New California State Law

[╬「Selatcia」╬]

California just recently passed a law stating that you cannot talk on your cell phone while driving.

 

Are you with/against that law?

[Cyber Altair]

what's wrong with the law >.>

 

we have that law here as well, way reduced the number of accidents, then again fines here are very high for a good reason so we hardly see an accident.

[Bloodrun]

dude, dude, dude

dont make me slap you

 

of course im frikking for this (swear words lose thier umph, if you cant use them properly >_>)

 

my friend was sent to the hospital in the 4th, do some idiotic fool, who thought drinking and driving and talking to his imaginary friend on the phone, was a good idea

dont fukin, talk to me about this law, it should have been a way long time ago!

[Junk Raver]

What an old law, we have had that law over here in britian for like 2 years +

[J-Max]

Agreed Dj. Isn't it a Instant 3 Points to your License and a £60 Fine? It's a good Law people should be using Hands Free Kits they are so much easier to work with.

[spoiler=The UK Law]A substantial body of research shows that using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving is a significant distraction, and substantially increases the risk of the driver crashing.

 

Drivers who use a mobile phone, whether hand-held or hands-free:

 

* are much less aware of what’s happening on the road around them

* fail to see road signs

* fail to maintain proper lane position and steady speed

* are more likely to ‘tailgate’ the vehicle in front

* react more slowly and take longer to brake

* are more likely to enter unsafe gaps in traffic

* feel more stressed and frustrated.

 

They are also four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and/or other people.

 

Using a hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems are caused mainly by the mental distraction and divided attention of taking part in a phone conversation at the same time as driving.

 

The Law

 

On 1 December 2003, a law came into force to prohibit drivers using a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, while driving. It also made it an offence to “cause or permit” a driver to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, or to use a hand-held mobile phone while supervising a driver who only has a provisional licence.

 

The penalties are initially a fixed penalty of £30 or a fine of up to £1,000 if the offender goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats).

 

From 27th Februrary 2007, the penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving will increase to £60 and three penalty points added to the drivers' licence.

 

The Definition of a Hand-Held Mobile Phone

The Regulation includes any “device, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data”.

 

It states that a “mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function”. "interactive communication function" includes:

 

(i) sending or receiving oral or written messages;

(ii) sending or receiving facsimile documents;

(iii) sending or receiving still or moving images; and

(iv) providing access to the internet

 

There are two exemptions:

 

* 2- way “press to talk” radios, such as used by the emergency services and taxi drivers

* Using a hand-held phone for a genuine emergency call to 999 or 112 if it would be unsafe for the driver to stop.

 

The Definition of Driving

“The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003” defines a person as “driving” even if the vehicle is stationary but the engine is running. The offence will apply to all motor vehicles, including motorcycles, but will not apply to pedal cycles.

 

The Department for Transport have published an Information sheet, “Mobile Phones and Driving: Frequently Asked Questions” to explain the detail of the law.

 

Hands-Free Mobile Phones

Unfortunately, in RoSPA’s view, this law does not ban the use of hands-free mobile phones. Although the government accepts the evidence that using a hands-free phone while driving distracts the driver and increases the risk of an accident, they do not think a hands-free ban would be enforceable. RoSPA disagrees.

 

Drivers should also note that the existing law requiring drivers to be in proper control of their vehicle, or careless or dangerous driving laws can be applied to driving while using a hands-free phone, if the police believe the nature of the driving warrants it.

 

[Bloodrun]

What an old law' date=' we have had that law over here in britian for like 2 years +

[/quote']

 

well you see

this is the US

and were a little slow

-.-"

[MarbleZone]

Excuse me... You just had that law made over there? Even in Portugal that one's been around since I can remember...

 

But you're allowed to talk with that... I don't know how you say it in english... speakerphone option thing, right? The one where you place your cell phone on a hands-free kit (again, I'm making up expressions -.-) so you won't have to hold it while driving... That way it's legal, correct?

[Bloodrun]

Excuse me... You just had that law made over there? Even in Portugal that one's been around since I can remember...

 

But you're allowed to talk with that... I don't know how you say it in english... speakerphone option thing' date=' right? The one where you place your cell phone on a hands-free kit (again, I'm making up expressions -.-) so you won't have to hold it while driving... That way it's legal, correct?

[/quote']

 

the hands free thing doesnt do crap

people have it on ear

just hold phone in the other -.-"

[Wyhe]

California just recently passed a law stating that you cannot talk on your cell phone while driving.

 

Are you with/against that law?

isn't there an extra handphone accessory that is an earpiece that allows one to receieve calls while driving or something?

[HelioSpark]

I agree completely with this law. People are killed because others are stupid enough to hold long conversations on their cell phones while driving. This law is going to prevent innocent people from dying(in California anyway).

 

and yes, there is a wireless headset that i'm sure people will still use while driving, and it is just as distracting to the driver. But hopefully this law will help people realise that this is serious business.

[Willieh]

I'm with it. More dumbasses are likely to kill someone talking on the phone than while their drunk. Unless they have that littl think where they can hook it up, or if they have bluetooth, it shouldn't be legal to talk while driving. You should have to pull over.

[silverlighted]

The law in california still allows headsets...I think that's crap. A person's attention is still very much reduced because they're still focusing their attentional resources towards the conversation.

 

Which means there are still stupid drivers and tragic accidents. -_-

[Static]

This "earphone" thing is called bluetooth.

 

Yeah, New York also has the law, I usually travel there twice a year, so I'm familiar with it.

 

I wish Mass would pass a law like that, almost every time I have been almost hit by a car as a pedestrian WHILE LEGALLY CROSSING THE ROAD IN A CROSSWALK (I J-Walk a LOT, so I will not count those incidents), it was by a person on their phone, who looked angry at me because my being there interupted their conversation >.>

 

I want to hit people with sticks for driving on their phones.

[HelioSpark]

^I agree, Mass has the worst roads, and the WORST drivers in the country. Its amazing how shallow some people can be here :/

 

Anyway, While I was walking yesterday I counted 4 cars in a row where people were on cell phone or bluetooth. Seriously people......doing that can kill you.

[2sick4u]

My view on this is simple.

Every time I look out my car window and see some douche on a bluetooth, in a suit, They're pretty much saying "My god, I'm so important, I get calls all the time. I can't even stop talking for 10 minutes to drive down to B.P to pick up my next yearly supply of gatorade, cause I'm cool, and get calls all the time." (<-- Yes, I'm allowed to stereotype douche-bags.)

-_-".

It's ignorant, and impatient, to be so insistent on using a phone while driving.

 

Even those people dare say "But it could be an emergency." Then, simply, PULL THE funk OVER. It's what that 1/5 of road's for.

 

It's a good law.. At least, better than most.

=/.

2sick~

[Static]

^I agree' date='[b'] Mass has the[/b] worst roads, and the WORST drivers in the country. Its amazing how shallow some people can be here :/

 

Anyway, While I was walking yesterday I counted 4 cars in a row where people were on cell phone or bluetooth. Seriously people......doing that can kill you.

 

Q4T.

[Lazer Yoshi]

Sucks for us here in california. Although, I m with it, since teens and drunks are driving around with their cell phones talking to their date or "buddy". Im really angry with this stuff, but that law should change how things are :D

[Cyber Altair]

it should have been done AGES ago.