Cell Chatter while driving

Sissy just called. Told me they now fine you $104 for talking on your cell while driving for hand held.(georgia) YEAH! Co worker of Dh couldn;t believe it when he came from Portugal and saw people driving with cells. He said you MUST pull off road to do that there. I wish they would pass it here. hate to see that.

Its been a law here since November.Haven't noticed anyone paying attention to it though.I even see the cops talking on the phone........

I don't have a problem with it as long as the moron can drive AND talk at the same time. I need to talk on the phone once in awhile for work, but I always watch what I'm doing and don't swerve all over the road, speed up and slow down, etc. Some people just can't do more than one thing at a time and if they are caught swerving around then they should be slammed hard with a good fine for being the idiot they are. Talking is no more dangerous than drinking a coke or eating a burger while driving and I bet most of us have drank something while we drove our cars at some point. The bottom line is, if you can do both...OK...if you can't, get off the phone and learn how to drive!

Ever look in your rear view mirror and see someone coming up behind you yacking on that thing? Frightning. Cuz you KNOW they are not paying attention. I don;t understand who people magaged to drive all these years with out them glued to their head. and now, they can;t. Saw where they said its like having 300 drunks on the road.

Driving and talking doesn't bother me near as much as dialing and driving. And if they happen to drop the phone while driving, look out. I totally agree with mings on this one. If you need to talk on a phone pull over. To me it's the same as disciplining a child while driving. Have you ever seen someone trying to spank a child while driving? They are all over the road also.

YEP! You see them on the side of the road. ~Don;t make me have to come back there and give you a spankin!~ And there goes the vacation!

I almost got broad sided a about a month ago, by a guy that nearly ran a red light while on the phone. He suddenly slammed on the brakes, ten feet into the intersection. In my most sarcastic of gestures, I made like I was hanging up a phone while shaking my head. He just kept talking, shook his head back and gave me dirty looks! He would have thought dirty look if he would have hit me. I had five kids in there and I wanted to jump out of the car and kick him in the crack! Of course it was all my fault, I decided to drive when I had a green light! LOL

Exactly. Now I'm not saying that all cell phone users are bad drivers. Not at all. People swerve around while changing cd's or cassettes. It just seems that lately people are not paying close attention to their driving habits.

I drive 10 hours a day and see them all.I had a guy run a red light right when I was coming through the light ,yacking on the phone with a car load of kids.Now ,remember,I'm in a tractor trailer,If I hadn't locked up the brakes I would have hit him,and ya know,there wouldn't have been enough of him left to TELL he was on his cell phone.Or the poor kids.I have a cell phone but mine has a speaker,so It doesent really cause a problem.Some people have said CB radios are just as bad but you just hold the mic.I avoid anyone with a Mini Van or a cell phone.

I am sure the insurnce companies are getting hurtt . SO. things are gonna change.

I say again...if you can do it, ok. If you can't talk and drive at the same time you should obviously not use a cell phone in the car. If someone kills someone because they were yacking on the phone, then I say charge them with vehicular homicide. That's how I feel about it. I have enough sense to pay attention to what's going on, rather than paying more attention to the phone and that conversation. If we stop people from talking on cell phones, then we should also ban combing your hair in the car, putting on makeup, reading of any sort, eating of any sort, drinking of any sort, changing the radio station or adjusting the volume...all distractions. There are obviously people who do not pay attention while they drive and there's not a whole lot you can do about them. A law to ban people from talking on cell phones would be about like the speed limit laws. Most (or very many anyway) people ignore the speed limit and I think most people would ignore the cell phone law unless they saw a cop nearby.

I think this is more of a personal responsibilty issue. Most people would agree that smoking is not good for you, yet thousands of people smoke and give you an evil look if you say to them "why don't you quit smoking?". This subject is more gray and less black and white than murder for example. We all know it's wrong to murder, but cell phone use is more of a personal responsibility issue (being careful) and personal preference...much like smoking. No, a cigarette hasn't run anyone off the road, but it has sucked up millions of $ in tax money to treat the problems associated with smoking. I understand your concerns about driving and talking on the phone and yes, I too have found myself speaking ill of the person in the other car near me that has a cell phone in his/her face and is NOT paying attention...but I don't think a law will solve anyone's irresponsibility problems.



This message was edited Wednesday, May 22nd 1:14 PM

correct. maybe we should. And not drink and drive to.

