If People Want To Outlaw Phones In The Car, Then Why Not Outlaw The Radio and Talking As Well?

Question

When they started to ban cell phones in the car people started to use a headpiece and now lawmakers want to ban this as well.

Well if they want to stop this then why not ban the radio and talking in the car?

How is using a headpiece any different from talking to someone in the car and/or listening to music?

Answer 1

IMHO, the biggest problem with people talking on their cell phones while driving is the biggest problem with people's behavior when they drive in general- they drive too close to each other. If they would back off and allow several car lengths between themselves and the car in front of them, most of the accidents on the road wouldn't happen.



The phone is a scapegoat. Some people can handle talking on a phone and driving at the same time, and some can't. So naturally, hey, let's ban everyone from doing it in order to make the ones who can't do it feel better.



I completely understand banning texting while driving, as one is very distracted by looking at a screen while typing... but if one doesn't drive so closely to other cars, talking while driving (be it on a cell phone, on a headset, or to another person in the car) shouldn't be a big issue.

Answer 2

A radio is a completely passive device. It is completely one-way. Listening to a radio requires no concentration.



Talking on a cell phone requires concentration. You are expected to listen, and respond. If it's your boss on the other end of the line, then yoiu're likely devoting all of your attention to the conversation, to make sure you don't miss anything. Plus, cellphones are not very loud, and produce low-quality sound, so in addition to having your attention diverted, you are also straining and concentrating doubly hard to make sure you hear everything.



Talking to a passenger does not require nearly as much concentration. The passenger's voice is clear, you can always ask your passenger to repeat something, and you can also control the conversation.



It's obvious which drivers on the roadway are using cellphones. They are the drivers that are driving 10 mph slower than everyone else, or else they are driving about 200 feet behind the car in front of them.

Answer 3

In many states ANY distraction while driving is illegal, including radio, talking, looking at a map, drinking a cuppa joe, eating, putting on makeup, slapping the kids in the back seat... it's all completely illegal if the level of distraction causes an incident. That said, absent an incident, most states restrict enforcement to overt dangerous acts while driving, such as only one hand on the wheel (with statutory exceptions), talking on a phone, looking at a map or directions, etc. -- things that an objective observer would find to be evidence of recklessness.



Let's just legislate common sense because there are so many drivers who lack any.

Answer 4

Radio and talking in the car went Beck to probably before you were born. No one had car accidents by listening to the radio or talking to someone in the car, BUT People do have car accidents when talking on the phone.Why? Because when You talk on the phone, its like you are home and your mind is on nothing but the person you are talking to.. That is what happens when you are in the car. Everyone survived before cell phones, Remember that..And Yes I do have a cell phone, but am smart enough to know not to use them while driving

Answer 5

I agree that there are many other activities just as dangerous.



Eating a giant hamburger, putting on make-up, and turning half around to feed a baby in the backseat should be banned as well...to be fair they are just as dangerous.

Answer 6

if you are doing anything in your car that distracts you and you are in an accident that kills or injure somebody then you get the same sentence as if you were drunk, lets keep it fair. after all, both are stupid acts and deserve the same punishment.

Answer 7

I'm glad you support the killing of innocent people by idiots on their cell phones. how kind of you.