system probably has better sound quality.

Meh. You have to dig out your phone to make your voice dialing work. On your car, you just push a button on the steering wheel. On my iPhone, I still have to input my security code before I can use my voice recognition. BTW, your insurance company doesn't care how you were using your phone if you were in a wreck on your phone.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I don't text while driving but I do use my car's phone. I can hit a button on the steering wheel with my thumb, say "Call <kid name>" and it dials them and I can talk. It is like they are in the car with me. It's an Onstar thing.

Likewise. I don't have Onstar, but I do have Bluetooth built into my car. If I want to call someone, I hit a button on my steering wheel and speak the phone number. If someone calls me, my radio/CD/cassette cuts off (if it's on), I hear a phone ringing, and I see the number on my info display - then I can hit one of two buttons, accept or ignore. My voice is picked up by a built-in microphone, and my interlocutor's voice comes over the same speakers used by the sound system. To hang up, I hit a button on the wheel. It's no more distracting than talking to a passenger physically in the car.

Ban on hand-held devices - yes. You need both hands on the wheel. Having both hands on the wheel while holding your cell to your ear with your shoulder is no good either, as it's difficult or impossible to check your mirrors and blind spots without dropping your phone.

Ban on ALL cell conversation - no, as long as you either voice-dial or dial only when stopped (e.g. pulled over or at a red light).

If a cop pulled me over for talking on my built-in Bluetooth system, it would have to be because s/he saw my lips moving. In that case, I'd just hang up really quick and claim I was singing along with the radio...

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Meh. You have to dig out your phone to make your voice dialing work. On your car, you just push a button on the steering wheel. On my iPhone, I still have to input my security code before I can use my voice recognition. BTW, your insurance company doesn't care how you were using your phone if you were in a wreck on your phone.

I just push the button in my ear, say the name I'm wanting to call and I'm there. The phone can be in my pocket the whole time.