We’ve already noted the dangers of driving while texting, but today there’s evidence that suggests many other people recognize the problem. A recent survey conducted by Nationwide Insurance says that some 80 percent of Americans support some sort of legislation “to restrict cell phone use while driving.” How you define “cell phone use” then becomes an issue.
It seems people are less inclined to restrict their ability to talk on the phone than they are to restrict their ability to text, surf the Web, etc. Only 67 percent of people would be in favor of banning talking on the phone while driving. I guess people perceive talking as being less dangerous than other actives, which is poppycock. Distracted driving is distracted driving.
Even more troubling, only 49 percent of people say that such a law would change their behavior. Never mind how you’d enforce the law. Are we supposed to hire extra police—isn’t California bankrupt?—to patrol the roads to make sure you’re not texting your BFF while waiting at a stop sign?
But that’s an argument for another day.
Another argument could be made that we have so many car accidents in this country because we hand out drivers licenses like candy corn at Halloween. “Turn here, stop here, three-point turn here. Grats, you can now have a mount.”
via Consumerist
Shouldn’t the headline be, “to restrict mobile phone usage while driving,” not “to restrict driving while using mobile phone.” ?
The way you have it made me think people wanted the car to drive by itself so they’re could use a mobile phone. Which I completely support by the way.
One of the problems is that, in states that currently ban talking while driving, it’s a State Law.
Since the money generated from tickets written for these infractions doesn’t make it to the local governments, just the state, they have no incentive to enforce them. Sure, they’ll write SOME tickets, but the majority of infractions go unpunished.
And depending on the state (WA for example), it isn’t even an offense you can get pulled over for. During slow to a crawl rush hour traffic, you aren’t going to get pulled over for any type of moving violation (can’t speed, maybe changing lanes with no signal) so people talk with impunity.
I can understand banning driving while holding a phone to your ear. I can see how that would be a distraction. But can someone please explain to me the difference between talking on a hands-free headset (or in-car bluetooth system) and talking to a passenger? Are we going to ban ALL talking by a driver?
I can only speak for myself, but my wife, most common passenger, will generally stop talking to me if she notices traffic picking up or me driving crazy. A person on the phone, either hands free or not, isn’t going to know.
Excellent point.
I think we should only restrict cell phone use while driving a Lotus.
Hard to shift, and all.
It’s really dangerous to call when driving.
“I guess people perceive talking as being less dangerous than other actives, which is poppycock. Distracted driving is distracted driving.”
Bull
When you are texting, YOUR EYES ARE OFF THE ROAD, and you are very active with at least one fo your hands, if not both.
I don’t see how one can argue that using a handfree set is just as distracting as TEXTING! You never talk to your passengers while driving?