Cell Phone Laws

[roadrunner]

I just read this on AOL


Ready for Hands-Free?
Six states issue tickets for talking on your cell while driving
By SHERYLL ALEXANDER, AOL AUTOS
Law enforcement officials in six states can now give you a ticket for talking on your cell phone while driving, so that hands-free device you should be using for your cell phone is going to become your best friend. If you don't have one then you should ask yourself why and get to the store to buy one. Some important information on why and what to look for is below. The reason you may need to start wearing that dorky Bluetooth-integrated ear piece is actually quite startling and sobering. Distracted drivers cause 80 percent of all road accidents, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. In fact, a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California shows hands-free laws have the potential of saving 300 lives in California each year and perhaps thousands if similar laws were enacted in all states.

"I wouldn't be surprised if more states enact laws much like California's new law," said Elliot Darvick , Celebrity Car Parade editor for MyRide.com, whose recent survey results show 70 percent of people agree that driving and cell phones don't mix. However, only 23 percent of respondents say they refrain from talking or texting when driving.

To date, six states have enacted statewide hands-free laws and 20 states have active hands-free law legislation on the books.

"I certainly don't want to see people on the road texting or talking," Darvick said. "I'd rather they have their hands on the wheel."

Hands-Free Laws by State
On July 1, hands-free laws became effective in both California and Washington, making a total of six states (and the district of Washington DC) with enforceable hands-free laws. In addition, many states have enacted similar laws in some districts and some states have active hands-free legislation. Here's how it breaks down by state:

States With Enacted Laws: California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Utah, Washington D.C. and Washington

States With Enacted Laws by Jurisdiction (most of these states also have active state-wide legislation): Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania

States With Active Legislation: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin

[Crap Magnet]

Sad, the people who find driving so difficult that they can't talk while they drive. If they are that disabled, should they be driving anyway?

[Chuck]

Many people would rather crash their car than drop their Cell Phone. I have been hands free for a year now and would not go back to holding the thin while I drive. Hands Free should be a Ky law.

[Crap Magnet]

Why would you crash? Do yo have a mental disability or other disability that limits your ability to pay attention to multiple issues at once? Hands free doesn't require any less concentration. We now have a new invention: POWER STEERING! It doesn't require both hands. It's amazing. Go for that option sometime. You'll love it.

[kdown]

Cell phone use while driving is DANGEROUS. PERIOD

[Crap Magnet]

Just because you THINK it is? Or you think it's too hard for you? Or are you one of the old idiots who think so just because it's one of "them newfangled devices"? Because when the state of NY first banned cellphone use, they did a study a year later and found that it made no change in the number of accidents.

Is it dangerous for some? Sure. Some people are too feeble or uncoordinated to do both. But that doesn't mean that it is a generalization. Next I guess we'll say that steroids make people into raving lunatics and marijuana causes people to become mindless killers. Not that I support either (and I don't use either, so that argument won't work for ya), but I love the fools that fall for government propaganda as if the true facts aren't bad enough.

[Chuck]

I have not seen one person in this town grab there phone and NOT swerve while doing it. Then slow to a crawl to chat. Then their is the other people that make a bad attempt at texting and driving.

Comparing drug use or abuse to cell phone use while driving is just asinine.

The law say "Both hands on the wheel". Pay attention to driving, not the kids, not your best friend on the wireless network. Don't tell us how great you are just focus and respect the rights of others to be safe while your on the road.

[jlmer]

Well said Chuck, I couldnt have said it better.

[roadrunner]

Why would you crash? Do yo have a mental disability or other disability that limits your ability to pay attention to multiple issues at once? Hands free doesn't require any less concentration. We now have a new invention: POWER STEERING! It doesn't require both hands. It's amazing. Go for that option sometime. You'll love it.

The problem is my Jeep is a 5 speed so you try to drive a 5 speed in town hold your phone to your ear with one hand, shift gears with one hand, and hold the steering wheel with one hand and stay on your side of the road at the same time. Did anyone else count three hands besides me?? Its almost impossible I don`t care how intelligent you think you are. roadrunner
<br />****** Double Post *********</br>
I have not seen one person in this town grab there phone and NOT swerve while doing it. Then slow to a crawl to chat. Then their is the other people that make a bad attempt at texting and driving.

Comparing drug use or abuse to cell phone use while driving is just asinine.

The law say "Both hands on the wheel". Pay attention to driving, not the kids, not your best friend on the wireless network. Don't tell us how great you are just focus and respect the rights of others to be safe while your on the road.

