Cellphone companies call for ban while driving

[homer]

simple solution to this world wide problem.
Fit all new phones with a cut out switch.
Im sure they can have a sensor like a gps , that can tell how fast its ground speed is, once it reaches say 10kph Phone switches off!
Yeah I know , passengers in buses, trains and planes use them,
Just a simple solution even if it is a silly idea.

some new phones do have a gps

[swbarnett]

All NZ penalties are pathetic SD, or there would be less crime

The penalties aren't the problem.

I agree that, once a crime is committed, the consequences should be more severe but this is just punitive and has little value as a deterrent.

The way to reduce crime is to dig in for the long haul (several generations) and raise the level of respect that the average Kiwi has for the next average Kiwi.

[scumdog]

The penalties aren't the problem.

No penalties?
No consequences?

No bloody worries!!!

[Dargor]

does that mean that as soon as I turn on my GPS that somebody some where knows exactly where I am and who I am? I think not
A gps in a phone set for recieve not transmit, so that it could read the land speed? How would that be big brother?
anyways
as I said,
a silly idea

The gps part might be set to only recieve, but the rest of your phone knows how to transmit and knows what the gps says. Phones are becoming more and more like computers and how many people can honestly say they know exactly what there computer is doing (open source FTW). Theres nothing stopping phones becoming the same.

Dont doubt how usefull realtime population gps data could be, there will be many benifical reasons(population/traffic studying) many compelling arguments, but to create big brother... The cost is too high.

[sefer]

A lot of phones have GPS transmitters (though not necessarily GPS recivers as well) , though generally there will be an option to turn it off. However my 5+ year old phone has a transmitter with no off option.

[madandy]

Hands free kits would at least reduce text & drive offenses.
The airlines insist that we refrain from using cell phones during take off and landing so spreading some propaganda that cell phone usage may interfere with a car's airbags/tractioncontrol/ABS etc. might prevent a few suckers from driving through intersections and round-a-bouts without indicating/looking/caring due to important phone call activities...

[rwh]

A lot of phones have GPS transmitters (though not necessarily GPS recivers as well) , though generally there will be an option to turn it off. However my 5+ year old phone has a transmitter with no off option.

What is a GPS transmitter, other than the thing built into the satellite? And if you mean a device that transmits your location as provided by a GPS receiver, what use is that without the receiver?

Richard

[swbarnett]

No penalties?
No consequences?

No bloody worries!!!

If you'd bothered to read further I did say that "I agree that, once a crime is committed, the consequences should be more severe".

My point is that I don't think penalties are much of a deterrent.

[insane1]

well why dont they ban cellphone use when a veichle is moving and make such offences very expensive . if conrtibuting to a accident while using a cell phone car taken off you +huge fine more than $1000.didnt some insurance company say phone records can be used if this sort of thing happens ie causing a crash while on the cell phone .

[MaxB]

According to the retail sector there are less than 10,000 current model radar detectors in the country. Worldwide there is no refereed research that says RDs make you more likely to have an accident, in fact some research shows that RD users make slightly safer road users. And yet the Governmant wants to ban them.

There is plenty of research worldwide that cellphone use while driving increases the risk of a serious accident. And yet the Governmant does not want to ban them.

Tell us all we need to know about how this Govt. really thinks about our safety.

[Bikernereid]

Having laws that require you to use legal hands free equipment for mobiles whilst driving and imposing fines for those who don't has had bugger all effect over here!!

[WarlockNZ]

I would have agree.

Nothing less than a total ban should be inforced, not on RD's tho ... we love them .. LOL

It's more about the distraction of talking on a phone while driving.

A quick google provides the following results
Drivers on Cell Phones Are as Bad as Drunks
Hands-Free Cell Phone Use in Cars Not Much Protection
and even some cool graphs from NZ no less , notice that Radar Detectors don't even appear on the list... hmm

After 10 mins of Google, i can't find one study on RD's ..

I feel a letter to my local MP coming on.

[sefer]

What is a GPS transmitter, other than the thing built into the satellite? And if you mean a device that transmits your location as provided by a GPS receiver, what use is that without the receiver?

Richard

Yeah sorry I'm using the terms incorrectly in an attempt to make it easier to understand.

When I say transmitter I mean that your phone will have a basic GPS receiver that will, if activated by your phone company, show your location. I imagine these are very cheap receivers that are not very accurate, but since they're (apparently) designed as a sort of emergency locator it's probably not that important to have 100% accuracy. All the phones I've seen with this so far do not display your location on your phone in anyway (i guess some might), and you have to be on the network for it to work (they transmit your location via the phone network).

When I say receiver I'm talking about an actual GPS function on the phone itself, either a plain-jane location reading or with maps.

[scumdog]

If you'd bothered to read further I did say that "I agree that, once a crime is committed, the consequences should be more severe".

My point is that I don't think penalties are much of a deterrent.

Part of the deterent aspect of any punishment IS the severity (or in NZs case, lack-of) of the penalty.

But as mentioned by you and in my agreement: Penalties in NZ are sweet f.a. of a deterent for many crimes/offences.

[Hitcher]

Yeah sorry I'm using the terms incorrectly in an attempt to make it easier to understand.

When I say transmitter I mean that your phone will have a basic GPS receiver that will, if activated by your phone company, show your location. I imagine these are very cheap receivers that are not very accurate, but since they're (apparently) designed as a sort of emergency locator it's probably not that important to have 100% accuracy. All the phones I've seen with this so far do not display your location on your phone in anyway (i guess some might), and you have to be on the network for it to work (they transmit your location via the phone network).

When I say receiver I'm talking about an actual GPS function on the phone itself, either a plain-jane location reading or with maps.

What you're attempting to describe isn't GPS. It's a system where the phone triangulates itself in relation to the known location of fixed cellphone transmitters. There are no satellites involved, nor any "GPS" technology.