:Use of cell phone while driving ban.

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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United States
Not sure what the argument is about, driving and talking/texting on a cell phone is dangerous. Like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Vernon, B.C.
Not sure what the argument is about, driving and talking/texting on a cell phone is dangerous. Like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time.

The only people who would want to argue about this issue are people who have no business being behind the wheel. If the ban saves one life then it's well worth it.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
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Vancouver Island
While not disputing that banning cel phones while driving is a good idea especially in cities where every third driver got their license via bribes there are some aspects that confuse me. Most have probably been posted here, like women putting on makeup while driving, reading while driving. Nothing seems to be done about these until after they cause an accident. Then there are some that want a ban on changing CDs, talking and eating. I just don't see how all this is going to be enforceable since cops can't even keep drunks with suspended licenses from driving. Tourists looking at the scenery are just as much a danger on the road or more than a local talking on the phone.
Does anyone know for sure if the ban also covers VHF radios in trucks? WE have 11 of them on the road and while I know they can be converted it is expensive and I have never heard of a trucker causing an accident by talking on the radio. Most of ours are not programed for talk around frequencies but are industrial road use and private channels.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Vernon, B.C.
While not disputing that banning cel phones while driving is a good idea especially in cities where every third driver got their license via bribes there are some aspects that confuse me. Most have probably been posted here, like women putting on makeup while driving, reading while driving. Nothing seems to be done about these until after they cause an accident. Then there are some that want a ban on changing CDs, talking and eating. I just don't see how all this is going to be enforceable since cops can't even keep drunks with suspended licenses from driving. Tourists looking at the scenery are just as much a danger on the road or more than a local talking on the phone.
Does anyone know for sure if the ban also covers VHF radios in trucks? WE have 11 of them on the road and while I know they can be converted it is expensive and I have never heard of a trucker causing an accident by talking on the radio. Most of ours are not programed for talk around frequencies but are industrial road use and private channels.

There is a lot of truth in what you say, all those distractions you mention are hard to enforce BUT if they were all to fall under the heading of undue care and attention, then at least following an accdent charges could be laid. I think that anything that is not an integral part of driving should be outlawed.
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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Toronto
There is a lot of truth in what you say, all those distractions you mention are hard to enforce BUT if they were all to fall under the heading of undue care and attention, then at least following an accdent charges could be laid. I think that anything that is not an integral part of driving should be outlawed.
That makes a lot of sense.
 

TenPenny

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 9, 2004
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Location, Location
Driving without due care and attention is already an offense.

I don't believe that we need to create a new category of laws for every single possible distraction, just because they are new and different. Just enforce the ones we have.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Driving without due care and attention is already an offense.

I don't believe that we need to create a new category of laws for every single possible distraction, just because they are new and different. Just enforce the ones we have.

Bingo.......................:smile:
 

#juan

Hall of Fame Member
Aug 30, 2005
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I don't know. A look at the entire spectrum of driving skills would likely tell us that some people are quite capable of driving while talking on the phone while others are not nearly so capable. Not to get down on the elderly since I'm getting there myself but some older folks probably shouldn't be driving. Not too long ago this nice lady managed to stall her car in the middle of the intersection right in front of me. I got out to talk to her and she told me her car wouldn't start. I looked down and saw that the car was still in drive. I told her about it and off she went. This was a minor thing but what other things does she forget about? One thing she forgot was signaling the left turn she made after she got the car going again.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Vernon, B.C.
I don't know. A look at the entire spectrum of driving skills would likely tell us that some people are quite capable of driving while talking on the phone while others are not nearly so capable. Not to get down on the elderly since I'm getting there myself but some older folks probably shouldn't be driving. Not too long ago this nice lady managed to stall her car in the middle of the intersection right in front of me. I got out to talk to her and she told me her car wouldn't start. I looked down and saw that the car was still in drive. I told her about it and off she went. This was a minor thing but what other things does she forget about? One thing she forgot was signaling the left turn she made after she got the car going again.

One of the biggest annoyances I've seen lately is the prolific number of tailgaters, I kind of keep my eyes averted to the right when they do pass, so they don't get the satisfaction of knowing I saw "the finger". :lol::lol: Has anyone noticed a reduction in the use of cell phones while driving?
 

Chev

Electoral Member
Feb 10, 2009
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Alberta
and it's the so called "professional drivers" that are the cockiest and most arogant when it comes to "driving skills".
I'd still rather be surrounded by tractor-trailer units than the idiots in private vehicles, or Greyhound drivers.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Vernon, B.C.
I'd still rather be surrounded by tractor-trailer units than the idiots in private vehicles, or Greyhound drivers.

I don't think you can categorize professional drivers. I walk every day, much of the time along main routes and always facing oncoming traffic. A few drivers just stick right to the middle of the lane and don't slow down at all when they go by me. I notice most of the big truck drivers (when there is no one coming in the opposite lane) pull right over just out of politeness. I think how they treat the pedestrian means a lot.
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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Lower Mainland, BC
One of the biggest annoyances I've seen lately is the prolific number of tailgaters, I kind of keep my eyes averted to the right when they do pass, so they don't get the satisfaction of knowing I saw "the finger". :lol::lol: Has anyone noticed a reduction in the use of cell phones while driving?

I seen people hiding the use of Cell Phones better..

Perhaps that maybe why you see more tailgaters as they pay less attention to the road and more attention to trying to spot cops and hide devices they are not supposed to use..

That said I know a few people who have stopped using Cell Phones entirely on the road without Bluetooth assistance.. It did cause problems at first and in my case I know I am having issues with my new device Bluetooth linking up properly.

I had always been a user of those devices but this new one is causing me more grief and with the new law in place it gives me no "excuse" if I should get pulled over.. So while I struggle with getting it working right I often avoid calls..