[Porsche-O-Phile]

While I completely agree that texting/surfing while driving and IN MOTION (not stopped at a light for example) are bona fide hazards and should be prohibited, I question whether cell phones in general can/should be similarly prohibited and (2) if this whole rush to ban this or that is really glossing over the real problem. I'll explain:

To point #1, many states permit cell phone use so long as a hands-free device is used. While this is helpful, the most strident and outspoken safety types will say that even that doesn't go far enough - they demand that everyone should have NO distractions whatsoever while driving (even with a hands-free device the process of carrying on a conversation is a distraction, even if it allows you to keep eyes/head up and hands on controls). There's some merit to this point however it is a slippery slope...

Point #2 dovetails into this - the real underlying issue is that our roadways have become so monumentally inefficient as to be wastes of time and productivity for most people. Also, this is in a day/age when time management is absolutely critical to people being able to live anything resembling a normal life, much less actually being able to get ahead. We have more dumbed-down speed limits, more stop signs, more lights, more stupid laws and more traffic (and poor management of it) on more decaying/crumbling roads than ever before. Driving gets to be a bigger and bigger waste of time and for one, I can't afford to be totally unplugged for 2-3 hours a day sitting in traffic with my thumb up my ass. Clients get POed if you're not available 24/7/365. It's the expectation these days.

The REAL issue here is we need a comprehensive strategy to increase the efficiency of our roadway systems and overall transit infrastructure. We can't just legislate away everything to the point where it leads to millions of people sitting idling in cars on dead-stopped (or nearly-stopped) roads for hours a day unable to legally do anything except zombie out.

Ban texting and surfing while IN MOTION? Sure. Ban it while stopped at a light or ban talking with hands-free? Nope - goes way too far IMHO.