Shocker -- Cell Phone Driving Bans Don't Really Make Roads Safer
from the pointless-laws dept
In all the hubbub about laws that place various bans on talking on cell phones while driving, we've always noted that singling out one distraction and "cracking down" on it doesn't really do anything to make the roads safer, since plenty of distractions remain perfectly legal. So it's little surprise to see the results from a study in the UK, one of the first places to enact a widespread restriction on mobile phone use in cars, indicating that not only do people ignore the ban, but they also have plenty of other distractions to keep them occupied while driving. The underlying problem isn't people talking on their phones, eating, changing clothes, or any of the other distractions this latest article cites -- it's unsafe driving. Banning distractions one by one isn't a solution, it's a political activity that creates the illusion that the government's actually doing something about unsafe driving, while also causing unintended consequences. Authorities should target unsafe driving in general, not just unsafe driving caused by particular distractions deemed bad enough to demand their own law.
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Another thing to worry about
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Re: Another thing to worry about
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Re: Another thing to worry about
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Give me a break.
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"Dont point dear it's impolite"
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Re: just ban cell phones
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Re: cell phones
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Re: There a necessity
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I'll assume that his post is a joke, but just in case it's not, see above paragraph
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Cell Phone Use
It is not so much talking on the phone that is distracting, but dialing, and otherwise taking your eyes off the road to handle a call.
Keep the ban, and enforce it.
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Re: Cell Phone Use
I think it would be MUCH better to just say dont drive unsafely and let the Officers do thier jobs.
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Re: Cell Phone Use
Once again the ignorati speak!
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Re: Cell Phone Use
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If you aren't passing someone (Going at least 5-7 mph faster than the "phone wielding gerbil behind the wheel of the SUX1000"), then GET OUT OF THE LEFT LANE!!!
The left lane is for OVERTAKING not cruising. In fact, if you aren't doing at least 15mph above the posted speed limit, you probably shouldn't even entertain the idea of entering into the leftmost lane.
Retest elderly people (for Driver's License) every 3-5 yrs.
NOTE TO POLICE--> If you see a car that is OBVIOUSLY not going to pass a hypothetical emissions test in the next 24hours. Pull them over and issue some sort of Roadworthiness/Pollution citation.
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Whether driving while yakking is more distracting than other things people do while driving is arguable. Heck, I saw a guy on the Turnpike watching a mini DVD player propped on the steering column in front of the speedometer. Scary.
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Transition Period
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Re: speeding is selfish?
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Re: Re: speeding is selfish?
Get off it.
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Re: Re: Re: speeding is selfish?
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Re: Re: speeding is selfish?
I agree that there are a lot of people on the roads that shouldn't be. Ticket people for laws that already exist. If somebody causes an accident they should be ticketed heavily. Now if I'm doing 90mph at 1am on an open highway without any cars in sight, why should I be ticketed?
I've been driving for just over 10 years now. I've always had fast cars and regularly drive over the speed limit. I have not yet caused an accident. I have been rearended by somebody not paying attention / following too closely. And been backed into in a parking lot. Both of these accidents I had very little if any control over. These idiots should have been ticketed.
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Re: Re: Re: speeding is selfish?
Speed limits are set for the lowest common denominator. In my area, the speed limit is 65 on the freeway. On some of the turns, if you were in a heavy SUV with a high center of gravity, 65 mph is probably the highest speed you can safely take the turn. Now in my Subaru Legacy GT with a lower center of gravity, Z-rated tires, AWD, etc. I can easily take the same turn at 100 mph. When there is a lot of traffic, I have no problem going 65, but when there is an open highway, why can't I drive at the speed that is safe for my car?
I have also been backed into in a parking lot by a guy not paying attention and he got off scot free.
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So, in short, unless they are going to ban PASSENGERS, I don't think banning cell phone use would improve driving safety in the least.
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I guess we are expecting to much for our governments to make sense and enforce existing laws that cover a situation instead of making new ones.
