Cell phone use while driving

[sobo]

Many more areas are making talking on a cellphone while driving an offense. I'd like opinions, if you don't mind on the following:

1. How often have you personally been aware of an accident which involved lack of attention due to cellphone use?

2. Do you think this will serve as a precedent to make other activities while driving an offense also? I believe when driving, you should just drive. I've seen plenty of people driving with their knees, trying to dip their hamburger into kethcup. Wouldn't this cause just as much if not greater risk than holding a phone to your ear? Should that be made an offense too?

Just wanted to add, I full acknowledge I cannot and will not talk on the phone while driving. It takes all my attention to not make mistakes myself and also make sure I'm aware of my surroundings.

[DeltaV]

I have only worked one or two crashes where I know cell phone use was an issue, but I've seen numerous close calls by idiots on cell phones. That's not to say that it wasn't an issue at more, but cell phone use isn't like alcohol in the sense that it leaves lingering signs of use. If nobody saw the person on the phone and they don't admit to it, there's no way we can say cell phone use was a contributing cause in the crash.

That said, there was a study published several years ago that equated the perception-reaction time of someone on a cell phone at the same level as someone with a BAC of .10. I think that's reason enough to ban them while driving.

[retdetsgt]

Cell phones came around after I left uniform in 1981, but I have definitely followed drivers who were talking on their phones while driving right through stop signs and were obviously oblivious to the rest of the world. I concur totally with outlawing them while driving.

About 2 hours ago, I was sitting behind a plumber in his truck who was talking on his phone. The way he was driving, I was glad I was behind him and not beside or ahead of him. He was much more interested in that conversation than he was in his driving.

[sobo]

That said, there was a study published several years ago that equated the perception-reaction time of someone on a cell phone at the same level as someone with a BAC of .10. I think that's reason enough to ban them while driving.

Interesting. I always thought, "How is it any different from having a conversation in the vehicle, say with your passenger?" But it is definitely different. One of the few times I've talked on my phone while driving, since I'm paying so much attention to actualyl driving, my conversation is utterly useless anyway. I can't hear what they're saying or pay attention - so I agree with banning them. I guess it is more than the physical actions and really deals with the perception/action time as you stated.

retdetsgt - yes, it tends to make the driver completely unaware of surroundings. There are enough idiotic drivers out there without adding in the cellphones.

I heard where the entire state of CA has a ban on cellphone use while driving, but that texting is allowed. #1 - I can't stand texting. #2 - I need to research that. Gov. Arnold Sch. (I'll happily admit I don't know how to spell his name ;) ) said if either of his teenaged girls are caught talking and driving, he's taking both car and phone away.

[retdetsgt]

Interesting. I always thought, "How is it any different from having a conversation in the vehicle, say with your passenger?" But it is definitely different.

I've wondered the same thing. It does made a difference though. I read a study a year or so ago that proved that no hands cell phone users don't do any better than people holding one up to their ear.

[sobo]

I've wondered the same thing. It does made a difference though. I read a study a year or so ago that proved that no hands cell phone users don't do any better than people holding one up to their ear.

Really? That is very interesting, I would not have quessed that. Thanks.

[retdetsgt]

Really? That is very interesting, I would not have quessed that. Thanks.

Apparently, it's the act of talking to someone not in the car that is distracting, not the holding the phone to the ear.

[sobo]

Apparently, it's the act of talking to someone not in the car that is distracting, not the holding the phone to the ear.

Could be, perhaps driver pays more attention to the conversation when its on a phone than when its in person.

[Kimble]

Just wanted to add, I full acknowledge I cannot and will not talk on the phone while driving.

You say that now, but we had patrol officers (myself included sometimes ) who typed on their MDT's, and/or talked on their cell phones while driving. Sometimes you have to multi-task and can't get over to the side of the road to stop. You just have to be careful and mindful of your surroundings (and of course, you wouldn't want to do this while driving fast or on a crowded street). At least I wasn't one of the guys who would text message others about meeting up at the FOP lounge for lunch while driving. Doing that without a third hand would be tough. :D

[SnapShawt]

While that's true ROS, we have an amount of training that teaches us how to focus on several different things while doing our job. At least my academy did. Our driving instruction and advanced driving included getting bombarded with the radio, cell phone and laptop transmissions all at once and learning how to balance them while driving, learning to obviously put some on hold until it was safe to do what was necessary (like actually typing long messages and what not into the laptop).

I understand a lot of academies don't include this instruction, and that's a big mistake IMHO. Better to get it there and add to it on the street instead of having to learn it all at once out there.

[Kimble]

I understand a lot of academies don't include this instruction, and that's a big mistake IMHO. Better to get it there and add to it on the street instead of having to learn it all at once out there.

Can't speak for all academies out there, but one of the 2 local academies I went through had similar training.

[phantasm]

Many more areas are making talking on a cellphone while driving an offense. I'd like opinions, if you don't mind on the following:

1. How often have you personally been aware of an accident which involved lack of attention due to cellphone use?

2. Do you think this will serve as a precedent to make other activities while driving an offense also? I believe when driving, you should just drive. I've seen plenty of people driving with their knees, trying to dip their hamburger into kethcup. Wouldn't this cause just as much if not greater risk than holding a phone to your ear? Should that be made an offense too?

Just wanted to add, I full acknowledge I cannot and will not talk on the phone while driving. It takes all my attention to not make mistakes myself and also make sure I'm aware of my surroundings.

1) none that people will admit too, but I have nearly been hit in my personal car plenty of times by people in cell phones who either a) don't signal or b) start drifting into my lane or c) driving approximately 15 mph under the speed limit in the left hand lane obstructing the flow of traffic

2) driving with "less than 1 hand on the steering wheel" is a violation under NYS VTL, so your example is illegal too.

[Whitebear]

Yeah and when you horn someone who is one the phone, hte first thing they do whitout think about what they've done, is fingering you and shouting at you.. pissing me off

[retdetsgt]

Cops have to learn to multitask. Even before cell phones, I could talk on the radio, write down an address I'm being sent to and still evaluate the dirtbag standing at the bus stop as I drove by him.

The average person though gets so involved in the phone call that they lose their sense of priority.

[patchcop]

If you want to drive a car in Germany (and most of the other european countries) don't use a cellphone while driving.

Except you have too much money with you!!! I've seen some bad accidents after the driver 1 used a CP while driving, no need to see more of them!