Drinking and driving is another story...lol Some people just don't get it. The same thing happens over and over...they say, "Oh I'll be fine...I can drive".

I agree with Mings.
Here in Germany it is FORBIDDEN to hold a mobile phone whilst driving, and the fine for breaking this law is quite hefty.
The number of accidents/mortalities due to the use of mobile phones in cars, vans etc. shot up at an alarming rate here a few years back, and now the insurance companies refuse to pay out damages if it can be proven, that one of the drivers was holding a phone.
Mobile phones must be connected to a microphone/loudspeaker system, or an ear plug with microphone here.
If you are in city traffic, there is NO WAY that you can concentrate on driving, and hold a phone to your ear simultaneously, and I don't care how good a driver you are!!! You lose at least 40-50% concentration for the road.... you would just as good guzzle a quarter-bottle of whisky, at least then you would be trying to concentrate.
Ban phones from cars!
Jail drunk drivers and take their licence from them for at least 5 years.
Some people just don't seem to realise what a weapon a car is when it's driving at even only 30 mph.

All the best

Wintermoor

Wintermoor! thankyou! well said.

here it is not yet prohibited to speak in phone while driving, but EU laws are coming here too. As almost half of the people here have cell phones they are often used, and that's why hand's free can be useful. It looks pretty funny in the street when someone's walking and looks like she/he is talking to his/herself =)
Here you can buy drinks etc from an automate with your cell phone too, and metro/tram ticket :D

hhhhhmmmmmmm

When something as simple as glancing down to change the station on a car stereo can easily cause a wreck, I do have to wonder about the wisdom of making/receiving phone calls in a multi-ton automobile. I have spoken on a cellphone while driving, and I can tell you I was distracted. I much prefer to pull over and talk from the roadside, or to make the call while Howie drives. There's just too many irresponsible drivers out there in the first place, and I don't want to add to those numbers in a moment of distraction.

Makes me feel a little better about my lack of coordination. I know my DD and DS seem to handle this a lot better than I do, but I still have to wonder if it's safe. I simply can't enjoy a conversation while I navigate the busy streets full of idiots. I won't even attempt to dial while driving, and usually pull over if the phone rings or just let it ring until I can safely return the call. No message left= no return call. Must not have been important enough for me to risk an accident if they won't leave a message. I am beginning to become irritated about the inconsiderate manner in which people handle cell phone usage. And what's with everyone using them just to yak, do they have money to burn?

Don;t understand why people can;t have those conversations at home.105% of them aren;t important anyways. Unless you are lost. or having a heart attack or a baby. Lets get real! I was at a funeral home and one went off. That went over like a lead balloon. No one has any manners anymore. And. at home. when the phone would ring. how many family members would walk right on by it. !

The only time ive had cops approach at all have been at times when I was pulled over to use my cell phone. They just were checking to see if I was ok r broke down. In Philly a couple of years ago a young man ran a red light and broadsided a young mother. Her 2 year old child was in the back seat and correctly belted and seated. The child died at the scene. As a paramedic I have many times picked people up off the road who did all kind of distracting things while driving. Ugly. If my phone rings while Im driving I ask the caller to hold on while I get off the highway.

Kenny and I have argued about this ~ he likes to drive while chatting and it drives me nuts! If he'd just get the gist and tell them he'll call them back, it wouldn't be that bad. But to drive down the road, having an in-depth conversation?! I did a little looking and found mention of a study done on multi-tasking like this. http://www.eonow.com/opinion/2001/aug/25.shtml The researchers used magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of brain activity to find out how well people do two things at once ~ not well, it turns out. So we've compromised ~ he got a cell phone that has one of those voice activated dialers and I don't yell at him about it as long as he tells them "Hi, can't talk much right now - driving, call me back later, bye."

Marclay, I was an EMT with the local volunteer service for ten years. I can sympathize with you. A big problem with many drivers (and almost all teenagers) is their lack of realizing their own vulnerability until it comes through the engine compartment and lands in their lap.

Have you heard about the Grove City woman who was charged with negligent homicide? She was talking on a cell phone and hit another car pulled over at the side of the freeway and killed the stranded driver. She was convicted and sentenced for unrelated charges last week, and this is still pending. They say it is the first case in the country.

