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Total Cell Phone Ban While Driving?

#381
Febs said:
At the risk of being branded an ignorant troll :eek:, I will point out that there was some discussion earlier in the thread about studies that concluded that talking on a cell phone is a greater distraction than talking to a passenger, apparently because the passenger is able to observe traffic and is therefore better able to regulate the conversation in response to traffic hazards. I have not yet read the actual study, so I don't want to comment on its validity, but I find the hypothesis to be at least plausible.
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In the least possible sense, maybe. I dont think that a passengers ability to observe traffic and regulate the conversation in response to traffic hazards helps all that much when a driver is the one speaking. Aside from their ability to yell "WATCH OUT" to the driver, of course, in which it could already be too late for the driver to make a safe maneuver.

I dont, however, think that youre an ignorant troll.
 
#382
Febs said:
At the risk of being branded an ignorant troll :eek:, I will point out that there was some discussion earlier in the thread about studies that concluded that talking on a cell phone is a greater distraction than talking to a passenger, apparently because the passenger is able to observe traffic and is therefore better able to regulate the conversation in response to traffic hazards. I have not yet read the actual study, so I don't want to comment on its validity, but I find the hypothesis to be at least plausible.
Click to expand...

The NTSB study i linked to showed the following:

16% of distracted driving accidents caused by "conversation with a passenger"

3.4% of distracted driving accidents caused by "use of cell phone"

2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "retrieving objects from floor or seat"

1.7% of distracted driving accidents caused by "eating and drinking"

1.2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting the radio or CD"

0.5% of distracted driving accidents caused by "smoking"

0.3% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting other vehicle controls"
 
#383
Febs said:
At the risk of being branded an ignorant troll :eek:, I will point out that there was some discussion earlier in the thread about studies that concluded that talking on a cell phone is a greater distraction than talking to a passenger, apparently because the passenger is able to observe traffic and is therefore better able to regulate the conversation in response to traffic hazards. I have not yet read the actual study, so I don't want to comment on its validity, but I find the hypothesis to be at least plausible.
Click to expand...

I'm not branding anyone publicly, and you wouldn't qualify since your response was thoughtful and compelling (thank you very much).

That being said, and speaking from my own experiences both talking to passengers and having a conversation via cell phone, and witnessing others do the same, my reaction is: I can't put any weight on that study. I don't buy it.
 
#384
aborgman said:
The NTSB study i linked to showed the following:

16% of distracted driving accidents caused by "conversation with a passenger"

3.4% of distracted driving accidents caused by "use of cell phone"

2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "retrieving objects from floor or seat"

1.7% of distracted driving accidents caused by "eating and drinking"

1.2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting the radio or CD"

0.5% of distracted driving accidents caused by "smoking"

0.3% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting other vehicle controls"
Click to expand...

Let's put the human element into these "stats":

Do you know how many people would NEVER admit to law enforcement that they had an accident because of picking their fries up off the floor or lighting a cigarette? Do you have any idea how many people would LIE about things like that?

But cell phone records, well, they're pretty hard to dispute. And I find that huge disparity between "use of cell phone" and "conversation with a passenger" pretty telling as well.
 
#385
electracoyote said:
Someone needs to tell me how hitting a button on my cell and using voice activation to make a hands-free call in my car is different from hitting a button on my radio and having a conversation with a passenger in my car, and why one and not the other should be banned.

Please make it thoughtful and compelling, or I'll just dismiss you as an ignorant troll.
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At the horrifying thought of being dismissed as an ignorant troll:
The passenger in the car has another set of eyes to help keep watch on the road?
The passenger in the car can see what's going on and can shut up if the driver needs to focus?
 
#386
You have a right to sleep. But not while driving. You have a right to drink alcohol if you're over 21. And a right to watch TV. But again, not while driving. There are many things you have the right to do, but if they significantly impair one's ability to drive safely, don't be surprised if they're made unlawful to do while driving. Hang up and drive.
 
#388
Turock said:
At the horrifying thought of being dismissed as an ignorant troll:
The passenger in the car has another set of eyes to help keep watch on the road?
The passenger in the car can see what's going on and can shut up if the driver needs to focus?
Click to expand...

Is this what all passengers do?

Not in my experience. In fact, sometimes passengers are oblivious to the road and become a distraction to the driver.
 
