http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
You endanger everyone else when you drive with a cell phone glued to your head. You're distracted, you're driving with one hand (most likely), and your reaction time is hindered. There's no phone call so important that it's worth you risking MY life by driving while talking on your mobile. Pull over and talk, go hands free, or wait to talk.

Pay your fine and learn from it. ]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
I think they make a good case for it a few posts down.

Either way, you were driving distracted. Sorry, but I agree with the law on this one. ]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Also, I am perfectly able to drive safely when on my phone. Mostly because my calls don't distract my driving, my driving distracts my calls. Focused as much as I need to be on driving and what ever is left over goes towards phone calls and changing the station on the radio.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
Do you think cops are immune? Because they actually are. So if you're so for this law, then you have to be against it at least a little. I will be against this law until they outlaw radios, GPS, eating, and maybe even passengers, because ALL OF THE ABOVE are just as bad as talking on a damn phone.

Sorry you got the ticket dude. Think of it is a regular fee for the priviledge of talking in your car, because we have to pay for that sort I thing now.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Yea, just like seatbelt. Your driving is so godly, you can drive without them as well. Take them off, feel the freedom.]]>Jan 13th 2009 3:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/You risk dying by just being alive, I believe the risk of death/injury from talking on a cell phone while driving is small enough that it is not worth the inconvenience of me not answering my calls. You walk down stairs because the risk of falling (down or into someone) is nothing compared to the glory at the bottom of the stairs, same thing.]]>Jan 13th 2009 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 7:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/1.Talking on Cell phone Blue tooth or hand held
2. Drinking coffee
3. Putting on make up
4. Changing a radio station
5. sneezing
6. Listening to radio station
7. Talking to someone
8. Annoying kid in car
9. eating
10. shaving
11. Dog on lap
12. Big colorful billboards that are designed to take our eye off the road to look at them
13.



did i miss any we should ban them all ]]>Jan 13th 2009 9:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
But then you laugh at the people with stupid bluetooth adapters!

£30 fine if caught as well.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
However, I agree that it is a good idea, no-one needs to make a call that badly that they should be allowed to increase their risk of killing themselves, or worse, others.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
hold on, theres an oncoming c]]>Jan 13th 2009 11:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
From 1 December 2003 it became a specific offence to use a hand-held mobile phone in a moving vehicle. The penalty was a £30 fixed penalty or up to £1,000 on conviction in court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches), but no points. However from 27 February 2007 the penalty is now 3 points on your licence a minimum fine of £60.

The new regulations apply to the drivers of all motor vehicles on the road, including cars, motorcycles, goods vehicles, buses, coaches and taxis. They also apply to anyone supervising a learner driver, while the learner driver is driving. Anyone supervising a learner driver needs to be concentrating on what the driver is doing and should not be using a mobile phone.

Provided that a phone can be operated without holding it, then hands-free equipment is not prohibited by the new regulation. And pushing buttons on a phone while it is in a cradle or on the steering wheel or handlebars of a motorbike for example is not covered by the new offence, provided you don't hold the phone.

However, hands-free phones are also distracting and you still risk prosecution for failing to have proper control of a vehicle under Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 if you use a hands-free phone when driving. If there is an incident, the use of any phone or similar device might justify charges of careless or dangerous driving.]]>Jan 14th 2009 4:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 14th 2009 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 15th 2009 5:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 15th 2009 5:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
The world won't end if you can't talk on your cellphone while driving. Our parents survived in those days, so I think we can too.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
Tint your car windows....]]>Jan 13th 2009 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
You can't tint your front driver and passenger side windows if you live in NJ. It's illegal. And so is talking on the phone w/o a headset if you're the driver.]]>Jan 13th 2009 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
It's the act of actively conversing that's the problem.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
When speaking over a cell phone, however, performance degrades to a level similar to having had a few too many drinks. The other party expects you to respond in a timely manner and they keep talking even when you need to pay attention to something else. As a result, you're forced to devote much more attention to the caller than you would to a passenger.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/"I fail to see how handsfree would not solve the problem. So the next step will be ban chatting with other persons in the car while driving?"
I agree... without the hardware in your hand, how is it any different then talking to a passenger in the car? In fact it's probably safer than talking to a passenger because you don't have to look at the person you're speaking to.

This is like just about everything else in the USA today where a small group of people think they need to make new laws. As a nation, we can't allow a small vocal minority to make NEW rules for an apathetic silent majority. If we don't stop the crazies, we'll continue to lose our freedoms. Just look at what groups like MADD have done for our freedoms... they won't be happy until we abolish alcohol and cigarettes completely.

]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
Consider this though: you are in a collision. Investigation reveals that there was a BT unit in your car and your phone records show you were using the phone at the time. Suddenly there's some strong evidence that it was your fault. So you could be found to be at fault, and your insurance company could use it as an excuse to raise your rates.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
You don't need to agree. What does your opinion have to do with this.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/So true. I can't tell you how my wife commenting my driving or parenting my rebel teenager daughter can be distracting. No cell phone call can beat that.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/* Reading (directions, maps, etc.) - Ban that too!
* Shaving - Ban that too!
* Applying makeup - Ban that too!
* Talking to other car occupants (i.e. kids in the back seat) - Ban that too!
* Fiddling with radios, GPS navigation, etc. - Ban that too!

I can keep going. Look, there will always be jerk-offs on the road. Just the act of driving is challenging for some. If they really want to fix it either Ban ALL perceived/possible in car distractions (impossible) or MAKE DRIVERS LICENSE EXPIRE (REQUIRING A WRITTEN TEST EVERY 5 YEARS). Fail the test, loose your license until you pass. Heck, they could even raise much needed revenue by charging a fee. To think that someone is granted a LIFE TIME DRIVER’S LICENSE just for paying attention and passing it in less than one hour on one day out of an entire lifetime is ridiculous!

Oh, and before someone goes APE saying how impossible this would be, guess what. They do it in Germany land of the Autobahn and Nurburgring. And guess what else, their high way fatalities per capita is less than ours!!]]>Jan 13th 2009 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
But then again, I pay more attention to my driving than most. It's Serious Business.]]>Jan 13th 2009 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
As far as cell phones go-people definitely drive like crap when they're on the phone. Do some people drive less like crap than others? Definitely, but you're still liable to go slam into a deer/kid without realizing. So then, the solution is obviously to get our 4G networks up and running ASAP so the person you're talking with will have a nice video feed of your current driving conditions to go along with your conversation.
I suppose though if you and your conversation partner were both driving that this would just make things that much more dangerous, so perhaps only 1 person can be driving in any given conversation =p]]>Jan 15th 2009 4:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
oh ?

Well, here in Europe they seem to agree. In most european countries (if not all) using a cellphone while driving
is totally forbidden en the fines are steep (> 100 Euro). Is it such a big deal to use a headset or a carkit ? Headset
usually comes for free in the phone's box.]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
yeah but the person on the phone doesn't stop talking and says "heads up!" while you drive into the other lane or 15 miles below the speed limit.

]]>Jan 13th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/
Neither does an 8 year old or someone in the backseat not watching traffic.]]>Jan 13th 2009 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/13/national-safety-council-calls-for-nationwide-ban-on-cellphone-us/Jan 13th 2009 2:15PM