Readers speak out on cell phones and driving

A few weeks ago, I sent an e-mail blast to a couple hundred readers and asked them what they thought of the new hands-free cell phone laws that go into effect in California on July 1. The responses were overwhelming -- and fascinating.

Here's a taste:

From Anita Johnson, a community college teacher who lives in Brentwood Glen:

"I don't use my telephone while driving. I once had my car TOTALED when a woman ran into my car (with me in it) while using a cell phone. I was not badly injured but was in pain for quite a while. There definitely should be a law against this, even using devices. I don't think one can concentrate on the
road and hold any kind of conversation. If you have to use a phone why not pull over."

From Randy Gellens, a software engineer living in San Diego:

"I think the new law only addresses part of the problem, and a fairly minor part at that. Cell phone use while driving is dangerous because humans just aren't good at dividing attention between driving and conversing. I know from my own experience that I can get into trouble driving when talking to someone sitting next to me, but at least then I can shut up, focus on driving, and he knows what's going on. With a cell phone, the person at the other end has no idea.

"I've had numerous close calls with cell-phone driving bozos who weave, go excessively slow or fast, react poorly to changes, etc. And those are just the ones I can see are on the phone. With hands-free, you can't tell."

From Robert Pousman, of Malibu:

"First, I think the law is a Band-Aid solution for a bigger problem. Anything that distracts your attention from what you're supposed to be concentrating on, in this case driving, is a liability. So just to be hands-free isn't the solution.

"I have bought a Bluetooth headset (earset, I guess is more accurate).  It is still a distraction, and it
isn't exactly hands-free.

"Anecdotally, I have had some close calls while riding my bike by SUV-driving soccer moms who can barely see over the steering wheels of their leviathans especially in the Brentwood Village. They are ALWAYS on the phone, and when I flip them off, they give me the entitled sneer of it being my problem not theirs."

From Carol Mortier, a sonographer who lives in Venice:

"First of all I believe that we should ban all cell phone use in MOVING vehicles. Park the car and talk. But hands-free is better than hands-on. I still feel that motorists do not pay as much attention to the road if they are talking on the cell phone, even with a hands free device. Besides, one must dial the phone or pull up the contact list (not too many people have voice activated calling). That is hard to do when driving.

"As I am a bike commuter, I see that at least 50% of drivers who cut me off (daily occurrence) are talking on their phones. When I pull up next to them honking my air horn (it's real loud) and they say they didn't see me, I ask if they are both blind and deaf.

"As for what I plan to do, I use a Bluetooth wireless headset when I drive or bike and pull over to talk. I also keep a spare hands-free headset in my car to use if my wireless breaks. And I will continue to bike as if every driver is talking on the phone and not paying attention to their driving."

From Kate Cook, a recently retired banker who lives in Sierra Madre:

"Although I have definitely seen people who are worse drivers for talking on the phone -- I don't really support the law. I am not sure that simply putting down the handset will solve that problem, and we are beyond banning people from talking while driving."

From Jan Book, an attorney in Marina del Rey:

"To be honest, I think at times it has caused me to a less safe driver. I know that when I am driving on the freeway and talking on my cell phone and need to change lanes, it cannot but cause a less safe situation. However, since I am aware of this fact, I try to be more careful and take more time in making lane changes, etc.

Also, I am not afraid to quickly hang up on someone I am talking with if I find myself in a non-safe situation (i.e., parking the car or even driving into a parking lot or parking structure where too much is happening such as cars suddenly pulling out). So I feel being forced to get a Bluetooth ear piece will be a good solution to me –- will give me two hands on the wheel!"

I bet you have an opinion on this, too. Hit the comment button below...

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[Martina]

This speaker phone is very embllishing I like this blog.

[Martina]

Readers speak out on cell phones is very artical .

[Andy]

Anything that distracts a driver significantly is probably a bad idea. That said, the law is pretty silly, as it just pinpoints one aspect.

- It's not illegal to text message
- It's not illegal to play a game
- it's not illegal to read e-mails
- it's not illegal to setup a bluetooth connection
etc...

If we are going to pass a law for every possible use of a mobile device, or ANY device, then we're heading down a road where legislation can never catch up to technology. This law is like forbidding someone to get drunk on beer and drive, and then not mentioning wine at all. Just plain stupid.

the RIGHT way to pass a law is to make it illegal to do anything that is significantly distracting. I think we already have laws for that (not entirely sure to be honest, but I have been told).

So, the CORRECT law to pass would be: You shall not perform any tasks while driving that cause you to drive unsafe.
(you get the point).

[Reason]

I have been hit twice in LA by drivers dialing handheld cell phones instead of watching the road. In one of those accidents, I was on a motorcycle and was almost killed. So for all those who have been affected by the growing number of idiots talking, shaving, putting on makeup or reading while driving, this law is a step in the right direction.

