So I heard on the radio last week that there’s a proposed bill on the floor banning hand-held cell phones in Missouri.
Dear God above, please let it pass.
And no, I’m not trying to be sarcastic, I truly hope it passes. There are bad drivers everywhere, but here in SW Missouri? I think we’ve gotten more than our fair share. In fact, you could skim the top of the bad driver cream, I’m betting you, most of them would be from Missouri. Some of the stupid stunts people do just to save a few seconds nowadays … *shakes head* it truly amazes me.
And I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve had to swerve by, or slam my brakes for, who have been absolutely clueless to my existence because they were too busy yapping nonsense.
Truly. I should keep count. In fact, I think I’ll start carving tally marks in my dashboard just to prove my point.
Of course, even if they pass the law and they ban hand-held devices, there will still be jerks out there doing the same sorts of things like this guy.
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This wouldn’t be so funny if it weren’t ACCURATE.
Seriously. Have you HEARD about voice mail? It’s a handy device that records messages when you can’t talk on the phone, you know, like when you’re driving and responsible for not only your own safety, but those in the car with you as well as those around you on the road.
It’s pretty cool. Check it out.
Write From Karen 
the drivers here in california are worse
I’m a big fan of the “where do you draw the line” argument myself. Personally, I’m for not banning it, but if you get in an accident and you’re cell phone records show you were talking you’re at fault. Then insurance companies would take care of the ban themselves.
Oh, I totally agree. I think even hands-free should be banned while driving. (And yes, only while driving.)
I think it’s a good first step, yes. Can you IMAGINE the outrage if the government banned ALL cell-phone activity while driving? I shudder to think.
But, to play the devil’s advocate a moment – as my husband says, where do we draw the line? After all, it could be argued that eating or drinking in the car is perhaps not as distracting, but still, our attention has been diverted from driving when we are doing those things.
Or daydreaming.
Or talking.
Or making sure our children are behaving in the back seat.
Or reading. (Hey, don’t laugh. I actually saw someone doing that the other day!)
I think it really boils down to personal responsibility. If people would just be responsible and stop being so self-absorbed we wouldn’t NEED the government to step in and tell us what we may, or may not, do.
You don’t specifically say so in your post, but the ban would only extend to using them while driving, correct?
You might be surprised how little it affects things. Several studies have proven that while hand-free is safer than using a headset, it’s only marginally safer. Evidently, when we talk to someone on the phone we are using the abstract center of our brains, which significantly reduces our cognition, reaction time and ability to scan our surroundings.
That said, it’s a good first step.
I think they should make the minimum fine higher – say a couple of hundred dollars. I heard about the $50 fine and thought, “that can’t be enough to dissuade people from using their cell phones.”
But what do I know? I LOATHE phones anyway – cell phones drive me insane.
Fort Leonard Wood is all about “hands free”. If you get caught on Post using your cell phone without a hands free device you get a minimum of a $50 fine.