Do you use a cellphone in California?

[giza]

If you do, cellphone usage while driving is about to become illegal starting on July 1st. This video explains more:

The key points of the new law are:

- It is illegal to use your phone while driving, unless you are calling emergency services our doctor.

- Drivers can be pulled over just for talking on the phone.

- Hands free devices, such as bluetooth headsets, are still allowed.

Comments

[shenryyr.livejournal.com]

they've already been pulling people over for it and explaining the law change coming up soon.

I even got pulled over while using my bluetooth earpiece, the cop said he saw me put my hand to my ear. that's how the earpiece answers phone calls, initializes voice dialing, and anything else. that's just how it works.

his response?

get a new earpiece.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

Not entirely sure I agree with the concept of allowing hands-free devices. You're still being distracted by a phonecall - research shows it's that which is the killer (talking to the driver doesn't help much either).

Of course, it would be hard to prosecute against them, which might be why they were allowed. Still .. . .

[kuddlepup.livejournal.com]

I think it'd be the same logic as being distracted by a passenger talking to you in the car or by singing to a radio.

In-car audio distractions are already there, it's the act of taking hands off the wheel that adds an extra level of danger.

[simbab.livejournal.com]

Not really. I'm no neurologist, but if you've ever tried to multitask while talking on the phone vs. talking to someone face-to-face, you'll know that they probably shouldn't be allowing handsfree devices either. For some reason when there's not a face there our brains have to work double to process the conversation.

I suspect they allow handsfree devices because let's face it, people need to talk on the phone every now and again (some more than others), and an outright ban is not practical—it would lead to even more disregard for these kinds of laws than there already is*. You at least have a legal option for talking on the phone, which makes it easier for prosecutors and defending the law in court ("you could have been using a handsfree device").

* New York State has a similar law, and it is widely ignored.

[mrianti.livejournal.com]

but the passenger can see the cars stopped in front of you and scream :)

person on the other end of the phone could care less ;)

[smack-jackal.livejournal.com]

I'm not holding my breath on this one, I'm sure some twink on a cell phone is still going to try to merge into me while yammering away law or no law. A lot of California's drivers have entitlement issues.

[ex-purpleca.livejournal.com]

And if you have a problem with that, you should get offa MY road! D:


;)

[mapdark.livejournal.com]

They applied a similar law here.

I don't see how you can both drive and talk on a phone .. I would not be able to..

[carlfox.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea, myself. Too bad the Florida legislature was too busy worrying about decimating the tax base to deal with it this session...

[simbab.livejournal.com]

I guess my reaction to laws like this is "meh". New York State has a similar law, and it really doesn't change people's behavior. I think people see it as an acceptable risk, sort of like going 5 mph (or more) over the speed limit. You could get a ticket, but then a cop would have to see you, and you'd have to not see the cop (so in a way, the law did change behavior—people drop the phone in their lap when they see a cop in the turnaround on the highway, then pick it up and resume talking once they've gone by). I'm not arguing against the law, I just don't think anyone should have any expectation that it is going to lead to large-scale behavioral changes in drivers. Enforcing laws like these to the point of making them truly effective requires too much police presence. Something that, if a locale even has the funding necessary, police would be reluctant to do because it would cultivate a reputation for being overbearing and pedantic.

[rexxwolfe.livejournal.com]

ive almost been in serious accidents by idiots using cellphones while driving I fully support a ban on use of non hands free devices while driving. I may get a ring while in the car and the conversations very brief i uslaly say Im driving ill call you back. Ive even told my boss in my winter jobs yes i didnt answer its snowing out and my hands are staying on the wheel.

[colinstu.livejournal.com]

"You're still being distracted by a phonecall"

QFT

I don't live in a state that makes cellphone use illegal while driving, but c'mon people... common sense!

[liontaris.livejournal.com]

Nova Scotia did that a few months ago. The first day, they pulled a lot of people over. But now people are used to it. They actually offered an incentive to get the bluetooth headsets.

[espilonarge.livejournal.com]

That laws been in affect for years here in Australia and have made the roads allot more safer.

While some people don't agree that using hands-free sets are just as unsafe, you have to remember that when driving you're meant to have "both" hands on the wheel at all times (less changing gears) which means theirs less of a distraction.

Truck drivers, police, ambulances and such require a radio to be on at all times to be provided with important information (namely head-quarters giving details of the required location they're needed at). The only time they put themself at risk is by picking up the hand-microphone but they're given allot more lee-way due to the sheer importance of communication between their fellow members/drivers.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Would you happen to have any statistics on accidents and fatalities handy?

I don't doubt you, I'm just curious as to how big the drop was. (And if there were any other factors involved, such as better education, stricter penalties for drunk driving, etc.) Thanks!

[espilonarge.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I don't have any statistics. Best to look it up on the net for Australian mobile car accidents or something.

As for how strick penalty driving is for being drunk or a better education system, its a mixed ball on that one.

Generally if you're caught by a booze-bust, you'll lose several points from your license and be fined, you'll also be sent home by taxi as you're to dangerous to be on the road. They've also introduced a new system that can detect if you have drugs in my body (swipe your tounge which is tested) and if you're caught, you'll instantly lose your license.

With the education system, I couldn't be sure in this day and age. Generally I left through the middle of year-11 because a bunch of little bastards kept harassing me day-in-day-out everytime I went there. I was then put on the unemployed list 3 weeks later but when I came in, they tested me and declared me as "unfit for work" since my social schools were a total wreck.

Sorry but that happened back almost 10 years ago so I can't really remember how far schools have progressed since then. I've been left with bitter years because of that.

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

Yay me! I have good car habits. I never talk on my cellphone while driving. I always fasten my seat belt when I get in. I always use my turn signal when changing lanes... well, almost always. I always turn on the A/C when I get into the car (that's not a law, that's just a necessity here in Texas to keep from melting into a puddle of sweat).

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

It's about time. Now, if they would just ban all the other things...watching DVD movies, and shaving, and reading the newspaper have also been done before...