California enacting cell phone ban for drivers on clarkhoward.com

Recently while driving, Clark saw a car pull out dangerously close in front of a large truck. Clark was able to notice the driver was on her cell phone and had a zoned-out look in her eyes -- like she was completely unaware of her surroundings.

Too many of us drive and talk on our cell phones at the same. We know it's not safe, but it's one way to alleviate the boredom and loneliness of a long commute.

California is the next state that will ban cell phones while driving. Motorists will have to use a headset if they want to gab on the road. The state says this move should save 300 lives a year, yet the California Highway Patrol only attributes 6 fatal accidents last year to driving while talking. Something about their math doesn't add up…

Clark will sometimes put his cell phone on speaker if he's driving in a state like New York that already has a law on the books. But this raises a question: Do you think it's safer to use a headset (or speakerphone) to take and receive calls while driving?

Clark thinks the distraction comes in simply making or receiving a call -- not in whether you use your hands to do so or not. Be sure to vote in this week's poll to let him know.

What others are saying

Cell phone use
Texting and video games aside,hands free talking is ok and much safer than holding the phone. I routinely log over 400 miles per week in all types of conditions,so I observe more drivers than most people. If talking sends you into highway hypnosis,don't do it. I can talk on my bluetooth and scan the road as I do when I'm offline. I observe
people that talk with their phones at the ear and that is their number one priority. They will not seperate it from their head to check their blindspots or maneuver the vehicle.
Many people I see,will not put the phone down to park or exit a parking space. I see them struggle to cut their wheels and they still won't put down their pacifier,excuse me,phone. The parking lot is the most likely place to have a collision and the least likely place to get a police report that supports your liability position,unless there is a reported injury.Police usually refuse to dispatch to private property with no injuries. So those drivers leaving a lot often make a call,start their car,struggle to back out just enough to struggle to avoid clipping the car parked beside them,then they drive away trying to put on their seatbelt with one hand. In hand use of a cell phone driving is more dangerous,IN GENERAL, because it impedes those drivers visual field and mechanical ability to maneuver their vehicle safely.
By Bryan @ 06/24/08 12:28:53 AMreport abuse
Cell Phones
Just by putting a law that says you must use hands-free isn't doing the trick. I see people actually watching TV & playing on the internet on their cells while driving. It's become outrageous and unsafe. Using cells should be banned entirely while the car is in motion! If you cause an accident while using your cell, you should be charged just like a DUI driver.
By D in Smyrna @ 06/11/08 08:49:26 AMreport abuse
Cell phone while driving
I have a Bluetooth headset that allows me to say the name or number of the party to dial them. I just press one button to turn on the device without the distraction of dialing. Same with answering. I agree with the other poster that using a headset or speaker phone is no more dangerous than talking to another passenger. Maybe CA should outlaw passengers next.
By Bob @ 06/11/08 08:47:02 AMreport abuse
cell phone laws
Nice thought, seldom enforced.
NY has had that law for a couple of years.
Last year a cop hit a car & 2 young people with his cruiser.
He later admitted he was texting while driving.
By martha @ 06/11/08 02:27:39 AMreport abuse
Handsfree Cell Use Is Like Talking In The Car
As long as you're ona speakerphone or handsfree cellular earpiece, cell phone use in the car is just like talking to a passenger. The problem comes in when you're doing anything more than simply answering a phone call. For example: dialing a number, text messaging, etc.
By Jim @ 06/10/08 08:32:43 PMreport abuse
No cellphones and driving, please!
I don't think it is a good idea to chat on the phone while driving. It should be banned, even speaker phones. It is too easy to get side-tracked and have an accident.
By Cindy @ 06/10/08 05:31:27 PMreport abuse
cellphones
Its about time. All states will have this before long and its because to many people stay on the phone the whole time thay are driving.Whats that important that it can't wait. Some people have to yack yack yack and have messed it up for everyone.I had to give up motorcycle riding because of this. Everytime I had a close call the driver was on the phone yacking. Do your talking before you drive. ONLY if its life or death should you be on the phone while driving.
By Randy @ 06/10/08 02:09:10 PMreport abuse
its all about money
this is nothing more than another way for the government to raise more money. just to let you know i truely believe this, out here in western washington, a city was thinking of putting up radar speed cameras, but changed their mind when they learned they would have to give most of the profits to the state. If they couldn't make money on it, they weren't interested in it. I guess all the preaching by government officials that it is "all about safety" is just plain bull.
By brian @ 06/10/08 01:52:17 PMreport abuse
Cellphone use while driving
ANY cellphone use (hands-free or not) is DANGEROUS. It'll be a problem for most of us, but we'll have to adapt because it's not just the cell-talker that dies, but others as well.
By Kevin @ 06/10/08 01:43:59 PMreport abuse
Drive while on cell phone
USAA did a study which showed for about 15 minutes after a call the driver was still not as attentive to driving compared to not having made a call.
By Peter @ 06/10/08 01:21:40 PMreport abuse
cell phone bans
It seems to me that talking to another passenger is the same as talking on the cell phone.
By Enoch @ 06/09/08 11:40:31 PMreport abuse
Cell Phones
It is already against the law in all states. It's called inattentive driving.
By John @ 06/09/08 08:46:14 PMreport abuse
cell ohones
its not about the hands on the phone, Its about your eyes. They stop moving as you concentrate on your coversation. Even on a headset or hands free speaker you are still dangerous because your eyes only focus forward. Bad Clark if you do this
By Charlie @ 06/09/08 07:55:52 PMreport abuse
cellphone ban
I agree with the ban on cell phone use while driving, but there are plenty of other bad driving behaviours that should be banned too: eating, putting on makeup, lighting/smoking a cigarette, fiddling with the stereo/GPS, swatting at kids in the back seat, holding a conversation with other passengers. Basically, ANYTHING that prevents your TOTAL concentration from being on driving should be banned.
By Roz @ 06/09/08 06:46:47 PMreport abuse
speaking on the phone while driving
here in south carolina this is allowed which is stupid , i can only suppose that the politicians have been bought
By ron @ 06/09/08 05:34:32 PMreport abuse
Compromise
I think that a complete ban on cell phone usage would result in voters firing the guys who did it. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get that kind of reaction for misuse of taxpayer dollars?

