NTSB Cell Phone Ban Advocacy

[bhunter]

The NTSB would like to ban cell phone use while driving. Considering the number of calls made via cell phones while driving, I'd suspect that the percent that cause accidents is minuscule. Once again a federal agency wanting to use its power. What's next? Eating, drinking, make up application, dealing with children? These all also cause a number of accidents. Better yet, why not just ban driving except when you have a "hall pass" from the government.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by bhunter

The NTSB would like to ban cell phone use while driving. Considering the number of calls made via cell phones while driving, I'd suspect that the percent that cause accidents is minuscule. Once again a federal agency wanting to use its power. What's next? Eating, drinking, make up application, dealing with children? These all also cause a number of accidents. Better yet, why not just ban driving except when you have a "hall pass" from the government.

Do you think people should be allowed to text while driving?

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Miniscule, I don't think so, in our small neighborhood of 21 homes, one woman had her car totalled and was severly injured. A lad down the street who is a volunteer fireman was pinned between a car and a truck while directing traffic around an accident and lost a leg. The cause of both accidents was the driver at fault using his cell phone. Two out of twenty-One you do the math.

[finnbow]

Maryland already has such a law, but it's a secondary offense (i.e., they need to be pulling you over for something else in order to cite you for cell phone use). I disregard the rule. I'll make or take short cell calls whenever I wish, but I don't text while driving.

The NTSB proposal goes too far in proposing to also prohibit the use of hands-free devices. I have a feeling that this may be a negotiating tactic to allow them to settle somewhere in the middle. Even if it becomes a Federal rule, Maryland state police won't enforce it any more than they already enforce the existing MD law, which is seldom. I don't know a person who has gotten a ticket for using a cellphone.

[Oerets]

I can see it being a distraction, and agree it should be common sense not to use them when driving. Sure do miss the convenience of a phone handy when driving but adapted to it after awhile just fine.
But also seem to remember a time when I'd have to find a phone booth to make a call. Now can't even seem to find a phone booth any more.

The news also stated that some insurance companies were thinking of make it a way out of paying a claim for them. Having you sign a waiver as part of your coverage! That if a mobile device was in use at the time of accident they are then absolved of all liability.



Barney

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Oerets

I can see it being a distraction, and agree it should be common sense not to use them when driving. Sure do miss the convenience of a phone handy when driving but adapted to it after awhile just fine.
But also seem to remember a time when I'd have to find a phone booth to make a call. Now can't even seem to find a phone booth any more.

The news also stated that some insurance companies were thinking of make it a way out of paying a claim for them. Having you sign a waiver as part of your coverage! That if a mobile device was in use at the time of accident they are then absolved of all liability.



Barney

Ah, a market solution. That way those injured by a cell phone user/driver get a double whammy. They get hurt, but they get no relief from the driver's insurance.

Regards,

D-Ray

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Ah, a market solution. That way those injured by a cell phone user/driver get a double whammy. They get hurt, but they get no relief from the driver's insurance.

Regards,

D-Ray

Funny thing is;
Our rightwing friends will probably have no problem with an insurance company taking such punitive action. But, if a cop issues a ticket they'll dress up like George Washington, glue teabags to their foreheads, strap on their Glocks and breakout the ObamaNazi pickets.

Can you explain to me why these things are okay for a privately owned corporation, but not the government?

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Maryland already has such a law, but it's a secondary offense (i.e., they need to be pulling you over for something else in order to cite you for cell phone use). I disregard the rule. I'll make or take short cell calls whenever I wish, but I don't text while driving.

The NTSB proposal goes too far in proposing to also prohibit the use of hands-free devices. I have a feeling that this may be a negotiating tactic to allow them to settle somewhere in the middle. Even if it becomes a Federal rule, Maryland state police won't enforce it any more than they already enforce the existing MD law, which is seldom. I don't know a person who has gotten a ticket for using a cellphone.

Virginia too. I had a cop pull me over once, just because he saw me flip my phone open. No ticket, it was a catch and release, but he did comment about the link between cell phone use and accidents.

Ya know, police and other first responders are the ones who see it everyday in the course of doing their jobs. If they report cell phone use as a rising cause of accidents, I tend to believe them. I see no reason why they would lie. I do know they get tired of cleaning up the bloody mess.

Dave

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Ah, a market solution. That way those injured by a cell phone user/driver get a double whammy. They get hurt, but they get no relief from the driver's insurance.

Regards,

D-Ray

If they talk on their phone after signing up for insurance that clearly states they're not covered in that situation, then they can be charged with driving without insurance. Now you've got your government based solution, which doesn't work either.

[DarkDefender]

Originally Posted by bhunter

What's next? Eating, drinking, make up application, dealing with children? These all also cause a number of accidents. Better yet, why not just ban driving except when you have a "hall pass" from the government.

I have no issue with talking on the phone via a hands-free device. I live in Germany and driving at high speed on the autobahn is taxing enough. When you start adding phones, one further compounds the stress on one's focus.
Eating, drinking, make up! Driving requires a tremendous amount of attention to detail. Trying to do any of these takes away from your focus and endangers you and others.

Sorry for the rant...