Talking on the phone and texting while driving?

Question

You see all over the news and on Dr. Phil about people texting and talking while driving. There are so many more things that distract your attention while driving than just a phone. What about when you are changing stations on the radio, or eating and drinking a drink. Also what about your kids arguing in the backseat or your baby screaming. There are A lot more things that distract you while you are driving than just a phone. What is everyone else's views on this subject??

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I don't like this law. I'm not someone who talks on the phone much either. Just don't like the feeling of having to use the hand-free device.

I've seen more distractions people do while driving.
Eating / mostly greasy fastfood / and then holding the steering wheel with slippery hands.
Reading / usually bible / god helps us, he's reading the bible while driving!!!
Putting make-up / shaving
Changing cloths - oops! I did that once.
Solving crossword puzzle - seriously, holding a pencil in one hand and the puzzle book on the other(and grab the steering wheel too). At a speed of ove 55 mph! - with no brain on the road!!

If talking on the phone is distracting, talking with passenger is also distracting. Then the law should ban having passenger too! Everyone should drive there own car with no passenger(here goes global warming).

Kids and pets should be ban from the car.
Radios should be illegal, etc.

I think the law came because lots of people made a stupid excuse when involve in an accident like "I was on the phone and didn't see"

While the truth may be "I was kissing my girl" or " I was eating spaghetti when the soda spill on my pants and bamm, here we are"
"On the phone" was just an excuse that was easy and comes up without thinking.
With record of this excuse going up, "The study shows" also goes that way.

If lots of people say "I was holding my breath and crash" the "The study shows" will say "holding your breath while driving will cause accident" even if that is not true.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I agree with you completly 100%. You would be shocked at how many people have been into accidents because there children are crying or fighting in the backseat and they turned around to yell at them. How do you not know some people were doing something else and they just use there cell phone asan ex

Answer 2

While distractions to a driver are hazardous, nothing is worse than taking your eyes off the road. This is required to dial a phone or text a message. Some states have enacted laws that will penalize you if you don't pull over to the shoulder or stop when using a cell phone. Don't believe it? Try using a cell phone while driving in Virginia and see what happens if you are observed by a trooper. While you are right about those other things being distractions, you don't have to take your eyes off the road. A person should know all the auxilary controls within driver reach without having to look. That is the sign of an experienced driver who knows his/her vehicle.

Answer 3

While those distractions still exist, the phone thing is not just the new one. It's the one causing the most accidents lately. Another thing is that it is still possible to do the others while watching the road. I have heard it said "I can text without looking" but I can't make myself believe that. After all, how the heck can you read the incoming text without looking at it?

Answer 4

It should be (and is in some places) illegal to talk on a hand held phone while driving. How stupid does one have to be to text while driving? Duh! People read books on the highway and put their make up on while in traffic. Fines should be raised and licenses suspended to get these menaces off the road.

Source(s):

R

Answer 5

You are correct, there are many thing that distract, and all should be illegal. But cell phones, especially texting require concentration on something far removed from driving. It's almost as bad as driving drunk. I have been nearly hit by more poeple on cells than anything else.

Answer 6

The problem isn't the text messaging , it's the driver.

If you're too stupid to understand that you shouldn't be texting, eating or whatever while driving, you shouldn't be driving.

Answer 7

Well they are all bad but the biggest distraction would have to be your phone. But if you are dumb enough to do any of those things while driving you are just askin' for an accident.

Answer 8

True, and caution is recommended for those activities, but the rate of driving accidents is higher than most of those you list.

Answer 9

it should be against the law in all 50 states it's dangerous you need to pay full attenion when driving not talking on your cell phone or texing.

Answer 10

ah? yer right.

Answer 11

"changing stations on the radio, or eating and drinking a drink. Also what about your kids arguing in the backseat or your baby screaming" yes that is also true but kids all you have to do is say knock it off and thats it no more brain power being used same with radio switch station i dont even need to look to change my stations in my truck. in my jeep i got buttons on the steering wheel that controls the radio. eating yes its a little more brain power but your not thinking about alot just take a bit and chew. now cell phone when people are talking to you. your bain is trying to drive weather your switching lanes or what ever while listening to the other person. texting same way now if you can text with out looking thats a little better but you still have to take eyes off road and read/text back. i dont mind people on the cell but if you are tail gating me while your on the cell or on the highway in the left lane going slower then everyone else. then im going to be pissed. i talk on the cell phone but i also know how to drive while talking to some one. dont ask me super hard questions because i will not be answer them. so to sum it all up if your going to talk on the cell then also learn how to drive and please dont stay in the left lane.