CAR PHONE BAN GOES TOO FAR

boblonsberry.com | 01/14/09 | Bob Lonsberry

[shortstop]

Do you sing in the car?

Or shout at the bonehead on your radio?

If so, you could get pulled over.

That's one of the potentical consequences of a stupid suggestion this week -- by the self-proclaimed National Safety Council -- that cell phones be banned in cars.

They want them done away with. They say that the piecemeal banning of cell phones -- mostly in our most liberal states -- doesn't go far enough. They won't be happy until every cell phone in every car is turned off or broken.

Specifically, they say that talking on a cell phone while driving is a dangerous as being drunk -- that cell phones in cares are the same thing as a DWI.

Which is, of course, preposterous. Their claim is not based in reality, but in the exageration of the activist, in the made-up nonsense they pump out in an effort to get people to surrender their freedom. Talking on a cell phone while driving is potentially, for some, distracting. It is, however, in no way like being drunk. It is, in fact, an activity that is, for most drivers, very easily manageable.

People talk on the cell phone all the time while driving. Even in states that outlaw it, talking on the cell while driving is common and safe.

That is proven by the fact that cars aren't piled into one another or into bridge abutments all over the place. Tens of millions of Americans talk and drive safely every day.

In fact, over the last decade plus, as this technology has become part of the mainstream of American life, the rate of highway accidents and fatalities has gone down. Over the period we've had more phones -- countless more phones -- and yet we've had fewer accidents. That is part of an uninterrupted trend toward safer highways resulting from evolving road and car design. Phones have not had an impact on traffic accidents or deaths, and yet these busybodies want to take them out of the hands of drivers.

And not just out of the hands.The National Safety Council says that hands-free phones must also be outlawed. That means the OnStar microphone in the rearview mirror, and the Blue Tooth in the ear. You simply can't talk while driving. Any form of telecommunications device used in any way while you are driving the car is going to be banned.

You break their rule, and they're going to have a cop pull you over and write you up.

Which is where the singing comes in.

How possibly do these morons propose to impose their new rules on your life? How is an officer alongside the road going to be able to tell if you are singing to the radio or talking on a hands-free phone?

Of what if you have a child in the car with you, someone small who doesn't reach up above the windows, and you're talking to him? Or to your dog. Or are hashing out an argument you had with your spouse. Or maybe you just like to talk to yourself.

Will running your mouth behind the wheel now be Fourth Amendment probable cause to pull you over? What about mouth breathers, will Big Brother hold them forever suspect?

This is all just nonsense. It shows what mischief can arise from these freedom-grabbing jerks who want to cram their rules down our throats.

And that's all that's happening here. This is about the piecemeal stripping of freedom from the American people. There remain few corners of life where people can actually choose what they want to do. Freedom of choice ends when you walk out the abortionist's front door.

So let me tell you how it should be.

If you want to talk on your cell phone while driving in your car, it's your business.

And the heck with anybody who says different. These freaking busybodies and their domineering arrogance. They feel completely entitled to play with your life like you are a rat in a cage.

But we should tell them to bug off. It's not their job to protect us, or to define what protection is. We have laws that define safe driving. They tell us how fast to go, and how to pass, and not to leave our lane, and how close to follow, when to yield and where to stop. If we violate any of those laws, ticket us. If we are not violating any of those laws then we, no matter what we are doing, are driving safely.

It is up to us to decide if we can do a certain activity and operate a vehicle safely. If the vehicle actually operates unsafely, pull us over. Until then, it's none of anybody's business.

If you want to eat while you drive, or listen to the radio, or talk on the phone, it's none of anybody's business.

Especially these unelected do-gooders.

We've got to keep the government off our backs. And we've got to recognize that by "protecting" us the government is doing nothing but enslaving us. Because the government can't give you safety without taking away freedom.

And this is America -- the land of the free.

At least it used to be.

[Pawtucket Patriot]

Yeah, because they can’t pull over to the side of the road and use them at all.

[Earthdweller]

Why don't we just ban driving all together..it's dangerous you know.

Then you can take your increased premiums a put them where the sun don't shine.

[Sudetenland]

It is not the presence of a physical phone that makes it dangerous, it is the simple fact that no human can focus on two thoughts at the same time.

It has also been repeatedly proven that a person talking ona a cell phone in a car is as dangerous as a drunk behind the wheel.

