Whether it's being on the phone, applying makeup or changing the radio station, distractions can double chances of crashing, said the American Automobile Association.

AAA said driver distraction factors into 25 percent of crashes.

Four states, including the Washington D.C. area have already banned drivers from using cell phones, a move wireless companies are calling a mistake.

While the companies recognized a wireless device can be a distraction, their response was so can a whole lot of other things.

The Pennsylvania State Senate is also considering making use of a handheld phone while driving a secondary offense.

They plan to revive such legislation during the next session in January.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/10527166/detail.html
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What do you think?

It's already illegal in some countries.

Companies should not complain.

Better than a ban would be a device to incapacitate transmission while a vehicle is moving.

I guess the american companies are sweating the threat of a ban because americans spend more time in their car than any other people (that i know of).

but they can stuff their greed up their fat arses as far as I am concerned. People talking on cell phones have accidents with people that do not talk on cell phones. No need to increase risks so a few people can discuss the weather.

This issue has arisen on SciForums in the past. Most of you are too young to remember citizen's band (CB) radios. Millions of people drove around carrying on conversations from the moment they entered the car or truck until the moment they got back out. Yet there was no epidemic of accidents caused by CB use. All the more surprising considering that they were holding the microphone in their right hand and driving with their left, and most people are right-handed.

What's the reason? CB radio sound comes through a speaker rather than an earpiece. Not only does it not block one ear, but it becomes part of the environment, a sound that can be perceptually put in its place within the auditory environment. Not so cell phones. They block one ear, so the sounds of the environment are heard through one ear and the other ear hears, for all practical purposes, only the sounds of the phone call.

Remember that each auditory nerve is connected to one brain hemisphere. What these people are experiencing is an artificial separation of the hemispheres, with each one processing different auditory stimuli. Worse, most people put the phone on their left ear, and in most people the left hemisphere is dominant, so the phone conversation gets perceptual and processing priority over the environment.

This is a formula for disaster. The way to reduce cell phone-related accidents is to outlaw HEADSETS! Make these doofuses listen to their nattering spouses and nagging bosses on a speaker. The way good red-blooded American truck drivers did!

Ban people from being used by cellphones.

It is my personal experience that, behind teenagers, people on cell phones are the most dangerous people on the road. That includes our dear seniors.

And when a TEENAGER has a CELL PHONE on while DRIVING...


Head for the hills!

It is my personal experience that, behind teenagers, people on cell phones are the most dangerous people on the road. That includes our dear seniors.

And when a TEENAGER has a CELL PHONE on while DRIVING...


Head for the hills!

or for sniper guns. ............................ radar sniper guns...police radar guns

I guess the american companies are sweating the threat of a ban because americans spend more time in their car than any other people (that i know of).

but they can stuff their greed up their fat arses as far as I am concerned. People talking on cell phones have accidents with people that do not talk on cell phones. No need to increase risks so a few people can discuss the weather.

I dont own a car myself, i do own a chopper though (nah). That you know of huh?

I dont own a car myself, i do own a chopper though (nah). That you know of huh?

Bet you live in a city.:)

I lived in NYC most of my life but now live in a small town. Been to three states on an airplane one time (never again hopefully) and never left the country.

How about you? are you in U.S, India or someplace else? not asking for specifics (lkike someone else here posted) just curious.

I lived in NYC most of my life but now live in a small town. Been to three states on an airplane one time (never again hopefully) and never left the country.

How about you? are you in U.S, India or someplace else? not asking for specifics (lkike someone else here posted) just curious.

Am in US right now, have travelled in India and the ME, all over the States by Amtrak, Greyhound, airplane and car (a friend's) :)

Used to be a 100% city girl, but am mellowing in my old age. :D

I have had so many close calls on the road caused by a moron on a cell phone who seemed to not know if they were here or on Mars so that I am totally in favor of trying to get their use out of cars.

Am in US right now, have travelled in India and the ME, all over the States by Amtrak, Greyhound, airplane and car (a friend's) :)

Used to be a 100% city girl, but am mellowing in my old age. :D

Yeah me too, lived in NYC most of my life but i found a place in the country that is just beautiful plus i can allways get into new york when i have the urge.

