California bans holding cell phones when driving

[brainsmile]

OAKLAND, California (Reuters) - California on Friday banned motorists from talking on cell phones unless they use a headset or speakerphone, although the law will not take effect until July 1, 2008, to allow time to educate the public.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060916/pl_nm/life_california_cellphones_dc

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who signed the measure, urged Californians not to wait until then to put down their phones while driving, citing government data showing those who held their phones while driving were involved in 15 times more accidents than those with hands-free setups.

"The simple fact is that it is really dangerous to talk on a cell phone and drive at the same time," Schwarzenegger said. "It's very important for people to know ... stop using the cell phone right now, because you are putting people at risk."

Schwarzenegger joked he told his teenage daughter he would take her car away for years if he caught her talking on the phone while driving. "I said I will be driving behind you sometimes and you will not know. I will be spying," he said.

Violators will be fined $20 the first time they are caught and $50 the second time. The new law makes exemptions for those placing emergency calls while driving.

Several other states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, have similar bans. California, with 37 million people, is the most populous U.S. state

[hapoo]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Only case i could see holding a cell phone would be dangerous is if your driving a stick shift.

[MikeD]

Only case i could see holding a cell phone would be dangerous is if your driving a stick shift.

Or in diverting your attention from the road...and that would be every call made.

This is a good law. More states will follow suit, soon it will be the standard.

[Sirrich3]

Better get me a Hands free device!

[KIISQueen]

Better get me a Hands free device!

Yes you better Sir, I only use my cell when I really need to use it.

[hapoo]

Or in diverting your attention from the road...and that would be every call made.

This is a good law. More states will follow suit, soon it will be the standard.


I don't see how it would be any different than talking to a passenger.

[MikeD]

I don't see how it would be any different than talking to a passenger.

I didn't know you touched every passenger who rode with you. ;)

[zippyjuan]

About time. But the penalties are so small that I do not think it will be enough of a deterent for many drivers.

[Markel]

Allowing hands-free is a minimal improvement, at best. Handheld or hands-free, you are distracted the same amount when talking. If they were serious about this, they would outlaw driving and talking on the phone, but that would spark too great an outrage.

[Yossarian]

NY did this years ago

[hapoo]

I didn't know you touched every passenger who rode with you. ;)


only you MikeD... only you :P

[Paniolo]

Too little....too late. They need to impose even stricter guidelines, for vehicular cell phone use:deal:

[raimin]

:rolleyes: :shrug:

also should make laws about doing anything else while driving...
eating, drinking, heck changing the stereo

[Kevster]

I have seen direct evidence of distracted driving while yapping on a cell phone and it has done nothing but infuriate me. I have nearly been hit 6 times by people talking on their cell phones because they were in their SUV monstrosity and weren't paying attention when they were making a lane change. Too many times have I seen people going much slower than the flow of traffic, forcing people to maneuver around them like they were a boulder in a river because they were sitting in their car with their cell phone to their ear instead of driving like they should. I'm not kidding here. I have had a hands-free for my phone for years and only call/accept calls when it is safe to do so while on the road. This law is waaay too late in coming. Many european countries have laws against cell phone use while driving; Ireland has had one on the books for over 6 years. People need to re-learn the fact that they need to focus on driving when behind the wheel.

[Jeffbx]

:stupid:

I can't stand it - have a look at the next idiot you see cutting people off or going below the speed limit in the far left lane - chances are about 95% that there will be a phone plastered to their ear. Chances approach 100% if it's a soccer mom in a large SUV.

I never use my phone in my car if I can avoid it, and if I do, I try to position myself in one of the slower lanes until I'm done.

[johnnymk]

It's a law in NJ, but I still see idiots using them while driving.

On top of a huge fine, I recommend that the insurance be increased by at least $1000 per year if it can be proven that the person who caused an accident was using a cell phone.

[marleymarl]

no big deal, just put it on speakerphone, actually that will suck though cuz i hate speakerphone, whatever $20 fine isnt that bad, ill risk it cause if theres a cop around the chances are hes gonna pull me over for speeding anyways

[ray]

I think this is great. Personally, i hate holding the phone to my ear in general, so I use a headset in my car and at home too.

[brainsmile]

Bluetooth baby