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| Yes | 69% | 3500 votes | Total: 5105 votes | |
| No | 31% | 1605 votes |
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Cell phone usage without a hands-free attachment should be banned from use while driving. It is very rare that I will take a position of encouraging interference from the law, but manthe things I have seen, very unfortunate. In some states cell phones have been banned, but with little impact. It is amazing to me how the law must often step in to society when the intrusion could be avoided if we just exhibited consideration for each other.
Last summer, as I pulled out of a parking space, I almost ran into another car. Inside this car, there was a woman driving while smoking a cigarette with one hand and talking on her cell phone with another. There was a young teenager in the passenger seat. I braked, she braked. I accelerated, she accelerated. This comedic act was repeated a few times before I rolled down the window and yelled, "Get off your cell phone". She responded, "shut-up dickhead". She was not only a class act, but also a role model mother.
About six months ago, I was driving to work early in the morning. The car in front of me was swerving pretty crazily. I couldn't see anyone in the driver's seat. It wasn't a busy street and it was very early, so rather than honk, I watched. Suddenly, a rather large female head appeared with a cell phone plastered to her head. I couldn't believe it. This woman apparently had dropped something and while driving and talking on her phone, she attempted to retrieve whatever she dropped.
A few months ago, I was crossing a bridge. The speed limit on this bridge is about 45 miles per hour. As I paid the toll, I noticed the driver in front of me was distracted. As we approached the bridge, this person was backing up traffic at a speed of about 25 miles per hour. As I passed him, I glanced over and he was having a full-on conversation on his cell phone. I guess I should mention, the car was a Mercedes and it was around 7PM. those damn business happy hours that continue into the drive home.
A few weeks ago, I was behind, I think a Lexus, that had a few people in the car. Apparently, the driver was so leaned back in his seat, that you can barely see him from the rear. Traffic easily rolled by him. When it was my turn to pass, I glanced over and I swear this guy was so leaned-back comfortable and talking on his cell phone that he might as well have been in his pajamas drinking a Martini. I was actually a bit impressed.
A few weeks ago, on a narrow street with many driveways, I barely avoided an accident. It had been raining and the streets were slippery. Thankfully and luckily, I had made a conscious decision to drive the speed limit. Suddenly, a car tore out of one of the driveways cutting me off. I was able to stop without incident because I have learned to keep an eye on the driveways of this street. The driver was, of course, on his cell phone.
I have seen police officers talking on their cell phones as they drove past me.
Apparently, no-one is completely innocent or immune to the moment-club. Moment people thrive on technology and are evolved by technology. We've become a society of moment people that thrive on immediacy. The issue shouldn't be so much about a ban, but rather about common sense and considerationsomethi ng greatly lacking in our modern society.
Learn more about this author, Jose Astorga.
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No
The fact is there are many dangers to drivers on the road, but technology is making it where a driver does not have to use their hands to use the phone, some vehicles already have voice active calls in the car! We all know some drivers can not talk on the phone and drive, but some drivers cant use their mirrors or drive in reverse either. Taking rights from people is not the answer. We as a society have to stop making laws just for the heck of it. There are other ways to imporve the quality of the driving experience other than limiting what a driver can and cannot do. As a driver you can talk to the passengers in the vehicle, and a hands-free set or other tech device creates the same scenario.
We have restrictions on drivers who must waer eyeglasses, restrictions for all sorts of other "possible" dangers to drivers. The idea is we should have more stringent drivers testing, if you can not drive a quarter mile in reverese you likely should not have a liscence. You should be able to fully operate your vehicle, not just be able to drive down the road. Everytime we decide to limit what drivers can do we are simply setting a precedent for lawmakers to creat further and further restrictions. This applies for more than just driving as well.
The main point here is that you do not take away the rights of all because the inability of a few. Why should every driver have those rights revoked because some other driver does not have the capacity to drive and talk? Some people just do not have the capacity to perform two actions at once. but we have not made it illegal to walk and chew gum just because a few people of walked out in front of traffic and got hit by a car. We have not made it illegal when those semi trucks ride 15 feet off the back of a small car going 70 miles an hour. These are the types of actions that need to have restrictions, and the ones who can not follow the riules need to have the restrictions, a blanket law simply is not the answer. The point is, there are many dangers on the road, and we always have to remain vigilant in our driving.
This country was founded in the idea to have a free society, and part of the balance of freedom is that we all have to accept some actions that we may not agree with ourselves. Each and every person cannot have it their way, because we would eventually restrict everything. We each have to choose which activities we participate in and be aware of those who do not make the same choices.
Learn more about this author, HatedNation.
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