Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Another Cell Phone/Driving Study... *grumble*

Jimellow · 07-04-2006, 06:54 AM

I don't think banning cell phones from usage in cars is realistic, as they have become a standard technology, and often are used legitmately for business use.

I think a more realistic approach would be enacting a law that would allow insurance companies to pull phone records from those involved in accidents to see if they were on the phone in the time leading up to the accident.

Cell phones have quickly become a standard technology used by a large majority of the population, while driving, and even if a law were enacted, I doubt it would be followed. In a way the situation reminds me of seat belt laws. Seatbelts are required by law here, but not everyone uses them, and people rarely are cited for it.

Just because a law is passed doesn't mean it will be followed, or is even legitimate. Driving in excess of the speed limit is a law I break every single day, but I do it safely. There are those that are good enough, and focused enough, that they can talk on a cell phone and still drive safely. Conversely, there are those that don't drive safely, with or without a cell phone, and I am not sure I agree with a blanket law that would ban all cell phones from use while driving.

I make a point to put my cell phone away and not use it while driving, as I don't have any contacts or calls that are so important they require me to talk while driving, thus taking away from my enjoyment of the weather and music playing on my stereo.

That being said, I know there are lots of people that use cell phones heavily, and also spend a large portion of their time in cars travelling. I don't think they should suffer consequences or be banned from usage until such usage has directly related in an accident they are involved in. The current setup of our road laws and insurance policies is to punish those as a result of their actions, and I don't think cellular phone restrictions and usage laws should stray from such a practice, even if they are a hot technology to criticize lately.

07-04-2006, 06:54 AM	#18 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	I don't think banning cell phones from usage in cars is realistic, as they have become a standard technology, and often are used legitmately for business use. I think a more realistic approach would be enacting a law that would allow insurance companies to pull phone records from those involved in accidents to see if they were on the phone in the time leading up to the accident. Cell phones have quickly become a standard technology used by a large majority of the population, while driving, and even if a law were enacted, I doubt it would be followed. In a way the situation reminds me of seat belt laws. Seatbelts are required by law here, but not everyone uses them, and people rarely are cited for it. Just because a law is passed doesn't mean it will be followed, or is even legitimate. Driving in excess of the speed limit is a law I break every single day, but I do it safely. There are those that are good enough, and focused enough, that they can talk on a cell phone and still drive safely. Conversely, there are those that don't drive safely, with or without a cell phone, and I am not sure I agree with a blanket law that would ban all cell phones from use while driving. I make a point to put my cell phone away and not use it while driving, as I don't have any contacts or calls that are so important they require me to talk while driving, thus taking away from my enjoyment of the weather and music playing on my stereo. That being said, I know there are lots of people that use cell phones heavily, and also spend a large portion of their time in cars travelling. I don't think they should suffer consequences or be banned from usage until such usage has directly related in an accident they are involved in. The current setup of our road laws and insurance policies is to punish those as a result of their actions, and I don't think cellular phone restrictions and usage laws should stray from such a practice, even if they are a hot technology to criticize lately. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.