Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Cell Phones While Driving.....

How about others opinions? I end up getting called or having to call all day while working. I don't have any problem calling on speed dial or talking while driving. Does it distract? Sure. But why are they picking on phones and trying to make it as serious as DUI? We listen to the radio, and talk with folks in the car while we drive. Its absolutely no different to me. Maybe others can't manage it?
Lets open the can of worms. I'm about tired of the government telling me to buckle up, and now not to use my cell phone.....

Jeff

DUUUHHH

I don't have a cell phone, but frankly... if one has a "hands-off" headset into which to talk & listen, what's the "difference" between chatting with a passenger sitting in the right, front seat or talking to someone on the cell phone?!?

I've seen the ads saying that talking on a cell phone while driving is as likely to get you into an accident as being a drunk driver, but I find that very hard to believe! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Whatta youse guys 'n gals think?!?!?!?!?!?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

As concerns the mandatory seat-belt and helmet (motorcycle) laws... those laws "smack" of "Big Brotherism". While I agree it's a "smart" thing to do... and you SHOULD wear your seat-belts and at LEAST a good helmet (for head protection) when riding a motorcycle, I think it's wrong for the government to make it a "law" that you MUST wear them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, that's my "2� worth"... others may disagree, but there's nothing new about that! My wife constantly tells me I'm "wrong" which constantly makes me wonder if I was "wrong" 47+ years ago when I picked her to be my wife?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

My opinion on this whole 'impaired driver' thing is that DUI, since it deals with an Impairment that the media and government, and a lot of concerned citizens can recognize, and get behind penaltys for, is way over played as a hazard.
I would venture a guess that millions more motorists are impaired by cell phone distraction, putting on make up, reading while driving, fiddling with the radio, eating, swatting kids etc. These impairments are virtually never prosecuted, though they are responsible for a LOT of dead people.
Cell phone yakking is just not as 'evil' as boozing, I guess. Almost all of us do it, so its hard to get up on a soap box and pontificate against it, like you can do with DUI.
A person that winds up dead as the result of another's impairment, regardless of the type of impairment, is just as dead. Bet you won't see folks thrown in jail, stripped of their driving privilage, or 'monitored for compliance' if its a cell phone killing though.

That's a difficult one. I also use a cell phone while I'm on the road and have never had an issue with it. On the other hand, my 16 year old son cannot multi-task the way I can. If he is on the phone, he WOULD be a hazard driving.

I guess what sums it up pretty well is the signature line of one of the members. "Let's just remove the warning labels and let nature take it's course"

A couple of generations ago, when our great grand parents were going to head West by wagon train, there was no government department that mandated that they MUST carry "x" amount of water for every person in the party. The dumb ones just got DEAD. It was the age-old way: survival of the fittest. That is long gone now. With all of the safety devices and guards on equipment, it is quite difficult to get injured or killed in industry today. While I am certainly not opposed to safety, it has "thinned the gene pool".

Now that society has protected, and saved the people that would have died without help from society, is society obligated to protect others from them? I don't know the answer to that one.

multi-task is just an in style phrase--using a cell phone is distracting and should carry a fine and justice time. it is not necessary to use the phone while driving. the cell is only a money maker for the phone companies and the american people are to dumb to see themselves being scammed.

Mannlicher You are so right on. Putting on the make-up. OOPS! poked myself in the eye. The gripe is about cell phones!! Well hell, TRUCKERS be-ware because the CB RADIO has been around for alot longer then the cell phone. No laws against that. How many truckers caused accidents talking on the CB????? Zero. My .02 Ken

That may be true for some, but not in my case. My phone bills have gone down every year since I got a cell phone about 15 years ago. I'm not saying that only my cell phone bills have gone down, I'm saying that my home and business phone, along with the cell phone is lower now than it was 20 years ago. All because of the availability of the cell phone. The cell phone is a "tool" for me that makes me money. I'm sure that's not the case with all users, but it is in my case.

It seems that the existing laws that address reckless or inattentive driving should cover this. We really do have too many "nanny" laws as it is. If some azzhat is driving poorly due to talking on a cell phone, lighting a cigarette, putting on makeup, reading the paper, eating or any other non-driving task a ticket is in order.

This "something must be done" mentality about every little thing is becoming absurd and needs to stop. Every one of the tasks listed is as bad or worse than talking on a cell phone and is covered under existing law.

I'm probably one of the last people in the free world who doesn't have one. There's very few towers around Bedford County, and reception in this AO is spotty at best.

However, my job has a delivery driver took me into alot of areas where they do work, and I've had several near misses by folks who were more engrossed in their conversations than their driving. Why they don't see a big red, white and blue truck is beyond me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

By the same token, the show "Mythbusters" did a test on this a while back. They timed 2 seperate drivers around a layed out course of cones, first just driving (for a baseline), second while on a phone, and last after 2 beers, which puts you over the legal limit in most states.

While on the phone they had to answer simple questions, such as "Mary had a little what?" and Two times three is what.

