Texas mulls Cell Phone Ban

Published on March 3, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

Texas is the latest in the list of states to consider banning cell phone use while driving, among a list of other considerations. While I personally feel that most people who use cell phones while driving are idiots and potential future Darwin Award candidates, I nevertheless do not welcome yet another potential intrustion on individual liberties.

The selling point in this legislation is a father who lost his high school aged daughter because she creashed while talking on the cell phone and driving. I can remember back to my high school days well enough to remember that there were a LOT of rules we didn't follow, and can't help but feel that the legislation in this case wouldn't have saved her life, but instead would have simply made her a criminal.

After one brother's untimely death in 1993 of a bicycle wreck that all of us who knew him knew to be suicide, the legislator in my dad's district asked my dad to testify in front of the legislature for a helmet law he intended to introduce. My dad, in a rare display of wisdom, realized that it wouldn't have saved my brother's life, and rightly refused.

This example, and the example of my brother, are examples of politicians trying to get mileage off of personal tragedy. They are appalling, and this kind of exploitation should in itself be illegal!

Comments

Zoomba

on Mar 03, 2005

The issue of cell-phone bans while driving are more for the sake of everyone driving around you. Same as drunk driving laws. Your right to personal freedom stops when it threatens my personal well-being. Yes, some people can safely talk and drive at the same time. Many however can not. These people pose a threat to everyone around them every time they're yakking on the road. I've been run off the road several times by someone who was on their phone and not paying attention while driving. If I hadn't reacted, they would have hit me, and I was in bumper-to-bumper high-speed traffic and a lot of other people would have gotten hurt too. There is a limit to personal freedom and liberties.

It's sad that laws have to be passed because of the minority, but if we were ruling for the sane majority, we'd have practically no laws at all. Then the criminal minority would truely run free... but that's another issue/argument.

But I do agree with you that it should be criminal for politicians to try and get mileage out of personal tragedy... it's insensitive and crass. It's like going to the scene of an accident and promoting your services as an undertaker to the family of the victem.

Dr Guy

on Mar 03, 2005

The issue of cell phones is ludicrous. Yes, they have the potential to cause accidents, as does smoking, tuning the radio, unruly kids or a bad back seat driver. All of which are more responsible for accidents than Cell phones.

I dont talk on a cell phone in the car unless I have hands free, and then I only do so under duress. It does distract me. But so do the other things.

The only truly safe driver would be one driving alone, with no other distractions present. If they are going to ban cell phones, the others should be right behind them you see how stupid that would be.

But legislators dont think smart, they just feel, and as long as they feel for you, it must be ok. Not.

drmiler

on Mar 03, 2005

I personaly do NOT support a complete ban. I WOULD support the madatory use of hands free sets (headsets) while driving.

Zoomba

on Mar 03, 2005

I'd be cool with the hands-free rule. That way it's the same as if you're talking to someone in the passenger seat.

Shovelheat

on Mar 03, 2005

Let's replace the seatbelt law with this one, I don't know, I think for ONCE this might be a good law. If I don't wear a seat belt, it kills ME. If I'm yakin' about what's for supper it could kill YOU. People used to get along quite well with out a phone glued to their ear, hell, I still do! I despise the things myself. What's there to talk about while driving that's so important anyhow?

Sorry, I gotta respectfully disagree on this one...

Speaking of texas law making-

Now there is a bill in the Texas legislature to make a new offense of Possession of marijuana under ONE ounce. It would be a "fine only" class 'c' misdemeanor. Right now all there is is possession of marijuana under TWO ounces, a class 'B' midemeanor, which means if you're caught with a snipe in your ashtray your ass goes to jail. I'd like to see that one go. At least a half a joint would be just a fine and not a jailable offense. We'll see.

ParaTed2k

on Mar 03, 2005

Here's a great example of "legislation by tragedy". Something terrible happens, in a rage of emotional trauma, the loved ones vow to avenge the terrible happening, and quicker than you can say "what happened to our rights", a law gets rushed through. Of course no one will challenge the bill, because challenging the bill becomes tantamount to challenging the grief felt by the loved ones.

Cel phones are just one more of a huge list of distractions for drivers. The truth is, whether you're talking on the phone (hands free or not), talking to someone in the back seat, or you "Get Lost in your Rock & Roll and Drift Away", you're doing things that can and HAVE led to accidents.

Either ban all distractions, or just learn to live with them!

terpfan1980

on Mar 03, 2005

Normally I don't want the government intruding in my life, or the lives of others, but this is a very gray area for me.

There are far too many idiots on the road that are too easily distracted. Giving those idiots a cell phone and letting them talk on it while driving seems to be the equivalent of giving a pyromaniac a book of matches and then counseling them to not use them unless they really need to (and pyromaniacs have, by definition, a need to light fires).

For the good of the many, we may wind up swallowing laws such as this to deal with the few that are not capable of chewing gum and driving at the same time.

On any given day, in the traffic of the D.C. metro area, you'll see idiots that change lanes without changing them -- drifting from lane to lane while fumbling with items in their car. You'll see idiots that cross 4 lanes of "beltway" traffic to get to an exit that they have seen signs for during the last 2 miles of their drive and do it in such a way as to demonstrate no regard for life or limb of themselves or others. You'll see people ignore the space they've been given for merging into traffic, not make efforts to accelerate to road speeds, or fail to slow down from road speed in a safe manner in the space where they were supposed to be exiting the highway.

Throw on top of that a yak box for them to talk about the latest and greatest gossip and other non-important details that could have waited just a little longer until they had gotten off the road.

D.C. passed a law that requires use of a hands-free device when driving. I look at that as a reasonable compromise for this problem. Maybe the Texas legislature will look in that direction for a solution here.

InBloom

on Mar 03, 2005

I refuse to be on the cell phone when driving...if someone calls me while I am on the road, I will either not answer, or I will give them a five second "I am driving, I will call you back."...It annoys them, but I can see how it can be distracting and cause you not to be aware of your actions or surroundings...

drmiler

on Mar 03, 2005

refuse to be on the cell phone when driving...if someone calls me while I am on the road, I will either not answer, or I will give them a five second "I am driving, I will call you back."...It annoys them, but I can see how it can be distracting and cause you not to be aware of your actions or surroundings...

This is *exactly* why I like the hands free option on my phone. All I have to do is talk to it. I do not have to touch the phone to answer it or talk to someone. I don't need a head set to do it either.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!