[Nathan]

I am getting tired of hearing all of these studies about how science "proves" that there is no difference between hands-free and driving with a cell phone pressed to your ear. All of these studies are focused on ATTENTION. And of course, there is not going to be a difference in that regard.

However, how about a simple driving test - like stay within a single lane, weave between some cones, negotiate a corner, etc. Having both hands free makes a huge difference in that regard.

I can often spot a cell-phone driver before I've confirmed that he/she is on a cell phone because they have incredible difficulty staying within a single lane.

All of the studies have focused on attention, but how about a study focused solely on motor skills?

[lightnsalt]

having a conversation with someone on the cell phone vs. someone next to you in the car while you're driving... i think it causes the same distraction in both situations...

[Ed Shapiro]

Lots of great points have been made in the previous posts. Most of the posters support the law as they have seen how bad people drive while holding a cell phone up to their ear. Common sense shows that if you hold a cell phone in your left hand and need to make a left hand turn or lane change, your arm will block your vision... don't get me started on drivers who only use their mirrors to change lanes!

A couple of posters make the point that it's not just cell phones; anything that occupies our attention whether it's a cell phone, cup of coffee, passengers or singing with your favorite tunes will take some of our driving ability away.

I fully support this law, however there is a major flaw. The fine is too small! If you want to stop people from driving with a handset you need to hit their pocket books hard. Wireless devices and wired headsets are cheap. For the less tech savvy a $20 wired ear piece works fine, for those who can figure out how to sync their phones, a JawBone series one (the best headset ever until JB 2 arrived) can be found on eBay for 60 bucks.

Let's face it, driving in LA is no picnic. We have too many cars with only "one" person clogging up the roads, we have to many cars period on the roads, drivers education classes are no longer taught in school but at "paid" for classes, and last but not least we're always in a hurry.

The bottom line is we need to hold ourselves accountable for our actions. If you need to talk on a phone while driving, obey the new law by using a headset. If you don't like the law move to another state, this one is to crowded!

[DB]

Typical democrat legislation...tackle a complicated issue with a simple solution.

Never works, but municipalities are drooling over the fines

[jojo]

How about tearing down 2/3rds of the unnecessary signage that, posted way off to the sides and behind hedgerows, competes so much for our attention? With so many flakes changing clothes, doing makeup or texting en route, more licenses should be revoked for not treating driving as a life-or-death privilege.

[Jack Roberson, Redondo Beach, CA]

I think all those people I see driving while talking on their cell phones should give a thought to how they would really feel if their distracted driving killed someone. Come on, one shouldn't be talking on the phone and driving at the same time. The new law will save lives, and I hope it will get some of these idiots to think about what they are doing.

[Calvin]

The law makes no sense. A $25 fine is barely an annoyance for the wealthy cell-addicted driver. Forcing drivers to use a hands free cellphone device simply gives them legal cover to drive distracted. A better law would have been to (1) ban all phone conversations while driving, and (2) provide Phone Zones along highways where drivers can pull over and park to make or receive phone calls.

[Mr. X]

It depends on the person - but most people simply lack the skill. As a FCC licenseholder for private radio as well as a former government employee, I've had 2-way radios (CB, amateur, GMRS, and public safety) in vehicles for 20+ years and never had a collision while using them. I've had collisions at other times when the radios were dormant (including once being idle at a stop light for 15+ seconds and being rear-ended by a teenager with only a permit + her parent). With one of my vehicles, one hand on the wheel and the other on the gear shifter leaves no hand for a microphone or a cell-phone available. There have been times when either the other person I'm talking to (via 2-way radio) or I have simply dropped the mic because our road attention needs both hands. However, I have had a collision once with someone who was on her phone - and usually about one close call every two weeks.

If it were simply the distraction aspect, then vehicles with occupants beyond the driver should have a higher collision rate - yet I've heard of no study validating such. Should we believe that most people don't talk to each other while driving together in a vehicle? There is something else going on here.

[Boyleheights Boy]

The problem is intalksication! Most crashes are not "accidents" they are the result of bad driving, whether the result of chemical, gadget, or self-intoxication more than forty thousand people die each year as a result. Until robots take over driving, in maybe 20 years, we ought to make it MUCH more expensive and difficult to get a license. The result? Less death, less traffic, and cheaper gas! Soccer mom, soccer dad, and their freaking kids can ride the bus, just like their maid!

[Vic Arpeggio]

Just another prime example of the Nanny State at work. Hey, we can't balance our budget, so let's inact a "safety" law whose only real purpose is to bring in more cash via fines.

[Tony Fernandez]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The problem is cognitive dissonance, and using hands free telephones will not help that much (it will help a little in that it opens up another hand, but that's not where the problem stems from).

[JR]

It's all hypacritical, It seem's though the government is saying that anything that distracts you from driving should be outlawed. Then what about those big billboards that are ment to look at while your driving?

[tonyE]

Cell phones don't kill. Bad drivers kill.