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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on September 15, 2006, 11:50:10 PM

Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Ripsnort on September 15, 2006, 11:50:10 PM
Quote
SACRAMENTO — California will become the fourth state in the country to ban motorists from holding cellphones while driving under legislation Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he will sign into law today.


Another example of your rights being stripped away by oppressive government? :huh ;)
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Blooz on September 16, 2006, 12:20:09 AM
Don't like it?

Change it!
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: rpm on September 16, 2006, 01:18:53 AM
Smart move! Everyone knows people holding a phone are a traffic hazard. Technology has reached the point that holding a phone is obsolete.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Hornet33 on September 16, 2006, 08:39:48 AM
I hate people that talk on their cells while driving. Talking is more important than checking their mirrors and useing their turn signals so they just change lanes and come on over. I don't know how many times I've almost been in an accident because of that.

Hell yeah make it illegal. It's not taking anyones rights away. Driving isn't a right...it's a privledge.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 16, 2006, 10:31:49 AM
In my opinion... this is pretty stupid and nanny..

The real problem with cell phones isn't holding them it is talking on em... the disconect that (most) people experiance while talking on the phone..

not surprisingly... it is the cell phone companies that sell the new and expensive bluetooth and such equipment who were all for the new law.

It's a joke as usual... the good thing is... the more laws they make like this the closer people come to telling em to go climb a tree.

More lawbreakers is a good thing.  

They will have time to arrest cell phone users but not those who hire illegal aliens?

See how it works guys?

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Sixpence on September 16, 2006, 10:36:28 AM
I wouldn't call it nanny, it's to protect other people, not yourself. It's like drinking and driving.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Goomba on September 16, 2006, 10:45:48 AM
Lazs is right, in that the real danger is not holding the phone, it's any form of distracted driving that's dangerous.  I read somewhere that talking on the phone, or searching tracks on the CD player, or whatever...reduces driving response time to that of a person in their 70's.

'Hands-free' legislation just garners the dumb-arse votes for short-sighted, ill-informed politicians.  It doesn't make us safer.

Distracted driving laws...maybe...

Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: expat on September 16, 2006, 11:07:47 AM
Holding it or talking on it ..what ever ! it's not nannying you , you shouldnt be doing it , it dangerous for the other road user's or are you to busy on yr mobile to notice them?.....
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: FUNKED1 on September 16, 2006, 11:19:47 AM
Government should only step in when one person is harming another.  Holding a phone harms no one.  

If I hold my phone and crash into somebody, then fine, prosecute the crap out of me.

If I hold my phone (as I always have and will) and don't  have any accidents, then leave me the hell alone!
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: expat on September 16, 2006, 11:23:14 AM
But when you do ..and god forbid kill someone??? then what ...
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Flatbar on September 16, 2006, 11:42:49 AM
This law won't be in effect until 08', can't come soon enough. I've had 3 close encounters w/ cell drivers this month, two of them on the freeway tried to pull into my lane w/o looking back over their shoulder. The other just ran a stop sign while yaking, after my horn woke him up he just waved and continued yaking.

I just hope the enforcement of this new law actualy has some effect in reducing the numbers of these bozo's.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: wooley on September 16, 2006, 11:59:59 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Flatbar
I just hope the enforcement of this new law actualy has some effect in reducing the numbers of these bozo's.



The fine's only $20 so I doubt it.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 16, 2006, 12:01:01 PM
So what do you do when the lady with the bluetooth in her ear slams into the back of you while in a conversation induced comma?

I have seen the people with hands off devices driving like drunks allready.   They aren't gonna get any better ....

This law solves nothing and makes things no less dangerous for anyone.

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: expat on September 16, 2006, 12:29:28 PM
How do you know they have hands off devices ? You in the car with em ???
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: BTW on September 16, 2006, 12:35:08 PM
If it irritates only one of the idiots that veer into my lane while waxing idiocy on their cell phone, hell I say its worth it.:aok
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: FUNKED1 on September 16, 2006, 02:42:51 PM
Quote
Originally posted by expat
But when you do ..and god forbid kill someone??? then what ...


Then you punish them.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 16, 2006, 03:01:31 PM
Ok expat.. they may just be talking to themselves with one of those things stuck in their ear....

Then again.. the guys holding a cell phone may be talking to themselves and not talking on the phone.

Funked is right...  if you are caught doing something wrong deal with it then.

Oh..  I rarely talk on a cell phone in the car or motorcycle (natch)  2 of my three cars are way too loud.

