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Palm Blvd > News > Speak Out: Using PDAs/Cell Phones While Driving - User Opinions
Speak Out: Using PDAs/Cell Phones While Driving - User Opinions
Change Standards
Recently I switched to a cell phone with voice recognition for dialing and auto answer. I now find calling while driving much less distracting. Perhaps this feature should be mandated in all new cell phones.
Submitted by: rhhfla
Email: rhhfla@mindspring.comxxxxxxxx
Date Added: 2001-07-21
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Cellphones Pose Unique Dangers
Unlike inanimate objects such as sandwiches or lipsticks, cellphone use involves interaction with another human and - just as in person - phoners can become hysterically happy or extremely angry and these emotions can easily distract motorists to the point where driving becomes dangerous. Dept of Transportation studies showed that even the mental effort to carry on a conversation - even via a handsfree - posed a distraction.
A busy highway is not the place for multitasking.
Submitted by: digital843
Email: digital843@aol.com
Location: St. Petersburg FL
Date Added: 2001-07-18
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Beginning to be swayed
I have driven 18 wheelers "over the road", and I thought I had seen most of the worst driving habits during that time. I now am in sales and I was angered at the thought of a "new law". We have too many laws because people are no longer concerned about repecting the rights of others, just "what's good for me". Since the wireless age has become a way of life I have been appalled with scenes that unfold on the road around me. Drifting into other lanes while dialing a number at one crack, never looking at the road until the number is ringing. Lounging, spralled out across the seat as if they were in there living room, oblivious to the cars they have cut off or the people trying to cross in the crosswalks as they make right hands turns on red.
Yes, I use a cell phone, but after watching others I realize that there are alot of people who really can't do more than one thing at a time. It only takes a moment to be "REAL SORRY".
Submitted by: T. Harmon
Email: ohioharm@juno.com
Location: Cleveland, OH
Date Added: 2001-07-18
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Even hands-free is a problem
Even if everyone who spoke on the phone while driving was using a hands free model, there would still be a problem. The distraction is in having to focus on both a possibly intense conversation while driving. While you are talking on the phone your mind (and attention) are taken away from the task at hand - driving !
Submitted by: Sandra Thayer
Email: sandrat@learningtree.com
Location: Reston, VA
Date Added: 2001-07-18
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Don't misinterpret survey
The oft-quoted survey that many conclude "proves" that eating or tuning the radio is more dangerous than using the phone doesn't prove that at all. You need to consider the proportions. Suppose that at a given time, n people are using the phone while driving and 100n are eating. Suppose also that of the phone users x cause crashes and of the eaters 10x cause crashes. Wouldn't the conclusion be that phones are 10 times more harmeful than eating?Aren't these figures likely to be more in tune with reality, especially pre 2000?
Submitted by: Danny S
Email: opine@stowlake.com
Location: San Francisco
Date Added: 2001-07-17
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You can't drive one-handed for long periods of time!
Look. Driving takes two hands, simple as that. Using a cellphone is bad enough - using a PDA, where you can't see where you're going? Think about it, it's ludicrous. You don't have the authority to risk other peoples' lives, even if you're quite welcome to do what you like with your own.
This bill (and I don't know the finer points) seems to me to be an extension of what is basic common sense. If people can't figure it out for themselves, you have to get the law to do it for them. BTW, this behaviour has been illegal for years in the UK - I know, a friend was pulled over for eating an apple while driving, and I have been prosecuted for looking at a map.
Submitted by: Andrew Wood
Email: andrewwoodinchina@hotmail.com
Location: Shanghai, China
Date Added: 2001-07-16
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Bad Legislation
I disagree strongly with this legislation, wreckless driving is already against the law. All this legislation does is allow insurance complanies, law enforcement and unscrupulous people the advantage of reducing liability assigning blame.
Submitted by: B. Rosado
Email: Foyle2000@hotmail.com
Location: Westchester, NY
Date Added: 2001-07-15
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Car Seats
The most distracting thing is children in the car. Ever see a mom (or dad) turn around to look at her kid? That's unsafe if I've ever seen it. So, until they ban that, I'm taking the train.
Submitted by: HmeisterP
Email: hpressman@yahoo.com
Location: Phila., PA
Date Added: 2001-07-12
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