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Message |
    
Mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 725
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 9:50 pm: |     |
Not sure if anyone caught the small blurb in today's paper that McGreevy signed a bll which prohibits the use of cell phones without a hands-free device effective this Summer! http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-5/107466805494470.xml
Personally, I always thought this was a stupid law in NY and am disappointed it is now law in NJ. I think that DIALING is the issue, not TALKING while driving.
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jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1243
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 10:05 pm: | |
Actually many studies have found that talking--even with hands free phones--is an issue. Apparently, talking to someone not in the car with you is potentially much more distracting than talking to a passenger. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1828
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 10:19 pm: | |
I agree. Look around the train and see how many people are shutting their eyes, hiding their faces, trying to shut out distractions so that they can hear what's on the other end of the weak signal they're getting. |
Duncan
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1451
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 11:14 pm: | |
Yea but it is basically unenforceable. Since it cannot be the primary reason for the stop. You will only be ticketed if they grab you for something else, and presumably the flashing red and blues in the rear view mirror will be fair warning to hang up on Roman Gourmet and trust that they heard you say pepperoni instead of just peppers. Personally, I think if a cop sees you with a cell phone planted on the side of your head you should be flogged.
They also passed a law lowering the legal BAC from .10 to .08 effective immediately.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
Wayne Gretzky |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 79
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:21 am: | |
Re: hands free cell phones.
If you're punching in numbers (do any cell phones require dialing) how would that be considered hands free???
I'm against the use of cell phones while driving (as well as eating, applying make-up, reading maps, newspapers, etc.). But in the interest of full disclosure, I've been rear ended at a toll plaza, and when I approached the driver of the other vehicle, they asked me to wait because they were on the phone.
WRT the new BAC limits, I haven't been able to come up with one good reason against the .08% limit. (That is pretty loaded).
I DO OBJECT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLING THE STATES WHAT THEIR RESPECTIVE LAWS SHOULD BE.
Publius.
AKA, TomR. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4395
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 5:07 am: | |
MHD, try a one handed emergency lane change while chatting on the cell phone. Really exciting.  |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 338
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 5:28 am: | |
I wonder if there's a difference in talking on the phone (hands-free, let's say) and talking to other folks in the car? It's often noted that misbehaving children can be a distraction, as can intense conversation.
I'm not one to talk on the phone while driving, but in fairness, I do wonder about the above. Too, I'd be happy if they'd ban it in parking lots; too many near misses with other drivers trying to backup or otherwise negotiate a parking space while on the cell phone. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 598
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 8:29 am: | |
When the Seat Belt laws first came into effect the statistics showed that tons of drivers were not wearing seatbelts. That wasn’t true, that’s what cops were writing on the tickets. They would stop you for speeding and let you off with a cheaper fine and no points.
This year you’ll hear about how all drivers are talking on the phones without hands free devices when it really isn’t true. The cops are just not writing speeding tickets.
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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1799
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 9:48 am: | |
cynicalgirl, talking on the phone is more distracting than talking to someone in the car. This is because the person in the car, if it's an adult, can see your body language and the driving conditions. If you stop talking because you have to, the person will wait. Subconsciously, you know that the person on the phone can't, and you tend to keep talking when you shouldn't.
The reason a handsfree device helps, despite the above, is that when you hold a handset to your head, you are less likely to turn your head to look for hazards than you are if your hands are free.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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musicme
Citizen
Username: Musicme
Post Number: 433
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 9:59 am: | |
They ought to legislate those misbehaving children! |
newone
Citizen
Username: Newone
Post Number: 129
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:17 am: | |
Who is going to write a ticket to the police officer when he/she is talking on their phone? I've seen this plenty of times around many towns.
Also, in regards to police, isn't it equally distracting for them if they are using their radios to talk to HQ or other cars - especially in the middle of a chase?
Things that make you go hmmm.... |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1803
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:21 am: | |
The theory is that officers are trained professionals and are better qualified to deal with such distractions. Of course, theory and practice are not always the same, but what are we going to do, tie their hands so they can do a better job?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 334
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:22 am: | |
Brilliant! In between picking the blueberry as the state fruit , the boy governor gives us this ambiguous cell phone rule. Instead of dialing some tiny cell by raising it up into your line of sight , people will hold it down below the dash & door sills to dial , just in time for the 4th of July traffic jam on the GSP . This will result in a increase of rear end collisions . Way to go gov. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 599
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
I don't think he outlawed Dialing, you just can't hold it while talking. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1804
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:25 am: | |
jet, I think the law is heading us in the right direction. In fact, I had thought that it had been enacted about a year ago. If you disagree with it, what do you propose instead?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 335
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:34 am: | |
Hang up & drive . Everybody will just buy the cheapest plug in that goes into your ear , dialing is the problem , talking , hey I was just singing to the radio. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1805
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:39 am: | |
I can dial without looking.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 600
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:41 am: | |
I can ride my bike with no hands. |
kevin
Citizen
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 176
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 10:49 am: | |
I can pee in the dark.
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ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:01 pm: | |
I am delighted the state is at least TRYING to do something about all these lethal driving yakkers. It's unlikely they'll be able to enforce the law, but I am so sick of distracted motorists blabbing away about the toppings they want on their pizzas or the color of their kitchen tile. Let's face it: 99.99% of the time, people are talking on cellphones only because they CAN talk on their cellphones. According to my own private research study, .001 % of the time they are actually talking about something urgent, like "QUICK! GET TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT! or "COME HOME FAST - THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!"
I hate cellphones. And don't get me started on the repulsive "I am the center of the universe" cell shriekers on the Midtown Direct. |
Mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 728
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:30 pm: | |
Ligeti,
I agree completely about the drivers who use cell phones for nonsensical blabbering (especially while driving).
