cell phones

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:01 pm

banning them is wrong. citing drivers who cause accidents due to use of the phone, and fining them substantially, is appropriate. just as you mention, radios, cd's, even passengers are as distracting as a cell phone can be.

what's really needed though is integration into the vehicle, with voice activated dialing etc., to reduce the fumbling factor. i have to admit that i've fumbled with my phone while driving, and it can be a mighty distraction.

pattybug52 · Post by **pattybug52** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:27 pm

I myself am very distracted talking on a cell phone-even more than changing radio, etc, however I have been driving surface streets and needed to stop to make an emergency phone call on cell to my daughter-tried to pull over but entire road I was on was No stop at any time so finally found a street to go off on about 15 min later-so I can see certain situations. But I do see and hear so many people just yackity yacking while driving when it could have been down pulling over.I have seen a lot of deadly accidents from cell phone usage when I worked at a local law enforcement-many children killed when it could have been avoided. We never saw as many deaths due to changing radio or cd player-probably cause you are listening and talking and can even not hear a horn honk.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:49 am

jwolf7722 wrote: here is another driving topic.

should cellphones be banned from using while driving? if so why it should be or should not be.

my opinion is cellphones are no more dangerious than looking for a cd, changing the radio station or eating while driving.

They already are, it is an offence to use a hand-held phone, or similar device,

when driving. The penalty is a Ã‚£30 fixed penalty or up to Ã‚£1,000 on conviction

in court (Ã‚£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches). Drivers still

risk prosecution (for failure to have proper control) if they use hands-free

phones when driving.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/d ... 25216.hcsp

It has been determined that it is more dangerous to use a 'phone while driving

than being over the drink-drive alcohol limit:

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992077

I don't like listening to the radio, playing music, etc. when driving, either.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:44 am

We never saw as many deaths due to changing radio or cd player-probably cause you are listening and talking and can even not hear a horn honk.

Doing something like chaging a cd you don't really need to think about, phone calls you need to concentrate on.

One of my all time pet hates, you would not believe the number of near misses I have had with plonkers using phones or the number of shunts i have seen because aomeone was using the phone. On one occasion the driver, having just gone in to the back of somebody at a roundabout got out the car still on the phone, he seemed to think thre driver he hit was overreacting. I don't even use a hands free simply because any call I get is likely to somethimng I need to concentrate on. Ban them and any driver causing an accident because of one ban from driving.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:54 am

I agree that banning them is a bit much, but yes a fine is a good idea. I've seen too many near misses and the problem is, people don't seem to learn by their near misses. If I can't go to the store, a restraunt, etc. without talking on the phone, then I don't need to leave my house.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:11 am

Peg wrote:

Rather off-topic, but when I first say your "red button" icon, I immediately

thought "Oh! A tub of brylcreem!" (as seen on this page:

http://www.westons.com/acatalog/Online_ ... m_958.html

)

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:18 am

LOL I see what you mean. I chose it because that is what I do every time I have computer problems. With 3 computers, I go through spurts of nothing going right with them.

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:22 am

i leave the cell in the car upon going to restaurants, banks, casino's whatever, the caller can wait. it is habit forming to be on the phone all the time.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 7:39 pm

I carry mine with me at all times for emergencies. The kids can get a hold of me if they need me, but it is never on in stores or restraunts.

Babs · Post by **Babs** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 4:34 am

Frankly, I have never understood why people think they need to be reached via telephone 24/7. The only time I feel one is necessary for myself is when I travel. Then I just borrow one from work to use in case of emergency. Fortunately, I have not had to use it.

This was in a state government publication we received at my place of employment about a month ago.

A man driving his private vehicle on a Saturday night (non-working hours) was involved in a fatal accident while talking on his personal cell phone. The call was supposedly business related.

The victim's family sued the driver's place of employment for wrongful death ......... and WON! :-5

Now, I am sure this will be under appeals for years and hopefully cooler heads will prevail and this is overturned.

When my boss read this, he instructed me to write a memo to all employees informing them they are not to use cell phones AT ANY Time in their vehicles unless they have pulled over in a safe area.

Now, I put this directive on my 'to do' list and there it still is. Why? Because, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to tell our employees what to do on their off-hours. I know such a memo would tick me off .......... And, I am supposed to write the damn thing!

Afterthought ....... I hope I never have the pleasure of having to deal with any of those jurors. I still cannot understand their reasoning ....... or lack thereof.

Babs

pattybug52 · Post by **pattybug52** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:53 pm

I have seen many lawsuits for wrongful death due to using a cell phone and haven't seen one conviction yet. I guess if it is a jury trial that could explain it-so many use them as recreational phones not for emergencies.