I have an meaagae that comes on my phone. I don;t answer it when I drive.We got rid of regular phones to get the cable for tha computer to save$. and if adn when we need a phone. we use the cell.I wouldn;t even dream of answering it if it rang while I was driving. But. thats just me. Neighbor kids called me Mrs. Safety. Yes. I am one of those weirdos that wear a seatbelt

My husband got hit by a cell phone talker last week. The other guy ran a red light. Luckily he was in his work truck that is all metal & no plastic. No injuries. My cell phone is for emergencies, or calls from home that would be long distance to my home line. Someones cell phone went off in church last week. It rang like 5 times before they got out to the lobby with it. It was one of those annoying "song" rings as well. At least hit the answer button & then walk out. Better yet, just shut it off before entering!

Wingnut, I understand what you mean about people having in-depth conversations on a cell phone while driving! Or anywhere else for that matter. Unless you're trying to give someone instructions on CPR or how to deliver a baby, there's no reason for most calls to be more than a minute long if you're behind the wheel.

And while we're on the subject: Maybe it's just me, but it's so annoying to be out in public and have someone nearby spilling their guts over the phone for what seems like an endless amount of time. These same people would NEVER have the same conversation in public with a live person. Somehow they think that being on a phone entitles them to talk as loudly as they want. Pu-leeze! I REALLY don't want to hear all the gory details of a stranger's private life...

Have ya'll heard the one about the guy who PLACED a call in the middle of a movie? And when the other person answered, and apparently asked "what are you doing?" the movie-goer says "oh, nothing much. Just watching a movie."

No kidding; true story. The guy was sitting next to me. I was really tempted to pour my drink over his head - what a complete bozo.

As for driving and talking. Yes, I've done it, too. When I commuted, it was a (seemingly) efficient way to catch up on the "voice mail tag" on my way to and from work (public transportation was not an option, or I would have been first in line at the bus/train stop!) Thinking back, I know there were times I was NOT paying close attention to the road; if something unexpected had happened, I couldn't have reacted as quickly as I would have with both eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel.

Even with the hands-free models, we need to face the fact that we aren't able to drive while holding a lengthy conversation with someone who isn't in the car with us. Both tasks require more than half our concentration, and there's no way to rationalize it.

I now limit my conversations to quick-one-minute-or-less calls, and ONLY when I'm stuck in traffic or traffic is extremely light.

Bah, humbug! I was being so responsible when I was driving in the rain this morning. The phone rang, and before I answered it, I pulled to the side of the service road I was on. It's not wide enough to allow me to drive onto a shoulder, and has recently been reshaped in conjunction with a lot of freeway changes. Just as I left the center of the roadway, I felt the car began to slide sideways, and no amount of braking or steering affected it. Into the slimy ditch I went. So when I heard my son's voice on the phone, I informed him, without even a greeting, that he had caused a lot of trouble by calling me! Poor dear, he really takes such remarks hard, so I had to lighten up quickly. In just a matter of minutes, along came a police car and two young men in a truck with 4 wheel drive. They just happened to be passing on their way to another call, and pulled me out easily. I paid much less than if I had called a tow truck, but I vowed never again to answer the phone while I'm driving, even if it means missing the call. And I won't pull off the highway to answer it, either. I could have been one of those missing women if the two young men had been prowling around looking for people to harm instead of help.

you can shut off your phone when you are in situations when You do not want calls. Funeral homes, Movies. church. driving. Wish peolpe would .....Be safde out there

Aimee, I am so glad you weren't hurt!

All the above stories are part of the reason I won't own a cell phone. And how about the TV screens they are installing in the front seats of cars/vans? Imagine watching your favorite TV show/movie instead of watching the road! People around here do. Idiots!

Isn't it strange that hardly anyone thinks about what we did BEFORE mobile phones??
Life must have been such a boring occurence, and now we have to 'pep' it up by proving that we can talk to anybody anywhere, and at any time.
I was even 'told-off' by a person who called me when I was driving, complaining that my phone was OFF!!! It's my phone and I'll put it on when I want.
I have a mobile phone because I use it mainly for my business, and it makes some situations a bit easier, but I do not desperately need it. People can call me at home, which is also my office.
My private life is more important than having to be contactable at all times of the day, therefore my phone is off during meals, whether at home or in a restaurant, when I'm playing games with the family, or I'm out for a stroll with them.
As for the guy who 'told me off', he nearly wrecked his car just after he was getting on my case, whilst using the phone and driving.
Ask me if I laughed.....

All the best

Wintermoor

Oh, Aimee!! I'm SO glad you're okay! Ain't it great to live in a place where nice people come along and help you?!