by David Kramer

Created on: December 11, 2007

Mobile devices have provided society with new tools and services to enhance our lives, while also bringing some age old problems to the surface. One of those problems, which existed before mobile devices, was driver distractions. Making hands-free devices mandatory are not the solution, but a treatment to the symptoms.

Mobile devices, which include cell phones, personal digital assistants, GPS receivers, laptops and more, have been labeled the catalyst for many accidents involving driver distractions. What was to blame before these devices came to be?

Forcing people to invest in hands-free technologies and opening up another way for the government to step in and control lives is not the solution. Who wants to pay $10 for a Big Mac because McDonalds now has to offer hands free feeding devices for people who eat while they drive? Who wants to pay $1500 for a newspaper with text recognition and speech synthesis because people want to pick one up at the newsstand and they cannot wait until they get home to read it? Who wants to pay an extra fee for their vehicle equipped with cameras to take pictures of the beautiful blonde walking down the street?

If hands free devices are the solution, then what will the solution be to all the many other distractions on the road that prey on the attention of drivers? The solution is not a device or technology, it is called responsibility. If a driver is not skilled enough to drive and put on make-up or smoke a cigarette, then the driver needs to have the responsibility to either pull over or wait.

Likewise, if a driver is skilled to conduct a conference call while holding a cell phone to one ear and wheel in the other hand without causing danger or harm to self or another individual or property, then that driver should have the freedom to do so. Too often we pass laws to combat ignorance, laziness, and lack of self control or responsibility.

Instead of making it mandatory for everyone to conform to the lowest common denominator, why not pass a law that certain activities like driving are allowed by those who possess the skill to drive safely? Wait, is that not what a driver's license, careless driving citations are already for?

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