I do miss all the people and diversity, the city has a life of it's own. Manhattan is one of my favorite places to be, the other is a small town upstate NY...but it's a secret:)

Yeah me too, lived in NYC most of my life but i found a place in the country that is just beautiful plus i can allways get into new york when i have the urge.

I do miss all the people and diversity, the city has a life of it's own. Manhattan is one of my favorite places to be, the other is a small town upstate NY...but it's a secret:)

Sounds like me. There was a time I could not sleep without the sound of four lanes of traffic outside my window. And now, I cherish every moment of silence I can get.

I dont miss the noise. There was an all night deli on the corner and every night at 2am a garbage truck would come and slam the lids on the dumpsters and then rev the engine for 5 minutes then chssssssh (air brakes).

But yeah i guess i'm partied out too.

I dont miss the noise. There was an all night deli on the corner and every night at 2am a garbage truck would come and slam the lids on the dumpsters and then rev the engine for 5 minutes then chssssssh (air brakes).

But yeah i guess i'm partied out too.

Reminds me of My Cousin Vinny.:D


Vinny: Does that freight train come through here at 5:00 A.M. every morning?
Hotel Clerk: No, sir, it's very unusual.
...
Vinny: [the next day, after Vinny was awakened by the train] Yesterday you told me that freight train hardly ever comes through here at 5:00 A.M. in the morning.
Hotel Clerk: I know. She's supposed to come through at ten after 4:00.

Maybe we have the cart and the horse reversed. Maybe people who would use cell phones a lot while driving are already more prone to accidents than people who would not. I am the type of driver who handles any potential distractions with great care and refuses to occupy himself with them. That means that the food is set down when the traffic situations are tight, I don't open pop bottles with both hands while attempting to steer, and the cell phone is most likely turned off while I am driving. I have no accidents that are my fault on my record, knock on wood, and a very clean driving record. They go together with the attitude of caution.

Any "multitasking" time that I might have is dedicated to re-checking for rode hazards and planning my next move, like deciding whether to take the yellow or stop, and watching what is behind me and what the other idiot might do. I've prevented several accidents that way, including some that would not have directly involved me.

So maybe cell phone use while driving and even drunken driving are signs that the driver isn't that good a driver to begin with.

Reminds me of My Cousin Vinny.:D

ha ha, that movie was good. another one like that was 29th street, it was real cheesey but i like the actors in it.

aaannnd Saturday Night Fever:

"aaaaaaallll pacino aaaalll pacino, attica attica attica"

"my hair, he touched my hair, i told him never to touch my hair"

:D

I dont own a car myself, i do own a chopper though (nah). That you know of huh?

yes, choppers are for ***** (insert politically incorrect word).

I just had a cheap allroad with which I drove around all year. Even in winter. A motorcycle just needs to be practical.

What do you think?

I think we need to ban bad drivers.

For the most part, I do not have a problem with people on their cell-phones while driving. However, there are some that are obviously affected by talking and driving at the same time and I think these people are generally bad drivers on and off the phone. I use my cell phone sometimes while I drive (and I drive a stick shift :eek: ). I know my limitations. I'll tell the caller to hold on while I shift gears and when I need to manage lane shifts and such.

Maybe we have the cart and the horse reversed. Maybe people who would use cell phones a lot while driving are already more prone to accidents than people who would not. I am the type of driver who handles any potential distractions with great care and refuses to occupy himself with them. That means that the food is set down when the traffic situations are tight, I don't open pop bottles with both hands while attempting to steer, and the cell phone is most likely turned off while I am driving. I have no accidents that are my fault on my record, knock on wood, and a very clean driving record. They go together with the attitude of caution.

Any "multitasking" time that I might have is dedicated to re-checking for rode hazards and planning my next move, like deciding whether to take the yellow or stop, and watching what is behind me and what the other idiot might do. I've prevented several accidents that way, including some that would not have directly involved me.

So maybe cell phone use while driving and even drunken driving are signs that the driver isn't that good a driver to begin with.

Sounds reasonable to believe that there are inherent differences between the kind of people who decide to use cell phones while driving and those who don't. In which case, wouldn't banning cell phone use while driving be useful in terms of limiting its abuse by such people?

Whta about hands-free systems?

hand-frees are just as dangerous, they to draws you attention away from where it should be

Whta about hands-free systems?