[FreedomFerret]

Increased premiums are for those who are a proven increased risk to the rest of us. Deal with it.

[Sudetenland]

So...like there were no successful businesses before the existence of cell phones?...GMAFB!

Cell phones are a vanity, a luxury, and when driving a car, a deadly weapon.

[CAluvdubya]

I’m OK with banning cellphone use in cars. Whole lot of retarded conversations going on for no point or reason other than killing time. And it is clearly a distraction for many people.

So, going with that reaoning, we should also ban radios in cars?!

I can see if one is holding the phone but I have a Bluetooth in my car and it's no more of a distraction than a radio. This is pure nonsense.

[Sudetenland]

Agreed! One addition, if you choose to drive while using a cell phone and are involved in an accident, you should automatically be assumed to be in the wrong and liable unless there is undeniable evidence to the contrary.

[Earthdweller]

I'm not dealing with anything...we are in an economic t down turn...people who are in an accident will lie about using a cell phone while driving or just throw their cell out the window and go back and look for it later. It's stupid and it won't work.

If insurance agents want more money then increase premiums on people who have accidents for any reason....period. I'm sick of responsible people losing freedoms for stuff like this.

[gracesdad]

“Do you know how many businesses this would kill ? I know it would kill ours.Any business that uses service trucks, home health aides,visiting nurses, delivery drivers, shipping trucks, parts runners; basically anyone who doesn’t just go to an office or factory and work there.”

I don’t agree with a national ban, but all of these businesses existed before cell phones.

[FreePaul]

There are some drivers who can't drive and think at the same time. They obviously shouldn't be allowed to have cell phones in their cars or maybe shouldn't be allowed to have cars. But, how do you separate them from the responsible drivers?

Used to be that someone driving too slow and/or weaving out of his lane was drunk. Now, better than half the time, he has a cell phone stuck in his ear.

[CAluvdubya]

I'm sick of responsible people losing freedoms for stuff like this.

BRAVO!!!

[ETL]

The crux of the issue is not the cell phones, per se, but rather those that drive badly while on them (and many that drive badly while not on them). The Police used to respond to poor driving, and not be seat-belt/cell phone nanny staters. Enforce the driving rules, IMO.

Of course driving rules in general should be enforced. But safe driving requires TWO hands, although even having a 'handfree' phone conversation while driving is dangerous. It is more distracting than talking to someone in the car with you, which can be a problem as well, especially when you have one or more yappity-yaps in the car with you! (mother-in-law, etc)

:)

[DaveyB]

Not every driving condition is equal - so no law should treat country roads the same as heavy urban traffic! If we go down this road, food and drink should be banned too! and of course talk radio (unless it is air-amerika - nobody pays attention to it) not to mention pretty women in sight of the roadway.

In the past few months congress has banned light bulbs and desirable cars (contributing significantly to our economic woes)spoken of registering and tracking every firearm and now banning cell phones in cars!

Enough Already!

Liberty is now on the endangered list and should be afforded special protection!

[freekitty]

I agree with you. I have no objection to hands free cell phones; but i do with hand held ones.

The car weaving on the road, going to slow; holding up traffic; etc. Chances are that is a cell phone driver who could care less about safety. The only important thing to them is talking on the cell phone. And they come in all age groups.

[FreedomFerret]

It’s interesting to see even among just conservatives, this is a split issue.

[Zack Attack]

I do believe that talking on cell phones while driving (DWC - Driving while celling) can be dangerous. So can those who are constantly digging around in their car looking for something or trying to read a roadmap...etc. Same principle is in effect.

Still some can do this if they are responsible and know what they are doing. The same way some can drink (coffee or sodas of course) while driving and even eat their fast food safely.

So I propose legislation requiring licensing. That is, allowing people to take a course and become licensed to use a cellphone in their vehicle while driving. Not only would it be a new source of revenue for cash-starved governments, but would educate people on safe-celling. Remember, Safe-Celling is no accident.

(BTW, for those who don’t get it.../sarc)

[kAcknor]

Doesn't matter what he wants us to stop. Just make it out to be 'safe' and useful idiots on all sides will go along!!!

Big Brother Wins

...Again

[rockinqsranch]

IMO post#’s 45 and 47 are spot on.

[CSM]

“Cell phones are a vanity, a luxury,...”

Maybe historically, however I would argue that is no longer the case. I have been able to disconnect my land line, therefore saving myself a lot of $ and reducing the revenues sent to government coffers.