Alberta proposes Cell Phone in vehicles law.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Please read that again in your head.

What's wrong with it?

You're talking on the phone with your buddy about the girl you picked up at Tantra all while paying full attention to the road. You see a rabbit run infront of you, you drop your phone in your lap, put both hands on the steering wheel, avoid the rabbit and then proceed to keep driving. You pick up your phone and notice that your friend is still on the phone, wondering what just happened. You tell him what happened, then continue with your Tantra story.

As long as you're not paying more attention to the conversation than you are to the driving there should be no problem with driving while talking on the cell.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by _Q_

What's wrong with it?

You're talking on the phone with your buddy about the girl you picked up at Tantra all while paying full attention to the road. You see a rabbit run infront of you, you drop your phone in your lap, put both hands on the steering wheel, avoid the rabbit and then proceed to keep driving. You pick up your phone and notice that your friend is still on the phone, wondering what just happened. You tell him what happened, then continue with your Tantra story.

As long as you're not paying more attention to the conversation than you are to the driving there should be no problem with driving while talking on the cell.

Because next time instead of that rabbit it could be a kid and that split second that it takes for you to drop your phone could make a huge difference.

I'm not saying I don't talk on the phone while driving because I do, but I'm not ignorant enough to think it doesn't make a difference in judgement time.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Because next time instead of that rabbit it could be a kid and that split second that it takes for you to drop your phone could make a huge difference.

I'm not saying I don't talk on the phone while driving because I do, but I'm not ignorant enough to think it doesn't make a difference in judgement time.

Well then I just slam on my brakes instead of trying to maneuver around the kid. If I'm doing a reasonable speed then it should be no problem stopping in time. Also, if it's a kid then instantly i go from trying to save my property from damage to trying to save the kid's life, so i would drive into a ditch, hit a curb, or risk getting rear ended instead of killing the kid.

[ken0042]

Except that just as the kid darts out into the street your buddy says "Dude, that was my sister you were dirty dancing with."

Too bad for the kid that your attention was suddenly focused on how to back track your story. And it was those types of scenarios they used in one of the Mythbusters test; they would ask questions designed to make the drivers focused on the conversation- as that is what happens in real life. Then they would have a styrofoam cutout of a kid go in front of the car and BOOM!

Don't get me wrong- I also talk on the phone while driving. But my conversations are usually under 30 seconds ("what's your house number again.") The problem on the roads is the people using their phones to talk about last night at Tantra, etc. There is no need for that conversation to take place at that time; and we have an entire generation of drivers who pick up the phone instead of turning on the radio.

My 30 second conversation is just as dangerous and wrong as your Tantra one; but on a daily basis I see a driver yapping on the phone for the entire time I'm stuck behind him/her; while they go 10-20 under the limit, miss turns like 4X4 mentioned, etc.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Except that just as the kid darts out into the street your buddy says "Dude, that was my sister you were dirty dancing with."

Too bad for the kid that your attention was suddenly focused on how to back track your story. And it was those types of scenarios they used in one of the Mythbusters test; they would ask questions designed to make the drivers focused on the conversation- as that is what happens in real life. Then they would have a styrofoam cutout of a kid go in front of the car and BOOM!

Don't get me wrong- I also talk on the phone while driving. But my conversations are usually under 30 seconds ("what's your house number again.") The problem on the roads is the people using their phones to talk about last night at Tantra, etc. There is no need for that conversation to take place at that time; and we have an entire generation of drivers who pick up the phone instead of turning on the radio.

My 30 second conversation is just as dangerous and wrong as your Tantra one; but on a daily basis I see a driver yapping on the phone for the entire time I'm stuck behind him/her; while they go 10-20 under the limit, miss turns like 4X4 mentioned, etc.

Sorry man I didn't know, she's so hot though

I guess under those circumstances, I can see where you can be right.

[Mad Mel]

This law has been in effect since before I moved here, and I have yet to get stuck at a green light behind some jerkoff stroking his blackberry during rush hour. That alone makes it a good law.

