Given the horrible increase in accidents caused by cell phones, shouldn't they be illegal while driving?

Question

Cell phone use has become the single largest cause of auto accidents, apart from drinking, in the country. Many states have already outlawed the use of hand-held phones while driving. Since Big Brother has already enacted laws "for our safety" involving seat belts, shouldn't this law be next?

Answer 1

maybe we should ban alcohol period. we should allow the government to control what we eat what we drink and who we speak to. we have enough laws restricting us. we don't need another.

Answer 2

Most states already have an equivalent of Careless Driving statute on the books. Using a cell phone and operating a motor vehicle in a careless manner may already fall under the law. Or the current law could be amended. People using a cell phone and being involved in an accident should most certainly be charged with careless driving. Proving, in Court, that people are driving and talking on the cell phone will be tough! I would guess that without video tape there would almost never be a conviction.

Answer 3

Seat belts are definetely for our safety!



If you're not wearing a seatbelt and get hit, you're going to fly out the window or into the backseat and not have control of the wheel meaning that the car can careen into someone else but if you were wearing you're seatbelt you'd be hit but still be in your seat to grab the wheel before it did anymore damage!!! I don't think big brother has ANYTHING to do with seat belt laws, seat belts save lives because of the way they work in a crash and it's common sense to make safety a top concern for our laws.



As far as talking on cell phones, I think every state should continue to decide on this by voters, I don't think it should be a national law because, like everyone else I multitask and sometimes I just don't have time to pullover and make a quick call.

Answer 4

Actually cell phone use is farther down the line on the main causes of car accidents. 98% of car accidents have been caused by a distracted driver. The main causes of these "distracted" accidents are as following (in order from biggest cause to smallest cause)



1. Rubbernecking (looking at other car accidents, police pullovers, anything like that)



2. Fatigued drivers



3. Looking at Scenery or landmarks



4. Passenger or child distractions



5. adjusting radio or other music form



6. Cellphone use.



There are other causes, but these are the notable ones. In reality, alcohol use is still the main cause of traffic collisions but is noted by the goverment as 'an accident' but rather as a crime and is also counted as the number 2 reason for distraction (passing out and all).



The law to ban cell phone use has been debated about for years, and if, as you say, it is the number 2 cause, why hasn't it been enforced? It hasn't because cellphone use is only a negligable cause of distraction at 5%. Being that only 25% of people on cell phones get into accidents this brings the percentage of accidents caused by cellphones to 1.1%.



Even though the accidents seem minimum it still attributes to over 200,000 injuries due to traffic accidents a year! In most of the cases another driver was involved and it wasn't because of reckless driving on the cellphone users part or lack of control that the accident happened (in most cases). Cellphone use makes a 35 year old driver have the reaction time of a senoir citizen, dropping their reaction time to hitting the breaks by 18%, and there regaining spped time (from braking) by 17%. Most cell phone related accidents are caused by another reckless driver and the cellphone user not being able to react in time.



So there's your statistics. In my opinion, yes, cell phones should be outlawed. But in all fairity if they are then so should passengers, children, animals, looking out your drivers side window when not turning or braked, rubbernecking, music, and being tired while driving.



EDIT: It has been found that there is no difference between regular cellphones and hands-free cell phones and the accidents caused by them. It is the distraction not the occupying of the hands that is a problem.

Answer 5

In the UK, with effect from 1 December 2003, new regulations came into force that prohibits a person from using a hand held mobile phone, or an interactive hand held device used for accessing data, while driving.



The offence is committed if a person uses a hand held mobile phone whilst driving, or causes or permits another person to do so. A person may be regarded as driving if the engine is running, even if the vehicle is stationary - 'driving' will be inferred if it can be shown that the vehicle has stopped temporarily during the course of a journey. In addition to making and receiving calls, the offence also includes making or receiving text messages.



A person will be liable for causing or permitting a person to use a hand held mobile phone or similar device whilst driving. This means that:



employers will be liable if they require employees to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving

employers may be liable if they fail to forbid employees to use hand held mobile phones whilst driving

Answer 6

I believe that they should be illegal. They cause a lot of accidents just like you said and they also cause distractions which could lead to an accident. When someone has a cell phone their focus isnt always on the road part of it is on either answering the phone, talking on the phone, or maybe even texting while they are driving. So I believe it should be illegal and should be teh next law.

Answer 7

Perhaps, but unfortunately there would probably be too much opposition. Most people enjoy talking on their cells while driving and would not appreciate, let alone vote, to have them outlawed.



There are ways to control this. Problems like this hve surfaced before and we have always found ways to deal with them. There is a solution, I'm sure of it.



Most likely the best way to prevent accidents would be to get rid of hand helds so that drivers can keep both hands on the wheel. Hopefully, phones built into every car are next.

Answer 8

I couldn't agree more. A lot of people can multitask, driving and talking at the same time. However, a lot of people can't, especially ones that get so engrossed in their conversations. I live in California, and we don't have a law here, but I definitely think we should. I lived in New York awhile, and they strictly enforce the rule there. It is a great idea that should be adopted by all states. People can always use headsets if they need to make a really important telephone call, or they can pull over to the side.

Answer 9

It is a law in N.Y but i still see people talking on cell phones and driveing. Although people have been pulled over by police for it just like the seat belt law some people figure that the odds are against them getting caught.

