Do you think it would be a good idea to ban cell phone usage in cars all across america, and why?

Pat S

Absolutely not. Sometimes using a cell phone is necessary.

My daughter once got lost in a bad neighborhood and called me for directions. She was very frightened. I stayed on the line with her until she knew where she was. Stopping would have been the worst thing she could have done.

What if you're being threatened by an aggressive driver and fear for your safety? Wouldn't a phone call to 911 help the situation?

There is no need for mindless gabbing on a phone while driving. That can wait. But in cases like the ones I mentioned, a cell phone can be your most valuable tool.

blah

no because then no one could talk to others.
people use it for directions and EVERYTHING.

Faustino G

unfortunately yes because too many people are ending up in the hospital or the morgue with that cell phone down their throat.

bleachandtiresmoke

There should be a hands-free setup made standard at no extra cost put in every new vehicle. Push a button clearly marked in the console or the steering wheel and you can call/hang up/dial with voice commands. Slap a headset on with Bluetooth.

Backstreet Fan

I don't think that its a good idea to ban cellphones in America. Americans practically live off their cellphones. But it would be a good idea for Americans to use ear phones. Come on telling Americans to not use Cellphones in cars is like telling Americnas not to eat Junk food. I'm not maing fun of us, its just the way we live. But we do have to be careful.

dirtytricksracing@sbcglobal.net

They should be banned every where there is no need to make a call or receive one while driving . Even hands free are dangerous the only thing you are to be doing is driving and pay attention to what is going on around you if they ban them then there would be a lot less accidents. Remember we drove for many years with out them. Nothing is so important that it can not wait. I looked at the other answers and there is nothing that a teenage girl talks about on the phone that can not wait till she gets home. They are on the phone before they are out of the parking lot.

Driving Instructor (BRAKE!)

I think more collisions will be attributable to "distracted driving." In the past, collision reports have not had a box to check, so even though past crashes may have been the result of shaving, reading the paper, reaching for a CD or paper that's fallen on the floor, etc. it wasn't specifically listed as the cause. Now, collision reports are more thorough and statistics will show distracted driving as being the cause. This is a good lesson all drivers are becoming educated about - either through a bad experience or the media. My professional experience is that most drivers WILL NOT trade in the opportunity to make / receive a phone call in exchange for being a safer driver.
In my years of being a driving instructor, my most serious crash was the gentleman in his late 30's that rear-ended my driver training car as he was reaching down to the floor to p/u the sales receipt of the BRAND NEW CHEV. AVALANCHE truck he'd just purchased 1/2 hour before! Impact was at approx. 35 mph. as we were stopped in traffic.
That's distracted driving!
It's commonly called the "school of hard knocks!" Many drivers have attended and never get the message.
Today, a new law was signed by the Governor prohibiting texting while driving - left off the original bill of not talking on your phone. Unfortunately, it doesn't take effect until Jan. 1, 2009.
Hope this long diatribe answers your question. YES!

pickingausernamesucks

Yes, because when you are yakking on a cell phone, you are distracted from paying attention to driving.

UCANTCME

Yes...........

Motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

The most common distraction is the use of cellphones, followed by drowsiness.

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