Car Tech forum: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars?

There are some people that can't handle various extra things, and some that can. If you crash or harm someone, you should be held responsible for your actions. It is wrong to hold everyone responsible for the actions of a few. I think heavy penalties should be leveled against those that fail to control their automobile. 10 year suspension of licence. Jail time or fines.

For example, I have a difficult time talking on the phone while driving. Knowing this... I do something amazing... incredible even... I simply do not talk on the phone while driving. Shocking huh. So to make it simple, I'm against gadgets in cars being used by people who can't use them safely, and for gadgets in cars being used by people who can. The individual should be wise and own up to this.

Hello? What about all the people that have never gotten into an accident but do spend time on cell phones or listening to the stereo? Your statistics only include those who have had an accident. Statistically what is the percentage of ALL drivers that have and use stereos or cell phones and have never been in an accident?

I have been in sales for 9 years and spend the majority of the time on the road. I have probably driven a quarter million miles in my lifetime and have never been in an accident of my making (I have been rear ended which was not my fault, and hey, I wasn't on the phone).

I do find a wireless headset to be safer than holding the phone itself (it frees up a hand so I can jot down a note).

OK, I'll bite. I've been fascinated with this debate for some time. So it seems that those opposed to cell phone use while driving make the following point: "If you talk on a phone and drive your reaction time goes way down and eventually you'll get into an accident." OK, let's try this experiment; take the cell phone away and put the person you're talking to in the seat beside you.

I'm pretty sure people have been talking to other people in the car far longer than cell phones have been in use, and for some reason, we still have a human race. Granted, holding a cell phone is certainly inconvenient while driving, and in an emergency maneuver situation is hazardous. On the other hand, I've observed women applying eyeliner while driving 70 MPH, people eating Big Macs on the freeway and even the occasional commuter reading a book. Not to mention other drivers who are in their own little world, completely unaware of anything going on around them.

The fact is, there are some (perhaps many) people who should not be driving. Period. Getting a license to operate a 2 ton piece of machinery at 65 MPH is far too easy. We don't need new laws to fix the problem either. Insurance companies can do it by refusing to affordable insure people who operate a vehicle negligently. If more people had the threat of their insurance premiums going up to $5000 a year if they drive into someone while on the phone, they would be more careful.

That's fine and peachy. I don't trust NPR. The government funds that. But still, if you want to hang up and drive fine. If you want to tell others to do the same, that's your choice.

However if you want to ban it because you have some "true story" about a cell phone, as if you know for certain it was the phone that caused the accident when you, nor anyone else, was in the car with her, then I have a problem.

Because I've been hit several times. One was a guy distracted by a passenger, another was changing radio stations, One was eating, another was just a lame driver. No phone or food or drink, just a lame driver.

So if you want to play the ban game, then you must support banning everything else too. Ban passengers, ban food and drinks, ban stereos, ban personal electronics, ban pets. Otherwise your just playing games and wanting to ban something you personally don't like, and not being really true to your own "claimed" beliefs. Why should anyone support you when you just are on a personal kick. So place your stake. Do you want to ban *every* distraction? Or is this just your personal crusade in which case, why should I support it?

How do you know it's not "some people"? The evidence you give is good... but not conclusive. The first web link, lists a bunch of accidents involving cell phones. Great, but accidents happened all the time prior to cell phones, AND millions of accidents happen every year without cell phones.

Further, and others here pointed out, millions drive and use cell phones without having an accident. For example, my father has yet to hit anyone ever, yet he has used a cell phone in the car. Not often and normally for a short time.

Again, my point is not "phones are safe" my point is, if we are going to ban something for being a distraction, then passengers (I was hit by a guy distracted by another in the car) and stereos (I was hit by a guy messing with his stereo) and everything else that could be a distraction like drive throughs, food in the car, TVs, hot coffee, babies, pets, and so on, should all be banned.

Be true to your own beliefs, or accept the fact you are hypocritical.

A: If they are held responsible, then there's no need for other laws. That will be enough.

B: I don't know where you live, but the number of people here who clearly should not be on the road, to me indicates proper removel of bad drivers from the road is not occuring. The punishment for driving without a licence should be strong enough to cause people to not do it. It clearly isn't because of the number of times a person with a suspended or revoked licence is caught. And for each person caught, likely there are many more not.

Further, one of the accidents I was in, involved a person without insurance, who was intoxicated, driving "a friends" truck, with expired tags. For reasons that would take too long to explain, nothing happened to him. He might be on the road now.

Many, many times it is not the perpetrator that crashes but who CAUSES others to crash because of inattentive/erratic driving caused by using a cell phone, GPS, or etc. etc. etc. And the corker is, the inattentive driver just keeps on going!

My GPS has made me a much safer driver in areas I don't know very well. I am much more relaxed, I do less slowing down at odd times, I am not staring into the distance hoping to read signs or building numbers a half mile ahead, and I am much less of a problem to those around me. Cell phones, on the other hand, demand my attention on subjects other than the one at hand: driving and getting where I need to go safely.

I really don't care about GPS or cell phones. GPS beats reading maps. If they let drivers find their way and get out of mine that is great. I personally read the paper when I drive.

As a professional driver who logs over 100,000 miles per year I have seen it all some people should not be allowed to drive let alone try to work a piece of electronics. Most humans can not walk and process distance, have you ever been run over buy a shopping cart in the supermarket? When you are out on the highway at 55(everyone does 55,especially when being pulled over for speeding) this multiples to long distances of not being in your lane, running people off the road, and in some intense conversations people slowing to 45 in a 65mph zone. You can not take your eyes off the road. When NY state went hands free that was a noticeable improvement, make it hands free/voice.

On a recent trip across 4 towns we were almost run off the road three times by people chatting away on their phones instead of driving. I only make calls before leaving but I admit, just like Pavlov's dog, I answer when I hear the bell ring. I pull over if it's going to be more than a need millk call. I use my cell on a need to know basis, never to chat. But I see and know people who have them glued to their heads.

I am against cell phone and gps usage while driving.
There should be stiff fines and confiscation of phone after first offense..........

The most dangerous people I've seen on the road recently is the single or solo mother with children in the back seat. She's screaming and yelling at them (great parenting technique) and doing that great reach around thing, hunting for some toy that was dropped. I've seen them wandering all over the road, one almost hit the curb, and nearly rare ending a car in the parking lot. Scary people.

It is demonstrated many times daily during my commute that people cannot talk to someone else - whether on the phone or in the passenger seat -- and drive competently at the same time. More attention is paid to the conversation than to the driving and the flow of traffic. Can't use turns signals to change lanes or turn a corner because that hand is holding the phone. Turning an unsignalled corner with one hand, while the head is tilted toward one shoulder. Not moving the eyes around to notice a pedestrian about to enter the street the driver is about to turn into, nearly hitting the pedestrian and getting hit by an oncoming driver. Etc. Etc. Etc. And they are totally oblivious to the dangers they have created!

I always fear they'll add to the tyranny of the government Behemoth when some people act stupidly. Access to a phone on the road is a wonderful thing. Things like reporting hazards and calling for help become possible. Quick conversations can ease stress and misunderstanding as schedules change and worries are allayed.

But far too many people talk way too much, and sometimes they're the worst drivers in the first place. Young drivers in particular.