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Cell Phone while driving

Do you support a ban on cell phones while driving?

  • Yes, I support the ban

    Votes: 21 52.5%

  • No, I do not support the ban

    Votes: 19 47.5%
  • Total voters
    40
  • Poll closed .
Onion Eater said:
Why do you believe that? By your own account, you've never had an accident.
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Because I have always used a hands free device.

This is a point that I've made elsewhere. I trust only in what I see with my own eyes.
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Moderator's Warning:
This has nothing to do with the thread and is considered trolling. Please cease this.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Gee...I wonder what in the world people that worked before cell phones ever did! :roll:
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Very poor argument. Just because we didn't have cell phones 50 years ago does not negate their worth or importance of use, today. They are an invaluable tool that allows us to be more efficient.

But here are some questions that perhaps you can answer:

How did we ever commute to work before automobiles?
How did we ever understand or obtain knowledge of world events before the printing press?
How did we ever know what time it was before the watch?
How did we ever entertain ourselves before the internet?

The answer to all of these questions is the same. We did. Less efficiently and the world was smaller for each of us.

In other words why not make the time? Are those buisness deals really worth a life?
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Do not assume I am making business deals. Because of my job, often my cell phone calls may be saving a life. And, I may be traveling somewhere to do the same thing.
 
TOJ said:
I think studies have shown that holding the phone is not the problem. There is no significant difference between holding the phone while talking and using a hands free device. It's concentrating on the conversation that causes the distraction.
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This may be true in regards to distractions, however, having both hands on the wheel is also a factor. I'm not sure if this has been studied, but, logically, driving with two hands is safer than one.
 
As a precursor, my initial findings show there is a confound in all of the research done by Dr. David Strayer of the University of Utah, the major player in cell phone and driving research. All of the participants in his studies are undergraduates. These are 18-22 year olds. We know that this age group tend to handle distractions more poorly than older folks, both because of their brain biology and because they are less experienced drivers.

More later.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
As a precursor, my initial findings show there is a confound in all of the research done by Dr. David Strayer of the University of Utah, the major player in cell phone and driving research. All of the participants in his studies are undergraduates. These are 18-22 year olds. We know that this age group tend to handle distractions more poorly than older folks, both because of their brain biology and because they are less experienced drivers.

More later.
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I think that the older drivers being more experienced tend to be because they have learned to, look ahead and think ahead. However the reaction time of elder people are alot slower than those of 18-22 years old. In other words it evens out in that respect.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
The answer to all of these questions is the same. We did. Less efficiently and the world was smaller for each of us.
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Which again begs the question. (only slightly different) Is more efficiency in a business or every day life more important than a persons life?

Technology is great. Wonderful even. But we cannot let that technology take over our lives to the point that it can jepordize anothers life, or your own personal life.

CaptainCourtesy said:
Do not assume I am making business deals. Because of my job, often my cell phone calls may be saving a life. And, I may be traveling somewhere to do the same thing.
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In an emergency situation where a persons life depends on the use of cell phones I can understand the use and condone it. But there are far less people devoted to emergency services than there are of the business people. The every day man/woman use thier cell phones to call a friend or loved one for basic things, for example: "Hello honey, I love you", conduct business deals that have to do with money (not in situations that deal with the potential saving of a life).
 
creativedreams said:
Do you believe there should be a ban on cell phones while driving?
If this is done then fast food drive-ups should be banned because eating while driving is on the same plane (level).

This coincides with my belief of the "evolution of laws and the snowball effect"!
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When the government banns tobacco and alcohol I'll believe it cares about fatalities.

Until then, "public health" is cover story and nothing more.

Given my true premise, cell phone bans only serve to establish unjust government intrusion into your personal life.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Although I neither drive as much as you, nor use as many minutes, I too drive and talk on my cell with work related issues, often. Due to time constraints, it is necessary. So far, I have never gotten into an accident nor a ticket when using my cell.

I do believe, however, that anything that occupies your hands and takes them off the wheel, is dangerous and should be cause for a violation. Hands free is a must.
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Unless I'm in extreme conditions or driving over 80mph, I only use 1 hand anyway.
 
Another thought:
CaptainCourtesy said:
I would support banning all cell phone use while driving if we also ban all those over the age of 60 from driving.
The problem here is that you would need to eliminate so many other things. No radio while driving. No conversations with passengers while driving. No driving while you are tired (studies show that extreme exhaustion is just as bad as driving while intoxicated). To me, anything that takes your hands off the wheel should be grounds for a violation. Anything else, no.
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So driving a standard is a violation, then. Time to ban tractor trailers.

Police cursers also, as the cop has to take a hand off the wheel to engage lights, sirens, use his radio, etc.

You might want to qualify your absolute there ;)
 
Jerry said:
When the government banns tobacco and alcohol I'll believe it cares about fatalities.

Until then, "public health" is cover story and nothing more.

Given my true premise, cell phone bans only serve to establish unjust government intrusion into your personal life.
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Sometimes I wonder if these new laws are just a way to generate new revenue in terms of fines...making all these new laws under the pretense of public safety.
 
creativedreams said:
Do you believe there should be a ban on cell phones while driving?
If this is done then fast food drive-ups should be banned because eating while driving is on the same plane (level).
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Cell Phones while driving should be banned. I have seen people swerving all over the highway while chatting on the cellphone. I have never seen someone do that while eating a cheeseburger.
 
ARealConservative said:
it is a little more complicated then that because you can have conversations with passengers and not have the same level of incidents.
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Exactly. The passengers know what the traffic situation is and can modify their behavior accordingly. Hard for someone on the other end of a phone call to do that.

