Which is worse? Cellphone or chatting with passenger?

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 30, 2003, 6:40 pm

Kind of suprised that it took people in LA to come up with this one, but then again...it is one of the more strict states when it comes to Auto Insurance:

Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) August 26, 2003 Tuesday

Copyright 2003 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company

Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)

August 26, 2003 Tuesday
SECTION: METRO; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 372 words

Cell phones get bad rap, experts say;
Study;
Driver gawking worse than talking

BYLINE: By Leslie Williams; Staff writer

BODY:
While a growing number of states crack down on motorists talking on cell phones, a panel of safety experts at the Governors Highway Safety Association's annual meeting in New Orleans said other distractions may be more of a problem.
Looking at something outside the vehicle, dealing with children and looking for something inside the vehicle lead the list of distractions responsible for crashes in one study, said Richard Compton, director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's office for research and technology.

Cell phones placed near the bottom, he said.

As cell phone use surges -- at the end of 2002, about 142 million people had cell phones -- 35 states have considered legislation to ban hand-held cell phones in vehicles, said Anne McCartt, a senior research associate for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, Va. Eight states have considered banning all cell phones in vehicles, and six states prohibit bus drivers from using cell phones while driving.
Yet, questions about the risks of cell phones to traffic safety have not been "adequately addressed" in safety studies, McCartt said.

Putting a compact disc in the CD player also can be dangerous, she said. But the focus is usually on cell phones.

The most common sources of distraction for drivers, according to a study cited by Jane Stutts, manager of epidemiological studies at the Highway Safety Research Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., included looking at someone or something outside the car; adjusting the radio or cassette/CD player; and paying attention to a passenger.

All of those factors earned more than 10 percent on the list of distractions. Using a cell phone ranked at 1.5 percent, Stutts said.

Just passing cell-phone legislation is not going to solve the problem of inattention, said Roberto Rodriguez, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Any safety plan needs to consider all the issues that cause drivers to stray from the task of driving, he said.

More than 400 safety professionals are attending the meeting in New Orleans, which began Sunday and ends today.

. . . . . . .

Ennia · Post by **Ennia** » August 30, 2003, 6:53 pm

I've never had a problem with driving and talking, be it a cellphone or to a passanger. I dont think talking somehow takes away from your manual skills of holding the wheel and keeping your foot on the right pedal.
What usually gets people is dialing numbers though. This can be tricky especially when you're doing like 40 mph and have to look at the number written down, then phone, then number again, then either Boom or they're slowing down almost to a stop

What I hate with passion though is people slowing down to look at something on the side of the road, like an accident. I swear one day I'm gonna bump someone on purpose, just so they can stop and have more time to look around while we fill out the paperwork.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 30, 2003, 7:03 pm

Yeah, what has been interesting lately is how much outlawing cell-phones in vehicles has been in the news. The reason I copied this article is that I specifically remember when CD players became available for the car the same things were said about them.

Some people seem to be "able" to drive while talking. The important part though is knowing when NOT to talk. Even when I use my headset, I will tell someone that I will call them back or to hold on depending on the traffic and/or my field of view. How you sit when using the phone without a headset severely limits your range of motion and can help you to nudge that car while changing lanes, or get rear-ended as you pull out in front of someone. Even with a headset, you are limited by the range of the cord (get a speaker phone installed in your vehicle to stop this one) and dialing (voice dial is nice for this one).

Personally I don't think I would have a problem with having Cell phones being banned from vehicles as long as they also ban dumbasses from getting behind the wheel in the first place.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 30, 2003, 7:22 pm

In Norway they banned hand held cell phones while driving. You have to have a hands-free set, or you can get a pretty hefty fine.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » August 30, 2003, 7:24 pm

all of the people i have almost been hit by were people talking on cell phones (3 people) they also drive SUV's

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » August 30, 2003, 7:45 pm

I'm curious about this Governors Highway Safety Association because even thought they sound like an official project, their website looks like they are more of a lobby group than anything else. I'm curious as to who their main donators are.

Every statistic I have read have pointed to cel phones being one of leading causes of road accidents.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 30, 2003, 7:47 pm

Kyoukan, Rule #1 : don't EVER try to understand Louisiana politics.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » August 30, 2003, 10:10 pm

its based on french stuff ... just ignore it its confusing

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » August 31, 2003, 12:03 am

whats worse is comming back form a movie and having this stupid fucking 17ish year old white kid sitting in the back of you talking with ebonics really loud and repeating "awe shit yo, haha" every fucking 2 minutes at least, i had to restrain myself even though i shouldnt have

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » August 31, 2003, 12:06 am

Boogahz wrote:Kyoukan, Rule #1 : don't EVER try to understand Louisiana politics.

It doesn't even seem to be politically affiliated, nor is it based in Louisiana.

http://www.ghsa.org/

I'm naturally skeptical so I looked around for this organization. It seems to me that a privately funded NPO on traffic safety that comes out with a hypothesis that talking on the phone while driving "isn't all that serious of a problem" probably has an agenda that they aren't wanting to be very public about.

I'm not saying that they're being funded by cell phone manufacturers or something, but looking closely at their website you can see that they don't really do much of anything.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » August 31, 2003, 3:48 am

I fucking hate cell phones. I owned one for a little while but got rid of it. What's really the point? Sure they are convenient in an emergency but never have I been in a situation where I couldn't just walk to the nearest pay phone. If someone is trying to contact me and I'm not home or at work, then it's their loss, not mine.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » August 31, 2003, 4:22 am

Yeah I won't own a cell phone. I have pager for work and emergecny purposes but my staff knows that the fucking store better be burning down or been taken over by the soviet military and being converted into a missile silo before using it to disturb me.

