chicowalker

I don't think holding a phone is dangerous -- dialing is, as it requires attention and usually would require taking your eyes off the road.

Holding a phone should be no more dangerous than any other activity holding an item (a drink or snack, say), or any other driving with one hand -- which isn't ideal but also isn't much of a danger in and of itself.

PatriotsReign

People have talked to other passengers in a car for years without any major issues. Then cell phones come along and bang! Accidents and deaths abound.

Personally, I am far more focused when I'm talking to someone who is present compared to talking to someone on the phone. Especially with all the bad connections, etc. people deal with on cell phones.

There is reason this has become an issue.

Look around you on any road in any state where talking on a cell is still legal. It's become a sickness in MA! I believe people actually think driving is a good time to call someone...stupid & ignorant as that sounds.

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scout

I got to disagree with you. When the person in front of me is doing something stupid, I assume they are on a phone. I am usually right. They sit at green lights, they run red lights, etc. There are signs which ban cell phones around school property. I chat with the crossing guard who tells me stories endlessly of drivers talking on cell phones and being idiots (not stopping for kids in crosswalk). There are no signs which state no converstations with passengers, because it is not warrented.

chicowalker

umm, there have been accidents and deaths as long as cars have existed.

If anything, talking to a passenger may be more dangerous -- if you're on a headset, no reason to look elsewhere. If you're talking to a passenger, normal human behavior means you turn to look at them as you speak.

I think you're scapegoating because cell phones are the new thing, while ignoring all the bad behaviors of people with passengers, simply because we're more accustomed to the latter. (and, frankly, I think your general dislike for cell phones affects your pov on this as well)

chicowalker

I think this is saliency bias, as I alluded to with PR.

First, there's the issue of talking versus texting, dialing, etc. I have no doubt that some behaviors with phones are dangerous, texting foremost among them. That does account for some stupid behavior by drivers with phones.

But I'm talking about talking on a phone with a headset or with the phone in your hand, not dialing, etc.

I see drivers doing stupid, dangerous things all the time. Frequently they are on the phone. Frequently they are not.

PatriotsReign

The bottom-line here is that no one needs to make a phone call when they're driving. If they didn't need to do it before, they don't need to now.

I know several people who call me when they're driving somewhere...and I believe that's foolish and ignorant. And I'm being kind here too.

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chicowalker

There are a lot of things people don't need to do when they're driving. Talking on the phone is just one of them.

That's the bottom line.

PatriotsReign

You've got your bottom-line and I've got mine. Bet you make a lot phone calls from you car...

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"No one walking this earth knows what is truly righteous"

chicowalker

You'd lose that bet.

My views on things rarely have much to do with my own behavior.

In this case, I know that phones don't have to be a distraction, that they often are a distraction and that, in the end, it comes down to the driver -- which is why many other things are distractions to drivers as well.

PatriotsReign

Good for you. So if I see you driving, I won't have to yell at you to get off your phone. Something I do too often to other drivers. Throw an F-bomb in there too... "Get the F off your phone!"

Same as when I get behind someone who refuses to take a right on red. I guess some people think it's a choice....

The older I get, the fewer risks I take. Especially driving...but I admit to still driving too fast. Seems like I'm always in a hurry to go no where....and I often wonder why.

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"No one walking this earth knows what is truly righteous"