I'm sure glad we have the second amendment over here is the US. Someday we might need to use it just to eliminate the avalanche of nonsensical laws that cover the same problem.
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The biggest problem I see on the roads today is not people talking on the phone, it's people treating the left lane as a cruising lane, and elderly drivers who can't, well, drive.
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It's the attitude problem
And how are they going to outlaw "bad driving" when 99% of the time you can drive OK while reading a newspaper and brushing your teeth, it's the 1% of the time that causes the problem.
As much as I am for freedom to doing what you want, sometimes the government has to treat us like children until we act like adults.
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flawed logic
IMHO, if people stopped talking on their cell while driving it would improve safety. I can't even tell you how many times somebody cuts me off or does something else very unpredictable like slamming on their brakes for no apparent reason and 95% of the time when I pass them I see they are on their phone.
The simple fact is some people multitask well and can drive just fine with their phone and some can't. The ones that can't ruin the driving experience for everyone else on the road, so I say ban them and enforce it.
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enFORCE the law
I remember when the law was enacted this last year and the day after there was a small story inside the paper about 2 people being fined. Haven't seen anything since. Waste of time, waste of money. Law without enforcement is impudent.
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Lowest common denominator
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ban human-driven vehicles
http://ideas.4brad.com/node/410
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Its just more taxes
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Cell Phone Ban
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Perfect Solution
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my proof-of-study
The pair passed easily enough on the road test. The next part was that they wwsere to drive while talking on the cell phone. They were asked things to do on the phone, like what are you going to do at work, name 5 thigns in the corner store, stuff like that. They failed the driver test miserably.
Thee next part was with a breath-test,police and some beer. They both drank ebnough to be legally over the limit.
Again they were asked to to the road test, they failed in much the same way.
Even thought this test is only a small number, it does give the evidence that you would nered to figure out whether that is a good way to see if driving on the phoe is the same as being impaired.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Not so common courtesy
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Re: Not so common courtesy
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bad driving - cell phone ban
As for using them while you drive - thats why they have speaker phones and headsets - your hands are free to drive and your eyes are free to pay attention. Some people have a hard time with this concept though. Every new phone has both of these features, but no one seems to use them - same with voice dialing. C'mon people, its not that complicated.
I think that the old/standing/original laws just need to be enforced. I never see cops pulling anyone over for anything except for speeding. I can't drive anywhere where I live without seeing several traffic violations. People don't stop turning left when the don't have the green arrow anymore (like, usually 3 more cars go through the intersection), everybody cruises the lefthand lane (really annoying people), people don't stop at stop signs. The biggest thing that aggravates me is that people areound here drive, on average, 10 MPH BELOW the speed limit. What the hell is that?! Just 'cause you're not in a hurry doesn't mean that I'm not. If there are two lanes, knock yourself out going slow, but when there is only one and no one can pass you, for the love of god, drive the damn speed limit. PLEASE!
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Re: bad driving - cell phone ban
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HA!
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Re: HA!
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twisted logic
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Ban CHILDREN in cars
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Distracted Driver law
I wish more legislatures would write laws that focus on the root cause rather then one of the symptom.
Of course the law in NH used to allow drinking while driving as long as your BAC was below the legal limit and you didn't get in an accident. At least as recently as 1984 when I took Driver's Ed.
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Idiocy
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Pedestrians fight back
If they are going to come after me with their weapon I should be able to shoot them to protect myself.
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Distractions aren't the problem...
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analogy
What a crock. The statistics are in. Talking (not dialing) a cell phone causes the same increase in accidents as DUI.
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'Driving without due care'
- rasing funds (minimally)
- 'nanny knows best' from gov
- politicos being seen 'doing something'
- same politicos not wanting to seem careless when presented with an acident apparently caused by this sort of thing.
its almost like speed limits, theres no real 'need' for them, *if* anyone driving at an 'innapropriate' speed can be brought before a court (no on the spot fines/tickets) and have to explain why they thought doing 90 in driving rain was ok.
the flip side is just cus the limit says 40, if the conditions are poor you need to slow down.
common sense. except its hard to write laws for it. it boils down to making people responsible for their own actions.
if you drive down a residential street when there are kids about, you better be able to stop/avoid them, on a quiet street at midnight. who cares?
