Do you talk on the cell phone when.....

[Planogirl]

I think that it depends.

Chatting with someone about plans of the day or a TV show probably isn't too distracting. But I think that many people who are discussing work issues and other more complex things get so distracted that they tend to forget about driving.

It's not just driving either! I stood behind a man jabbering on his cell phone at a store the other day. The clerk rang up his items and then stood there waiting. The man just kept on talking and talking and he'd totally tuned out where he was. After several minutes, he finally came back to where he was and paid. I can't imagine someone zoning out like that while driving.

 

[jbdreamer]

As much as I hate to admit it - I talk on the phone while driving - but so does everyone else I know. I am usually taking to them while they are in their car.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I do talk on the cell phone when driving.

 

[sgtdisney]

Yes, I do talk on the phone. I really think it depends on the individual. Some people are more easily distracted than others. Ticket the distracted drivers not just cell phone users. Seriously, there are many things in a car that are distracting. Should they all be removed? Radios that can only be adjusted while the vehicle is in park? Navigation systems that completely shut off when the car is moving? A/C and heater controls that are inoperable except when the wheels aren't moving? Where does it stop? Ticket bad drivers.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Yes, I do talk on the phone. I really think it depends on the individual. Some people are more easily distracted than others. Ticket the distracted drivers not just cell phone users. Seriously, there are many things in a car that are distracting. Should they all be removed? Radios that can only be adjusted while the vehicle is in park? Navigation systems that completely shut off when the car is moving? A/C and heater controls that are inoperable except when the wheels aren't moving? Where does it stop? Ticket bad drivers.

That would make sense, but like so many things in life, things that make sense are ignored. It is easier to attempt to control behavior one doesn't like than to deal with behavior that is truly bad.

 

[slo]

I do all my phone call while driving - this is my best time to talk without my children needing my attention.

I personally drive just fine when I'm on the phone - maybe I'm just used to it. I actually am more distracted when I have someone in the car with me that I'm trying to talk to, them when I'm on the phone.

Now, if I was in a situation where I was driving in a horrible thunderstorm, snow storm, or fog I would not be talking on the phone. But, any other time, I'm talking!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

When by myself, during the day, I get in the car, put on my belt, put my earbud in my ear, start and go. I am on the phone most of the time I am in the car.

 

[Mermaid02]

I do. It's no more distracting than eating, or talking to a passenger, or trying to tame children or pets. Probably shouldn't do it, but I do.

 

[Micca]

Very seldom, and for very short conversations.

 

[C.Ann]

No - and quite frankly I'm tired of getting in near misses with people who do.. It's against the law in NY and I think it should be strictly enforced..

 

[PoohBearLovinMama]

I do. But I use the speaker phone and if they're not on my voice activated I don't call them.

I have to say though, with a baby and a 3 y o, talking on the phone is the least distracting thing in my car. "MOMMY, I DON'T WANT THIS SONG!!! Louder Mommy, please. Mommy, I DROPPED MY TOY!" etc etc.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

It's against the law in my area. But I didn't even before that.

People still do it all the time. They think they are driving ok, but in actually they are swerving, driving way under the speed limit, not using turn signals and the like.

I was rear ended by a woman on a cell phone. It was in front of a firehouse, everyone was stopped at a red light. I was about the fourth car back. I could see her coming in the rearview mirror, talking and not looking, and then she crashed into me.

Of course there are other things that distract people as mentioned by many, so that is another I guess.

 

[4greatboys]

Yes I do talk on the cell phone in the car.

 

[Magickndm]

I just finished reading Cell....I won't be using one anywhere any time soon.

 

[tigger 12]

I have been hit by folks talking on cell phones and driving - twice. One was a major accident totalling my car. If my then 4 year old son was with me he probably would have died.

My feelings are pretty clear on the subject.

I totally agree. Thank God you were ok and your son wasn't in the car . I've been in tons of nearly accidents because people were on the phone. Today as a matter of fact. Someone was drifting in my lane on the freeway because they were on the phone.

 

[Feralpeg]

No. I wish they would outlaw them in my area.

I really wonder how these people got by before cell phones. I can't think of anyone that I need to talk to that bad that it can't wait until I'm out of the car.

 

[Meezers]

Why don't people just use a headset? They really aren't that expensive...as a matter of fact....my cell phone came with one....if I am going to make a call....or even think I am going to receive one...I put on the headset before I get in the car.

I have thought making it against the law is a good idea...but not really enforceable in a metro area...unless it adds another charge onto other charges in case of an accident or traffic stop!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Absolutely not. The only time I ever pick up my cell phone while driving is if I am in such heavy traffic my car is in park. I will call my husband and tell him I'm running late or whatever the case is.

Oh, and I will also make a quick 5 second call if I pass a bad accident on my way somewhere just to let my husband know it wasn't me

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Myth Busters just did a show on weather it was dangerous to talk on the cell phone while driving. Their results showed that talking on the phone while driving was the same as driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Did they also do a comparison as to whether other common distractions in cars are on the same line as cell phones? Like the person that can't find just the right CD or can't find a station with a song they want to hear? Or the person trying to eat a Big Mac while driving down I-95? Or a person smoking who accidentally dropped hot ashes on his pants and his biscuits are burnin'? How about the mom who has a 2 yr old that is throwing a temper tantrum in the back seat because she can't have a Happy Meal and is screaming at the top of her lungs? All distractions. All happen on the road everyday and all are just as dangerous, if not more, than cell phones.

As I said in my first post - ticket the driver for [/B]any distraction that is causing their driving to be impeded. Not just because they have a cell phone in their hands. I'm not going to feel one iota safer if Virginia has a cell phone ban because I've seen just as much erratic driving for all the other above reasons.

For those of you that have been in accidents caused by someone talking on a cell phone, I am very sorry. I had a friend that was in a near fatal collision because the person behind them was so wrapped up in finding the right radio station and had their eyes down on the dashboard instead of watching the road. I had another friend that died in a collision because she was putting makeup on while driving. This stuff happens for all reasons. You just don't hear about accidents caused by station flipping, burger eating, screaming kids, nervous dogs, clutzy smoking etc. Guess either it doesn't make for a good cause to support (Drivers Against Dining!) or I bet the majority of the people that cause an accident because they were trying to find a station that wasn't playing Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" at rush hour on Friday, never would fess up to that fact unless a witness noticed them.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The only time that I talk on the phone when I'm driving is when I'm stopped at a light or in very easy driving situations. IE, no turns, traffic, merging, etc.
And even then it's not a long, drawn out conversation, but a quick call home or more likely a call from home.

I'm amazed at the number of people that I see talking on the phone when pulling out of a parking lot. Why not just make the call when you are still parked. It means that they are turning corners with only one hand on the wheel and making a very wide turn, turning into traffic, etc.

AS far as children being distracting--yes, they are. And I've been known to pull over and not drive when they get too rowdy.