Mobile 'phones when driving

[glenn_uk]

Hello Powers,

Thanks for the latest article on mobile (cell) 'phones when driving.

Actually, I'm not sure I can agree with you on this one.

In Britain, we've made driving while using a mobile illegal for a few
years now. If you get some bluetooth device so it's entirely hands-
free - fine. Driving while holding a mobile to your ear cannot be
regarded as safe. You need two hands and two feet to drive a
normal car. Making do with one less limb requires an adapted vehicle.

It's not just driving with one missing limb, however. It's your
concentration which is also compromised. Despite being illegal,
I still see plenty of people using them. They nod and make
animated expressions, sometimes even waving the other hand
around for good measure.

How can they concentrate on not killing anybody while yakking
away and driving one-handed?

It's worse than just talking to someone riding shotgun - a
passenger tends to shut up and allow the driver to concentrate
when a situations needs full attention. Someone on the other end
of a mobile can't know or accomodate for this.

If you need to use a mobile when on the road for business - fine.
Get a hands-free kit. If you can't be bothered, surely you don't
need it so much.

Personally, I've very glad it's illegal in the UK, and I wish the police
would prosecute more people for infringing the law. I can switch
it off when driving, and work comrades have zero grounds for
complaint it they have to wait until I stop for calling them back.

With thousands killed, and tens of thousands injured in the US
every single year - vastly more than "9/11" ever inflicted - we
should stop thinking of driving as a boring time which needs
"in-car entertainment" and full office facilities. If one really needs
to work while travelling, take the train.

All the best,

Glenn.

powersandmorrison.com/Blogs-MainPages/Blogs-Glenn.html

[powers]

I understand the argument in favor of banning phones and feel it applies to applying make-up, eating, reading, or any of the other distractive activities that I often see on my way to work. I know that this is a problem that needs to be addressed and action should be taken to encourage drivers to stay alert at all possible times.

Banning all use, on the other hand, is a bit too far. I tend not to use my phone while I'm driving but on occassion when I am lost or running late, I'll flip it open and make a call. Too many "warnings" have been issued to me as I've tried to find my way to a tunnel and made a call while stopped at an intersection (NYC is overly enforceful of the law).

I don't know if there is a happy medium between allowing people to cause accidents through distraction and making any call to get an address from your voicemail a moving violation. If there isn't, I still opt against broad laws aimed at only a percentage of the offenders.

And since you mentioned 9/11, I often imagine how, with the same number of "terrorists," a car bomber could crash across the 5-10 lanes of the highway in rushhour, explode, and cause unthinkable delays and destruction. The only way to avoid this would be to ban cars or have checkpoints everywhere. I'd rather take the risk it won't happen.

Thanks for the feedback, it's tough to way the pros and the cons sometimes but I'm big on freedom