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I wrote #10
"The left lane is for OVERTAKING not cruising. In fact, if you aren't doing at least 15mph above the posted speed limit, you probably shouldn't even entertain the idea of entering into the leftmost lane."
was trying to illustrate the fact that if you aren't actively passing someone then you don't need to be in the left lane. I define actively passing someone as the act of overtaking someone taking less than a minute at HWY speeds.
BTW... 15mph above the speed limit is the de facto 'minimum speed' in and around Metro Atlanta. Ever hear of the 'GA 400'? Nascar has nuthin' on this stretch of roadway!
;^)
Yes, I drive quickly, but safely. I travel in a well maintained vehicle AWD vehicle (Rain-ex on the windshields, proper tire inflation, etc, etc,). I'm an experienced 'extreme' driver. Have raced motorcycles as well as operated all types of Military vehicles in all types of conditions... In short, I'd say I've got better than average skills when it comes to safely operating equipment, but skillz don't amount to squat if you aren't paying attention! This is the golden rule of operating any type of equipment, in this case, automobiles. I try to remember this everytime I get behind the wheel. I embrace it.
If I feel that I'm about to get into situations where I'm too distracted to drive, I pull over or avoid the potential distraction.
You are a distracted or incapable driver if you are impeding the flow of traffic, plain and simple. Your equipment could also be impeding the flow of traffic (I.e. 'smoke machine on wheels').
I do not 'fly' through residential neighborhoods or known pedestrian areas. I do, however, travel at a good clip on the highways in my A4.
As to the comment about 'Arrogant' speeders: That is between the police and the speeder. Don't assume that you know why that person is speeding, and don't be the retard to pull out in front of the speeder in some imbecilic attempt to slow them down. In most cases you are causing more of a hazard (To yourself and everyone around you). Report them to the police if you have too, but don't take matters into your own hands. That person could be on the way to a hospital, could be an undercover gov't agent, etc... Just stay in your slow lane.
Some people actually have places to be. Does that justify leaving late and traveling wrecklessly at Warp speeds? No, it doesn't. However, the public roadways aren't for loitering. If you don't know where you are going, or are out for a Sunday drive in Monday rush hour traffic in the left lane (Impedeing the flow of traffic), you are wrong.
So, if any of your actions or inactions are resulting in the impedement of traffic flow, you don't need to be operating the vehicle. Drive like you have a purpose - that purpose being to efficiently and safely arrive at some pre-planned destination.
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Cell phones Driving Ban
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Re: Cell phones Driving Ban
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don't think we all drive bad.
Im no where close to the #51 driver. But do not try to call all teenagers bad drivers, some are bad. well, most kids at my high school are bad... blame the DMV test.
BTW, i drive with 1 hand for way, way faster turning and reaction speed.
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Cell phone & Driving
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DRIVERS TEST
One more thing.. yes we need cars, yes we need disposable diapers, yes we need cell phones.
And the only thing slow drivers are good for is to keep me from getting another speeding ticket!
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Re: DRIVERS TEST
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WOOO PARTY
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Don't ban cell phone use!
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You Idoits!!!
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Re: You Idoits!!!
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cell phones are not the cause of so many car accid
banning distractions one by one is not the solution. authorities need to target the unsafe drivers in general. i have seen several near misses that had nothing to do with normal everyday distraction we all face in the car. i really think the DMV needs to re-evaluate the driving test and get some of these idiots off our roads that clearly do not deserve to be there. its not only the young, but the elderly as well.
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HAHAHA
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yo
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i hate u
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phones
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ssss
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Cell Phones
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Cell phone ban
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Bullet
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Mike Paahana
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Bann the cell phones
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Bobwilliams
DUI
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DUI
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LOVIES
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Idiots Hater
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Cell Phones/Texting
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