Allowing headsets appeases (if only to a lesser degree) the demands for safety, while Joe Schmoe still gets to do what he wants in his car. But what do I care? I can't afford to drive anymore anyway!
By Michael @ 06/09/08 04:57:06 PMreport abuse

Cell phone use

Texting and video games aside,hands free talking is ok and much safer than holding the phone. I routinely log over 400 miles per week in all types of conditions,so I observe more drivers than most people. If talking sends you into highway hypnosis,don't do it. I can talk on my bluetooth and scan the road as I do when I'm offline. I observe
people that talk with their phones at the ear and that is their number one priority. They will not seperate it from their head to check their blindspots or maneuver the vehicle.
Many people I see,will not put the phone down to park or exit a parking space. I see them struggle to cut their wheels and they still won't put down their pacifier,excuse me,phone. The parking lot is the most likely place to have a collision and the least likely place to get a police report that supports your liability position,unless there is a reported injury.Police usually refuse to dispatch to private property with no injuries. So those drivers leaving a lot often make a call,start their car,struggle to back out just enough to struggle to avoid clipping the car parked beside them,then they drive away trying to put on their seatbelt with one hand. In hand use of a cell phone driving is more dangerous,IN GENERAL, because it impedes those drivers visual field and mechanical ability to maneuver their vehicle safely.

By Bryan @ 06/24/08 12:28:53 AMreport abuse

Cell Phones

Just by putting a law that says you must use hands-free isn't doing the trick. I see people actually watching TV & playing on the internet on their cells while driving. It's become outrageous and unsafe. Using cells should be banned entirely while the car is in motion! If you cause an accident while using your cell, you should be charged just like a DUI driver.

