Currently, the US is considering the banning of cellphone use while driving a vehicle. This ban is under consideration due primarily to a fatal vehicle accident in the US which killed five people including four Canadians and a young American woman that was talking on a cellphone to her boyfriend. The Canadians were trying to drive from Quebec to Florida.

What do you think?

Dave

I think that eventually they will be banned. All that's needed is more people to die.

Nothing ever changes until people start dying.

It's quite frightening to be on the road... and see some car whip past you (also weaving through traffic) and to discover the driver was also chatting on a cell phone...

one of the reasons why I think they should ban. I don't want to be the next one to die from something that could easily be avoided.

I never had a cellphone until this past xmas. Didn't think it was such a big deal to drive and talk on the phone .... until I did it my self.

I was on the phone for about 5mins this winter on the drive home. Didn't think twice about answering it. After I hung up I realized that I wasn't paying attention to the road. Couldn't remeber anything I did on the road for 5 mins.

This is a very dangerous thng to be doing. Maybe with a handsfree set it might be a little better but I don't think that will fix the problem either. Man it is just to dangerous.

Where's the "emphatic yes" button?? This is an absolute hate of mine - whenever I see an idiot driving on the road, holding their cell phone, I want to shove that sucker where the sun don't shine. There is absolutely ZERO reason why anyone needs to talk on the phone while driving. "But what if someone calls me when I'm driving?" Well, either let the machine get it, or answer it, tell them "hang on a sec", and pull over.

I've been behind people who are weaving like there's no tomorrow - one guy I would have sworn was DUI, but when I passed him, he simply had his phone glued to his head.

There is nothing worse than seeing someone on the phone while driving. I have seen people before they leave their driveway start talking. Couldn't they make that call before they left the house?? And who is that important anyway?
I don't own a cell phone and have absolutley no desire to get one. I personally don't want to be that available or need to talk to anyone that bad.

Ban the phones!!

I think these toys are mighty dangerous devices. Ever try driving standard and talk on the phone. We need an extra set of fins for that. Admit it, we all cuss out other drivers for talking and driving--mostly because they don't pay attention or don't see us. I carry one all the time, but turn off the ringer while driving. When I get to my destination, then I check my calls. Who needs more distractions on the road?

YES!!!!!!!!! I was almost smucked driving last weekend with my daughter in the car; the driver of the SUV was yapping away on a cellphone and didn't even NOTICE. We could have been killed, I had to pull over and stop for a few minutes because I was shaking. My boyfriend is from Portugal, and there you are NOT allowed to talk on a cellphone while driving. I think it's the only logical solution. The only instance I can see an exception of some sort is if you are driving and happen to see someone who appears to be drunk, and you can call police...but gawd, these radio shows & things who have contests for people driving to call in on their cellphones when they see the station car...how imbicilesque!

Personally, I'm anti-cell phone. I hate cell phones.

Like someone mentioned, whenever you see someone either going too fast, too slow, swerving, whatever, chances are, they are on the phone.

I am glad to notice more and more people with headsets, since at least they don't have to concentrate on holding the phone with their hand/neck, but unfortunately, I still think they should be concentrating on the road.

Ever notice how sometimes you are driving and you are talking to your passenger, and you miss your exit, or don't notice a light changing, etc? I've seen a woman once go right through a solid red light because she was chatting with 3 friends in her car. Right in the middle of the intersection, she slammed on the brakes and I'm sure she scared the hell out of everyone and could have killed everyone in her car. People should concentrate on driving, period. Light conversation might be okay, but big debates, arguments, intimate conversation, etc... Should be kept for later. Cell or no cell. With GPS systems, TVs and playstation, I'm worried about the future of driving.

I'm not sure if this is possible or not, but if you ever get in an accident, you should be able to get the other driver's cell phone number, write down the time, then check their phone bill (or call the phone company) and find out if their were on the phone at that time. If they were, they should automatically be at fault.

Originally posted by MaxPower2000 With GPS systems, TVs and playstation, I'm worried about the future of driving.

Now, one can get a DVD player for his/her vehicle. Watching movies while driving. Scary. I am a diehard DVD enthusiast, but that's crazy.

For those who absolutely have to take/make a call while driving....pull over to the side of road, off the travel portion, and take/make your call. I don't that there is a call out there that is so important that it's worth your life or someone else's. Just my opinion of course. Personally, I hope that they ban cell phone use while driving very soon. I know that it will definately save lives.

Dave

I don't think the issue is cell phones, its idiots who can't use them responsibly. More accidents are caused by spilled coffee and drive-thru food, than cell phones.

But its probably easier to ban them than to try and turn people into better drivers...

Originally posted by brash I don't think the issue is cell phones, its idiots who can't use them responsibly.

All of this comes under "impaired driving" and it's just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Problem is that few would be in favour of treating these kinds of impaired idiots as we treat drunks.

Still, it took a long time to change public attitudes towards drunk driver. Perhaps we should start now to create similar attitudes about other impairments.

More accidents are caused by spilled coffee and drive-thru food, than cell phones.

Can you provide some proof of this?

But its probably easier to ban them than to try and turn people into better drivers...

I'd like a cellphone user (or coffee drinker, etc.) to explain to me how they can signal a lane change while holding their steering wheel in one hand and their cellphone (or whatever) in the other.

I agree with all the points made by those who wish to ban them while driving. I hate them period. It is nauseating to be subjected to some boors conversation in the store and the restaurant. You are forced to eavesdrop by idiots who think because there is nothing under their lips that they should shout all the time.

I don't think the issue is cell phones, its idiots who can't use them responsibly. More accidents are caused by spilled coffee and drive-thru food, than cell phones.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here. Are you saying that responsible people would KNOW not to: talk on a cell phone/eat natchos/put on make-up while driving, OR that good drivers can do these things and not have accidents. I assume that you are saying the first.

The problem is that people are stupid. All people, even smart ones, and usually level headed people, can make mistakes. And even worse, there are truly stupid people out there who have dangerous habits. So we have no choice but to make laws to protect outselves. Legislating people to wear seat belts and not talk on cell phones while driving are things that we shouldn't have to do, but with out laws, it is easy for people not to take things seriously.

When I first heard about this debate I thought that hands free sets, or speaker phones should be fine, I mean its just like chatting with someone in the car with you right? But it isn't. There is something different about talking on the phone. A phone conversation takes much more of our concentration. There is a reason for the call. I have answered my cell when walking down the street and have noticed how I stop consentrating on traffic, and crossing the street! I can easily cross the street without getting killed while I talk to a friend who is with me, but while talking on the phone, I phase out or something! When someone is in the car with you they usually see the traffic and keep conversation light when it is busy allowing you to concentrate, but on the phone the other person has no idea. It is easy to foget that you are talking to someone who is driving when you aren't there. I think all cell phone use while driving should be banned except for emergencies.

I agree. If you're going to have a cell phone in the car. Pull over to use it or wait till you reach your destination. Personally, I don't like cell phones. If I'm not home. I'm not home. The only reason I can see a cell phone being handy is if there is an emergency.
I HAVE been hit my a car and the person was using a cell phone at the time. I wasn't hurt but my bike was.