However, I think this law is silly because there are so many other "distractions" already out there...changing the radio station, shifting the transmission, getting money out of your pocket for a toll (if you don't have EZ Pass) etc. Holding a cell phone to your ear is no greater of a "risk".
Also, now if my cell phone rings while I drive, I pick it up & answer it. With this new law, I will first need to find my headset, plug it in, and wear it. That seems like a much greater distraction to me. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1816
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:34 pm: | |
When I get in my car, I connect my earbud to my phone and clip the cable to my seatbelt right in front of my sternum. When the phone rings, I follow my fingers down the dangling cable, find the earbud, and stick it in my ear, all without looking. Then I reach down to the phone and press the answer button, again, without looking.
I can't say, but perhaps this is too hard for others to do.
I do feel that answering a phone is more of a distraction than shifting gears or changing the radio station. I tend to want to answer the phone quickly, out of courtesy to the caller, although it's rarely as urgent as I treat it. In other words, I think we tend to be slaves to ringing phones more than to other devices that ask for our attention. And hey, a radio station doesn't ask to be changed.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 603
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:42 pm: | |
My car and phone are Bluetooth enabled. When I get in my car the phone tells the car it’s there. Nothing to plug in or anything. When the phone rings it mutes the radio and the ring sound comes out of the speakers. All I have to do is press a button on the rear view mirror and start talking. I can even set it so that the car automatically picks up after a number of rings. Seems pretty safe to me. |
vor
Citizen
Username: Vor
Post Number: 133
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:50 pm: | |
Brett
Curious how the sound is using Bluetooth. One of the complaints about using "speaker phones" in a car is the car/traffic noise. Although, I suppose this is more of an issue with the actual phones and not Bluetooth.
Just curious. |
Waldo
Citizen
Username: Discowaldo
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 1:59 pm: | |
Remember when we all didn't have cell phones and everyone got along just fine. If you're driving and your cell phone rings, it will be alrite if you dont answer it. The world will not end if a cell phone call goes to your voicemail. And if you do feel that it is urgent, feel free to stop at the next possible spot and sit in your car and call the person back. I agree that there are other distractions that are just as bad as cell phones, but just because they aren't outlawed doesn't mean that cell phone use shouldn't be. We have to start somewhere. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 604
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 2:08 pm: | |
There is two different ways that you can use Bluetooth with your phone.
The first one is just an ear piece with no wire. The main problem with this is that the battery in the earpiece is so small that it really doesn’t have that much power to send and receive. They advertise that you can talk up to 30 feet from you phone. I bet you can talk but no one would hear you. It works just as good as the wired ones if you keep the phone in you pocket though. So you have to figure out if it’s worth it to spend the extra $100 just so you don’t have the cord. The other draw back is that you have to charge the earpiece too (mine doesn’t have a car charger), so it’s a little bit of a pain.
The built in Bluetooth is the way to go. It operates off of you car battery so the reception is great. In my opinion it works better then holding the phone to my ear. The mic on the mirror is also larger then the mic on the phone and people comment on how well it sounds on the other end. Road noise is never a problem but I wouldn’t use it with the windows open.
Bluetooth is coming as an accessory with a lot of new cars and I would suggest it strongly.
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sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 877
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 2:22 pm: | |
Personal experience:
I previously had an earpiece/mike that worked very well (with a previous phone) and I always put it on and connected it to the phone before starting to drive. Then I got a new phone (due to a calling plan change that required an upgrade) and the new phone didn't work with the old device. I tried a new device but it didn't stay in my ear. I had been meaning to try to find something new, but just hadn't gotten around to it. The new law gave me the incentive to go out and do that and I think I've now found a good solution - although I haven't used it much yet.
I really hate the fact that we seem to need such laws in order to get ourselves to "do the right thing", but that seems to be where we have come and I am guilty as described above. If more of us would do those "right things" we might have fewer of these laws that are so aggravating to people. |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 153
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 10:20 pm: | |
According to a University of Toronto study last year or the year before, drivers were 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident if they were talking on their cell phone. That's pretty sobering, especially when you assume most were not "come home quick the house is on fire" calls but rather "I don't know; what do you want for dinner" or "I just passed exit yakkety yak".
There is a major intersection and crosswalk near our house and I can't tell you how often the cars who do not stop at the crosswalk are being driven by people talking on cellphones. I'm not a Luddite - my husband and I have had cellphones for several years - but the inane chatter and rude behaviour they seem to bring out in people is obnoxious. (And that is even worse in Europe where they are ubiquitous.)
/Another disgruntled Midtown Direct passenger tired of hearing one-sided conversations. |
Duncan
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1469
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 9:13 am: | |
quote:However, I think this law is silly because there are so many other "distractions" already out there...changing the radio station, shifting the transmission, getting money out of your pocket for a toll (if you don't have EZ Pass) etc. Holding a cell phone to your ear is no greater of a "risk".
That was a joke right?
From past posts you seem a little smarter than to really believe that shifting is distracting. Or the other 'examples' you provide. From my experience on the Parkway people who do not have ready access to change for the tolls, park in the plaza and diligently search for their money while waiting there causing no other danger than pissing me off for not having their money ready.
Changing radio stations??? Do you actually put that on the same level of risk as talking to someone who may well be pissing you off so much that you lose sight of the PRIMARY REASON YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL WHICH IS TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE.. BY LAW (in many states) CONSIDERED A DEADLY WEAPON.
Get off the phone. Listen to a CD and get EZ-PASS
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
Wayne Gretzky |
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