The new cell phone law will be in effect July 1, 2008. I fully support the law insomuch as I don't think people should be driving while holding the phone and talking on it. But why should we talk on the phone at all while driving? I mean, can't you get to Starbucks without making an important phone call? Of course, I am just as guilty of this as others, but I don't think having a Bluetooth will make a difference. You still have to dial your phone, and can by law, and you're still carrying on a converstion which is distracting no matter whether you're holding the phone or not.
But get this, and this is the most ridiculous part, it's not illegal to text and drive. Don't hold your phone and talk with one hand while driving with the other, that's too distracting, but by all means, text away. Hold it with one hand and press the letters with the other, don't forget to check your e-mail while you're at it. And oh, don't you have some important thoughts to add to your blog?? What better time than when you are just killing time driving. Wait, did I just say "killing"? Let me share the exact wording on the CA.gov website which lets you know with this new law that it's A-okay to text, as long as it does not distract you from driving your 2 ton killing machine, of course:
"Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text message while driving?A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged."
Well gee, at least it's strongly discouraged.......
4 comments:
I know it sounds terrible, but honestly 90% of my talk-time on the phone during the day is while I'm driving. Otherwise I feel like I don't have the time to be on the phone (yet somehow have time for e-mails). I think we just "feel" like we have idle time whilw we're driving. Looks like I've got to get used to having that growth on my ear again. I checked out the visor type blue-tooths you told to me about, Debo. They have them for like $40 at Costo. The more I thought about it though- can you imagine my trying to talk via "speaker" phone with my crew in the van? No good.
[Suddenly dawns halo] I would NEVER consider texting while driving though. I'm way too busy applying my make-up, passing back cheeseburgers, and smacking my teen-aged son up-side the head when he gets a smart mouth;).
Seriously though, I just pray my oldest has more sense than to text-n-drive by the time he's behind the wheel- and/or we've adopted a new prohibitive law by then. 2 years, 3 1/2 months, and ...look out world!
Nobody on here is so important that they need to be available to talk on the phone 24/7. That is why voicemail was created. Let the phone calls go unanswered when you're driving. Return the call later. There are like 4 emergencies in the world...what makes you think one of them is going to concern you as you're driving to Target? And anyone over the age of 25 who texts should be waterboarded.
Off topic...here is today's joke of the day (courtesy Bill Maher).
All politicians "steal" their speeches from an older generation of politicians. Obama got his from JFK...who got his from FDR...who got his Lincoln...who got his from McCain...
Good joke!!! :)
And yes, I AM TOO SO important that I can't let my calls go to voicemail! At least in my own mind.
The Lord knows I don't carry a cell-phone due to a feeling of my own importance, I'm a pretty humble gal (we all can't be as confident as Debo;). When you have your children in someone else' care all day you still have enough of a sense of responsiblity to be connected to some form of immediate communication. When you have FOUR kids in someone else's care the odds go up that there will be an urgent call coming through-especially when your kids are BOYS who seem to be a magnet for accidents (they know me by name at the E.R.). There are so many different outgoing #'s at my kids' school that unless it's an outside area- I always pick up just in case it's them.
ITA that talking on the phone while driving can be a distraction, but talking via my bluetooth is no more distracting than the ongoing dialogue I'm having with my kids in the car.
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