[Macworld]

Post your comments for Hands on the wheel: California enacts cell-phone driving ban here

[TeaEarleGreyHot]

Does this law ban the use of handheld Citizen's Band "CB" Radios, as well? They've been legal since before I was born...

[PeterG]

Now (respectfully) if we can just get the ladies to put their makeup on and do their hair at home (instead of the car) might also be a help. :)


Peter

don't get nasty now, girls.

[daniel2828_MW]

Well I mentioned this elsewhere, but I'll do so again. The iPhone is indeed one of the more dangerous cell phones when it comes to using it while driving.
Even just answering the phone can be difficult if not impossible without taking your eyes off the road for just a moment. First you have to check if the phone is upright in your hand, then find the slider. Since I'm left-handed and keep my iPhone on the passenger seat, moving the slider with my right hand can be especially difficult; worse, moving it to my left hand first requires that I practically have to take my hands off the steering wheel!
So--and this is the part I mentioned earlier--why doesn't the iPhone include auto-answer or, since it can detect when the phone is next to your face, have it auto-answer when one puts the phone to the ear?
And yes, I do have a bluetooth headset (four or five of them in fact), but I've never been able to find one that was comfortable over long wearing periods or that provided adequate volume on my end or that allowed other people to hear me without asking, "Are you driving through a tunnel?"

[Dalkorian]

TeaEarleGreyHot said:

Does this law ban the use of handheld Citizen's Band "CB" Radios, as well? They've been legal since before I was born...

Very true. Now tell me, how often do you see someone speeding through a red light while talking on the CB? (I see this almost DAILY with cell phones.)

[JoolsG4]

"That way you can eliminate one distraction and be absolutely sure you won’t be on the receiving end of a nasty fine."
A nasty $20 fine isn't, by any means, the worst thing that could happen...
What about the lifetime of guilt knowing you'd killed someone because you just had to be 'an iPhone user who simply must be on the phone while driving'?

[Mac007]

"As of Tuesday, most drivers in the Golden State are prohibited from talking on their cell phone while driving unless they’re using a handsfree device, such as a Bluetooth headset." - Now this is a law I could live with. I love using my iPhone with a bluetooth headset. I have no trouble keeping my eye's and attention on the road when both hands are free.

[bonesb]

I would like to chime in and agree with daniel2828_MW and his sentiments. Not being a current iPhone owner (yet?), I was turned off by the machinations one would need to go through to answer a call and opted to get a Motorola V3xx (my mom took it from me and now I'm using a Z9).
Both of the Motos interface with my vehicle's BT handsfree system - yes, I have a point. I own a few unused BT headsets - they all suck; I own a Jawbone, Plantronics Discovery 655, and something else - all sound not so great and have static. My vehicle's unit is pretty clear and has no static whatsoever. I would pay good money for a BT headset that has less battery life, a good recharging system, and has acceptable sound quality.
I'm pleased that some states are moving to require HF units - they should be more aggressive. I'm thrilled the article suggested not using one's phone during driving; I pull over most of the time or offer to call back later, but I'm guilty by not doing so more often.
If I could, would also recommend to Apple that they create a stylish, usable, and cost-effective BT speaker like Motorola's T305 and T505. That would be cool!

[SpinThis!]

Macworld said:

try to avoid using your phone while driving period.

Best advice I've heard from Macworld yet.

I don't why people prioritize talking on their phone over watching the road and driving. I guess they figure they've done it enough times that it's intuitive. Problem is, you can't be alert and talking on the phone. 99% of the population won't react quick enough.

There really needs to be stiffer penalties for people found at fault for an accident?take away someone's license for 3 months or something and mandate a couple defensive driving classes. Get these flakes off the highway.

We need to take a page out of Europe's playbook. In a few foreign countries, it takes quite a bit of $$$ and education to actually get a license. The driving schools these days apparently are doing a pitiful job of teaching new drivers old tricks.

[keyboarder]

I can honestly say that I have never done my makeup while driving a car.
And look, I managed not to get nasty about it.

[adobephile]

bonesb said:

. . . I would pay good money for a BT headset that has less battery life, a good recharging system, and has acceptable sound quality.

I've been through too many BT headsets myself, but my current one is my all time favorite: a Sennheiser VMX100

It's the most comfortable, most attractive, and has the best sound, including noise cancellation of all that I've owned.

[dmjones]

Seems like everyone is missing the real point here. This is a stupid redundant law that was completely unnecessary--a complete waste of tax payer money and legislature time--and a waste of police time as well.
In California, we already have a law on the books to deal with the issue of people driving while using a cell phone. In fact, I would guess that every state has a similar law. It's called--are you ready for this--reckless driving! If you are driving dangerously, the police have the right to pull you over, no matter what the activity that's causing you to drive in a reckless manner--whether it be talking on the cell phone, eating your lunch, reading the newspaper, putting on makeup, blow drying your hair, dropping your cigarette, changing radio stations, or reaching into the back seat to smack your unruly offspring. All of these things cause accidents. All of these things can distract a person, causing them to "speed through a red light" or "kill a person" as some of the posters above stated. Stupid law. Stupid legislature. Stupid one-party rule in this state (and that includes the leftist governator!).

[natmusak]

Very likely Apple, or an App Store developer will get voice-activated dialing on the iPhone. I'd assume Apple will do it first so Jobs' won't get pulled over in Cupertino. :D

[Tom_Diola]

I have the Apple BT headset. It's lightweight - I made from some wire a thing that hooks it on my ear because the
way it comes out of the box doesn't have a way to secure it to your ear and at $129 I didn't it to fall off. It works
well. I don't imagine they'll have a firmware upgrade for it - but one can dream . . .

The law - well today I saw no one on the phone and I felt safer.