Cellphones

[dpex]

This is a vexing issue.

The counter-arguments revolve around various 'other' distractions. Screaming kids, talkative passengers, girls in short dresses, the 'other' distraction list goes on. So why are cell-phones such a big issue? being the current question.

However...

There always has to be a however for the naysayers...In this case, me.

I want to make it clear that I'm into the concept of absolute freedom to do as one will so long as one does not do with the express intention of harming another.

But there is something about cell-phones which, when in use, cross the barrier between 'intended' harm and accidental harm.

I've thought about this issue for ages and I still do not understand how cell-phones pervert my road-safety, save to say, they do.

The best I can do is assert that all of the other distractions we face while driving are not quite as 'specific' as a phone conversation.

I find my mind gets locked onto the voice in my ear, and my necessary responses while driving take some sort of back-seat.

I can't quantify this. Jesus I wish I could. I'd probably make millions from it. But I can't.

What I do know is that I have experienced, numerous times, a kind've fogging out of the road ahead while I concentrate on the cell conversation.

I dunno why. But I know it happens. Somehow the voice in my ear overtakes my immediate surroundings, and I awake thinking, 'Where am I? Oh yeah. now I remember.

I conclude that it's not the conversation which is he issue. The issue somehow revolves around talking with someone outside the cage

Quite why that should be different from talking to some inside the cage is, currently, beyond my understanding. But the fact is, if I get talking on a cell, to my ear or hands-free, my concentration on the road takes a back seat.

I wish I could understand why.

[p.dath]

+1 I agree.

[grusomhat]

Any distractions that involved yourself or anyone else in the car are easily stopped when you realise that something on the road needs your attention. Passengers can see this as well and stop distracting you when the need arises (generally).

When you are involved with someone that isn't in the same place/situation as you, ie on a cellphone to someone in an office, they don't know what's happening around you. So when something bad happens, they don't know and will keep going on, and you will tend to keep listening for some odd reason.

Well that's what the news people say.

IMHO when you are talking to someone, it's easy for you to drift into limbo with the other person where nothing is happening except the cellphone. I think it's a subconscious way of making the call more personal. It's a bit more subtle than that but it exists.

[Mikkel]

Don't know if it helps you in anyway... but not everybody has it the same way, of that I can assure you.

I can only hope that you, given the realisation you line out above, have made a habit out of not using your cellphone while driving.

[Pixie]

I find my mind gets locked onto the voice in my ear, and my necessary responses while driving take some sort of back-seat.

I can't quantify this. Jesus I wish I could. I'd probably make millions from it. But I can't.

This is thought to be caused by the fact that talking to a remote person without being able to see that person's physical (body language) responses is an unatural situation and the speaker's brain does not handle it well

[Flatcap]

There are no 'companionable silences' while talking on the phone

[Big Dave]

It's not vexing at all. It's lowest common denominator-ism.

You 'might' be able to cope.

A large % of the population can't.

Get a hands free and deal with it.

[ManDownUnder]

I want to make it clear that I'm into the concept of absolute freedom to do as one will so long as one does not do with the express intention of harming another.

Did you just give drunk driving the ok?

"Sorry for knockin' ya off ya bike mate I didn't see you. I needed to get home and was being reeeeally careful..."

[CookMySock]

Any distractions that involved yourself or anyone else in the car are easily stopped when you realise that something on the road needs your attention.

Read again what you have typed.

The whole reason a distraction IS a distraction, is it stops you from realising other things. You don't get both, unless you are superhuman, and yoo hooo, reality check - YOU'RE FUCKEN NOT.

This is akin to another recent thread, where apparently, some sixth-sense people can sense unseen road conditions around some blind corner. This is complete bullshit. NO PERSON can do that. It's ridiculous, and tantamount to some "I am a god" elitism bullshit.


Steve

[vifferman]

This is thought to be caused by the fact that talking to a remote person without being able to see that person's physical (body language) responses is an unatural situation and the speaker's brain does not handle it well

True, plus a very large part of the human brain is dedicated to communication, sometimes at the expense of other things.
It's interesting the people (like my son) who say that they can use their cellphone to talk or text while driving, and it doesn't affect their driving at all. This is complete and utter bullshit, because while it might be fine most of the time, it doesn't allow for emergencies and the like. Even if it only impinges on your attention to driving a little bit, it might be that little bit that makes a difference.

On the other hand, I'm a fan of personal responsibility rather than bureaucracy, and think we have too many laws, rules'n'regulations already. We should be repealing laws, not making new ones.
On the other other hand, if it means that I don't have to put up with dorks driving like they're drunk, because talking or txting on their cellphone is so life-changingly important it HAS to be done while they're in the car, well that's a good thing.

[Usarka]

--stuck record--

Hands free is no safer than hand held

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10591619

The findings have been clear: talking on a cellphone impairs driving, and similar impairments are seen with hands-free and hand-held phones.

-- bdck bdck scratch --

[p.dath]

--stuck record--

Hands free is no safer than hand held

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10591619



-- bdck bdck scratch --

I agree for the reasons given above - hands free is no safer.

[sinfull]

Nor is eating a pie safe but i will still turn the key and drive whilst eating the bloody pie !
Piesssssss mmmmm

[StoneY]

This is a vexing issue.

I've thought about this issue for ages and I still do not understand how cell-phones pervert my road-safety, save to say, they do.

I wish I could understand why.

As if the other umpteen pages of ranting on this issue is not enough! here we go again

It this SIMPLE dude-

Its another HAND you should have for driving being used- half your BRAIN is now tasked to holding the device to your godamned EAR-
And your reactions are more tuned to the phone- (primary thought track) - and your brain places DRIVING into the second current activity plane of reason- BAD FUCKIN MOVE!

Your also thinking of the incoming conversation and the replies- another 25% of your COGNITIVE mind (the one OPERATING that guided missile your driving in)
Say you have answered a call- congrats- you now have less than 25% of your cognitive consious mind tasked on the road and vehicle control-

Its a no brainer- CELLPHONES distract the drivers- and DANGEROUSLY so

Why is it that so many otherwise sensible intellegent people are so upset that hand held cellphones are being banned in cars- its only the DRIVER thats affected and rightly so-

Wanna use ya cellphone while on the move take the bus- stay off my roads

Now- I hope you 'understand' like any resonable person who can get past thier own 'im so awesome at multitasking it cant affect me' attitude

Driving is a privellege NOT a god given right- and NZ is over 15 YEARS behind the rest of the developed world in banning hand helds

[Jizah]

I always find I concentrate so much on the call because of poor call quality, and when only using one ear to hear it's actually quite hard to understand what someone is saying, especially with all the background noise on both ends.