I don't like the way cell phone drivers drive but don't see it as being a dexterity issue so much as a conversation induced coma issue.

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: john9001 on September 16, 2006, 03:22:09 PM
lazs is right, if your going to drive , then drive, if you want to talk, stop and talk.

driving is not a part time job.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: SIK1 on September 16, 2006, 08:11:57 PM
Hurrah!
It's about time. I'm sick of people talking on the phone when they should be driving. They are a menace to me and others that use the roads. It has been proven that it is as dangerous as driving drunk.
So hang the funk up and drive.

SIK1
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Debonair on September 16, 2006, 10:53:31 PM
does that mean its OK for me to drive drunk as long as i dont use the phone?:O :O :O :rofl :rofl :cool: :cool: :aok :O
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Tarmac on September 17, 2006, 12:01:55 AM
Nanny state loving commie bastards.  Until I cause an accident, I've done nothing wrong.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: BlkKnit on September 17, 2006, 08:32:35 AM
yeah.....prevention is a stoopid idear
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 17, 2006, 10:34:13 AM
you guys are missing the point.  

I see no difference between hands on or hands off cell phone use.

If talking on the cell phone is so dangerous then simply make it illegal under any circumstances.... then.. like england... make eating in the car illegal or drinking water....

If that still isn't enough make listening to the radio illegal or talking to passengers... If that still doesn't work....

make it illegal to drive poorly.

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: BTW on September 17, 2006, 04:10:37 PM
I look at it this way, a law like that would have no effect on me. It would only affect and irritate those who tend to irritate me - those soccer moms blabbing on the cell phone while drifting in my lane or doing 25 mph on the interstate. Now I say, if they have a stereo blasting while on the cell phone, multiple bill them and send them up for life! :D
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Vulcan on September 17, 2006, 06:04:28 PM
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
you guys are missing the point.  

I see no difference between hands on or hands off cell phone use.


Actually lazs unless you're some kind of 3 armed freak theres a big difference. It takes one arm/hand out of action. The differences I notice when I use my BT headset is I can look around properly, I can have full control of the wheel, gears, and indicate properly when turning.

FYI I use a BT headset not because I'm forced too but because I know it is heaps safer.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 18, 2006, 09:21:49 AM
lots, most, people drive one handed in any case.  It is not the holding of the cell phone that is the problem.

It is the conversation coma that talking on the phone causes... if you are driving and talking on the phone...

You are impaired... you are risking your life and everyone around you.   I see no functional difference between drunks and cell phone users.

driving with a cell phone in your ear instead of a mic clipped to it does not cause you to weave and change speeds like a drunk.

What causes that is trying to "make your point" in some useless phone conversation.

This will help no one but the sponsors... the guys who sell hands off equipment.

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Goomba on September 18, 2006, 09:43:01 AM
FUNKED..I think you have the right idea, but are perhaps misapplying it.

There is a standard of ethics which revolves around the concept of "other-directed harm".  Meaning, as you stated, that society (not just government) has a right to intervene in an individuals behavior which puts other individuals at risk they did not accept.

The problem with your stance is that distracted driving actually IS "other-directed harm" as a result of the inherent danger involved...just the same way that drunk driving is.

We legislate behavior concerning alcohol, because it is not always a private risk...aggression, drunk driving, etc... are alcohol related aggravated risks that give society the right to intervene.

Talking on the phone AT HOME is not, so should not be subjected to the same intervention.  Neither is talking on the phone on the sidewalk, or outside the restaurant (where it belongs, BTW), etc...

In the car, you become a danger to yourself and everyone around you, and prosecuting you after you've killed my wife and kids won't be good enough.

Much as we don't want to give up the right to chatter anytime, anyplace...we've gotta realize that there is a time and place for everything.  The car ain't a good place of for most of 'em...
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Ripsnort on September 18, 2006, 02:13:41 PM
Personally, I think if you are going to  ban cell phones, then ban conversation in automobiles, ban CB Radios, ban eating, ban putting make up on (sorry lazs..) ban  kids in cars (they are 10 times more distracting than a cell phone conversation) ban anything except being silent and having 2 hands on the wheel.

Now, I don't personally use a cell while driving (I pull over) but I think you cannot just single out one source of distraction while driving. Eating is far more dangerous because Funked is constantly looking down to  see if that tartar sauce from his 5th Fillet-O-Fish has dripped down into  his crouch.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Tarmac on September 18, 2006, 02:32:23 PM
Why is it that police officers are so superhuman that they can talk on a radio and operate a computer while driving at speeds over the limit and likely tailgating someone?  Yet all of the citizens of this country are somehow too dumb to make a judgement as to whether it's a safe and appropriate time to use a phone?

