Thu Apr 26, 2012, 08:23 PM

Eugene (15,687 posts)

U.S. ban sought on cell phone use while driving

Source: Reuters

By Jim Forsyth

SAN ANTONIO | Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:13pm EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called on Thursday for a federal law to ban talking on a cell phone or texting while driving any type of vehicle on any road in the country.

Tough federal legislation is the only way to deal with what he called a "national epidemic," he said at a distracted-driving summit in San Antonio, Texas, that drew doctors, advocates and government officials.

LaHood said it is important for the police to have "the opportunity to write tickets when people are foolishly thinking they can drive safely or use a cell phone and text and drive."

LaHood has previously criticized behind-the-wheel use of cell phones and other devices, but calling for a federal law prohibiting the practice takes his effort to a new level.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/us-usa-driving-idUSBRE83Q00C20120427

87 replies, 8257 views

Thread info Bookmark this thread Trash this thread

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

87 replies	Author	Time	Post
U.S. ban sought on cell phone use while driving (Original post)	Eugene	Apr 2012	OP
How many people have been in an accident whilst arguing	2on2u	Apr 2012	#1
Ray LaHood is a Republican - the timing for this wedge issue is too coincidental.	kristopher	Apr 2012	#17
Next will have to be: no kids in the car. They're sure as hell more distracting than cell phones	williesgirl	Apr 2012	#81
Watch this video: Then tell me texting and driving is like "... {making} waffles ..."	panzerfaust	Apr 2012	#72
My failure to put a sarcasm thingy or a humor icon has left	2on2u	Apr 2012	#80
this was the first thing Hitler did	Enrique	Apr 2012	#2
Damn Nazis........	Stainless	Apr 2012	#22
I've almost gotten hit several times by drivers who were distracted with their cell phones	Art_from_Ark	Apr 2012	#3
Distracted or negligent driving can be caused by anything.	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#34
Like I said, I have been almost hit several times by drivers who are engrossed in their damn phones	Art_from_Ark	Apr 2012	#46
I have been hit. 5 times. Mostly in the city of bellevue.	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#67
I heard on the radio today	shawn703	Apr 2012	#4
I'd like to see non-anecdotal evidence that it will help.	TheWraith	Apr 2012	#5
Probably not...	Serve The Servants	Apr 2012	#7
In BC for the first year after the ban, not much	OnlinePoker	Apr 2012	#13
What states have banned cell phone use?	thesquanderer	Apr 2012	#18
Chapel Hill, NC	melm00se	Apr 2012	#41
It hasn't helped in a measurable way here in California because the law is widely ignored	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#27
Here are some statistics	bhikkhu	Apr 2012	#31
Accellerometers in the phones, which will explode above 15mph. Problem solved. (nt)	Posteritatis	Apr 2012	#42
Finally.	MiddleFingerMom	Apr 2012	#6
But, but...	Serve The Servants	Apr 2012	#8
Our state law has an exemption for 'emergency situations'.	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#35
I'd ban them. People drive like shit anyway...they don't need any help driving more shitty.	BlueJazz	Apr 2012	#9
I agree. n/t	RebelOne	Apr 2012	#19
Good. As a pedestrian OBEYING ALL LAWS I have nearly been struck by I-don't-know-how-many	kestrel91316	Apr 2012	#10
agreed.....	dhill926	Apr 2012	#24
I'm not sure but I think Los Angeles	goclark	Apr 2012	#53
".....Los Angeles is filled with CRAZY DRIVERS....." - sums it ALL up.	kestrel91316	Apr 2012	#86
You can't ban phone use in cars. Texting, yes, that should be illegal unless parked, but hands-free	truthisfreedom	Apr 2012	#11
Depends on the conversation/argument	They_Live	Apr 2012	#33
We gonna ban passengers too?	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#36
There have been studies; hands-free mobile phone use is as distracting as using a handset.	Spider Jerusalem	Apr 2012	#50
Then conversing with a passenger should be just as much so.	Occulus	Apr 2012	#60
You clearly didn't bother to read the links	Spider Jerusalem	Apr 2012	#62
There needs to be a regulation on the phones themselves.	denverbill	Apr 2012	#12
banning phones in motion...	thesquanderer	Apr 2012	#15
And?	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#26
Why in the hell would one do that?	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#37
because some people are just afraid of technology i guess..	frylock	Apr 2012	#40
