What are your thoughts on driving with a cell phone? Do you think it should be made a national law to prohibit talking on cell phones while driving?

Yes!! There have been so many times that I have caught people being idiots on the road and soon finding out it's because they are on their cellphones!! A lot people just aren't meant to do two things at once...

yes.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES !!!!

On the freeway? Yes.

I think it should be a ticketable offense.
Red lights and slow bumper to bumper traffic are the only exceptions where cops should be told to go easy on motorists.
How many times have I seen soccer moms driving huge clunky SUVs gabbing away on their cells, making a right turn in a busy intersection without even bothering to look and see if any pedestrians are crossing.
It is scary especially when you multiply this common example through the course of time.

I don't see how talking on a cell phone is any more distracting than talking to another passenger in the car, especially with handsfree. So no.

I can't wait for the California law banning cellphone use while driving to take effect in July 2008.

Apparently they needed to give the citizens of California almost 2 full years to obtain bluetooths.

I guess for some, the recovery period after having the phone surgically removed from their ear is lengthy and painful.

No. Texting while driving is idiotic and should be illegal everywhere. Hands-free devices should be legal.

i thought that it already was

Yes. It has caused some serious accidents.

I think the new law in California has actually added to people talking on their phones more. I was actually talking to a friend last night and she told me:

"I used to never talk on the phone in my car and now, I do it every chance I get. Damn the man."

=P

it is a bad habbit - they think i have time to talk while i am on my way to ______

Either they are unaware of or do not care of the danger.

Tests have proven that your mind cannot process information correctly when doing both.

Period, end of story.

I see it all the time in New York City, people making mistakes on the road while they talk on their cell.

I was a professional driver, I drove a city bus in Manhattan. I know the road, I also drove APC's and other vehicles in the Army. I drove trucks, vans, big cars, small cars and just about everything except a big rig and a motorcycle.

Because they can in most states. In Washington, we are now required to use a hands free while driving. In addition, texting while driving is now also illegal.

Tehy don´t realize the danger when you loose your concentration, ie. when talking on the cell.

Because they have something to say?

It is in Chicago, where I live.

ABSOLUTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The driver is not only putting their life in danger, they are harming everyone else on the road as well. With kids and usually the radio on, there are alreay way to many distractions, let alone trying to watch out for these "phone junkies" that run red lights and stop signs because they just "didn't see it"

I think it's dangerous, stupid, and selfish. Unless it's an emergency, no, your chit-chat is NOT more important than the lives you're risking! I've seen several different studies (including a Mythbusters test) that show that someone who's yakking on the cell phone, *even in hands-free*, drives as badly as someone who's legally drunk. If drunk driving is illegal (rightly so, I think), then other impairments that make you as dangerous a driver as being drunk does should be illegal as well.

It is and rightly so in the UK!

Yes. i issued a speeder a citation for going 86 in a 55 mph zone. i also issued him a citation for careless driving, by talking on a cellphone.

He was paying more attention to his phone conversation, rather than the speed of his automobile.

He admitted this was true.

It's illegal in Connecticut, but the cops never stop anyone for it.

As long as the person is using a handsfree device then NO. It should not be illegal, unless you make it illegal to talk to other passengers in the car also.

Yes

In both my home country and the country I live in they are breaking the law, so I think they are doubly stupid - first for risking an accident and second for risking a fine.

I think one good accident will teach them a lesson.

Drivers using cell phones should be prohibited. If you need to talk on the phone, pull off the road to converse. That way you can divert your attention to that all important phone call, and not put the rest of us at risk with your distracted driving. Also Talking to a passenger can also be distracting. But the passenger can at least tell when the driver needs to focus, like in heavy traffic, bad weather, and most know to shut up at that point. Someone on the phone doesn't know what's going on in the car. Nobody needs to be hooked up to a phone 24 hours a unless your the president of the united states. they are not only putting their life in danger, but other people's life also. it's difficult talking on the phone and driving and the same time. most dont know what they are doing while driving they are concentrated on the conversation most of the time. Hang up and drive!

No. Drivers should not be prohibited from using mobile phones, but they should not be allowed to use them while driving.

My favorite bumper sticker reads "Hang up and Drive"
At night I almost was run over crossing a street as a pedestrian at an intersection.
The silly young girl in her SUV was busy gabbing away while making a right hand turn.
If it wasn't for my quick judgment, I'd be road sausage.
They should be given a ticket like they do in NY state.
However, they should be allowed to talk at a red light or if traffic is so dreadfully slow since this wouldn't pose much of a vehicular threat.
See link: http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/media/phon-bro.htm

YES!!!
my favorite is "how would you drive with that phone shoved up your ass?"

I think there should be fines for handhelds,I've seen a lot of unsafe driving because of those.

In the UK it is illegal to use your mobile while driving,if caught its a £60.00 fine.

As someone who rides a motorbike and has almost been clipped a dozen times, nearly ALL of which involved people on cell phones...YES, YES, YES.

