quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I’m with Prefontaine on every point.

Same. GA has the law, but it needs stricter enforcement. I drive a 2014 truck and can tell my phone what I need or poke it without holding it.

Yep, my 2011 Honda Pilot has a wireless charging mount for the phone and a Bluetooth adapter plugged into the AUX port of the audio system. I have been hands free for 5 years at a cost of less than $50.
I live in PA. The law is pretty clear: If you are behind the wheel, you cannot hold your phone. One may push a button to answer a call but that's it. You can use the GPS but with voice commands only. I am all for it and hope that it is enforced.

The cops here in PA rarely enforce speed limits and non-insane, non-reckless driving and the people that pushed this through think they’ll enforce this? LMAO!

^^^^ Someone does something that can only be considered good, no matter how you spin it, and you can LMAO all you want. Whose fault is it, if it’s not enforced? Oh btw, it’s not in effect, yet, so you have no idea if it’s going to be enforced. Just naysaying.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Lights turn green they don’t move.

They do that anyway, phone or no phone.

"I'm the first car in line, I have all the time in the world."

You can learn a lot about a person by how they behave at a red light.

I am never the first guy off the line at a green light. I will let someone else take the t-bone hit from some yahoo running the red light.

Running lights is an epidemic here in Tucson.

I have this little trick I do that most drivers today don't seem to know.

I LOOK before I go.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
I have this little trick I do that most drivers today don't seem to know.

I LOOK before I go.

"One weird trick"

quote:

Paul Miller’s Law, bans the use of hand-held devices not just while driving, but even when stopped on the road

Is the shoulder of the road where you pulled off and stopped to take or make a call considered "on the road?" What do you do if you need to call in a situation like, for example, a road rager or impaired driver? I sure hope this has "wiggle room" for discretion.

Re handsfree, the problem isn't what you are doing with your hands, it is what you are doing with your brain and your eyes. Texting is worse than talking on the phone, because it takes eyes as well as brain power, but talking on the phone isn't good either.

Heck, you ever pick up a cup of water, soda, or coffee and drink while driving? Not really much of a problem (at least for most folks), right? It doesn't require a lot of brainpower to drink. Carrying on a conversation on the phone isn't much better texting.

My wife plays with music on her phone while driving and I really wish she wouldn't. Set the music up before you start and let it run. The distraction is unnecessary.

Or how about this idea…


Cite people under the generic “distracted driving” laws for anything that causes them to drive in an unsafe manner. Don’t need a specific “cell phone law”.

In my area this is what is referred to as low hanging fruit and there are absolutely some agencies who make enforcement of this law a priority complete with “emphasis programs” and “no discretion enforcement”.


How is briefly touching a phone control different than say:

-Eating a cheeseburger and trying to wipe the ketchup jizz off your chin while steering your 3500 lb death machine with your elbow
-Putting on your make up in the rear view mirror while weaving across the lane divider
-Turning around to slap your unruly child in the back seat as you drift to the right
-Cruising along at 60mph with a 25lb dog in your lap
-Reading the newspaper or a book balanced on the steering wheel in rush hour crawl along freeway traffic

And a myriad of other things that are legitimate safety issues. I witnessed all of these things with astonishing frequency when I was commuting.



The 20-30 min a cop spends stopping someone for cell phone use when they actually didn’t cause any safety concern but simply “could have” is time wasted that could have been spent on some causing an actual problem.


Just more of the “zero tolerance” mentality that removes critical thought and common sense from the process.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

Paul Miller’s Law, bans the use of hand-held devices not just while driving, but even when stopped on the road

Is the shoulder of the road where you pulled off and stopped to take or make a call considered "on the road?" What do you do if you need to call in a situation like, for example, a road rager or impaired driver? I sure hope this has "wiggle room" for discretion.

Second time: From the Article

The law also permits the use of a mobile device if it’s being used for an emergency, like communication with a law enforcement official or another emergency service.

I'll rephrase. Is or is not the shoulder of the road, the road? And one may wish to take or make calls that may be of personal importance but not emergencies.