And don't say it's training... nobody's ever trained me how to talk, type, and drive at the same time.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Vulcan on September 18, 2006, 03:00:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
lots, most, people drive one handed in any case.  It is not the holding of the cell phone that is the problem.


Errr no. Its the driving one handed AND having a cellphone pinned to your ear. It restricts your head movement. Unlike a bottle of drink people will not put down a cellphone mid-conversation to indicate.

Rip they're not banning cellphones, they're just telling you to use em in a handsfree mode which is a hell of a lot safer.

Or are you guys so broke spending all your $$$$ on guns and ammo that you can't afford a crappy little $20 Bluetooth headset?
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Ripsnort on September 18, 2006, 03:03:42 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Vulcan
Errr no. Its the driving one handed AND having a cellphone pinned to your ear. It restricts your head movement. Unlike a bottle of drink people will not put down a cellphone mid-conversation to indicate.

Rip they're not banning cellphones, they're just telling you to use em in a handsfree mode which is a hell of a lot safer.

Or are you guys so broke spending all your $$$$ on guns and ammo that you can't afford a crappy little $20 Bluetooth headset?


So why not suggest feed bags while eating and driving, last I checked you can't move your head while mashing a Big Mac down your throat.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Heater on September 18, 2006, 03:12:58 PM
Good move... now if the rest of the world would do the same!.

But I am a bit bias on the whole thing ...Cell phones in cars should be banned all together.

A very good friend & his wife were killed in an accident because of some dumb **** trying to talk and drive at the same time he dropped the phone and looked down to pick it up... and crossed over the center line at 120 Kph... The result is a 6 year old with out both parents and a 22 year old dumb **** that has to live with the fact for the rest of life (30 years of it behind bars) I guess it was a real important phone call.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: lazs2 on September 19, 2006, 09:09:01 AM
I was a juror in a case where a kid got killed because he was changing the station on the radio.

It happens all the time.   How can we stop that?   any suggestions?

lazs
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Jackal1 on September 19, 2006, 09:37:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
I was a juror in a case where a kid got killed because he was changing the station on the radio.

It happens all the time.   How can we stop that?   any suggestions?

lazs


Ban radio stations other than government owned and informative as to what the gov wishs us know. All with locked in channels.
:D
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Heater on September 19, 2006, 09:54:38 AM
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
I was a juror in a case where a kid got killed because he was changing the station on the radio.

It happens all the time.   How can we stop that?   any suggestions?

lazs


Well if you are in a Car then you should be paying 100% attention to driving... full stop.

if you want to mess around with the radio etc... pull over!.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Speed55 on September 19, 2006, 10:08:04 AM
Ban stupid people from driving.

I mean in all seriousness, if i'm driving and my cell phone rings, i can make a decision as to taking the call or just let it ring and get a voicemail.  
Same thing goes for eating. I know that when i take a bite of the burger, hero or whatever, that theres a good chance that half the food between the bread is going to fly out the other side, ending up on my lap, and distracting me from the road.  
What about trying to sip super hot coffee on a pot hole road, spilling it and burning myself and then blaming the coffee for being too hot, when i crash into someone.

Conversation coma -  I need to turn right, so i'll signal left. I need to merge into the left lane, so i'll just turn the wheel and not check my mirrors. I'll hear a funny joke and laugh looking at the roof of the car, and swerve from lane to lane like a *******.  Oh no, i was supposed to get off at that exit, so i'll just stop on the highway even though i was going 60mph and back up.. .

That last one was the scariest, i almost rearended the moron, but i was watching her, and KNEW she was going to do it.



Ban stupid people from driving.
Title: Re: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Hawco on September 19, 2006, 10:31:12 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort
Another example of your rights being stripped away by oppressive government? :huh ;)

Thinks it's another example of safety behind the wheel being brought in.
I live in California and I'm 100% for it, if this saves even 1 life then it's good enough for me.
Mind you, some of the right wing death cult types on here will say that it's a UN conspiracy destryoing the US from within...;)
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: ROC on September 19, 2006, 10:44:25 AM
Ban Ashtrays, Cup Holders, Radios, and Passengers. All of those require the use of your hands and distract from the act of Driving.  For that matter, Drive Through Windows must go as well.   Ban roadside signs as you have to be distracted away from the road to read it.  The cute chicks holding a beer are a definate distraction, but not nearly as confusins as the question mark sign with a slash and double dot that is supposed to show you how to get around that traffic calming device in the middle of the road.  