Surprisingly, or maybe not, it took them longer to drive the course, and knocked down more cones, while on the phone.

Now I realy don't have a problem with it in an area where traffic is sparse and you have good visibilty. But in heavy traffic, and places where congested traffic moves quickly I do.

I carried one at my old job a few times, and used "Wifey's" phone while in Gettysburg. Each time though, I got off the road until I was done. To me it's just common courtesy to other folks.

Do I think it's OK to do? No.
Do I think it's the gubmints buisness? No, same with seatbelts and helmets.

That said, as to restraints and such, if you get goofed up wrecking, you're on your own, and don't expect a handout. By the same token, if you run the risk of using a cell phone while driving, and do the same, you should be held responsable just as a drunk driver. After all, in my book, impaired is impaired. Booze, phones, makeup, newspapers are all the same to me.

BTW, should anyone ever hit me or mine while doing any of the above, I will not be resonsable for the consequenses, so you'd better kill me in the crash!
7mm

While we're on the subject, here's another thought.
Maybe the DUIs aren't paying as well anymore, and the state needs another way to collect revenue.

As to thinning out the gene pool, I'm all for that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But my Wife and my son are driving the same roads, and can end up just as dead as the irresonable SOB who caused it. Should that happen, they'd better lock you up, because I'm mad and I'm coming, and it aint over 'till I say it is. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> That's a promise.
7mm

Anybody that thinks they can drive OK while talking on a cell phone is delusional, same as a drunk thinks he can drive OK.

My company set a policy about 1 year ago that it is against company policy to talk on the cell phone, even with hands free, while driving the vehicle. I've been thru a few driving courses over the past 6 years that deal with this issue, and while I dont like it, it is a real deal. When I see someone talking on a cell phone and driving, my red flag goes way up, as that person likely is in outer space. At issue is how engaged are you in your conversation. Don't be shocked, but many states are on the brink out making it against the law to use a cell phone while driving.

Personally, I would prefer it be my choice "when" I want to use the cell phone. I dont use it in heavy traffic, and neither should you, that's common sense. But, on a road with little if any traffic, I dont see the harm.

There are some people that I flat think are insecure or want to impress people. I dont need to hear your stupid cell phone conversation as you walk down the isles of a grocery store, etc, that's rude on your part. And how about the soccer mom's who cant even make it to the car, and are yakking on the thing.

Should there be a law against it, no, but you have some personal responsibility also. I cover multiple states, in sales and I consider my phone calls private, and do not talk on it in a public place where others can overhear my conversation. I dont want you to have to putup with my conversation, nor do I want you involved in my conversation. I also despise people in resterants yakking on the cell phone......take it outside. Dont bore me with your boring life..............So there is some responsibility involved in using a cell phone, unfortunately, there is just a whole bunch of inconsiderate and rude people in this world........are you one of those? (not directed at any one individual here).

I was first in line at a 'T' intersection and the the light turned green for me. I started up and saw a car coming from my left at full speed.

I hit the brakes and the car missed me. The driver had a cell phone to his ear and turned and looked at me like I was a ghost.

That was a close call.

Connecticut passed a 'cell phone' law about a year ago. Now I want to do what I want to do just like you. They included no eating and other prohibitions in that bill. So CT and NY now have cell phone laws.

The car makers could solve ths problem i about 2 mins. Program the cars computer so when you take the tranny out of park----no signal. It's pretty sad when you someone buying groceries & they have to call home to find out if they shoud buy Heinz or Hunt's Ketchup!

It shouldn't be illegal to use a cell phone while driving. And when some cell phone-using jerk causes an accident, it shouldn't be illegal to drag them out of their vehicle, rip the cell-phone out of their hands, and shove it where the sun don't shine.

This is clearly about personal responsibility. If you cannot drive safely while talking on the phone, then WE ALL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU.

Unfortunately, most people that drive badly while talking on the phone don't know it or won't admit it. When that phone rings, or they are calling and talking, that far too often becomes their #1 focus. The fact is that when you are driving behind someone who is wandering across their lane (and a little bit of yours too) it is pretty obvious even from a distance that they are on the phone. Sure enough, you get beside them and 90% of the time, that's the deal.

Imagine this scene......Woman driving a SUBURBAN with a cell phone held to her ear in one hand, ciggie in the other, and two kids behind in car seats. She is driving that beast with about two fingers and maybe 10% of her attention......and it shows. I see this quite a bit.

Legislation unfortunately comes into play when people won't do the responsible thing on their own.

JimF

By now, I figure most of you folks could write my answer to this question better than I could, so I won't bother.

Just from my observations that is what 99.9% of cellphone conversations are.....worthless BS

I'm gonna call BS on this...
Why don't you prove this statement....
Ever heard of T1's,DSL,ISDN,CATV.POTS? The phone companies are making enough money per day to buy YOU and everything that YOU own...
Talking on a cell phone has nothing to do with YOUR distrust with the phone company...Wanna try again?
Bart