#389
aborgman said:
The NTSB study i linked to showed the following:

16% of distracted driving accidents caused by "conversation with a passenger"

3.4% of distracted driving accidents caused by "use of cell phone"

2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "retrieving objects from floor or seat"

1.7% of distracted driving accidents caused by "eating and drinking"

1.2% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting the radio or CD"

0.5% of distracted driving accidents caused by "smoking"

0.3% of distracted driving accidents caused by "adjusting other vehicle controls"
Click to expand...

I do remember seeing that. I wonder how the percentages in that study would correlate with the amount of time spent by drivers engaged in each of those activities? In other words, if drivers spend 50% of their time conversing with passengers, but only 5% of their time talking on cell phones, it might still be the case that talking on the cell phone creates a greater hazard than talking with a passenger.

Again, I'm not necessarily suggesting that it is so, but merely thinking out loud about what conclusions can be drawn from that study.
 
#390
Turock said:
The passenger in the car has another set of eyes to help keep watch on the road?
The passenger in the car can see what's going on and can shut up if the driver needs to focus?
Click to expand...

True.

Carrying on a conversation with a person in your presence tends to be vastly different from conversing with someone remotely via a phone or intercom (unless your passenger is obliviously self-centered and demanding of continuous attention). That's why you can converse with dinner guests who are at the table, but it's damn hard to eat a meal and talk on the phone at the same time.
 
#392
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
but if they significantly impair one's ability to drive safely, don't be surprised if they're made unlawful to do while driving.
Click to expand...

And THERE'S the crux of the issue. In my wildest imaginations, I can not perceive myself to be "significantly impaired" when I safely and responsibly use my cell phone in the automobile.

Hang up and drive.
Click to expand...

You can go ahead and do that if it freaks you out.

I'm just as safe making a hands-free, voice-activated call as any other driver out there, so I'll take that call, thank you very much.
 
#393
electracoyote said:
Is this what all passengers do?

Not in my experience. In fact, sometimes passengers are oblivious to the road and become a distraction to the driver.
Click to expand...

True. The driver has to be wise enough to ignore the passenger in such a situation and focus on driving. The in-person equivalent of hanging up.
 
#394
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
The in-person equivalent of hanging up.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Let the individual make up his or her mind as to whether the cell conversation is having an adverse impact on their driving.

And if it's impairing your ability to focus and make good judgments, hang up. Just like you would eventually have to tell the jackasses in your car to knock it off. Absolutely.

But a ban???

No.
 
#395
electracoyote said:
And THERE'S the crux of the issue. In my wildest imaginations, I can not perceive myself to be "significantly impaired" when I safely and responsibly use my cell phone in the automobile.
Click to expand...

No one perceives themselves to be impaired. Almost everyone is above average in their driving skills, if you ask them.
 
#396
electracoyote said:
Let the individual make up his or her mind as to whether the cell conversation is having an adverse impact on their driving.
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The two individuals who have rear-ended me in recent years while using their phones made up their minds. Apparently self-assessment is not a good way to judge driving ability.
 
#397
electracoyote said:
I see your point.

You can't have people driving as fast as they want to, because too many people in society don't have the self-control to drive at an appropriate speed.

That is what I call a reasonable law.

But now the issue is merely having a conversation while driving. Not driving too fast. Just talking while you drive (indeed, studies show that people who talk while driving often drive slightly slower than those around them).

Zoning laws, parking laws, speed laws, those have a basis in reasonable expectations for members of society.

But I can not agree that limiting a person's ability to have a conversation while driving is even remotely "reasonable."

Again, I'm hitting a button and having a voice-activated, hands-free conversation, and someone wants to limit my ability to do that? How is that "reasonable?"
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The 'reasonable' part isn't about the conversation, its the 'driving impaired' part. Feel free to talk on your cell phone, but when you're throwing around a ton or more of steel SUV at 40, 50 or 70mph at the same time, and you're cognitively impaired...
 
#399
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
The two individuals who have rear-ended me in recent years while using their phones made up their minds. Apparently self-assessment is not a good way to judge driving ability.
Click to expand...

Well, the odds were better that they would have had distracting passengers.

You are one unlucky dude, my sympathies. I'd think yours is probably a rare exception in the world or rear-enders. No offense, but I couldn't use your rare experience as a litmus test for all cell phone users.
 

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