Buttons and Nobs have got to go, speaking of technology, you should be able to say "wiper on" instead of look for the lever while driving on Wet Roads.

Why are our supposed Leaders listening to these nancy boys whining because someone is on the PHONE?
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: ROC on September 19, 2006, 10:47:44 AM
Quote
was a juror in a case where a kid got killed because he was changing the station on the radio.


Sue the radio station, that'll fix em.

It's not the kids fault the song sucked and he had to change the station.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Nilsen on September 19, 2006, 10:51:23 AM
Driving and talking on cellphones have been forbidden for years here. You have to use a _fixed_ hands-free system.

Hated it _real bad_ when it came, but after seeing less idiots (mosly young wimmin) talking and fixing their face while driving im sorta pleased with it. Now they just fix their face while driving.

 Best thing would be to ban wimmin in traffic. ;)
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Nightshift82 on September 19, 2006, 10:59:19 AM
Cell phones were banned before I moved out of New York state, I like the law.  But also I've never owned a cell phone and I don't intend on getting one in the future.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: john9001 on September 19, 2006, 04:18:48 PM
we don't need to ban cell phones, we need to teach people how to drive.

if you can't talk on the phone,smoke a cig, drink a beer, tune the radio, shift gears, and drive all at the same time you need driver re-training.
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: x0847Marine on September 19, 2006, 04:53:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by FUNKED1
Government should only step in when one person is harming another.  Holding a phone harms no one.  

If I hold my phone and crash into somebody, then fine, prosecute the crap out of me.

If I hold my phone (as I always have and will) and don't  have any accidents, then leave me the hell alone!


Exactly. Politicians quite literally pass laws to get their name in the paper, or bow to some lobby. Was there some recent wholesale slaughter by cell chatters I missed?.. what made this such a pressing issue?

In Ca are already required by law to buy insurance from a private company. The alternative was a  "pay at the pump" system where everyone on the road was covered and those who drive the most, paid the most. It failed because the insurance lobby crushed it with $$.

Now we have scores of people who cant afford it but drive anyway because food won't magically appear on the table unless they drive to work. So we occasionally catch these folks and tax them with fines; the Govt gets more $$ via citations, the insurance companies get untold billions in new business.

Same thing with cell phones, the wireless interest lobby $$ stepped in and got their law passed... police will tax offenders with citations and the wireless phone peeps get untold millions in new business.

Am I detecting a pattern here? that our 'leaders' are passing laws forcing us to do business with selected private companies? or are they (hahahaha!!) just trying to protect us?
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: Vulcan on September 19, 2006, 06:22:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort
So why not suggest feed bags while eating and driving, last I checked you can't move your head while mashing a Big Mac down your throat.


To be honest I've never come across people doing this, whereas I've come across people driving badly due to the cellphone-glued-to-ear thing A LOT.

Drinks, turning on the radio, chocolate bars etc do not detract you for a long extended period of time. The numpties I see with cellphones are usually engaged in a conversation over several minutes during which they seem to be totally oblvious to everyone else on the road, fail to indicate or look properly when changing lanes.

Is it that hard to use a Bluetooth headset that costs less than $20 rippy?
Title: Cali must hang up and drive
Post by: x0847Marine on September 19, 2006, 06:47:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort
So why not suggest feed bags while eating and driving, last I checked you can't move your head while mashing a Big Mac down your throat.


There was already a law on the books that cops could use to cite unsafe cell phone chatters / eaters / make-up fixers; 22350CVC - Unsafe speed.  I know it works because I've done it.. this was way back in the early 1990s

If I saw some fool gett'n a BJ, chatting, doing make-up or eating AND driving like poop, the prima facia speed for that particular vehicle is ZERO, 0 MPH. Even if they were only going 20 in a posted 35 MPH zone, what they were doing at the time put them 20MPH over the "safe speed".

So whats the point of a specific cell phone law? all they've done is allow the police one more reason to pull you over. Before you had to be chatting AND driving bad, now just holding a phone gives them probable cause.

Plus the fines will be higher and we are forced to buy from a select few private companies.

Some political hacks got their names in the paper and did their lobbiest buddies a solid.. leaving you and I out to hang.