People jabber on fucking cell phones all the time when they're out need to be shot. I hate listening to them in restaurants and it makes me feel bad because half the time there's somebody with them.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » August 31, 2003, 7:11 am

I don't use a house phone I just use a cell phone. Its easier for me cause I travel a lot and its cheaper than a home phone for me. Cell phones work out better for some people. Its like anything else some people like them some people don't.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 31, 2003, 10:29 am

What I think is funny is when you pass a vehicle with what appear to be husband and wife in the front seats and kids in the back....and both of the adults are on cellphones at the SAME time.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » August 31, 2003, 10:45 am

cell phones are great, you just have to know when to turn them off or the apropriate time to use them

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 31, 2003, 10:52 am

Exactly Xzion, but that's what people don't seem to realize.

How many times have you noticed someone using a cellphone responsibly in a car? Maybe once or twice, but then you may not have "noticed" them using it if they were being responsible about it.

How many times have you noticed someone swerving, turning too wide/sharp, cutting people off, etc., while on a cellphone? Probably quite often. It's the fact that the people who don't have a fucking clue how bad they are driving on a cellphone that causes people to think it should be "illegal." Hell, there are times I would personally like to ask for their number at a red light just so I could call them and tell them to hang the damned phone up at random times.

edit: spelling > me

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » August 31, 2003, 11:05 am

it should just be iligal to have them on in a car, movie theatre, etc

Phugg_Innay · Post by **Phugg_Innay** » August 31, 2003, 12:16 pm

I have to use my cell daily when working, Calling in completed jobs ad so forth. My normal routine is to get in the van call and sit there until the call completed. Or if in a bad reception are (hello California hills) drive to the area I can actually get reception , pull aside and complete the call.
About a year ago I saw a single vehicle accidentthat was obviously cell phone related. If anyone knows the East Bay (Pleasanton 580/680 corridor) there has been construction of a great new flyover for about a year or more. The driver of a 4 door honda civic (commuter type NOT rice rocket wannabee) while traveling Eastbound on 580 reaches down to grab phone , puts to ear , all while gently turning to right , doing aprox 40-50 mph , SLAMS right into 10-20ft cement wall of flyover. The angle of attack was aprox 30 degrees off parralel. The entire right front side of the car was completely caved in. I was about 50 yards behind the person and 2 lanes the left. I could see the guy quickly hang up on his call and start another after impact. I could only hope he was calling the police.
Some people should just NOT be allowed , but there is NO way possible for the regulators to deem who is a "safe enough driver" to be able to handle the distractions while driving.

Lor · Post by **Lor** » August 31, 2003, 1:56 pm

Cell phones are bad, but what's worse are the assholes who are reading the paper or have their briefcase open and doing their work while driving....Yes I've seen this many, many times and it drives me up a fucking wall.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » September 2, 2003, 12:14 pm

Cell phones don't even rate on the chart of accident causes. They come in around fourth for distracted driving incidents. Distracted driving accounts for around 20% of all accidents.

What tickles me is the foam-at-the-mouth types who think hands-free sets help the problem. Even in this thread we have people pointing out that dialing is more distracting than talking, yet the advocates skate right past that and tout a fix that doesn't address the dialing issue at all.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 2, 2003, 1:33 pm

Hello? Voice dial is a pretty simple thing.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » September 2, 2003, 1:57 pm

Care to estimate how many of the minimum service crowd have voice dial available, Kelsharra?

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » September 2, 2003, 1:59 pm

Its available to anyone who uses Sprint PCS so thats a pretty decent amount of people.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » September 2, 2003, 2:26 pm

Cell phones can be nice and come in handy from time to time but personally it would be nice not to have to carry one. However in my position, not having a cell phone so that people can get in touch with me at all times wouldn't fly. I do try to keep it turned off whenever possible on the weekends unless I'm expecting a call.

Marb

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 2, 2003, 3:55 pm

What's wrong with you people? Cell phones are great.

I hardly use my cell phone at all but it's the only phone I have. I don't have a land line phone at home. My phone is small enough to fit easily in my pocket. It's got a vibrate mode for incoming calls so it doesn't disturb anyone.

Pay your 50.00/month and get plenty of talk time, long distance included, free nights and weekends and be done with it.

You people that still pay for home phones are the whackos unless you can't get a cable modem/phone.

Some of the reasons I've seen posted on this thread for not getting a cell phone are moronic at best. If you're going to be an idiot like the people you're complainig about if you own a cell phone then by all means stick to your World War II technology phones...you'd better keep that corded phone...I don't want any accidents in the kitchen because you can't talk and do anything else at the same time with one of those newfangled cordless phones.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 2, 2003, 5:38 pm

No clue about here Fallanthas since I don't have a cell here and have no interest in one atm.. but back home a vast majority have it shrug.

Krimson Klaw · Post by **Krimson Klaw** » September 3, 2003, 8:57 am

I would rather my wife talk on a cell while driving than feeling the need to stare at me during a conversation while she is driving. I've been telling her for 13 years now, you don't have to look at me to talk to me girl, look at the road.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » September 3, 2003, 9:34 am

Cellphones themselves are great for those who know how and when to use them. Getting the voice dial feature is awesome too. Some providers offer it, and some phone manufacturers include it in the phone itself.

When shopping for a headset, one distraction you can avoid easilly is getting one with a answer/end button on it. That way you don't have to dive across the car to answer the phone