No, they are not any safer. The issue with cellphones is that you become distracted with talk and not that you are holding a phone in your hand. Many people drive with one hand (such as myself) and we never have a problem.

It's safer to have a conversation with a passenger because this way you have another set of eyes watching the road with you.

It's illegal here (UK), although you still see lots of people doing it. At worst you get a £60 fine and 3 penalty points (12 and you're banned for a while) on your licence. Same as speeding pretty much.

I don't think the police take any notice, unless the person carves them up or is causing problems. I've seen them at lights beside another car with someone on the phone and the copper just waved his finger.

I've tried it myself a couple of times, out of necessity, but those couple of times I didn't feel in control. It's one thing messing with the radio - you don't have anything in your hand when you need to grab the steering wheel and avoid a crash.

I think bluetooth should be standard in new cars for handsfree and the added bonus of playing mp3s from your phone. If there was some kind of system in place that only allowed you to call someone whilst the car was stopped, then you could move off once the call was put through, I think that'd be ok.

Gear changes are dodgy, especially in towns and on corners.. Phone in one hand, gear stick in the other, knee jammed against the steering wheel.

Saying that, I almost burnt my crotch with some coffee the other day. Lights changed as I was taking a gulp and I had to go round a 90 degree corner, try to get the coffee back in the holder, avoid hitting a bus and hopefully get it into second gear soon to stop the engine from screaming.

The most dangerous thing I've found is passengers who are shit at navigating. You know the ones - you're halfway past a junction when they say that's where you want to go. They've only ever been this way on a bike when you end up in a bus lane going the wrong way up a one way street, etc.

"Don't know."

On the one hand, I'm uncomfortable with legislating on every tiny bit of people's life. On the other hand, it can be dangerous for other people, so there *is* a state interest in banning it.

I don't know. How many lives would it really save? Bah. There are more important priorities for a legislator.

"Don't know."

On the one hand, I'm uncomfortable with legislating on every tiny bit of people's life. On the other hand, it can be dangerous for other people, so there *is* a state interest in banning it.

I don't know. How many lives would it really save? Bah. There are more important priorities for a legislator.

Theoretically?


For the months of April - December 2001, the California Highway Patrol attributed at least 4,699 crashes, 2,786 injuries, and 31 deaths to cell phones. Since the stats were only collected for nine months, the LA Times* reports that the number of crashes for the entire year could be well over 6,000.



The Harvard University's Center for Risk Analysis estimates that cell phones are the cause of 2600 deaths, and 570,000 injuries each year. Mobile pnones are also to blame for 1.5 million crashes per year resulting in property damage


http://www.drivenowchatlater.com/Dont_Drive_And_Talk.html

A long time ago there was a study which concluded that driving while talking to a cell phone was similar to driving with a certain amount of alcohol taken in.

Would you drive under the influence of alcohol? Would you drive under the influence of 'cell phone'?

I dont know about anyone else, but if Im talking on my cellphone while driving, my concentration lies primarily on the road. I never talk at the expense of watching the road.

I dont know about anyone else, but if Im talking on my cellphone while driving, my concentration lies primarily on the road. I never talk at the expense of watching the road.

Are you telling us your brain is exceptional?

Or are you like a drunk driver who claims he drives more carefully than when sober?

Scientists have discovered that cell-phone use while driving is not as dangerous as they thought, as the driver adjusts his awareness properly to ensure safety.

More power to the people I say.

Or are you like a drunk driver who claims he drives more carefully than when sober?

I'm sure that you're aware, of course, that there are about a gazillion drunk drivers on the roads every day who never, ever get into those "sensational" accidents that are shown on TV, right? I mean, think about it for just a moment ......perfectly sober drivers get into accidents, too, right? Well, in the same way, there are perfectly drunk drivers who make it home without mishap.

Targeting cell phone use or drunk driving is about the same issue .....punishing the majority for POSSIBLE future mishaps of a few!

Baron Max

Theoretically?





http://www.drivenowchatlater.com/Dont_Drive_And_Talk.htmlOk.

Now, would banning cell phone use while driving prevent those deaths? I don't think so. People don't put on their fucking seatbelts, would they stop using cell phones?