Amen.... roadrunner

[lbt1964]

My uncle was killed in a car accident 3 years ago, by a young fellow driving a box truck and talking on the phone, the truck driver crossed the line and hit them head on, what did my uncle do, he was just driving down the road minding his own business, so yes talking on the phone and driving is very dangerous, I THNK KY SHOULD PICK UP THIS LAW, if there had been such a law 3 years ago, maybe i would still have my uncle........

[Maxwells]

I agree, people who want to talk on their cell phones should be hands free...I have been hands free for a long time..And no I am not an idiot or disabled...I have had some close calls from being struck by people talking on their cells phones and not paying attention...that is what makes me mad....Keep your eyes on the road and your HANDS upon the wheels...well said MR. Morrison..

[glenda]

what did all these people do before cell phones anyway.?

[Crap Magnet]

Roadrunner: that's just senseless. Why would you try to do more than you have enough hands for? I know this is very emotional for a lot on the board, but let's try to keep it at least semi-reasonable and sensible. Talk once you're up to speed and won't need to shift. Or is expecting people to accurately judge their circumstance too much to ask?
<br />****** Double Post *********</br>
I have not seen one person in this town grab there phone and NOT swerve while doing it. Then slow to a crawl to chat. Then their is the other people that make a bad attempt at texting and driving.

Comparing drug use or abuse to cell phone use while driving is just asinine.

The law say "Both hands on the wheel". Pay attention to driving, not the kids, not your best friend on the wireless network. Don't tell us how great you are just focus and respect the rights of others to be safe while your on the road.Chuck, you just used "there" in place of "their". You should probably look in the mirror when talking asinine.

And the law does NOT say you have to have 2 hands on the wheel. Read up. That would prevent all manual transmissions from being street legal.

[Brian K Beckett]

I dont know I am about 50/50 on this.


I dont think talking on the phone going down an open raod is that big of a danger but I could definatly see it being a danger in a larger city especially in rush hour or on Interstates with a lot of traffic.

I think some drivers are more capable at it and other just do not need to be driving period even with both hands on the wheel.

Are people so busy in their lives that they are constantly on the phone when driving?




Oh and Crap Magnet do you have a link to that study I am courious to see it? Oh and about people saying that Mary Jane makes a person a mindless killer that has allready been done. A black and white film in 1936 called Refer Madness. This film is what many believe started the whole prohibition of drugs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefer_Madness_%281936_Film%29

Oh and I myself do not do drugs, I dont even drink, not that I have anything against drinking. The wife and I even have a stocked bar for our friends that drink (The wife drinks)
I would even say I think the drinking age should be 18. If we can allow someone to be able to make the decision to die in war and allow the to be able to decide who to vote for then they should be allowed to decide if they want to drink.


My personal opinion on drugs and alcahol is do you really need it? Really what does one gain from its use? I have been drunk twice, somoked weed twice and yes I did inhale. LOL but I did not really see any advantages from it.

[Crap Magnet]

My reference was to Reefer Madness. I just think it is so commonly known as blatant propaganda that it was a great reference that didn't require naming it.

I don't have the study, as this was a few years ago. I don't exactly keep a file of links of interest... although at times like this, I wish I did. Haha.

I agree 100% that there are people who shouldn't talk and drive. But that shouldn't be made to affect those of us who can. Heck, there are people who shouldn't drive and chew gum, but they don't have a law against it. So the true burdon of responsibility should fall upon drivers, and even lawmakers to allow officers to use proper judgment to pull over someone for talking under the reckless driving statute or other similar law, so that it is at the discretion of the LEO.

[mark]

what did all these people do before cell phones anyway.?

I wonder too.

They called you at home or at work.

Life was soooo much easier before "everyone had a phone" to use.

They are dangerous to use while driving.

Everyone knows that..........see ya mark

[Crap Magnet]

Oh my God. Okay, now let's all get the geezer attitude. Let me take it further before you folks do:
What did these people do before cars? Newfangled iron horses who needs them anyway? When I was a kid we walked to and from school... uphill... both ways.

[mark]

When I was a kid we walked to and from school... uphill... both ways.

Nah, we didn't.

We rode the pickles ( on level ground )
unless the snow was too deep..........see ya mark

[Chuck]

Chuck, you just used "there" in place of "their". You should probably look in the mirror when talking asinine.

This is the best you could do? I see you didn't miss the interpretation. My point was made. Either way, I lack the ability to care.


And the law does NOT say you have to have 2 hands on the wheel. Read up. That would prevent all manual transmissions from being street legal.

Correct, it is only a recommendation.

I have looked in the mirror and I find I am asinine, a jerk, a idiot and anything else you can think of. I'm good with that.

