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First off, let us say that drunk driving is bad. Really bad. You should be taking the bus, no? Maybe even ride the Holly Trolley around in circles until 4 a.m. to sober up.
Daily News reports that a study finds your cell phone/car consumption is worse than your drinking/car one. And if you think your bluetooth ear piece is any safer, these Utah researchers say not:
In response to safety concerns, some states have outlawed the use of handheld cell phones while driving. But that type of legislation might not be effective, because the Utah researchers found no difference in driver performance whether the driver was holding the phone or talking on a hands-free model."We have seen again and again that there is no difference between hands-free and handheld devices," Drews says. "The problem is the conversation."
Statistics (and maybe studies) speak for themselves, right? Should L.A. go with the no cell phone way?
Photo by Alana Waters via Flickr.
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Yes.
Then let's go to work next on walking the aisles of Trader Joe's without the Bluetooth headsets.
I agree that driving while talking on the cell is dangerous. I wonder why it would make no difference if you were on a hands free? Wouldn't that be just like talking to someone who is in the vehicle with you?
Driving while distracted is dangerous, period. I think there is a slight edge of safety when chatting with a passenger, because you have an extra set of eyes on the road. But I can't prove it.
I personally don't like to talk on my cell when I'm driving. I don't like how distracting it can get. I'm also a very safe driver. But, making it illegal to talk on the phone while driving is stupid. You might as well make it illegal to drink your Starbucks, light a Marlboro and eat your New York Bagal while driving or operating any heavy machinery. These are all distracting, and I bet if they did risk studies, the numbers would be similar.
Plus making it law would be redundant. It is already against the law to drive dangerously. It's called Reckless Driving.
People who hold conversations on their cells in public are annoying, whether they are driving their SUV or shopping at Whole Foods. There isn't a law against being annoying, there shouldn't be one either. Annoyances are subject to context. You can't make some absolute law to govern it.
There are all kinds of grey areas. What about emergencies? What about law enforcement & emergency crews? They are subject to the same laws as the rest of us. They have to constantly be communticating with HQ & other squads. Truck Drivers & CB communication? Do those count? Why or why not? Is it a matter of holding a conversation? or just Talking & Listening? Who determines the difference?
More dangerous than Drinking & Driving? Gotta be kidding me.
Eating, drinking and so forth require less attention and concentration than carrying on a conversation. Also, those activities are of shorter duration than most phone calls.
I would be surprised if it was more dangerous than drinking and driving, but not that it caused more accidents than drinking and driving. At least when many people drink and drive they attempt to be careful and focus on driving. Cell talkers do not, and that's the problem.
Beyond that, they talk all the time in all conditions--fast traffic, slow traffic, surface streets, highway, parallel parking(one handed, how annoying); and they make terrible moves when they realize that they weren't concentrating on the road and, say, missed their turn or exit.
Given the stupidity and lack of responsbility demonstrated by most drivers with cell phones, they should be banned, whether with hands-free or not. There are too many lives on the line and we've demonstrated, as a people, that we can't handle the responsibility.
Cellphone Savant: When you're talking to a passenger, they can see what is going on in front of you and (presumably) will react at the moment when something dangerous happens, unlike your cellphone-mate who keeps jabbering away unawares.