Starting Thursday, talking on a cell phone while driving without a hand-free device will be illegal in New Jersey. Hands-free devices are generally awkward and uncomfortable… Maybe with new laws (although I don’t agree that this is the best solution), more people will be interested in improving earpieces and headsets.
Verizon has a phone with Bluetooth coming soon, and many of the GSM carriers already have Bluetooth in their phones, so that takes care of the wires. Many of the new phones have speakerphones built in, and for the ones that don’t, you can always get a relatively inexpensive car kit or charger/speakerphone adapter.
I usually keep a hands-free in my van, but sometimes I’ll be using it when I pull into the driveway, and then it comes into the house with me. Then I forget to bring it back out. Also, if I’m driving Ali’s car, I don’t have one with me. I guess I have to start carrying one with me at all times?
Either that or pull over whenever your phone rings.
Yeah, cause me swerving off the highway every time my phone rings isn’t more likely to cause accidents than driving while on my phone…sheesh!
Also, this law seems a little bit stupid. The point that seems to be made about cell phones by those who argue that they are dangerous while driving is that people are distracted while using them. Well, call me crazy, but isn’t it the conversation that is distracting them? So how is using a hands-free device going to make this any better? I’ll grant you that keeping both hands on the wheel is always safer than driving with one hand by your ear, but does this mean we should also ban changing radio stations while driving? How about drinking a beverage? I guess we should be removing all of those cup holders, huh? I’m not saying it’s a bad law, per se. I’m just saying it’s not well thought out, and seems to just be reactionary (as most things in this country are) to one thing without thinking out the real cause or the entirety of the problem.
You just hit the nail right on the head. In terms of distracting behavior behind the wheel, using a cell phone isn’t even NEAR the top of the list. I remember reading reports about studies (I won’t even attempt to say that I read the studies themselves)that indicated that eating, reading newspapers, and operating the stereo system resulted in more accidents than cell phone use.
The other thing that’s kinda moronic is that the law just says that you can’t have the phone in your hand. But it doesn’t address the root of the supposed problem – the phone itself isn’t the main distraction. Whenever I see someone swerving, or holding up traffic, or generally driving poorly/dangerously with a cell phone in their hand, they’re not dialing it – they’re already talking on it. They’re more involved in the conversation than they are in driving. THAT’s the real danger.
Besides which, even when I’m fully concentrating on the road, I don’t always keep both hands on the wheel…so what’s the big deal if the free hand has a phone in it? Ugh.
And the law is only enforced if the nice policeman pulls you over for some other infraction…..
You mean, like the old seat belt law? Fantastic. That makes it even more useless. Unless there’s going to be a sudden rash of broken taillights.
“Do you know why I pulled you over sir?”
“Ummm…no.”
“You’ve got a tail light out.”
“No, I don’t”
*smash*
“You’ve got a tail light out. Step out of the car, sir…”
“Respect my authoritah!”