Community poll forum: Talking on the phone while driving

As long as the person driving and talking has their head "on a swivel". By this I mean I've seen too many people driving while on their cell phone and they do not look around. They appear so engrossed in the conversation that they neglect to look at traffic around them. They seem to have a blank stare straight ahead and do not look around. Please, just listen to your mother and, "look both ways!"

This law is going into effect in my town. The TV news is just proving how many drivers talk on cell phones around here. Problem is this law will also include eating & applying makeup while driving. Maybe they will include changing cds or talking with another person in the car soon! Who hasn't eaten fries while driving? Does it matter if you're stopped at a red light or stop sign? Technically you're not driving then.

Phone to the ear or "hands-free" makes no difference in risk of collision. Rare are the true emergency instances when one must use the phone while in motion; pulling to the side to answer or call is the best and safest option, ALWAYS! Answering an incoming call is not an emergency since all cell phones will indicate "missed call" with the number and time recorded even if the caller did not leave a voice message. Answering a call may precipate an emergency (collision), which is simply not woth it. The vast majority of drivers have poor driving skills even when not distracted by cell calls.

You said, ''If someone gets in an accident it certainly not because of the cell phone...'' What? It may or may not be. However, don't tell me that drivers are not distracted somewhat and are fully attentive to the road and the main task at hand while talking on a cell phone. You also said, ''What became the problem is how they drive...'' EXACTLY! The problem IS indeed how they drive because they have a cell phone stuck to their ear and are in their own little self-absorbed world! Get a clue! And don't get behind me if you are catching up with friends and family.

It IS illegal to drive and talk on a cell phone in NY! Where is a cop to give this joker a ticket?!?! No, instead they hunt me and give me a ticket for just sitting in my car at a red light.

When did I say that I got a ticket?
He lunged into me while I was stopped at the light.
(messed up the grille on his new BMW hahaha....and I just got a small dent.

Could have cared less, until 2 weeks ago a woman talking on her cell phone ran the red light and almost ran into me. She drove past 4 stopped cars in the next lane, I don't think she even noticed me or the guy in the other lane as she drove on chating on her phone.

Where's that missile launch button?

I hope that was sarcasm...

Yes, I'm male, BTW. I've seen good and bad drivers from both genders.

I see police every day on the cellphone while driving,they must have special training,huh?

Do you suppose it would be possible to follow a cell-phone driver until they reach their destination, and then make a citizen's arrest for "reckless driving"?

People who say "there ought to be a law against" really make me so irritated. OK, what's next? There ought to be a law against your drinking a cup of 7-ll coffee while driving? How about smoking while driving? Pretty soon, there will be a law against everything. I say let the people themselves be sensible about what they do and keep the "Government" OUT of it. No Laws Against! People are probably just jealous. I don't even use a cell phone, but I want the right to use one whereever I please within my own logical and ethical reasoning.

I have replyed to some responces on this matter.
But the most important one off all is,when you go for your licence the driving instructors tell you never take your hands of the wheel,even the people who take you for the licence test watch what you do,only time hand comes of the wheel is to change gears if it a manual,they explain to you the dangers and what could happen.
so i think people should go back to basics and learn all about driving again,even those who say in here, they can multitask.
Never think for one moment it wont happen to you,for one day it will,belive me it has happened to me,so people never let your guard down for one moment when driving,allways check and double check all vehicals come towards you and take care when passing,that way you should make your destination,use the phone when you pull over,when driving turn it on to voice mail.
Whats more important a phone call or getting home safley to your loved ones,or that destination you are trying to reach.
Thank you for a good topic

I sure do miss the days before cell phones; back when people didn't have car accidents. Oh, wait. Yes, there are plenty of people out there who are not competent to drive and talk on the phone, but for those of you who can remember there are and were thousands of people incapable of driving and talking, period. As sad as it is to say, there are plenty of people, licensed drivers, who have no business being on the road with the rest of us. Admittedly, giving them cell phones while driving is a bad idea, but technology is not the enemy. If it were up to me, I'd make cell phone usage a restriction / classification on your license. Yes, talking on the phone while driving can be a distraction if you allow it to be, like just about everything else that happens when you're operating a vehicle. You can't eliminate distractions unless you're in a wide open space with nothing else around you. The important thing is how you let those distractions affect your driving. Chances are if you're not at all distracted, you're asleep. There are plenty of us who are perfectly capable of driving while on the phone, headset or not. I feel sorry for those who can't and even more sorry for those adversely affected by those idiots.

I like the rule I use. KISS. Which means: Keep It Short Stupid! I am constantly kicking my wife off my phone while I'm driving because I can't stand holding that dumb thing and driving. I can't afford an ear bud but would probably not like it anyway. Here's a better explanation about my rule...

- Get quick info if someone is changing plans or if you need to add a stop to your trip, or you need to be notified of an emergency.

- Don't sit there and yap about what happened on LOST last night or what happened to Cindy's husband who had surgery and they cant have kids now, etc, etc, etc. That kind of conversation is very distracting and drivers like me always end up getting out of the way of those people to avoid wrecks, even if we aren't at fault.

My sister's a pre-school teacher, last March one of mother's was on her way to drop off her two daughter's, when she was talking on her cell phone... Not paying attention, she turned around to yell at her daugher's, dropped her phone on the floor, tried to pick it up...She went left of center and hit a dump truck head on in her minivan...Thank God, they all lived ! I don't like the government in my business anymore then they already are, but maybe there should be laws about driving while talking on cell phones ? Where are the mother's from MADD, on this issue !?