[frinkprof]

I think this was posted in the last thread on the subject. It is a driving/talking on the phone simulation game.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/drivingchallenge/

[FFR]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Except that just as the kid darts out into the street your buddy says "Dude, that was my sister you were dirty dancing with."

Too bad for the kid that your attention was suddenly focused on how to back track your story. And it was those types of scenarios they used in one of the Mythbusters test; they would ask questions designed to make the drivers focused on the conversation- as that is what happens in real life. Then they would have a styrofoam cutout of a kid go in front of the car and BOOM!

Don't get me wrong- I also talk on the phone while driving. But my conversations are usually under 30 seconds ("what's your house number again.") The problem on the roads is the people using their phones to talk about last night at Tantra, etc. There is no need for that conversation to take place at that time; and we have an entire generation of drivers who pick up the phone instead of turning on the radio.

My 30 second conversation is just as dangerous and wrong as your Tantra one; but on a daily basis I see a driver yapping on the phone for the entire time I'm stuck behind him/her; while they go 10-20 under the limit, miss turns like 4X4 mentioned, etc.

Maybe I'm missing something and someone can explain it to me - but how is talking on the phone different from having a conversation with the passenger in your car? (Obviously the looking at the phone to type in the number, texting, etc. is taking away attention from driving) But specifically - you mention above that if you're talking on the phone and someone says something that causes your attention to go to the conversation instead of driving and thus your driving is affected. Well - how is that different than having the same conversation with a passenger in the car who says something that catches your attention and pulls it away from driving?

I'm not trying to say that I disagree with this law or anything - I completely support it (and I'm one of the people who would be affected by it) but I just don't undertand how a conversation on the phone (once you are on it and not typing) is any different than a conversation with a passenger in the car?

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I don't think you have a good argument since they are allowing people to continue to use wireless handheld which still lets people have conversations which could distract them from driving.

[GGG]

Little disappointed that they are allowing Hands Free devices. As others have stated it is the conversation that is the problem not the one hand off the wheel.

Some studies show more impairment then driving over .08.

I believe the big difference between a person in the car and a cell phone is that your brain when on a phone conversation effectively removes itself from the act of driving. You are talking on the phone as your primary activity. When you are conversing with someone in a car your brain is still in the car driving while having the conversation. When on a cell phone your brain almost goes into its own vitual space. I know their is some literture out there on the differences.

[macker]

Good! It is about time! I always tell my kids to give me heck if I talk while driving and have been using them to ease me into the eventual enforcement. I have done some stupid things behind the wheel and between my kids and the police I will walk the line. Texting took the debate to a whole new level and I have had a few near accidents with people completely stopped at a stop light texting while the light is green and others are weaving in and out around them. Hard to explain the stupidity of adults to kids sometimes...

[MoneyGuy]

This proposed law: 'bout time!! I've seen a few accidents where cell-phone use was a factor. People have died in crashes. Get 'er done.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by FFR

Maybe I'm missing something and someone can explain it to me - but how is talking on the phone different from having a conversation with the passenger in your car? (Obviously the looking at the phone to type in the number, texting, etc. is taking away attention from driving) But specifically - you mention above that if you're talking on the phone and someone says something that causes your attention to go to the conversation instead of driving and thus your driving is affected. Well - how is that different than having the same conversation with a passenger in the car who says something that catches your attention and pulls it away from driving?

I'm not trying to say that I disagree with this law or anything - I completely support it (and I'm one of the people who would be affected by it) but I just don't undertand how a conversation on the phone (once you are on it and not typing) is any different than a conversation with a passenger in the car?

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I don't think you have a good argument since they are allowing people to continue to use wireless handheld which still lets people have conversations which could distract them from driving.

See MartimeQScout's post earlier in the thread.

Simply put, it is different because the person you are talking on the phone with doesn't know when to shut up. A conversation with the person in the passenger seat is different because they are seeing the same situation you, the driver are.

