Can you talk and drive at the same time?

The city of Lawrence’s Traffic Safety Commission is considering a ban on cell phone use while driving. On one hand, the law makes sense. Studies have shown that talking on the phone while driving is distracting. But the law would be tough to enforce, and what about other distracting behaviors? Should the city also ban fiddling with the radio and eating while driving?
Posted by Melissa Cooley

9 Comments

  1. kansassam
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 4:57 am | Permalink

    What they should ban is being stupid while driving!! They could fund the arena with traffic tickets instead of taxes….

  2. Ray Thomas
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 7:26 am | Permalink

    *sigh* the old refrain, “there outta be a law….” is being taken to new heights of stupidity.

    Yes, cell phone use is distracting. So is talking, eating, playing with the radio, etc. We already HAVE laws about inattentive driving. We do not need more.

    Typical knee jerk reactions..pass MORE laws rather than enforce the ones already on the books.

  3. dr
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 10:41 am | Permalink

    I don’t think its stupid or a knee-jerk reaction. But IS impractical.

    cell phones have been popular for long egnough that we can stop calling this proposal knee-jerk

    And yes there ought to be a law about ______ (fill in blank about behaviors that put OTHER pepole at RISK. enforcement is another topic. The question is….Is any activity while driving endagering other drivers saftey? YES of course….So yes there ought to be a law.

    It is also illegal to have anything hanging from your rearview mirror but that is only enforced under unusual circumstances. Just as this law is likely to be enforced (ticketed) when an accident occours…..seems reasonable to me

  4. JWink
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 10:57 am | Permalink

    Driving while talking on a cell phone is the same as driving after downing three Budweisers at the local pool hall — they produce a mental impairment that is very dangerous on the road. I see it everyday. Drivers with cell phones tailgate, speed through red lights, try to drive through car accidents, fail to see pedestrians, etc. A very dangerous situation exists but nothing is being done about it in most places.

  5. Jed
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 11:12 am | Permalink

    JWink,No, talking on a cell phone is not the same as driving after downing three Budweisers at the local pool hall. If you’re drunk, at least you’re trying to drive!

  6. Damoon
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 11:18 am | Permalink

    Guilty as charged, I often talk on my cell phone, put on my make up, and do my paperwork while driving. I wouldn’t be upset if a law was passed, I could use some incentive to stop being so stupid.

  7. TRACY
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 11:49 am | Permalink

    RIGHT ON RAY!

    In my town they do the same crap.We had a new car dealership who liked to fly a tethered balloon to attract attention and the city administration just didn’t think it was right. Nothing wrong with the balloon, safe enough, they just didn’t like it. There was nothing illegal about it until they made up a city law to ban it.I also got a 150$ fine for having bricks stacked in my yard! Public health reasons, they said!Two blocks away, the mayor owned a car wash where an old brick dividing wall fell. The bricks have been piled up there for years!He also had them stacked on pallets at his home on main street for years. Finally built a pool change house to go with his mansion.

  8. Andy
    Posted October 6, 2005 at 10:41 pm | Permalink

    Give little people a little authority and….

  9. dr
    Posted October 7, 2005 at 9:36 am | Permalink

    Wow….talk about emotions clouding judgement!