Should cell phones be illegal while driving?

MommyToAshley wrote: I am probably in the minority here, but I think it should be against the law to drive while talking on a cell phone. I realize that it is convenient, but it is also dangerous. There have been numerous occasions when I have been almost hit by someone on a cell phone and not paying attention. I wonder how many accidents are caused by people on cell phones.

Some people think it is Big Brother overstepping their boundaries, but I think it should be a law for the sake of safety just like seat belts and car seats!

A&A'smommy replied: i voted yes..even though sometimes i do it and dh does it too but its still EXTREMELY dangerous!!! Sometimes i try and wait until i get somewhere and then other times i try and pull over but thats only if its important...but if it was illegal it still would not be inforced not here anyways.

MomToMany replied: I'm with you, M2A! Even though I have a cell phone, I never use it while driving. I pull off the road to use it. People are so distracted by them. I've seem people almost cause accidents because they're not paying attention, too.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I voted YES!! I have nearly gotten hit 4 times (not exaggerating) in the past few months from people talking on their cell phones and not paying attention. Most of them ran stop signs or red lights. Luckily I was paying attention!! I have a cell phone, but it rarely gets used. I especially don't use it when I am driving. I know how I am and it would only put Maddie in danger if I wasn't putting my full attention on driving. I do not think you are in the minority at all.

Jamison'smama replied: I voted no. I think people are distracted by many things--food, drink, changing the CD-- --when I was rear ended it was a person changing the radio station --Just my opinion.

jem0622 replied: I voted no as well. Because there are other distractions besides cell phones. A case in point is a baby bottle. When my eldest DS and I commuted to and fro from the office together...he would drink a bottle on the way home sometimes. Well, he was drinking one...was almost asleep and dropped it. Started crying. So I tried to feel around for it and could find it. It only took a split second to do that and it caused a near head on collision. Thank goodness the other driver swerved and thank goodness for airbags and seatbelts. Everyone was okay, but the cars were totalled. Over a baby bottle. Let them scream their heads off!



Julie

Kaitlin'smom replied: I dunno, for the most part even though I have a cell phone I hardly ever use it while driving. If I need to I try and so it while stopped either pulled off to the side or if I have to use it while driving I at least wait until I am stopped to dial and try to keep it short.

But I do know alot of people just dont pay attention wither they are chatting or doing something elce they should not be doing.....putting on makeup, shaving (men), reaching for a fallen item. Its sad we are more distracted than ever, and most people dont seem to take the time to watch there driving.....and then they wonder why there insurance rates go up!

So I am torn, guess I could go either way. I just watch out...

coasterqueen replied: I voted yes, but I use my cell phone while driving all the time. Actually, the more I think about it cell phones should not be illegal BUT it should be law that you have to at least use those earpieces while driving.

I think there are many things that cause distractions, and if you are going to ban cell phones then there are a list of other things that should be too. But I definately think the earpieces would help out and decrease the number of wrecks caused by those talking on their cell phones.

I got a speeding ticket a few years back because I was too busy talking on my cell phone to notice that the speed limit changed Actually I always speed thru there, but I would have slowed down if I would not have been talking on the phone because I would have noticed the 3+ cops pulling people over in a speed trap. LOL.

paradisemommy replied: i think yes...but not completely i think they should be illegal to drive with it in your hand but if you have a hands free device or a speaker phone then it would be ok.

Heather replied: oH YES!!! Most definitely I have heard of too many accidents involving this. many are deadly. I have SEEN a million people almost get into accidents, cut people off, not paying attention, swerving, YOU NAME IT!!! I agree that a hands free device could make it better, but you still have to dial the number, etc...unless you have voice activation...which from experience doesn't always work. We have a couple of cities around me that have made it illegal, you have to pulll over to the side of the road to talk. A lot of people try to multi task when they are driving and they just dont think of hte consequences of their lives and others on the road.

LOL it reminds me of one time, I was driving down a major highway and some old man was looking at a porno mag, adn swerving all over!! I almost died!!! Okay off topic...sorry...

CantWait replied: I voted yes also. I will answer my cell phone but that's it. I'll tell the person I'm driving and to that I'll call them back. There's too many people that don't pay attention to what they're doing when talking on them.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I always cringe when my DH answers his cell phone while driving the car. I have seen so many near accidents because people do not pay attention to the road when they are talking on there cell phones!

supermom replied: My personal opinion is that it is no more distracting talking on a cell phone than it is talking to someone in the car with you - what I think is dangerous is dialing the phone, not talking on it!