The use of terms such as LEO is a dead giveaway. I like the nick N4cer better than Crap Magnet.

[TheMan]

Driving is a divided attention task. When you divide your already divided attention it becomes less safe, regardless of that that other task is.

[Flame]

Brian, I agree with you on the legal drinking age, for the same reason. Why can we allow our children of age 18 fight for this country with a AK-47 but when he gets back to the states can't have a cold beer.

I'm also divided on this. I do use my cell phone and drive. Have never wrecked from it. (Now I've jinxed myself). Should stereos be taken out of vehilcles???? I see people messing with their radios and not paying attention. This goes back to no matter what takes your attention from driving is not good. Children fighting and argueing (sp) can do the same thing. The thing that seems to get my attention off the road is simply daydreaming or thinking about 100 tasks I need to get done, or what will work be like.


We all, including myself, need to pay better attention while driving.

[JRbickley]

I was behind a lady on the AA one time she was driving so bad I just knew she was drunk, when we got to the light at #11 I pulled up beside here. It looked like she was grading school papers, she had them in the middle of the wheel and was checking them, (careless driving).
<br />****** Double Post *********</br>
Just because you THINK it is? Or you think it's too hard for you? Or are you one of the old idiots who think so just because it's one of "them newfangled devices"? Because when the state of NY first banned cellphone use, they did a study a year later and found that it made no change in the number of accidents.

Is it dangerous for some? Sure. Some people are too feeble or uncoordinated to do both. But that doesn't mean that it is a generalization. Next I guess we'll say that steroids make people into raving lunatics and marijuana causes people to become mindless killers. Not that I support either (and I don't use either, so that argument won't work for ya), but I love the fools that fall for government propaganda as if the true facts aren't bad enough.

I'am not a psychologist but I have had a psychology class and people correct me if I'am wrong but I think the professor said that the human brain can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time, not to say you can't multitask meaing your brain jumps back and forth from one thing to the other. Some are better at multitasking then others. So while your concentrating on the phone you not concentrating on driving (best maybe 50/50), its not humanly possible. I don't like more laws either, its already careless driving. It only takes a second to run a red and if your on your phones 50% then your brain can't comprehend the light.

[Brian K Beckett]

I was behind a lady on the AA one time she was driving so bad I just knew she was drunk, when we got to the light at #11 I pulled up beside here. It looked like she was grading school papers, she had them in the middle of the wheel and was checking them, (careless driving).
<br />****** Double Post *********</br>


I'am not a psychologist but I have had a psychology class and people correct me if I'am wrong but I think the professor said that the human brain can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time, not to say you can't multitask meaing your brain jumps back and forth from one thing to the other. Some are better at multitasking then others. So while your concentrating on the phone you not concentrating on driving (best maybe 50/50), its not humanly possible. I don't like more laws either, its already careless driving. It only takes a second to run a red and if your on your phones 50% then your brain can't comprehend the light.



Basically what you are saying is that by talking on the phone would not be much different then talking to someone while they were in the car as far as the mind is concerened. The only differences would be when dialing the number, or texting.

I could see a greater risk by someone when thay are dialing a number or especially texting.

My question is how does a hands free device address someone from texting or dialing?

I dont think it does. The hands free device law only addresses calming someones thought of what could happen.

[JRbickley]

Basically what you are saying is that by talking on the phone would not be much different then talking to someone while they were in the car as far as the mind is concerened. The only differences would be when dialing the number, or texting.

I could see a greater risk by someone when thay are dialing a number or especially texting.

My question is how does a hands free device address someone from texting or dialing?

I dont think it does. The hands free device law only addresses calming someones thought of what could happen.

Yes, and dialing your phone would not be much different than changing CD's in your radio or something. I thank the problem is that some people don't multitask well and they give most of thier attention to the other thing and not driving. I have seen some people on cell's going down the road and you can tell its 90% phone and 10% driving their so lost in conversation they would not see a big rig in their lane. Other people due very well maybe more like the 50/50.

[Brian K Beckett]

I wonder if people viewed CB radios when they first put them in cars like they view cell phones now?

I dont see much of a diference between talking on a CB and talking on a cell phone.

[Cobra]

I did some searching and found that a few universities did studies on cell phone use and driving. I not saying that I agree with 100% of their findings and I'm sure there are other studies out there but here's some of their result.

1. People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit” of 0.08 percent.

2. Hands-free cell phones are just as distracting as handheld cell phones because the conversation itself – not just manipulation of a handheld phone – distracts drivers from road conditions.

3. A 2005 study suggesting that when teenagers and young adults talk on cell phones while driving, their reaction times are as slow as those of elderly drivers.

