Why Cell phones should not be used while operating a vehicle

[nimzotech]

I'm curious about NYC. It is almost a parody how even though California passed a law forbidding the use of hand-held cellphone while driving, I don't see it being enforced. Each day I commute to work, it seems every other driver is talking on their cellphone. I notice that because it is those same drivers that make my commute that much riskier. Being "accidently" merged in to is no parade.

Anyway here is a story of how the train engineer was found to be texting bare moments before the Chatsworth train reck.

Metrolink engineer sent text message moments before fatal crash - Los Angeles Times

[cv_rider]

I saw a recent article that there has been significant lapsing on people's part back into criminal behavior (using their cellphone). While it dropped initially when the law was first enforced, people have now gone back to their olden ways. We could close CA's $15B budget shortfall by simply issuing more cell phone tickets.

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

Most of my recent near misses with cagers have involved cell phone use. The tech is there for hands free use, so let's make it a law. If you get caught driving while phoning, you lose your right to drive. After all, it's not like you can tell them in court that " It wasn't me!", the billing should be able to let the courts decide if you were on the phone at the time of the ticket. However, I'm also seeing the cops on the phone while driving quite a bit. Hands free is the way to go. GRUMPY

[lordplayer]

So many drivers on phones here in MN. I don't know if they passed a law here or not, but I think they did. It's definitely not doing anything to curb cell phone use.

I admit being guilty of using my phone to announce arrivals 5 minutes in advance while I'm caging, but I don't carry on long conversations. I need to get out of that habit, I know.

It's not fun riding your bike on the freeway when you're boxed in my one or more cages with drivers on their cell phones. Can they see me or not? Who knows...?

[githianki]

Originally Posted by grumpy1luvs2eat

However, I'm also seeing the cops on the phone while driving quite a bit.

It's the cops on the laptops I worry about more. Nothing like surfing the net while your drive down the interstate!!

[04fizzer]

NY has the cell phone law too (I believe it was one of the first to introduce it), but like in CA, it's just not enforced anymore.

[afpreppie04]

I'm not sure about other states, but here in New Mexico they passed the no cell phone law, with an exception for police officers. However, you can't be pulled over for talking on the phone, it just adds another offense to what you already have if you get pulled over for something else. Texting, on the other hand, counts as reckless driving and you'll get pulled over right away.

[gpd211]

Being a cop I can tell we are not driving around surfing the internet on the MDT (mobile data terminal). All the information I need about a call comes across there. A lot of agencies that use MDTs don't use the radios at all. So all communication between officers and dispatch goes across their MDT.

[Aggietaco]

Originally Posted by afpreppie04

I'm not sure about other states, but here in New Mexico they passed the no cell phone law, with an exception for police officers. However, you can't be pulled over for talking on the phone, it just adds another offense to what you already have if you get pulled over for something else. Texting, on the other hand, counts as reckless driving and you'll get pulled over right away.

Good for NM.

I almost got ran off the road last night because of some douche on an iPhone that failed to look before he swung into my lane. He didn't even notice the extended one finger salute I gave him as I passed him.

[JohnTex]

I don't know the exact details (since I'm old), but it is against the law in Texas only during the first 6 months that you have a license, or if under 17. Yeah, right... try enforcing that one!

Last year, my employer ("Big Oil") banned all cell phone use while driving on company time. In their reasoning, they attached a fantastic 30 page research document summarizing and detailing multiple studies as justification. The interesting point is that hands-free users did no better- the issue is awareness of your surroundings. Despite my best efforts to be sceptical & shoot holes in it, I could not find any major flaws with the reports, and it convinced me to give up even the hands-free habit while in the cage.

Now, I try to convince others of the danger (trust me, with 2 kids involved in many things, I am surrounded by over-stressed soccer moms every day- Minivans/big SUVs and distracted drivers... Look out motorcyclists!!), but my company labeled the report Proprietary, and I can't share it!!!!

Be safe. Keep that focus & awareness that you use on the bike, even when you are in the cage!