Ban Hand Held Devices In Cars?

[TheGardener]

My state is certainly far from the first to consider banning the use of hand held devices in a car. Texting while driving is already banned here, but not talking on the phone. Fourteen states have already banned any use of hand held devices while driving.

The Nanny State, represented by the National Transportation Safety Board, is already on the record as having recommended banning the complete use of cell phones by drivers. Even one's that are hands free. Maybe that is extreme, or maybe not. But no state, according to this article by the Governors Highway Safety Assoc, has completely banned use phones and texting while driving. The exception is for novice drivers, where 38 states have banned this.

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

Of course there are other forms of distractive driving. I once observed at a dangerous intersection, a young woman starting to neck with her boyfriend, who was driving. It was rush hour during the morning. While it happened at low speed, he hit the rear end of the car in front of him, while in the middle of the intersection. I saw that coming, as I was right behind him. Fortunately, I was able to immediately pull to the right and by-pass these idiots and the certain gridlock they had already started.

Another time I was on the highway, where there was bumper to bumper traffic. I observed the guy to the left of me reading a thick textbook, while traveling at 10-15 mph. While nothing bad happened that I know of, I was taken back having observed this. Do you have distractive driving stories?

 

[Ns1]

I once saw a guy on the freeway with a book on the steering wheel that he was reading.

So unless we have a comprehensive law that stops shit like THAT, why bother?

 

[K1052]

I'm more interested in banning drivers.

 

[Ruptga]

I'm more interested in banning drivers.

Yes.

Also, how about no penalties for using a phone unless you're in an accident, then we nail them to the wall? By then the damage would be done, but it would discourage repeat offenders without getting in the way of everyone that is capable of safely driving and talking at the same time.

 

[Ns1]

Yes.

Also, how about no penalties for using a phone unless you're in an accident, then we nail them to the wall? By then the damage would be done, but it would discourage repeat offenders without getting in the way of everyone that is capable of safely driving and talking at the same time.

nailing them to a wall sure solved that DUI problem.

 

[Humpy]

I'm more interested in banning drivers.

Exactly. It's far too easy to obtain cars, registrations, licenses, etc. The saying is that driving is a privilege so it should be reserved for the few who have proved themselves worthy.

Of course, I'm worthy, but most of you pieces of shit are not.

 

[Imp]

I once saw a guy on the freeway with a book on the steering wheel that he was reading.

So unless we have a comprehensive law that stops shit like THAT, why bother?

Meh, Toronto's last mayor did that... and crack cocaine.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/1...f-reading-while-driving-yeah-probably-im-busy

 

[Ruptga]

nailing them to a wall sure solved that DUI problem.

Needs more nails then. Take away their license, then seize and auction their car and put the money in a fund for the medical bills of people hit by drunks. If they're caught borrowing someone else's car, fine its owner for a quarter to a half of the car's market value. All that could be done without increasing the incarceration rate, too.

 

[Ken g6]

I'm more interested in banning drivers.

This, though maybe not the way you think. I suggest no phone bans at all while the car is driving itself.

 

[destrekor]

This, though maybe not the way you think. I suggest no phone bans at all while the car is driving itself.

Indeed, we should be able to do whatever we want if we are in a car that is driving itself.

However, I think it would be fair and prudent to have inter-car communication that includes a piece of information informing other vehicles (or anything listening for that communication) that that vehicle is either in auto-pilot or under manual control. Perhaps it would be a piece of information that only police equipment would read. That way if they see someone on a phone, they can look for the information that says they aren't driving - otherwise, busted.

 

[K1052]

This, though maybe not the way you think. I suggest no phone bans at all while the car is driving itself.

Or maybe the way I think.

 

[TheGardener]

I've seen women putting on makeup while driving on the freeway. What could go wrong driving while looking at yourself in the rearview mirror, with one hand applying makeup?

 

[BoberFett]

Needs more nails then. Take away their license, then seize and auction their car and put the money in a fund for the medical bills of people hit by drunks. If they're caught borrowing someone else's car, fine its owner for a quarter to a half of the car's market value. All that could be done without increasing the incarceration rate, too.

I thought a lot of states already took the car.

 

[KMFJD]

We banning cb radios as well?

 

[SparkyJJO]

I propose just banning hands in cars. That will surely solve the problem.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Handsfree is okay as far as I'm concerned but only if you can operate it without taking your eyes off the road (i.e. by voice command). For example, I can press a button on my steering wheel and say a command like, "call home" and the car/phone handles the rest without me ever having to touch the phone itself.

If you're texting while driving you should be executed and your car crumpled into a tiny box.

 

[videogames101]

I can change CDs while driving, that's not illegal yet is it?

I can look at a map while driving, that's not illegal yet is it?

Neither should talking on a phone.

 

[Ruptga]

I thought a lot of states already took the car.

32 of them can, by my count.
http://dui.findlaw.com/dui-laws-resources/state-by-state-dui-penalties.html
http://dui.findlaw.com/dui-cases/car-impounded-after-a-dui.html

I didn't know that before you mentioned it though, maybe they should be more aggressive with it? I dunno, I was just spitballing.

 

[Newell Steamer]

I would prefer an air strike on people who drive and use anything other than the steering wheel while driving.

 

[DrPizza]

Your brain isn't capable of multitasking. It has to switch back and forth between tasks. Around here, if you're on the interstate, you're on average about 1/4 mile from the closest car in your lane. I don't care if people drive with their knee while holding a plate on their other leg, using a fork with their right hand, and holding a phone with their left hand.

But, if there's any traffic nearby them - within 5 or 10 seconds - then they should get off the phone and pay 100% attention to driving.

 

[darkswordsman17]

What is absurd about this though is that they've been trying to pass the blame onto car makers for this, and why self-driving cars need to get here ASAP.

Personally, I do wonder why they didn't separate the two controls further so that it provides an extra mental separation as well. Like, make there be only a brake pedal and then have twist throttles on the steering wheel. But then we'd have people probably panic revving as they grip the wheel during accidents.

I once saw a guy on the freeway with a book on the steering wheel that he was reading.

So unless we have a comprehensive law that stops shit like THAT, why bother?

Pretty sure there are laws that would cover that quite fine. The problem is we have little real power to enforce it without implementing absolute totalitarianism. The better solution is to let technology nullify the biggest weakness in the safety of modern driving: the driver.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Does this ban include coffee and driving?

 

[Newbian]

I vote no until the hand free fleshlight kickstarter that works while driving finally succeeds.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I agree mostly with these laws but I think they need to be made to be more around common sense, instead of around trying to just fine people. Checking your phone real quick at a red light should not be an offence. Checking it while driving, or failing to proceed at a green because you're too busy with your phone, definitely should be an offence.

 

[DrPizza]

Does this ban include coffee and driving?

Coffee doesn't require the mental processing power that carrying on a conversation requires.