Cellphones and driving...

[Gewehr98]

For the record, I'm not a control freak.

I'm all for having driver's seats replaced with Sybians for the soccer mommy vans, and in-dash LCD screens with NFL Network for the guys as part of the "pursuit of happiness" clause.

However, I seriously doubt that automakers will install such amenities in vehicles anytime soon.  They have, however, installed hands-free cellphones.  Dare I wonder why?

Common sense is neither.  You should be allowed to have a cellphone, Sybian, in-dash television, beer tap, hair dryer, and whatever else you want in your safe haven of a vehicle.  That doesn't mean it's a good idea, or that people will actually focus on the task of driving.  I've got a mailbox to show somebody if they think otherwise.  

[Monkeyleg]

"You should be allowed to have a cellphone, Sybian, in-dash television, beer tap, hair dryer, and whatever else you want in your safe haven of a vehicle."

I've never been to a baseball/football tailgate party, but that sure sounds like the perfect vehicle for one.

[Perd Hapley]

After trying out a manual transmission for a few months now, I really think sticks are just as dangerous as any of these other distractions. 

Flame suit on. 

Wimp.  ALL my vehicles are standard transmission.  You get better control, better mileage and longer life out of a standard transmission than a sissified 'automatic'.  Wuss.

Standards are for limp-wristed Euro-weenies.  Look it up.   

[Michigander]

A possible unintended consequence of laws banning talking on cell phones while driving will be that people will text message in hopes that they can keep the unit low enough to avoid detection.  Of course this means their eyes will be away from the road much more often perhaps causing accidents that otherwise would not have happened.

[Jamisjockey]

I think it should be a secondary.  Cause an accident on your cellphone?  Yep, extra ticket.  Get caught speeding and chatting?  Yep, extra ticket.  Its not my fault that I can carry on a conversation and drive like a normal person.  If I feel the need to provide extra scruitny to my driving, such as when entering an intersection, I'll tell the person to hold on.  I shouldn't be penalized for dipshits.

[Brad Johnson]

Its not my fault that I can carry on a conversation and drive like a normal person. 

Research indicates otherwise.  You would be the exception, not the rule.

Brad

[brimic]

I don't think we need another law- you just can't legislate against stupidity.
The one exception is that a law should be passed that allows motorists to bitch slap anyone holding up traffic or anyone who has caused an accident while on the cellphone.

I drive into Milwaukee for work, and just about everyday there is a 10-30 minute delay on the freeway because some jerkwad rearended the person in front of them because their phone call was so damn important that it couldn't wait until they got to work. What angers me more is that if I'm delayed by 10 minutes, there are probably another 100,000 people delayed for the same amount of time- add that up and its 1million+ hours of time lost due to someone else's selfishness. Its too bad that drivers can't put in claims for time lost due to traffic delays against the person who caused an accident due to their own inattention.

[Phyphor]

After trying out a manual transmission for a few months now, I really think sticks are just as dangerous as any of these other distractions. 

Flame suit on. 

Can we blame Fistful for the propagation of automatics? 

[Brad Johnson]

Can we blame Fistful for the propagation of automatics? 

We have to have a reason to blame him for something?

Brad

[Paddy]

I'm all for having driver's seats replaced with Sybians for the soccer mommy vans, and in-dash LCD screens with NFL Network for the guys as part of the "pursuit of happiness" clause.

However, I seriously doubt that automakers will install such amenities in vehicles anytime soon.  They have, however, installed hands-free cellphones.

Prius already has all of that. LCD, Bluetooth, and I'll have to ask SWMBO about the Sybian. Anytime I've driven it, I haven't felt anything shall we say, untoward. 

[Michigander]

The one exception is that a law should be passed that allows motorists to bitch slap anyone holding up traffic or anyone who has caused an accident while on the cellphone.

So you get out of your car, walk up to the dude in front of you stopped at the green light, reach into his car and bitch slap him. Now, you are holding up traffic and the person behind you proceeds to reach you just prior to you getting back in/on your vehicle and bitch slaps you, and as this person returns to his/her vehicle, the person behind him/her proceeds to bitch slap him/her, etc.

No, I don't think the bitch slap is a viable option.

[Leatherneck]

There's a saying for newbie pilots that comes to mind. It's the mantra; "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate." Meaning basically "prioritize your cockpit activities: firsat, put the aircraft where it's supposed to go; second, proceed on intended course; third, communicate with other crew or external entities, in that order." Many's the time I've told a controller to "Stand by" as I was busy switching, maneuvering, aiming, etc. Never a squawk, as they knew the priorities as well as I did.

I wish more people would realize that controlling their vehicle is the first priority, not chatting on the damned phone.

TC

[CAnnoneer]

"No, I had a female moment, I'm sorry..."

Is that supposed to be an excuse?

From a more general perspective, what would be more beneficial for long-term society? A large, increasing number of rules that nobody follows, or a small number of core rules, giving as much leeway to peabrains to take themselves out of the gene pool as fast as possible? Why outlaw behavior that should be avoided by common sense? Those that do not have the wherewithall to do the smart thing in the first place will likely not have the same to do it because the opposite would be illegal. Legislating common sense seems largely ineffective, especially when the legal punishment for the bad behavior is grossly outweighed by nature's.

[SteveS]

"No, I had a female moment, I'm sorry..."

Is that supposed to be an excuse?

From a more general perspective, what would be more beneficial for long-term society? A large, increasing number of rules that nobody follows, or a small number of core rules, giving as much leeway to peabrains to take themselves out of the gene pool as fast as possible? Why outlaw behavior that should be avoided by common sense? Those that do not have the wherewithall to do the smart thing in the first place will likely not have the same to do it because the opposite would be illegal. Legislating common sense seems largely ineffective, especially when the legal punishment for the bad behavior is grossly outweighed by nature's.

Unfortunately, the people in need of common sense that do this kind of stuff when they are driving occasionally take out others that have common sense. 

[Brad Johnson]

I wish more people would realize that controlling their vehicle is the first priority, not chatting on the damned phone.

Too bad they realize it somewhere between panic and impact.

Brad

[BakerMikeRomeo]

I never talk on my cell when I'm driving, because there is a 100% chance that while attempting to open it, discern who it is, deciding to mash "go" on it, and actually having a conversation, I will suffer a horrible, crunchy, burny death.

I damnear killed myself trying to get a look out my windows at an A-6 flying overhead while I was on a little residential road here.

~BakerMike