4. A 2003 study showing that the reason is “inattention blindness,” in which motorists look directly at road conditions but don’t really see them because they are distracted by a cell phone conversation. And such drivers aren’t aware they are impaired.

5. Motorists who talked on either handheld or hands-free cell phones drove slightly slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, displayed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing, were 19 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking and were more likely to crash.

[Brian K Beckett]

I did some searching and found that a few universities did studies on cell phone use and driving. I not saying that I agree with 100% of their findings and I'm sure there are other studies out there but here's some of their result.

1. People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit” of 0.08 percent.

2. Hands-free cell phones are just as distracting as handheld cell phones because the conversation itself – not just manipulation of a handheld phone – distracts drivers from road conditions.

3. A 2005 study suggesting that when teenagers and young adults talk on cell phones while driving, their reaction times are as slow as those of elderly drivers.

4. A 2003 study showing that the reason is “inattention blindness,” in which motorists look directly at road conditions but don’t really see them because they are distracted by a cell phone conversation. And such drivers aren’t aware they are impaired.

5. Motorists who talked on either handheld or hands-free cell phones drove slightly slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, displayed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing, were 19 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking and were more likely to crash.


So what the study is saying is that it is the conversation itself and not both hands on the wheel that is the safety concern.

This is interesting, so the study also suggest that by talking to a passenger that is in the vehicle makes a driver as bad as a drunk driver.

I wonder did they only test this out on teenage drivers and young drivers? I would be willing to bet that middle aged drivers have more common sence and brains and could drive and talk better then younger drivers.

So does this mean that they are going to ban elderly drivers? I know a few years ago their was a lot of talk of banning elderly drivers after two unreleated incidents involving elderly drivers.

I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on the affects of having a conversation with a passenger or if they have done a study with someone talking on a CB radio?

[JRbickley]

I wonder if people viewed CB radios when they first put them in cars like they view cell phones now?

I dont see much of a diference between talking on a CB and talking on a cell phone.

I was thinking the same thing only about truck drivers they talk on CB's alot to help keep them awake. I saw a study done on driving drunk or driving with out sleep, they took like 10 college students 5 they feed the alcohol to keep them right at .08 and 5 they had made go with out sleep over night and then they put them on driving simulators and graded them. The ones with out sleep did much worse.

[Brian K Beckett]

I wonder if the increase in trafic today as compaired to the CB era 70s is what is calling attention to the posibility of cell phone driving dangers?

Or I also know I have passed someone while they were talking and driving normal and thought to myself " I wish idiots talking on the phone would just pull over" and also thinking how dangerous I thought it was to talk and drive but never paying attention to the fact that I was speeding and passing them in a slightly reckless manner, which technically my doing that was probably more of a danger then their yacking on a phone.
Then finding myself a mile or so down the road answering my phone a yacking myself a few miles down the road.

I read someone talking about a "careless driving" charge, would that apply to someone yacking and driving carelessly? If so would a specific hands free law be more of a charge then careless driving? Why dont we ever see dash cams of this on COPS or something like they do with drunk drivers? Do they still produce COPS?

[landlord]

I have to admit, I have found myself slowing down, crossing the center line etc when trying to text(stupid I know) while driving, when messing with the radio or (to my embarassment) talking on the phone, driving and trying to take notes at the same time. I then think to myself, I AM AN IDIOT! I then put the cell down, put both hands on the wheel and say, Thank you God for keeping me safe.
YOU can be in control of your life/destiny or your life can be in control of YOU! It is up to YOU!

[Cobra]

COPS comes on Saturday night at 8 & 8:30 pm. Most are repeats though.

[roadrunner]

Roadrunner: that's just senseless. Why would you try to do more than you have enough hands for? I know this is very emotional for a lot on the board, but let's try to keep it at least semi-reasonable and sensible. Talk once you're up to speed and won't need to shift. Or is expecting people to accurately judge their circumstance too much to ask?
<br />****** Double Post *********</br>
Chuck, you just used "there" in place of "their". You should probably look in the mirror when talking asinine.

And the law does NOT say you have to have 2 hands on the wheel. Read up. That would prevent all manual transmissions from being street legal.

This is what the thread is about the dangers of driving and talking on cell phones. You think what I said is senseless then you need to get out more. People do this every day. If you was driving a standard shift car in a city and your phone started ringing you would answer it. Wouldn`t you??? Be honest now !!!!! How many people on here thinks Crap Magnet would answer the phone and try to hold the phone, shift gears, and steer the vehicle at the same time???.......roadrunner

[Cobra]

I think he would. Probably have a wreck too. :eek: