Comments on: Cell Phone Driving Dangerous: We Know, Don’t Care

By: Betty Smith

Betty Smith — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:48:22 +0000

You want to stop cell phone use while driving, and say you cant, look at the laws in Europe, they are extensive and can be EXPENSIVE(that's the deterrent). I lived in Germany from 2002-2007, and they don't play. I think we don't do anything about it here because people make money off of cell phone use and they don't want things changed~~money hungry.
How many young, naive teenagers do we have to loose before we get serious about this. You think it is not serious, have you driven near a high school or college lately, you need bumper pads on your car!!!!!!!!
THAT WAS NOT A JAB, IT WAS JUST PLAIN RUDE!!!

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:18:53 +0000

In this case, you would be wrong!

Not only do I happen to be a pretty good driver, but I live in an area where people don't tailgate. Even at stop lights, drivers leave a good half-car length between cars.

By: another matt

another matt — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:38:26 +0000

I realize I'm reacting from personal experience, but 9/10 times I have to slam on my brakes, it's because some idiot is more focused on his/her call than the road.

I realize I'm reacting from personal experience, but 9/10 times you have to slam on your breaks because you are probably one of those idiot drivers who follows too closely to the car in front of him. Sorry, no real animosity present...I just couldn't resist the jab.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:50:39 +0000

You want to stop cell phone use while driving? Easy! First, you make using a cell phone while driving a primary offense, i.e., the cop can pull you over for that alone. This is not the case at present in most jurisdictions that outlaw cell phone use while driving. Second, impose a minimum fine of $1K for the first offense. Daddy will certainly make sure the young son or daughter gets the message thoroughly. Third, a $2K fine, 30 days in jail, and the seizure of the vehicle for a second offense. I realize I'm reacting from personal experience, but 9/10 times I have to slam on my brakes, it's because some idiot is more focused on his/her call than the road. You know, it's just a fact: You cannot do a safe U-turn on a busy street with a phone in one hand. It takes something more than a 2x4 to get that message through to some, apparently. I've been using cell phones for close to 20 years now. After the very first attempt to use a phone while driving, I realized how utterly unsafe it was. I'll pull over to use the phone, every time now. If I'm with another person, I might have that person take a call, if it's sure to be business related--i.e., trying to catch up to a moving target. Otherwise, it can wait for a couple of minutes.

By: just me

just me — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:44:45 +0000

I generally avoid using my cell phone while actively driving. If I am in the car with my kids and have to make a phone call that can't wait, I will have one of the older kids make the call and deliver the message.

I know several people that text while driving-I can't even text while standing still and focusing on nothing but the phone.

By: Furhead

Furhead — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:21:19 +0000

Someday our cars will drive themselves, but that's a ways off.

By: Ugh

Ugh — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:49:59 +0000

in my experience, a number approaching 100%

Yep.

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:22:22 +0000

newch: the study recognizes that cell phone usage increased, while driving fatalities have decreased over a 30 year stretch. They appear to have relied upon reports from emergency service personnel in Los Angeles and Springfield, Mass.

In turn I wonder if this information was originally self-reported following an accident. At the time of the study, these types of laws were just being considered. I wonder if today a similar analysis would show far fewer accidents related to cell phone use since the driver has reason to be concerned of receiving a traffic ticket and an increase in insurance premiums.

Study PDF

By: sam

sam — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:13:56 +0000

I'm guessing a sizable portion of cell users don't text, period.

I agree. I was just being cynical. I do see folks texting while driving, but not nearly as many as just talking. Enough to give me the willies, though (where talking on the cell just irritates me). (But, then, I've seen women putting on eyeliner or mascara while driving, and guys shaving, reading the paper, so....)

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:05:02 +0000

I think this is a fairly nihilistic analysis by Andrew Malcom. Because something is not 100% effective, does not mean that it doesn't have effects.

People still drive without their seat-belts, drink, speed, etc. Do we get rid of these laws? Does the existence of these laws reduce the number and severity of the violations? Are people more cautious when violating these laws? If we revoked the cell phone ban, would more people drive while talking on the cell phone?

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:01:14 +0000

I don't believe the last part of this

I'm guessing a sizable portion of cell users don't text, period. I skipped straight over texting to checking/sending emails on my BlackBerry. I sometimes respond to messages from behind the wheel but always wait for a red light.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:53:03 +0000

I should've added that I don't believe the last part of this:

A quarter of drivers with cell phones report using them to send or receive text messages while driving, although a large majority (74%) does not.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:50:37 +0000

Hmmm. Next poll up: Drivers' attitudes towards texting while driving -- "Hey, I can text and drive ok, it's those other guys I'm worried about."

By: Herb

Herb — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:13:57 +0000

Here's my bright idea that almost no one will implement (I'm not even sure I support it fully) but will guarantee no one uses a cell phone while they're driving: Require auto-manufacturers to install cell-phone blocking equipment into every vehicle. Too drastic? Perhaps...but it's no more drastic than a ban. Besides, this approach gets rid of the enforcement problem. (I certainly don't want to be pulled over because some cop thought he saw me talking on a phone.) The question then becomes... Is this even necessary?

By: Bill H

Bill H — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:57:07 +0000

I think the real commentary here is how little we care about how our behavior impacts those around us. I don't think this is limited to the US, as people I talk with who travel abroad notice the same thing everywhere. Speeding, talking on cellphones, and the like put not just us at risk but everyone nearby and we don't care. Talking on a cell in a restaurant disturbs others, we don't care.

I notice in when I'm riding with others driving that what appears rude, cutting others off, weaving in and out, following too close, is often not deliberately rude but more just an unawareness of the effect of the action or even that the other traffic is even present.