Yes, there should be a law that says only hands free devices can be used. They get the driver out of control of the car. I have had several almost accidents with people that are gabbing on the phone and not paying attention to where they are going.

It should be prohibited because talking on them causes too many accidents.

I am against driving while talking on the cell phone if it is in someone's hand. Hands free, I am fine with for the most part. Since states require an additional certification/requirement for deaf drivers, for drivers with glasses, for motorcycle endorsements, trucks, etc, I think that there should be a simple coordination and attention test for a cell phone endorsement.

I average driving 150 miles per day on the streets, roads and interstate system. at least every other driver is using a cellphone, while driving. most drivers cannot stay focused on their driving, for talking on a cellphone. i have stopped many drivers for speeding and the contributing factor is the cellphone. this will land you a speeding citation and a careless driving citation.
One woman dropped her cellphone, while driving. she reached down to the floorboard to retrieve the phone. she grabbed the steering wheel and ran off the road into the blackberry bushes.

Cellphones, in automobiles should be banned from use by the driver, while driving. the open container law is a law that should set the example for cellphones in autos. drivers cannot have an open container of alcohol in their possession, while driving. this does not apply to other occupants of the vehicle. this same example should apply to cellphones, except in emergencies.

yes, unless it is a headset with voice command dialing.
I know a few people who are good drivers and have been for years and who have had major and minor accidents due to cell phones.
I have had a few close calls myself.

Fox News Article – May 11, 2009
Here is a list of the current laws that each state has on the books concerning text messages and cell phone calls while driving.
Alabama: No Laws
Alaska: Illegal for all drivers with the enforcement being primary, meaning that a police officer can pull over a driver for sending a text message even if he isn’t breaking any other traffic laws.
Arizona: Only bans school bus drivers from speaking on their cell phone
Arkansas: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
California: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
Colorado: No Laws
Connecticut: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
Delaware: Illegal for novice drivers with a GDL to send texts or make phone calls with primary enforcement. Also illegal for school bus drivers to make phone calls.
D.C.: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
Florida: No Laws
Georgia: Only bans school bus drivers from speaking on their cell phone
Hawaii: No Laws
Idaho: No Laws
Illinois: Only bans school bus drivers and those under 19 from speaking on their cell phone
Indiana: Only bans those under 18 from talking or texting on a cell phone
Iowa: No Laws
Kansas: Only bans those with a learners license from talking or texting on a cell phone
Kentucky: Only bans school bus drivers from speaking on their cell phone
Louisiana: Illegal for all drivers with secondary enforcement, meaning a driver can only be pulled over for a different traffic violation and then ticketed for cell phone usage
Maine: Only bans those under 18 from talking or texting on a cell phone
Maryland: Only bans those under 18 from talking or texting on a cell phone
Massachusetts: Only bans school bus drivers from speaking on their cell phone
Michigan: No Laws
Minnesota: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
Mississippi: Only illegal for those with a learner's license to text while driving
Missouri: No Laws
Montana: No Laws
Nebraska: Illegal for all drivers with secondary enforcement
Nevada: No Laws
New Hampshire: No Laws
New Jersey: Illegal for all drivers with primary enforcement
New Mexico: No Laws
New York: Only bans school bus drivers from speaking on their cell phone
North Carolina: Only bans school bus drivers and those under 19 from speaking on their cell phone
North Dakota: No Laws
Ohio: No Laws
Oklahoma: No Laws
Oregon: Only illegal for those with a learner's license to text while driving
Pennsylvania: No Laws
Rhode Island: Only illegal for school bus drivers and those under 18 to talk on cell phones while driving
South Carolina: No Laws
South Dakota: No Laws
Tennessee: Only illegal for school bus drivers and those under 18 to talk on cell phones while driving
Texas: Only illegal for school bus drivers and those under 18 to talk or text on cell phones while driving
Utah: Illegal for all drivers with secondary enforcement
Vermont: No Laws
Virginia: Illegal for all drivers with secondary enforcement
Washington: Illegal for all drivers with secondary enforcement
West Virginia: Only illegal for those with a learner's license to talk or text on cell phones while driving
Wisconsin: No Laws
Wyoming: No Laws

This is your 10th duplicate to day http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/287353

Yeah sure, make it illegal. I got on my cellphone recently and actually paid attention and I was worse. My dad was too (who has a pilot's liscense and is very, very alert).
The problem is when you get in a bad situation, most people feel it's rude to just stop talking and throw the phone down as you would (stop talking) with somebody else who is IN the car, because they know the situation.
It just happens. I've been there and I just saw it happen.

well sorda. cell phones can cause serious accidents

Wrong! may aswell have a can of lager in your hand if you crashed!

It is in Australia but that doesn't stop them

It is in Australia but that doesn't stop them

It is in Australia but that doesn't stop them

No. To me it's no more or less distracting than having another passenger in the car you're talking to.

Yes I think that it would be a good idea to have the law. Even though I like to talk on my cell phone when I drive( and I think I can do it pretty good) still it is a distraction.