Enforcing laws isn't just like flipping a switch. You need to focus on a few ones that are important and enforce them rigidly rather than try to micromanage lives and decredibilize the legal institution.

Ok.

Now, would banning cell phone use while driving prevent those deaths? I don't think so. People don't put on their fucking seatbelts, would they stop using cell phones?

Enforcing laws isn't just like flipping a switch. You need to focus on a few ones that are important and enforce them rigidly rather than try to micromanage lives and decredibilize the legal institution.

True.

Shame they can't enforce Mirrors -> Signal -> Manoeuvre

Targeting cell phone use or drunk driving is about the same issue .....punishing the majority for POSSIBLE future mishaps of a few!



Dear Baron,

I'm glad to hear you turned into an optimist.

Let me present some figures regarding alcohol related accidents in the US. That might interest you since it is the place you call home.


There were 16,694 alcohol-related fatalities in 2004 – 39 percent of the total traffic fatalities for the year.

Is 39% of the traffic fatalities really the mishaps of a few?


Of the 16,694 people who died in alcohol-related crashes in 2004, 8256 (57%) were killed in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL or higher. The legal limit for BAC is currently .08 in all states in the US.


NHTSA estimates that alcohol was involved in 39 percent of fatal crashes and in 7 percent of all crashes in 2004.

Apparently using alcohol doesn't do much good for the fatality rate of the accidents.


An estimated 248,000 people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present

248.000... mishaps of a few?

42,518 total road fatalities. In 16,694 of them alcohol was involved.

Come on baron. Would you like to adjust your ideas on the mishaps of a few now?

Let me present some figures regarding alcohol related accidents in the US. That might interest you since it is the place you call home. .... Is 39% of the traffic fatalities really the mishaps of a few?

But that says nothing at all about the number of drunk drivers who did NOT get caught, and did NOT get into accidents. I don't know where you've lived your life or how, but if you've ever been to a bar on Friday or Saturday nights, then you simply MUST know that all of those people are going to be driving home .......and they all are NOT going to get into accidents or get arrested. If they did, there'd be no one left in town on Sunday mornings!


Come on baron. Would you like to adjust your ideas on the mishaps of a few now?

The statistics only show the number of drunks who were caught or were in accidents ....it does NOT track the total number of drunks out driving around town who never have a mishap.

Baron Max

Sounds reasonable to believe that there are inherent differences between the kind of people who decide to use cell phones while driving and those who don't. In which case, wouldn't banning cell phone use while driving be useful in terms of limiting its abuse by such people?

Possibly, but these are the people who can't be taught to move over and let people in from the off-ramps, who dig through purses while driving and who open fresh bottles of soda, who reach back and slap kids, who sometimes are drunk, and who cut people off in traffic. Cell phone laws won't have much effect on them either.

I would like to see any of the studies that contrast hands-on v. hands-free cellphone usage. Because if "distraction" is an issue, should kids be able to ride in cars with their parents?

I repeat: it isn't the use of the hand that's the problem. It's the complete hijacking of one ear, which induces confusion between the two brain hemispheres. CB radios never caused this problem.

Man, I saw some idiot on the road the other night reading a friggin' newspaper in the driver's seat with the lights on. What a 'tard. I hate people that talk on cellphones or do anything other than concentrating on the road.

- N

Man, I saw some idiot on the road the other night reading a friggin' newspaper in the driver's seat with the lights on. What a 'tard. I hate people that talk on cellphones or do anything other than concentrating on the road.

- N

does that include Cops?

does that include Cops?They're the worst offenders. But obviously there's something to be said for the rigorous driver training they receive in the police academy. Whatever else you can say about cops, most of them are far more competent drivers than most civilians. It stands to reason they can get away with antics that would kill the rest of us.

If you're on a long, boring trip I believe cell phone use may make you safer by helping to keep you awake. I rarely use my cell phone when driving on city streets.

But two days a week I practice at an office about an hour away. It's sixty miles of pretty much open road. You just need to keep going straight about eighty miles an hour and not fall asleep. I often spend the whole trip on my cell phone, getting off before my exit when I actually need to pay attention.

When on the cell phone, I'm awake and alert the whole trip. When not, I sometimes get hypnotized by the white lines and space off or actually fall asleep momentarily.