Hey now, brandishing a cane while using a cell phone is a complex juggling act. (nt)	Posteritatis	Apr 2012	#43
An acceptable price for removing millions of impaired drivers from the roads	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#47
I use my phone while driving all the time.	AtheistCrusader	Apr 2012	#68
Well, possibly you are the exception to the rule, so far...	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#73
That would spoil all the fun.	Quantess	Apr 2012	#55
Hello 1984	Ter	Apr 2012	#45
It is not the phones it is the people.	Exultant Democracy	Apr 2012	#14
they will be giving tickets to the people	Enrique	Apr 2012	#23
They ought to ban arguing about cell phones while driving, while driving.	Orrex	Apr 2012	#16
This has to be the dumbest ...	JustABozoOnThisBus	Apr 2012	#32
Hopefully, our cars will drive themselves soon and it won't be an issue (NT	Eric J in MN	Apr 2012	#20
I, too, want to see this happen.	kentauros	Apr 2012	#79
Bwahahahaha! nt	ZombieHorde	Apr 2012	#21
I absolutely agree it should be banned but where in the Constitution would the federal government...	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#25
Ohhh, nobody follows that silly little document anymore. N/T	Serve The Servants	Apr 2012	#28
What is the justification for the seat belt? Airbags? Third, high mounted brakelight?	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#48
Those examples, i.e. equipment standards for cars, all involve interstate commerce	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#49
And standards for communication equipment are?	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#57
You haven't addressed the issue of federal regulation of privately owned phones being used for...	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#58
Can you make the same arguement for brake lights and airbags please?	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#61
The USES of brake lights and air bags and brake lights are regulated by state laws	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#64
I believe I addressed that, but you have still ignored federal regulation of cell phones themselves	Thor_MN	Apr 2012	#66
The Courts have long ruled, it is CONGRESS that decides what is interstate Commerce	happyslug	Apr 2012	#63
Having a certain weed growing in your yard is "interstate commerce" according to the SCOTUS..	Fumesucker	Apr 2012	#52
Yes, I've read all about Wickard v. Filburn and how expansion of federal power is based on ICC	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#54
Using a cell phone doesn't involve commerce?	Fumesucker	Apr 2012	#56
Yes, of course. Also the frequencies, power, etc. are all regulated and MUST be to avoid chaos.	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#71
Some can do it, some can't	customerserviceguy	Apr 2012	#29
AT&T and Verizon will ensure this never happens	high density	Apr 2012	#30
Then, no more talking to the control tower while piloting an airplane.	leveymg	Apr 2012	#38
Damn, you beat me to it.	PavePusher	Apr 2012	#51
Training	panzerfaust	Apr 2012	#70
Not advocating texting while driving. Talking is a different matter. Fed law? - No.	leveymg	Apr 2012	#76
How is this business of the feds?	SpartanDem	Apr 2012	#39
It isn't.	harun	Apr 2012	#65
Anything that can effect interstate commerce in any way is the business of the feds..	Fumesucker	Apr 2012	#75
Come on, there's no need to make this federal	Ter	Apr 2012	#44
Would it even be legal if the federal government tried? Just wondering.	cstanleytech	Apr 2012	#83
I'm almost convinced that he's announcing things like this	fujiyama	Apr 2012	#59
I thought most states had bans against this already. Guess i was wrong.	Lars77	Apr 2012	#69
(Raises hand) Get out of my way! Can't you see I'm on the phone?!	sofa king	Apr 2012	#74
What people are failing to realize is that	arikara	Apr 2012	#77
A simple Faraday cage around the driver's cranium would solve that problem	slackmaster	Apr 2012	#82
LOL... I know its not something most like to hear	arikara	Apr 2012	#84
Good. n/t	Fearless	Apr 2012	#78
Who enforces such a law, local law enforcement?	madville	Apr 2012	#85
I think we should have a ban on bans	Blue Hen Buckeye	Apr 2012	#87

Response to Eugene (Original post)

Thu Apr 26, 2012, 08:26 PM

2on2u (1,843 posts)

1. How many people have been in an accident whilst arguing

with their GPS device?? These will be the next things to go. After that you won't be allowed to speak to your passengers, comb your hair, adjust your seat, fiddle with the radio knobs, make waffles or gargle. Makes sense.

