Hands-free texting behind the wheel for free on clarkhoward.com

Ninety-seven percent of Americans say texting while driving should be outlawed, according to a new survey. The New York Times/CBS News poll also finds that eight out of 10 people also think motorists shouldn't be allowed to talk on cell phones while driving.

England has taken a particularly tough stance on people who cause fatal accidents because they were texting. The New York Times reports one woman has been sentenced to nearly 2 years in prison for this crime. Investigators were able to check her phone record and found she was in the midst of texting at the moment of impact.

Interestingly, half of all Americans agree with the British approach of making DWT (driving while texting) punishable like a DUI.

Clark recommends trying Dial2Do.com if you must fire off text messages while behind the wheel. This free service will translate what you say into a text, a Tweet or an e-mail.

Of course, the text-to-voice technology isn't always perfect as Clark has found out!

What others are saying

Hands-free texting
I was disappointed that Clark found it necessary to tell listeners how to circumvent a policy designed to keep people safe. By discussing it on the air, it seems he endorses hands-free texting, even though he was careful to say he wasn't. I thought the segment was unethical.
By Barbara Giebelhaus @ 11/13/09 09:28:28 AMreport abuse
Envy or just more noticeable
A while back, it seemed like it was envy that got the better of us. It was that darn rich-person yapping on their phone and holding up traffic.
Now that we all have cell phones, it's because we can clearly see someone yapping on their cell phone as they hold-up traffic. What we cannot see is them fiddling with the radio, chatting at a passenger, using a headset, etc.
All three of those activities hold the same danger, but only talking on a hand-set can be discerned.
By The Dude @ 11/12/09 04:10:59 PMreport abuse
Driving distractions
Let's see, first it was using the cell phone to call people, now it is texting. Has anyone ever given any thought to the dozens of distractions you deal with in your vehicle besides these two items?

Of course there is the radio. But how about putting on the makeup, shaving, reading, singing, talking to a passenger, dealing with kids, the baby, smoking, eating and drinking? Lets not forget setting the GPS, finding a CD, looking in your purse, using a computer (I've seen it happen)! And, of course, the private things that usually happen in a bedroom.

All of these, and more, distract you while you drive. Yet, government feels the need to focus solely on one device as the culprit of all evil. Hey! What happened to drunk driving being so bad? Has M.A.D.D. changed their name to M.A.T. (Mothers against texting?

Honestly, I've seen cops driving down the road here in California with a cell phone pressed up to their ear. Do they give themselves a citation? Heck no! Are they not to be held to the same standard as those they are to impose the law upon? I would think so. But obviously not!

So when I get an urgent call from my kid or wife and I don't have my headset on, I should be locked up? At the same time the teenage bimbo with the radio blasting while she puts on her eyeliner in the rear view mirror with four of her giddy friends in the car is perfectly acceptable! Sorry, I think NOT!

Perhaps we should all be driving single seat rolling cubes with nothing but a pedal and wheel. Perhaps that would make all of the paranoid media lovers out there happy.

My guess is that the majority of those who complain about cell phones and texting are, themselves, guilty of at least one of the other distracting items I mentioned above. And if you deny it, think again! You all know you've done something.
By Doesitmatter @ 11/11/09 01:43:06 AMreport abuse
talking while driving
Whats the diff between talking on the phone and talking to someone in the pass. seat? Nothing except holding the phone to your ear. Make a hands free device manditory just like in california
By C P @ 11/10/09 09:02:33 PMreport abuse
talking and driving
Exactly. Ever see those people with the big mouths yapping and gesturing and barely driving. Clueless...no situational awareness...clueless idiots. The yappers cause crashes too. Lack of situational awareness is the #1 cause of crashes in vehicles of all kinds including aircraft and watercraft. If you kill yourself then that's one less idiot in the world. If you kill someone else it's unforgivable. GET A CLUE PEOPLE! PLEASE.
By Karl @ 11/10/09 08:06:48 PMreport abuse
talking and driving
You all say you should not be aloud to talk on the phone and drive but what about talking to someone in your car?
By Bev @ 11/10/09 11:44:01 AMreport abuse
How about commenting on the technology.
By Greg @ 11/10/09 10:43:16 AMreport abuse
If you cause a fatal accident, you should go to prison whether you were texting or not.
By anonymous @ 11/10/09 07:55:37 AMreport abuse
Dial2Do.com
This is a bad idea. You are still taking your mind off of driving your vehicle. Not a good idea. Your mind wanders for a second or two and bad things happen. Distracted driving can kill.
By Chester @ 11/10/09 07:21:01 AMreport abuse
Jail time
I think that we as people have a responsibility to each other to protect life. Anything you do in the car that impairs your ability to drive makes it more dangerous for everyone else whether by drinking or texting, or putting on make-up. Not sure a first offense should carry 2 yrs of jail time (maybe heavy fines and suspension of license), but if you cause an accident I don't think that's out of the question.
By Anon @ 11/09/09 04:57:37 PMreport abuse
Jail time for texting and killing someone
2 years. It should be more like 22 years
By Peter @ 11/09/09 04:00:44 PMreport abuse

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Nov 09, 2009 -- Hands-free texting behind the wheel for free

What others are saying