[dmjones]

Voice dialing is not a requirement of the California law. As enacted, the law allows a driver to dial or even text message while in motion. The only thing not allowed is actually holding the phone up to one's ear.

To those who "felt safer" by not seeing anyone talking on the phone--well, congratulations...but what difference does that make? I feel safer because I have guns in the home for personal protection, but I also have scientific studies that validate that feeling with proof that areas where law-abiding citizens own guns, crime is lower. What is your feeling based on?

[daniel2828_MW]

h4. Macworld wrote:
try to avoid using your phone while driving period.

Best advice I've heard from Macworld yet.



I don't relish the idea of talking on my cell phone while driving. I try to avoid it. But my job requires that I be available at all times when my boss calls, even if I'm just going out to catch lunch or a haircut. That said, the cell phone companies/BT headseat companies OWE us a reasonable way to answer our phones without risking lives. Put all the laws in place that you want, but no one is going to pay attention to them for a myriad of reasons. If laws are enacted toward citizens to prevent us from smoking in public places, or to stop us from talking on cell phones or whatever, put the presssure on the companies that provide us with the new opportunities to stay connected...don't put the pressure on us. Make it mandatory to put hands-free units on ALL cars instead of the relatively few who can afford BMW's, Lexus's, etc. Otherwise, make it illegal to have McDonald's offer drive-thru windows. Come on, people. It's just common sense.

[JakeT]

Quote

While answering the phone with a Bluetooth headset or the included headphones is usually as simple as hitting a button,

If you're already wearing the headset, it's easy. I'm usually not. Then I usually grab the phone, hit the answer button, it switches over to the headset, I either switch back to handset or fumble around trying to get the headset on before the person hangs up.

Calling is safer because I can put on the headset and start the call when I'm stopped or something.

I heard that a lot of the problem is the distraction of talking and driving. I think they should outlaw carpooling, as well. Those people are so dangerous, they have to stick them in their own lane and put barriers between them and other traffic.

[hillstones]

1. Answering the iPhone is easy. When it rings, tap the button that says Answer Call.

2. Instead of those dorky borg implants called Bluetooth Headsets, how about a Bluetooth Speakerphone?

I just ordered the BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Speakerphone. It is fully compatible with the iPhone, and it will transfer the entire contact list from the iPhone, so the caller ID in the speakerphone will announce the caller by name. If the caller is not in your contact list, the caller ID will announce the number. When the phone rings, tap a button on the Supertooth (clipped to your sunvisor) and talk to the person just as if they were sitting in the car next to you. Much better than any headset.

Someone mentioned the Motorola T305...DO NOT BUY IT! It is not compatible with the iPhone. Something to do with the software. It was all static, even though it worked great with my Razr 3 phone.

Macworld does have the best advice...don't use the phone while driving, period! We lived without them in the 80's and we can drive without talking to anyone on the phone.

[hillstones]

Even though the new law prevents people from holding the phone up to their head to make a call, it unfortunately doesn't prohibit the moron teenagers from TEXTING each other while driving! That is worse!

[gary12]

One more law to add to the books. I agree with what dmjones said, we already have a law for this and pretty much anything else you do on the road. If we start making dumb laws like this we might as well make laws that ban smoking cigarettes while drive, changing radio stations, changing the temperature, and speaking with passengers. They all "take our eyes off the road".

[Fribhey]

big freakin deal.
cell phone use while driving has been banned in NY since 2001 and in NJ since 2004
it should be banned in EVERY state

[Fribhey]

big freakin deal.

using cell phones (without a handsfree device) while driving has been banned in NY since 2001 and in NJ since 2004

[Vocorus]

This ban was set here in South Africa, guess what? It doesn't work. Every single day, you see people driving along minding their own damn business, stuck in their own self-absorbed world chatting away on a cell. Nobody gives two flying squirrels, even the police do it. And then when there is a major accident, they all run around like headless chickens wondering that is going on.
Then again, any kind of road law doesn't abide here; everyone believes they can do what they want with impunity. It's very sad.

[TeaEarleGreyHot]

The USA State of Connecticut has also had the ban for a few years, and it doesn't work there, either. In fact, a local TV station last year filmed the state legislators driving into work, and found that a large majority of them do not obey the very law they passed. They were all merrily talking/typing away on their cell phones, as they pulled into the parking garage.

[Peter Cohen]

Further proof that you can't legislate common sense.

[tallscot]

Niagara Falls!!!!!

[Steve_S]

dmjones said:

As enacted, the law allows a driver to dial or even text message while in motion. The only thing not allowed is actually holding the phone up to one's ear.

Yeah, that's amazing to me. People do try to text message while driving. This is the height of stupidity. It's a shame that some people just have to be talking to someone all the time. Unfortunately, people abusing the phone while driving is not the exception, it's almost become the standard.

[Mikey1715]

If people would just use some common sense we wouldn't need laws for every little thing. If I am driving and I get a phone call, I answer and tell the caller I'll call them back. If the conversation is really necessary or important, I pull to the side of the road and talk.
Putting on makeup, shaving, reading the newspaper and especially having your animal on your lap while driving is also very dangerous not to mention inconsiderate of others on the road.
I think the reckless law should be enforced in these cases as well. But it seems that fining someone $271 for driving in the car pool lane is a higher priority these days. Easy fine money income I guess.