U.S. ban sought on cell phone use while driving

1. How many people have been in an accident whilst arguing

17. Ray LaHood is a Republican - the timing for this wedge issue is too coincidental.

81. Next will have to be: no kids in the car. They're sure as hell more distracting than cell phones

72. Watch this video: Then tell me texting and driving is like "... {making} waffles ..."

80. My failure to put a sarcasm thingy or a humor icon has left

2. this was the first thing Hitler did

22. Damn Nazis........

3. I've almost gotten hit several times by drivers who were distracted with their cell phones

34. Distracted or negligent driving can be caused by anything.

46. Like I said, I have been almost hit several times by drivers who are engrossed in their damn phones

67. I have been hit. 5 times. Mostly in the city of bellevue.

4. I heard on the radio today

5. I'd like to see non-anecdotal evidence that it will help.

7. Probably not...

13. In BC for the first year after the ban, not much

18. What states have banned cell phone use?

41. Chapel Hill, NC

27. It hasn't helped in a measurable way here in California because the law is widely ignored

31. Here are some statistics

42. Accellerometers in the phones, which will explode above 15mph. Problem solved. (nt)

6. Finally.

8. But, but...

35. Our state law has an exemption for 'emergency situations'.

9. I'd ban them. People drive like shit anyway...they don't need any help driving more shitty.

19. I agree. n/t

10. Good. As a pedestrian OBEYING ALL LAWS I have nearly been struck by I-don't-know-how-many

24. agreed.....

53. I'm not sure but I think Los Angeles

86. ".....Los Angeles is filled with CRAZY DRIVERS....." - sums it ALL up.

11. You can't ban phone use in cars. Texting, yes, that should be illegal unless parked, but hands-free

33. Depends on the conversation/argument

36. We gonna ban passengers too?

50. There have been studies; hands-free mobile phone use is as distracting as using a handset.

60. Then conversing with a passenger should be just as much so.

62. You clearly didn't bother to read the links

12. There needs to be a regulation on the phones themselves.

15. banning phones in motion...

26. And?

37. Why in the hell would one do that?

40. because some people are just afraid of technology i guess..

43. Hey now, brandishing a cane while using a cell phone is a complex juggling act. (nt)

47. An acceptable price for removing millions of impaired drivers from the roads

68. I use my phone while driving all the time.

73. Well, possibly you are the exception to the rule, so far...

55. That would spoil all the fun.

45. Hello 1984

14. It is not the phones it is the people.

23. they will be giving tickets to the people

16. They ought to ban arguing about cell phones while driving, while driving.

32. This has to be the dumbest ...

20. Hopefully, our cars will drive themselves soon and it won't be an issue (NT

79. I, too, want to see this happen.

21. Bwahahahaha! nt

25. I absolutely agree it should be banned but where in the Constitution would the federal government...

28. Ohhh, nobody follows that silly little document anymore. N/T

48. What is the justification for the seat belt? Airbags? Third, high mounted brakelight?

49. Those examples, i.e. equipment standards for cars, all involve interstate commerce

57. And standards for communication equipment are?

58. You haven't addressed the issue of federal regulation of privately owned phones being used for...

61. Can you make the same arguement for brake lights and airbags please?

64. The USES of brake lights and air bags and brake lights are regulated by state laws

66. I believe I addressed that, but you have still ignored federal regulation of cell phones themselves

63. The Courts have long ruled, it is CONGRESS that decides what is interstate Commerce

52. Having a certain weed growing in your yard is "interstate commerce" according to the SCOTUS..

54. Yes, I've read all about Wickard v. Filburn and how expansion of federal power is based on ICC

56. Using a cell phone doesn't involve commerce?

71. Yes, of course. Also the frequencies, power, etc. are all regulated and MUST be to avoid chaos.

29. Some can do it, some can't

30. AT&T and Verizon will ensure this never happens

38. Then, no more talking to the control tower while piloting an airplane.

51. Damn, you beat me to it.

70. Training

76. Not advocating texting while driving. Talking is a different matter. Fed law? - No.

39. How is this business of the feds?

65. It isn't.

75. Anything that can effect interstate commerce in any way is the business of the feds..

44. Come on, there's no need to make this federal

83. Would it even be legal if the federal government tried? Just wondering.

59. I'm almost convinced that he's announcing things like this