Open stretch of highway with light traffic? Appropriate time to ask questions that make the driver think critically. Making a left-hand turn during rush hour at a busy intersection where you're waiting for an opening? Not the best time to be discussing the grocery list or talking about the seat sale to Las Vegas. As a passenger, you're not going to start telling a funny story about your co-worker a few seconds after the brake lights of all the lanes in front of you light up at once and the driver is trying to figure out why and apply the brakes themselves. The person on the phone does not see all this happening but will still start telling the story, thereby distracting the driver without meaning to.

[4X4]

IMO, the problem isn't the conversation - I talk on hands free all the time... I find that the real strugglers are the ones with the phone actually up to their face. It completely screws their ability to shoulder check, and it blocks a good portion of their peripheral vision. On top of that, it causes the person to reduce their head movement, and thereby decrease the amount of 'checks' they do while driving. Basically, it creates a mild form of tunnel vision.

TBQH, I think that anyone who disagrees with my last paragraph is either a lazy, oblivious driver to begin with, or else they're full of crap.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by FFR

Maybe I'm missing something and someone can explain it to me - but how is talking on the phone different from having a conversation with the passenger in your car?

Most sources say the difference is that the passenger is watching the road, and thus won't say something startling at a critical moment, other than "look out!"

As usual, Google and Wikipedia are a good place to start if you know what to search for. "Passenger vs. cell phone" (without the quotes) is a good place to start.

Not sure if it's been studied, but I'd guess that talking with a kid (or non-driver) in the back impairs driving a lot more than a competent driver in the front.

[You Need a Thneed]

Went out this afternoon and bought a bluetooth visor thingy for in the car. Time for me to put my phone down.

Charged it to the company, since I do make work calls sometimes when i'm in the car.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I can drive just fine holding a phone if I know I don't have to lane change anytime soon. I usually drive with only one hand on the wheel anyway, with the other hand empty and ready to grab the wheel if need be. When traffic gets heavy and a sudden maneuver becomes a much higher possibilty, I put both hands on the wheel, and really try to not talk on the phone.

I will use the bluetooth device to free up my hands under this law. For me, I can't see how talking on the phone is different than a conversation with a person in the car. If driving demands more attention, I'll pay less attention to the conversation, whether it is in car, or over the phone. Saying that a person on a phone call (even handsfree) is as bad (or worse) than a drunk driver is mostly absurd. A phone can be dropped, conversations can be ignored. You can't undrunk yourself at a moment's notice.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by peter12

So you need a bureaucrat to tell you not to do something because it's not good for you?

I'm sure there is NOTHING in your life that you comply with because of legislation. You do everything only because you are so damn smart.

[Redliner]

It's about time this law came along. Maybe there are a few people out there who are fully capable of talking on a cellphone while driving and not being distracted at all, but the vast majority of us (myself included - and yes, I'm guilty ) can't do it.

The killer for me isn't really the phone; it's the food. I spend a lot of time in a vehicle and have become a master of eating on the run. While I don't think that munching a bag of chips or one-handing a hamburger is nearly as distracting as yapping on the phone or texting, (I still can't believe people even attempt to text while driving) I can see why they included it.

My biggest concern with the 2 hands on the wheel concern is how are you going to look cool driving like a G with one hand on the wheel, the other out the open window, and the seat so far back you can barely reach the pedals?

[speede5]

Where are they getting eating from. The proposed law from the OP doesn't mention it at all. Unless I'm blind and my 'ctrl f' isin't working.

[OzSome]

It's about time!!! I've been waiting for this for a long time and I am starting to question what the heck is Stelmach government doing waiting.

Everyday I drive to and from work or even driving somewhere else, i see a car driving so slow or changing lanes without signaling, then when I pass them i see them on the phone. It is so annoying and frustrating. I am not sure why can't they tell the other person that he/she is driving and will call back when he/she gets the chance to stop somewhere safely. I know I was guilty of using the cellphone while driving before and I noticed how distracting it was so I stopped. There are times that some of my friends or co-workers gets mad at me when I don't respond to their text right away. But when I tell them I was driving and refused to read or even text back, they tend to understand.

I hope the Alberta government approve this law right away.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Having a few close calls with ###### bag punks talking on their phones while driving makes me support this law.
I am against cell phones and don't own one myself. I doubt it will be enforced effectively though.