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Governments around the globe are worried about drivers who pay excessive attention to cell phones while driving, and that is why most of them have decided to ban hand held cell phone communication while driving; however, headsets, car-kits, and cases are a few of the vast amount of devices and assortments available for drivers who are tired of carrying the cell phone while driving or just concerned about the penalty for use it behind the wheel. So, few States are talking of stepping forward and enforce the use of hands free devices, so each driver, who owns a cell phone, will be required to have one.

I believe that whereas having a hands free device is most of the times of great help, especially if you drive a stick shift vehicle, it should be up to the driver to decide whether to put something on his/her head, ear, or just scream at the phone on the dashboard. It is simply a matter of comfort having your hands free, but I am so used to drive while speaking on the phone, that I do not need that help. I used to have a headset but I grew tired of it soon since it made my head and ear hurt. So, my wife got me a new one, with extra cushion. Although it was great at the beginning, I had one more thing to be worried about every morning before work. So it was my phone, suitcase, company card, keys and "the thing" which I accidentally had brought into the house the night before.

One day when driving back from work I received a call and I was not able to find the headset, so after I almost dive into the ditch, I had to pull over and look into the back seat and under the front seats, until I realized that I had pulled over and I could just pick up and talk. I decided that I would not need "the thing" any longer. I concluded that the decision should be up to me, if I want to pull over to speak, great, if I am responsible enough to handle the phone and tell the caller that I will call back once I get home, even better. I usually face heavy traffic everyday, so, under the new law, I would be forced to use the hands free device, which I hate, in the middle of an already unpleasant situation.

California is the first State to pass a bill which became law on the issue of driving with both hands and to enforce hands-free devices while driving. This is the strictest approach to contribute with safety in the roads; however, drivers are allowed to handle the phone in case of emergency. I believe that it should be an option to the driver, not a rule, and all drivers should be held accountable for the way the use cell phones while driving. If a driver needs to make a U turn, for instance, while on the phone and causes an accident, common law, should make an example and punish the irresponsible driver, but overall, this was the driver's choice. It is a matter of giving responsibility to the driver, not treating them like a 12 years old kid.

If the problem is that we need two hands to drive then people should not be able to carry iPods, Mp3, remote controls for the Cd player, etc. I believe that enforcing such law is ridiculous. People need to be accountable for what they do and how they do it.

Currently, 14 countries in Europe have a ban on hand-held cell phones while driving, encouraging drivers to use hands free devices or pull over to speak; however, no proposal has been put forward to make this choice a rule. I have talked to friends in Germany and Italy and although it is banned to use the cell phone while driving, the police will not fine them if there is rush hour and they get a call while stuck in traffic. So I think that flexibility from the authorities is important, too many laws just bring more stress into our already technological complex lives.

Learn more about this author, Javier Luque.
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