19 replies to this topic

[Nvyseal]

California is to ban the use of cell phones by drivers in a moving vehicle unless they are using a hands-free device.

Gov. Schwarzenegger today signed the bill which comes into force in July 2008 for private drivers and July 1, 2011 for drivers of commercial vehicles who use push-to-talk handsets. The fines for getting caught are derisory: $20 for a first offence and $50 for repeat offenders.

July 2008 and July 2011? isn't this a wee bit long to put into force? In the meantime, how many people will die from cell phone accidents?. Do you think this is a reasonable timeframe?

[m.oreilly]

i think this is the 5th try by the original proponent of the bill (not arnie!). like, this should have happend many years ago. arnie is just placating the sofa king types w/ the late effective date...

[chriso_86]

Bummer, I was hoping the fine would be a visit from the Terminator!!

[Sphere]

Why are they trying? Here we are only allowed to call handsfree, and trust me, even that is dangerous imo, especially on a motorbike...

[m.oreilly]

Sphere, on Sep 17 2006, 02:11 PM, said:

Why are they trying? Here we are only allowed to call handsfree, and trust me, even that is dangerous imo, especially on a motorbike...

well, in the US, people think it is their god given right to do stupid stuff (like electing the present gov./pres.).
kinda hand in hand B)

[David_Heavey]

We had the same ban put into place here last year. Didn't do much good. Why would people ever be stupid enough to drive while talking on a phone anyway? These same people would be the first to turn around and say "He/she shouldn't have been talking on the phone" if one of their friends or relatives were hit. It's beyond me how silly people can be sometimes. My best friend works security in a multi-storey car park and he told me a woman was driving the wrong side of the car park one day so he stopped her because she clipped the bumper off of a parked car. All she said was "Do you mind? I'm on the phone" ... no lie.

Edited by David_Heavey, 18 September 2006 - 12:42 AM.

[Nvyseal]

I personally know 3 people who were talking on the phone, and caused accidents. The poslice asked if they we're using a cell phone at the time of the accident, and they said no.

[chriso_86]

I talk on the phone, say what I need to say and that is about it. And even then I don't if the traffic is busy.

[jhp_2003]

I use the cell occasionally while driving...not usually though. And if the traffic is busy, then no way.

And, I have to say that putting the law effective date that far out isn't going to help much. Also, a $20 or $50 fine isn't much of a deterrent if you ask me. Some people spend more than that on coffee and lunch per day.(not me)
I think if he were serious, he would have given that law some teeth, and put it into effect a lot sooner

[Camaro]

I have not the same experiance with the heavy traffic that some of you have, I do however have experiance with talking an driving I really dont think that is the problem, I think its the idiots that can not concentrate on more then one thing at a time. or to put it more politically correct the mentally challenged. lol

[BlueScreenOfDeath]

regardless , your attention is elsewhere so i dont think its will help anything

[clarky3429]

in our country, driving and talking on a mobile phone is illlegal, unless you use a handsfree device.... and soon 1st year probation drivers will be banned from using a mobile phone whist driving, regardless of handsfree. I think it is a good idea, as no matter how experienced you are, attention is still taken away from driving when you are using a mobile phone, and, accidents do happen

[Camaro]

While I do agree with you I also think it does depend on traffic conditions. As I stated I dont have the experiance with heavy traffic that some of you do, therefore there is not any consentration taken away that is needed for the road conditions.

[VROSA]

Here its ilegal to drive using mobile phones, unless you have a hands-free device... But i share the opinion that any kind of mobile phone use reduces the driver attention drastically, increasing exponencially the risk of an accident.

" If its rush time than just let it ring and dont worry, people can wait to talk to you alive ! "

[chriso_86]

Good point there vrosa!! I like to be alive!!