By D in Smyrna @ 06/11/08 08:49:26 AMreport abuse

Cell phone while driving

I have a Bluetooth headset that allows me to say the name or number of the party to dial them. I just press one button to turn on the device without the distraction of dialing. Same with answering. I agree with the other poster that using a headset or speaker phone is no more dangerous than talking to another passenger. Maybe CA should outlaw passengers next.

By Bob @ 06/11/08 08:47:02 AMreport abuse

cell phone laws

Nice thought, seldom enforced.
NY has had that law for a couple of years.
Last year a cop hit a car & 2 young people with his cruiser.
He later admitted he was texting while driving.

By martha @ 06/11/08 02:27:39 AMreport abuse

Handsfree Cell Use Is Like Talking In The Car

As long as you're ona speakerphone or handsfree cellular earpiece, cell phone use in the car is just like talking to a passenger. The problem comes in when you're doing anything more than simply answering a phone call. For example: dialing a number, text messaging, etc.

By Jim @ 06/10/08 08:32:43 PMreport abuse

No cellphones and driving, please!

I don't think it is a good idea to chat on the phone while driving. It should be banned, even speaker phones. It is too easy to get side-tracked and have an accident.

By Cindy @ 06/10/08 05:31:27 PMreport abuse

cellphones

Its about time. All states will have this before long and its because to many people stay on the phone the whole time thay are driving.Whats that important that it can't wait. Some people have to yack yack yack and have messed it up for everyone.I had to give up motorcycle riding because of this. Everytime I had a close call the driver was on the phone yacking. Do your talking before you drive. ONLY if its life or death should you be on the phone while driving.

By Randy @ 06/10/08 02:09:10 PMreport abuse

its all about money

this is nothing more than another way for the government to raise more money. just to let you know i truely believe this, out here in western washington, a city was thinking of putting up radar speed cameras, but changed their mind when they learned they would have to give most of the profits to the state. If they couldn't make money on it, they weren't interested in it. I guess all the preaching by government officials that it is "all about safety" is just plain bull.

By brian @ 06/10/08 01:52:17 PMreport abuse

Cellphone use while driving

ANY cellphone use (hands-free or not) is DANGEROUS. It'll be a problem for most of us, but we'll have to adapt because it's not just the cell-talker that dies, but others as well.

By Kevin @ 06/10/08 01:43:59 PMreport abuse

Drive while on cell phone

USAA did a study which showed for about 15 minutes after a call the driver was still not as attentive to driving compared to not having made a call.

By Peter @ 06/10/08 01:21:40 PMreport abuse

cell phone bans

It seems to me that talking to another passenger is the same as talking on the cell phone.

By Enoch @ 06/09/08 11:40:31 PMreport abuse

It is already against the law in all states. It's called inattentive driving.

By John @ 06/09/08 08:46:14 PMreport abuse

cell ohones

its not about the hands on the phone, Its about your eyes. They stop moving as you concentrate on your coversation. Even on a headset or hands free speaker you are still dangerous because your eyes only focus forward. Bad Clark if you do this

By Charlie @ 06/09/08 07:55:52 PMreport abuse

cellphone ban

I agree with the ban on cell phone use while driving, but there are plenty of other bad driving behaviours that should be banned too: eating, putting on makeup, lighting/smoking a cigarette, fiddling with the stereo/GPS, swatting at kids in the back seat, holding a conversation with other passengers. Basically, ANYTHING that prevents your TOTAL concentration from being on driving should be banned.

By Roz @ 06/09/08 06:46:47 PMreport abuse

speaking on the phone while driving

here in south carolina this is allowed which is stupid , i can only suppose that the politicians have been bought

By ron @ 06/09/08 05:34:32 PMreport abuse

Compromise

I think that a complete ban on cell phone usage would result in voters firing the guys who did it. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get that kind of reaction for misuse of taxpayer dollars?

Allowing headsets appeases (if only to a lesser degree) the demands for safety, while Joe Schmoe still gets to do what he wants in his car. But what do I care? I can't afford to drive anymore anyway!

By Michael @ 06/09/08 04:57:06 PMreport abuse

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Jun 09, 2008 -- California enacting cell phone ban for drivers

What others are saying