Reminder to California Drivers!

[kstar]

Starting Tuesday, July 1, cell phones may only be used by headset or handsfree device.

Texting is still legal, but strongly discouraged and, while not against the law, one can be pulled over for texting on the LEO's judgment. Seems like they should have made texting a violation too, yes?

From the DMV:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/index.htm

Remember, BT headsets are for in car use.

[MOMO3.2]

Kurt:

I am very curious about this new law. Will the police actually issue tickets to drivers for using their cell phones? Because, an officer could actually write citations non stop for his or her entire shift based on what I see every day.

I personally hope they do. I am fed up with the way motorists use their phones here in Los Angeles County. Merging onto busy freeways, turning left in 4 lane, busy intersections, changing lanes or turning without using a their turn signals because they have one hand glued to their phone...

People need to stay the HELL off their phones when driving. It is a dangerous enough situation without adding the distractions associated with cell phones.

Let the citation writing begin!

Mike

[stomachmonkey]

You will see a DRASTIC improvement in driver behavior when compliance takes hold.

They did it in NY and it made a huge difference.

Moved to TX and it was obvious that there was not headset law.

Everyone down here has got a phone stuck to their head and it makes driving VERY frustrating.

Imagine if half the drivers around you were falling down drunk.

[dan79brooklyn]

It's against the law in NY too, but everybody drives around on their phones. I think when the law was first instated people might have stopped talking on hand held phones a little bit, but there is almost no enforcement of the law, also no enforcement of: failure to signal, run red lights, driving in the bike lane, speeding, honking etc...

[Joeaksa]

Glad to see it. This should be a nationwide law.

[Por_sha911]

IMO, texting is worse than talking because they are looking down at the thing istead of keeping their eyes on the road.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Thank f*king God.

Not a minute too soon.

Problem is most of the imbiciles out there will continue to be imbiciles. I bet most of the particularly oblivious/brain dead ones (the biggest threats) either completely ignore or are oblivious to the law - and will continue to merrily yammer away on their phones - fat, dumb and happy - and oblivious to everyone else around them for a very, very long time to come. And they'll likely get away with it for a very, very long time to come too.

It's a good idea (and I'm normally not a fan of government legislation) but I also wouldn't count on it to improve much. Too many people are stupid with or without the cell phones and they'll just find some new distraction like the DVD player, navigation system thingy, stereo, iPod or whatever.

Unfortunately, you can't legislate common sense.

[scottmandue]

No need for an ear device, I bought a bluetooth speakerphone that clips to the visor and it works great.

+1 on texting while driving is just crazy.

[on2wheels52]

Don't remember seeing any cell phone usage in Germany/Austria. Americans must be much better drivers to be able drive and talk at the same time.
Jim

[livi]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

IMO, texting is worse than talking because they are looking down at the thing istead of keeping their eyes on the road.

Agreed. Would be very interesting to learn how the heck the legislators made that decision.

Like when in Sweden it was mandatory to use seat belts in front but not in the back for many years. Then, suddenly, someone obviously came to the conclusion that seat belts should be used in the back too. After all, from the back you can hurt people in front of you. Up front you can only hurt yourself.

[LakeCleElum]

WA state has a very similar law taking effect the same date. Glad to see it.

[m21sniper]

I saw a study that said changing radio stations causes more accidents than cell phones.

I have little problem believing that.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I saw a study that said changing radio stations causes more accidents than cell phones.

I have little problem believing that.

I would tend to theorize someone actually admitting their cell phone usage caused the accident as 1 out of 5. Therefore, studies are skewed in favor of "anything else" by a wide margin.

Disclaimer:
These theoretical results are made up in my head and the 80% error rate is not the result of any study.

I just spent 2 hours hooking up my hands free, so I'm legal even if I wreck while dialing.

[m21sniper]

It wasn't a cell phone study, it was a study of the listed causes of accidents.

Changing the radio was responsible for more accidents than cell phone use.

The solution is obvious: Ban radios.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

No need for an ear device, I bought a bluetooth speakerphone that clips to the visor and it works great.

+1 on texting while driving is just crazy.

What did you end up with? The two I know are the Parrot (the commercials drive me nuts!) or the Blueant. I drive with my windows always cracked (mostly concerned with my Toyota) and was wondering how these are affected by wind noise.

I refuse to assimilate with an ear piece.

There was an article recently and it mentioned as to why texting is still OK, but I don't remember the reason. Seems dumb to me. I have been known to text while driving and I think that it is too distracting and when I was most likely to end up in an accident.

Dave

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

It wasn't a cell phone study, it was a study of the listed causes of accidents.

Changing the radio was responsible for more accidents than cell phone use.

The solution is obvious: Ban radios.

Let's pretend for a moment that you caused an accident while dialing your phone. Would you admit to that? It sounds more acceptable to say you were playing with the radio. How many accidents caused by phones get blamed on other things?

[m21sniper]

How does saying you were playing with the radio make a fella sound any less stupid?

To me, one is as bad as the other. The culprit in both was the same, at any rate.

Inattentiveness.

[Tobra]

I have taken to driving beside them and laying on the horn. Now I won't have to install air horns on my car, hopefully

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

How does saying you were playing with the radio make a fella sound any less stupid?

To me, one is as bad as the other. The culprit in both was the same, at any rate.

Inattentiveness.

Sure it's all inattentiveness. But talking on cell phones, applying makeup, eating tacos, reading a novel, and the like all have worse connotations then playing with the radio. How many threads here condemn the idiot cell phone et al user vs threads about the idiot radio user. The radio takes considerable less attention, but every car has one, so it makes sense it could cause more wrecks.

[stomachmonkey]

I'd say I sneezed before admitting to dialing or texting.