NTSB Proposes Outright Ban

[JohnnyD]

It's not difficult. Instead of these individual, specific laws, just enact "Distracted Driver" legislation and enforce it. In the grand scheme of things, the issue is that the driver is not paying full attention to the road. Someone texting is probably paying just as little attention to the road as the people I see shaving, doing makeup or eating out of a container while driving.

I'm typically not for semi-broad legislation, but I think this is one situation where I'd support it (even though I'm just as guilty as the next person).

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

It's not difficult. Instead of these individual, specific laws, just enact "Distracted Driver" legislation and enforce it. In the grand scheme of thing.

Yup, I agree. Last thing we need is another Federal law.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by justplugit

Yup, I agree. Last thing we need is another Federal law.

In this case, I think the NTSB is "strongly recommending" that states adopt their suggestions. I don't believe there is any legal authority for them to mandate it at the federal level. My guess is that doing so would stomp on states' rights.

[Rockfish9]

I've been rear ended twice and side swiped once by people playing with their phones.. it wont break my heart if they ban them alltogether..

[TheSpecialist]

If they are going to crackdown on this like was said before it should be distracted driver, cover everything from dogs on laps of drivers, women putting on makeup, people reading, people eating, everything...

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

If they are going to crackdown on this like was said before it should be distracted driver, cover everything from dogs on laps of drivers, women putting on makeup, people reading, people eating, everything...

Agree. However we have had a no cell phone law down here for almost 2
years and I haven't seen a change. Problem is enforcement, hard to catch.
Being drivers licenses are a pivlidge they should be revoked on first offense.
Then people will think twice before breaing the law.
What is so important that you can't pull over to make a call?

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

I've been rear ended twice and side swiped once by people playing with their phones.. it wont break my heart if they ban them alltogether..

Think also of the many hours additionally spent on the road due to traffic jams caused by these A**holes not paying attention to their driving. Just getting in the left/middle lanes and driving 50 in 65 results in major tie ups during a commute.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

Think also of the many hours additionally spent on the road due to traffic jams caused by these A**holes not paying attention to their driving. Just getting in the left/middle lanes and driving 50 in 65 results in major tie ups during a commute.

just last night on my way home...sitting at a traffic light... I'm 4 or 5 cars back from the light...I notice the car that should be next to me back about 10'.. SLOWLY creeping up.. I look over.. she has the phone on the steering wheel eyes trained on it.. tottaly unaware of her car creeping foreward... I'd like to tell you how it ended but when the light turned green my entire lane emptied... everyone in front of her went as well.... as I exited the intersection, a glance in my side mirror as i changed lanes told me she was still sitting there at the green light....tottaly unaware that the world was passing her bye...

it doesn't take much on the road to cause an Oh $#!+ moment... I'm sure everyone has had them..I know I have.. just in a brief second while hitting a pre select on the radio when I THOUGHT i had ample room/time... luckily.. I've never suffered anything more than an accelerated heart rate... it surley helps one focus afterwards... there are alot of distractions out there.. cell phones are not the only one.. they just seem to be the one most visable right now... hell.. a tube top and mini skirt caused me to dump my bike many years ago and I was I WAS STOPPED...

[JohnR]

I look at the Hands free like a radio - maybe the radio should be banished as well

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

In this case, I think the NTSB is "strongly recommending" that states adopt their suggestions. I don't believe there is any legal authority for them to mandate it at the federal level. My guess is that doing so would stomp on states' rights.

The Feds can strongarm the states into doing anything by threatening to withhold federal highway funding if they don't comply. Remember the 55 mph limit during the first oil crisis? Another, more recent example, is the .08 OUI limit.