Im OK with this law because as a motorcycle rider and even when Im driving my car i see way to many people and I mean 50% or more people on their cell phones texting or surfing the net while stopped and while driving. Every time I see a rear end collision i wonder if it was due to some idiot texting. Like any law the cops need to enforce it in order for the law to be effective.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

Just more of the “zero tolerance” mentality that removes critical thought and common sense from the process.

Yup.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I'll rephrase. Is or is not the shoulder of the road, the road? And one may wish to take or make calls that may be of importance but not emergencies.

The shoulder of the road should only be used for emergencies, not to stop to pee, talk on a cell phone, slap your spouse around, solve a crossword puzzle.

Take the exit for those things.

Someone car sick, yeah, that counts, fast onset of diarrhea, same.
Emergency call, including the road rage, dangerous driver, yes. If you can "hands free voice activate 911, keep driving.

Having vehicles whizzing by at 70-80 MPH, and stopping for anything other than an emergency is putting a lot of people at risk.

I second Prefontaine's rant. I agree that "absorbed" cell phone use is worse than DUI, as a driver can claim all manner of excuse for erratic driving, get a pass, and go right back to the phone, where an impaired driver is likely to wobble/talk themselves into a free ride to the greybar hotel.

But this is not a counter to 911Boss' point about "more law" when existing law has not applied more bite used to chew ass.

GA's "hands free" law, it's pretty simple. DON"T TOUCH YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING

I just wish it was enforced more



Drivers cannot have a phone in their hand or touching any part of their body while talking on their phone while driving.
Even with hands-free technology, drivers cannot write, read or send text messages, e-mails, social media content and other internet data while on the road. (Voice to text is allowed)
Drivers cannot watch videos when they are on the road. (Navigational/GPS videos are allowed)
Drivers cannot use their phones or electronic devices to record video when they are on the road. (Continuously running dash cams are allowed)
Drivers may listen to streaming music that does not include videos on the screen of their phone or device while driving but cannot touch their phones while on the road to activate or program any music streaming app. Streaming music that is controlled by and listened through the vehicle’s radio is allowed. Drivers who need to touch their phones to activate/program their music streaming apps must do so before getting on the road

The fine for a first conviction is $50.00 and 1 point assesed against the driver’s license. The fine is $100.00 and 2 points for a second conviction and $150.00 and 3 points for three or more conviction. The fines for a 2nd or 3rd offense only apply when date of a 2nd or 3rd conviction takes place within 24 months of the date of the first conviction. First time offenders can have the charge dropped by showing the court they have obtained a device that allows them to talk on a phone with hands-free technology or devices.

If they want to make a difference it should be a flat out hands free law. Your still able to drive with your dog on your lap, eat a hamburger and put on makeup.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
Im OK with this law because as a motorcycle rider and even when Im driving my car i see way to many people and I mean 50% or more people on their cell phones texting or surfing the net while stopped and while driving. Every time I see a rear end collision i wonder if it was due to some idiot texting. Like any law the cops need to enforce it in order for the law to be effective.

Agreed!

I never ride with music playing or any kind of comms device.

Even today I find myself less attentive to the outside world when driving one of our beautiful modern cars than when riding the motorcycle. I believe most drivers today are much less aware of what is going on all around them compared to last century, even if they are not playing with their phone. Just like the old days when we drove as an activity or task, we were paying attention all around. Cars today isolate us from the environment. Climate control, superior noise absorption, good audio systems, thick roof support pillars, and tinted glass all lead us to isolation.

People who are distracted, drunk, or high should be harshly punished whenever they are involved in an accident. I don't understand why society gives a free pass to drivers compared to other activities, when they intentionally do something that contributes to them doing great harm.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
The 20-30 min a cop spends stopping someone for cell phone use when they actually didn’t cause any safety concern but simply “could have” is time wasted that could have been spent on some causing an actual problem.

OK so does that apply to any moving violation, if there is no risk of safety to others, then the violation should be ignored, ie driving 10 mph over in a subdivision when no kids are on the street, no safety issue, no ticket...

Agreed.

If I'm on a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair...

Does it really matter where I stop for the night?