Cellphone ban in cars likely this year - NZ Herald

**Gremlin** · 3rd June 2009, 00:50

Originally Posted by Thani-B

He didnt explain it and I was only there to get the cert to cut down my time so didnt bother asking.

Its not normally so much the use of the mobile (calling or txting) but its the use of your brain, which detracts from the focus of controlling the vehicle.

For example, you're in a technical job, the person rings you outlining a problem. You start to think about the scenario, what could be causing it etc. Now try holding a detailed conversation with someone in person at the same time, without making errors? I know I can't, my normal phone conversations are network problems, pc problems etc, so sometimes quite technical. The conversation in person can be substituted for driving.

I clock up plenty of kilometres, travelling all over the city, and use of the mobile almost certainly results in someone's driving ability to be reduced, either their speed or vehicle control slows, or they tend to lose their knowledge of their surroundings. Reactions, obviously, are also slowed.

Yep, I'm for a ban while driving.

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2009, 01:42

Originally Posted by monkeymcbean

My thoughts are there are enough distractions when driving a car without allowing another like cell phones which require you to drive with one hand,

Driving with one hand is not hard. It just takes practice. I drove a manual for several weeks with one arm in a cast a few years ago. Even with both arms fully functional I seldom have more than one hand on the wheel when I drive a car. Also, I knew a guy in Europe that only had one arm. He drove both left and right hand drive manual cars with no problems whatsoever.

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2009, 01:57

Originally Posted by DarkLord

Nothing worse than erratic cellphone drivers.

What about all the other erratic drivers without cellphones? Are they OK then?

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2009, 02:05

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Its not normally so much the use of the mobile (calling or txting) but its the use of your brain, which detracts from the focus of controlling the vehicle.

For example, you're in a technical job, the person rings you outlining a problem. You start to think about the scenario, what could be causing it etc. Now try holding a detailed conversation with someone in person at the same time, without making errors? I know I can't, my normal phone conversations are network problems, pc problems etc, so sometimes quite technical. The conversation in person can be substituted for driving.

My wife has a Masters degree in Nuclear Physics. When we had a car we used to carry on some very in-depth technical conversations while in the car. My concentration was always primarily on the road. We would have to pick up the conversation after a short lapse from time to time because of some dick-head changing lanes on me or some such.

Similarly with my job (very similar to yours, just in the Unix arena). I would get called while in the car. No problem whatsoever. Again I would leave the other person in the lurch when necessary. Wether cellphone or passenger, it made no difference to me.

**Elysium** · 3rd June 2009, 04:53

Ban the bloody things as I'm getting tired having to run for safety when using a pedestrian crossing when some dumb idiot realises at the last minute after yaking or texting on a cellphone.

Boy racer caught with theirs should have theirs crushed on the spot by the police officers.

**jonbuoy** · 3rd June 2009, 05:50

Are they banning car kits as well? I thought the reason most places banned them was that it took one hand to hold the phone, your still allowed to talk just not hold the phone while you do.

**YellowDog** · 3rd June 2009, 06:22

So you can still legally send a test message whilst riding or driving.

I'm going out to get me some fingerless gloves today!!!!

FFS

**Swoop** · 3rd June 2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by Chrislost

Is that not using a cellphone while driving...?

No. Only the hand-held units are considered being banned, AFAIK.

**Bob** · 3rd June 2009, 08:50

Originally Posted by Bend-it

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...575872&ref=rss

Not sure what I think of this, tbh...

Initially, I thought it was a good thing, afterall, we have all seen drivers do really stupid things because they were distracted on their cellphones...

However, the principle of banning something because someone might do something bad with it is something I generally disagree with... Like banning guns because people have been shot by them, which means we should ban all knives, because far more people have been stabbed then have been shot...

I guess they're not banning cellphones out right, just banning the use of them while driving...

Your thoughts?

In the UK, use of a cellphone, held in the hand, whilst driving is illegal. If the driver is caught, points on the licence (you call them demerits?) and a fine apply.

It is legal to use a hands-free kit. Otherwise, if you want to use a cellphone, you pull over, SWITCH OFF the car and then use the phone. Otherwise, you can be arrested for driving without due care and attention.

I'm all in favour of this - studies of accidents showed that drivers being distracted is a major cause of accidents. Anything that removes yet another distraction for drivers has to be a good thing.

**James Deuce** · 3rd June 2009, 08:56

It's not talking on the handset that is the issue. It's texting. Some of the old people need to get their heads around that. Texting while driving should be an automatic jail term.

While talking on a handset is bad, it is vastly better than texting. I love pulling up alongside a texting bunny at the lights and letting rip with the Stebel, simply for the reaction it generates.

**monkeymcbean** · 3rd June 2009, 08:59

Originally Posted by swbarnett

Driving with one hand is not hard. It just takes practice. I drove a manual for several weeks with one arm in a cast a few years ago. Even with both arms fully functional I seldom have more than one hand on the wheel when I drive a car. Also, I knew a guy in Europe that only had one arm. He drove both left and right hand drive manual cars with no problems whatsoever.

No its not hard driving with one hand, but you can tell the difference when you use two hands on the wheel, im sure when your arm was in a cast you were not talking on a cellphone, most likely your attitude was different as well in that you new you had your only good hand on the wheel so you were more careful from the out set of your drive. So if you are on your cellphone with one hand on the steering wheel, are you one of the many that don't or can't then indicate to go around a round about/corner as this is what happens when you are occupied with a cellphone there is no use of indicators

**monkeymcbean** · 3rd June 2009, 09:47

Originally Posted by James Deuce

It's not talking on the handset that is the issue. It's texting. Some of the old people need to get their heads around that. Texting while driving should be an automatic jail term.

While talking on a handset is bad, it is vastly better than texting. I love pulling up alongside a texting bunny at the lights and letting rip with the Stebel, simply for the reaction it generates.

Thats the story, get the 'be jesus' up them....yeeeshh cellphone use really winds me up something, statistics mention in Queenstown there is a higher use of cellphones per head of population and you really notice the difference in driving attitude and behaviour along with the tourist driving and high use of campervans its a real potent coctail round here...guess it keeps you on your toes.

**been_there** · 3rd June 2009, 13:21

Texting while driving is impossible for us guys who cant multi-task.
It is farkin dangerous, but so is a 18 year with cut down springs etc. So banning them yes but....
Hands free ok? Again it is still a distraction.

Someone cut me off the other week while they where talking on the phone..Gave them a nice friendly wave.

**Ragingrob** · 3rd June 2009, 14:59

Bugger so when there's a crash on the motorway or something we can't ring *555 to report it or anything huh? And noone can get hold of us when they need to urgently if we're on the motorway, not allowed to pull over to answer even!

Yeah so if they do ban them, I think they need to change a few other things first.

**monkeymcbean** · 3rd June 2009, 16:27

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Bugger so when there's a crash on the motorway or something we can't ring *555 to report it or anything huh? And noone can get hold of us when they need to urgently if we're on the motorway, not allowed to pull over to answer even!

Yeah so if they do ban them, I think they need to change a few other things first.

Try a Hands free set, if you need to use your phone in emergency