BTW, I also want to see an end to TV monitors in the front seat of a car.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Do not assume I am making business deals. Because of my job, often my cell phone calls may be saving a life. And, I may be traveling somewhere to do the same thing.
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THen simply pull over to the side of the road when you make your call.
 
Jerry said:
When the government banns tobacco and alcohol I'll believe it cares about fatalities.

Until then, "public health" is cover story and nothing more.

Given my true premise, cell phone bans only serve to establish unjust government intrusion into your personal life.
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Cell phone bans ON THE ROAD is designed to protect innocent people. Driving on the roads is NOT a right. Banning talking on a cell phone while a motor vehicle is in motion is perfectly reasonable.
 
One month ago I was driving while talking when that cop's horn went on ' TAT TAT WEEEEW .... Set aside you white toyota ' at the moment I knew that I was the one. I sat a side and waited till Mr.cop went out of the car and came to me to tell me that I'd broke the "new" Traffic Law by talking in my mobile. I said to my self : damn, I forgot that there is a new damn traffic laws. I know that all the cops want you to beg them to forgive you and leave you, the cop was standing near me waiting for any excuse why I was talking on the phone while driving.
I told him : fine I was wrong, what now ?
He told me : So easy, a 50 KD fine for that.
I told him : thanks (Frustrated)
He responded: Dont mention it dude.
I said to my self : you are a ****ing cop .....



I hope he isn't one of debate politics member :lol:


Minstry of traffic is trying to save citizens by that laws, most of accisents were caused by driving while talking.
 
Ahmed Shaheen said:
One month ago I was driving while talking when that cop's horn went on ' TAT TAT WEEEEW .... Set aside you white toyota ' at the moment I knew that I was the one. I sat a side and waited till Mr.cop went out of the car and came to me to tell me that I'd broke the "new" Traffic Law by talking in my mobile. I said to my self : damn, I forgot that there is a new damn traffic laws. I know that all the cops want you to beg them to forgive you and leave you, the cop was standing near me waiting for any excuse why I was talking on the phone while driving.
I told him : fine I was wrong, what now ?
He told me : So easy, a 50 KD fine for that.
I told him : thanks (Frustrated)
He responded: Dont mention it dude.
I said to my self : you are a ****ing cop .....



I hope he isn't one of debate politics member :lol:


Minstry of traffic is trying to save citizens by that laws, most of accisents were caused by driving while talking.
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Why don't you just follow the law instead of blaming the police for enforcing it. Do you think you are somehow better than the cops are?
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
The option I would choose is not there. Driving while using a cell phone should be banned unless you are using a hands free device. In several states (including mine) you will get ticketed if you are caught talking on a cell without being hands free.
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This is something that I find to be incredibly stupid.

It is, in effect, saying that the problem isn't talking on a phone, but holding something up to your ear.
 
MrFungus420 said:
This is something that I find to be incredibly stupid.
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That means you simply don't get it, then.

It is, in effect, saying that the problem isn't talking on a phone, but holding something up to your ear.
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As I said, you don't get it. It is far safer to drive with two hands then it is to drive with one. Ability to turn and make quick motions and all.

I hope that clarifies things for you. Perhaps next time you won't put your foot in your mouth.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
To me, anything that takes your hands off the wheel should be grounds for a violation.
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I drive a stick-shift.

I have to take one hand off of the wheel to drive.

What about operating a window? Turning on the headlights?

For that matter, how do you make turns without taking a hand off of the wheel?
 
Kal'Stang said:
I think that the older drivers being more experienced tend to be because they have learned to, look ahead and think ahead. However the reaction time of elder people are alot slower than those of 18-22 years old. In other words it evens out in that respect.
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Disagree. I'm not talking about 60+ drivers. A 35 year olds reaction time is pretty close to that of a 21 year old. Yet their judgment and experience is vastly different.
 
MrFungus420 said:
I drive a stick-shift.

I have to take one hand off of the wheel to drive.

What about operating a window? Turning on the headlights?

For that matter, how do you make turns without taking a hand off of the wheel?
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You are talking about the difference between taking your hand off the wheel for a few seconds or less (shifting, lights, signals, turning, etc...) and taking your hand of the wheel for the duration of a phone call...minutes or more. Big difference.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Which again begs the question. (only slightly different) Is more efficiency in a business or every day life more important than a persons life?

Technology is great. Wonderful even. But we cannot let that technology take over our lives to the point that it can jepordize anothers life, or your own personal life.
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It's a matter of degree. If we eliminate automobiles, I guarantee that lives will be saved. Should we eliminate automobiles?

In an emergency situation where a persons life depends on the use of cell phones I can understand the use and condone it. But there are far less people devoted to emergency services than there are of the business people. The every day man/woman use thier cell phones to call a friend or loved one for basic things, for example: "Hello honey, I love you", conduct business deals that have to do with money (not in situations that deal with the potential saving of a life).
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I can understand this, and I am not advocating that using one's cell phone for absolutely anything is fine. The optimal driving situation is one where the driver is alone, there are no distractions, and the driver is fully alert. It would be nice if we all strove towards this optimum, but it is not always possible. I certainly support reducing distractions, but elimination is ill-advised and not possible.
 
Jerry said:
Another thought:


So driving a standard is a violation, then. Time to ban tractor trailers.

Police cursers also, as the cop has to take a hand off the wheel to engage lights, sirens, use his radio, etc.

You might want to qualify your absolute there ;)
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You are correct. I commited the error that I most often call others on...the error of absolutes. I qualified my position on this in this post:
http://www.debatepolitics.com/1057889294-post48.html
 
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