Crash While Cellphone talkin', Cough Up $500

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/09/04/crash-while-cellphone-talkin-cough-up-500/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/09/04/crash-while-cellphone-talkin-cough-up-500/</a><br /><br /></div>"<i>CultureTalk about adding insult to injury (seriously); DeKalb County, in Georgia, has recently passed a law that would fine drivers at fault for auto accidents if they were talking on their cellphone at the time of the crash. You'd think someone who just got in an accident might have already learned their lesson about paying attention to the road while on the phone, but hey, why fine preventively (or ban altogether) when you can just monetarily punish people who may also have to live with the unbearable conscience of possibly having severely injured or killed someone else?</i>"<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-20060905-carcrash.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />One of my biggest pet peeves while on the road is watching everyone around me who would rather talk on their cell phones than pay attention to the several ton metal objects driving around them. Personally, I feel the fine should be more than a mere couple hundred dollars. This is why I always suggest either pulling over to use your phone or purchasing a nice handsfree kit!

[djdj]

I used to be against any type of legistation that prevented people for using a cell phone while they are driving. But at that time I assumed that other people were like me... if I have to use the phone while I'm driving, it is a secondary priority and I don't hesitate to pause or end a conversation abruptly if need be.

I don't think I feel that way anymore. I couldn't tell you how many times I have seen people run stop signs or wander into another lane, inevitably to find they are talking on a cell phone. And don't even get me started on drivers going 20 MPH slower than everyone else on the road when they are talking away. I really want to install a flashing "HANGUP AND DRIVE" sign in my back window that I can turn on as I drive past these idiots.

Granted, I don't want to have my option of using the phone when I need to taken away, but something has to be done. It seems that most drivers just can't handle doing both.

[kerrins]

I have seen just as many people digging in their glove box, changing radio stations, eating, shaving, putting on makeup and reading books and newspapers. Personally, I would rather have someone hold their phone up to their ear rather than try to put in a BT headset and figure out how to DIAL a number and make sure they turned the BT on. If you're going to fine for "being distracted" then I'm OK with that. I just don't think the cell phone is the root of all evil. Make the fine across the board, not phone specific.

[randalllewis]

I agree, there are many things that distract drivers and I dont believe a mobile phone is any more or less distracting than eating, drinking or putting a CD in the changer.

Any fines for using mobile phones while driving should apply to other distractions as well.

That said, why not have the market nudge people towards handfree sets. I just bought a new Toyota with built in Bluetooth which has worked flawlessly and allows me to call hands free. There should be a discount on my insurance for this, but there isn't. Same for people who have aftermarket hands free kits installed. Let's see an insurance discount. I know just cause there is a handsfree unit in the car, there is nothing to prevent me from holding the phone to my ear. But that is true of seatbelts too and there used to be an insurance discount for those.

[Mike Temporale]

I have to agree with others here. I've been saying it for a while. In fact, I think I even posted about a study that found people eating where just as bad as those talking on cellphones. That was a while ago now, but I'm sure it's the same. Laws should be focused on any distraction while driving and not just cellphones.