Answer 10

California just passed a law making it illegal to use a cell phone without a hands free device or using the phones speakerphone ability. This law will take effect July 1 of 2008



http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2006/09/california_bans.html



There are several other states with similar laws already in existence, New York I believe if one of them.

Answer 11

I think that you should be able to have a cell phone in the car for emergencies but if you must make a call pull over somewhere and away from traffic and driving. For that matter anything that is a distraction should not be used in the car while driving. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel.

Answer 12

In Australia it is illegal to drive whilst holding the phone. Hands free kits are available that can be used. It was proven that concentration levels were worse than drunk driving and from what I see I think thats true. Most people abide by the law and pull over to take or make calls.

Answer 13

If someone cannot handle driving and talking on a cell phone, that person should not do both at the same time. If they hurt someone or something because they were being irresponsible, they should be punished appropriately; however, using a cell phone in a car should not be illegal.

Answer 14

Many localities refuse to outlaw them since they are seen as a safety device. Instead, they force you to use a hands-free device unless the vehicle is parked.



Why do you think many cell phone companies throw in a cheap hands-free at no cost? Because they are afraid of being sued, this way they can claim they gave you a safe alternative and you elected not to take it.

Answer 15

I agree 100%. That is why car manufacturers are now making cars with blue tooth capabilities, for hands-free talking and dialing. Every time I see someone riding down the road, with the phone glued to their ear, I get mad. There is no way these people would be able to handle an emergency, because they wouldn't drop the phone soon enough. Some people even text while driving. STOP THE INSANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 16

I think the best way to make the stupid people understand that the speaking on the phone while the driving is dangerous is to give the police man allowed to get the cell phone from the driver to keep it to him self this is the last option

Answer 17

In every state in australia driving while using a cell phone is completely illegal for the reasons you've stated. It considered as a very serious violation.

Answer 18

Some places it is. But the danger is not so much that cell phones are hand held in as much as it is in the distraction caused by carrying on the conversation while driving.

Answer 19

There is a strong argument to be made for such a law, but let's face it...what's next...outlawing kids? They sure can be distracting. Then there is eating and driving. Another accident waiting to happen. There will always be distractions...and accidents resulting from those distractions. You can't outlaw stupidity...it's our inherent right as a free society. ;-)

Answer 20

There is already technology available to allow people to talk on cell phones while driving without taking their hands off of the steering wheel. Thus, there is no excuse to use handheld cell phones while driving.

Answer 21

Washington already has this law, and I love it! I think it should be a national law! Nothing is worse than getting anywhere near a driver who is on a phone call...especially an animated one! I can't tell you how many times I've nearly been hit by one of these drivers!

Answer 22

Yes holding a phone in your hand should be stopped but the hands free devices should be allowed because it is no different than talking to someone in the car or reaching up and switching the radio channel.

Answer 23

Some states require you to pull to the side of the road to talk on your cell phone. If they catch you while you're driving it's a ticket.

Answer 24

I'm not for sure, but I think I remember hearing somewhere that they are illegal to use while driving but just in some states though, but I'm not sure if that is true or not or if they were just trying to get that law passed, so don't quote me on that or anything...

Answer 25

no, for one thing, bad drivers are the only ones who crash from cell phones, besides, there's a nice new amendment to the constitution, it's called: the first amendment, and it gives you FREEDOM OF SPEECH, these are the rights that the United States was founded on, these rights are pretty cool, you should try them some time.

Answer 26

So many things are distracting while driving, I think it would be difficult to make laws that make it illegal to do these things, and enforce them. (Screaming children, putting on makeup, writing/reading, the list goes on and on..) I think if you cause an accident because of your phone/personal grooming/obnoxious children then the penalties should be stiffer than if you just misjudge distance, or something like that.

Answer 27

yes and in the summer of 2008 it will illegal to drive with ur phone unless u use a handset or some sort of handsfree device

Answer 28

I think it should be mandatory if you have a cell phone and you use it in your car you should have a head set or get fined.



it worked for seat belts.

Answer 29

unless used with single ear head set and touch free skeak cababilties...yes they should be made illegal for use while driveing...and it well happen so...so get your speaker head phone set now be4 price goes up...T Mobile has a good deal...i'm not selling for them...just know a good thing when out there...i am useing boost mobile/nextell...that walky talky feature is great...

Answer 30

In Kentucky they are illegal, there are crazy people out there on cell phones.

Answer 31

No. It is like cigrattes. They are bad for you but so many people would break the rules there would be no reason to do it. Think about the cigrettes. They are the same way! :D

Answer 32

Its is illegal in New York but I see the police doing it all the time.

Answer 33

I'm sure it will, where I live they've already put smoking bans on the city. We live in this bubble of a communist country. They control everything we do

Answer 34

yes, if your stats are correct, but then again, what about when your flippin' through your c.d. case. you see," no then", because no one is looking at the road when flipping for c.d's and they have, hands off voice control cell phones these days. you are wrong. back to square one...

Answer 35

ban them..in the car..i see so many people driving and talking on their cells..drives me nuts..perhaps invent a way to not use them in the car ather than for calling for emergency help..

Answer 36

some states they are

Answer 37

Pop culture is difficult to thwart.

Answer 38

Yes but enforcing?

Answer 39

no, because you cant enforce it, and some people can talk just fine while driving.

Answer 40

no i dont think they should become illegal ... duhh how would the cops cathchh themm ... umm yeahhh

think about thatt

Answer 41

no, i need my phone

Answer 42

um.....duh? lol