Sorry to get all liberal/paternalistic, but I really think we need a law banning cell phone use while driving. Link:
A report from the University of Utah sayswhen motorists between 18 and 25 talk on cell phones, they drive likeelderly people ? moving and reacting more slowly and increasing theirrisk of accidents.
Great. Just what we need — another thing to make us Massachusetts folks crappier drivers. This is a serious menace.
Please share widely!
I’m afraid I have to part company with my co-blogger on this one. I can maybe see restricting the use of handsets, but I can’t really believe that talking on a headset is that much worse than talking to the person sitting next to you. Or, for that matter, trying to manage a hot cup of coffee and a Big Mac in your lap. You can’t legislate against all of the creative ways that people will find to drive badly, or otherwise do stupid things. Plus, if we start passing laws every time some nutty perfesser publishes a study, where would we be?
David, bless your heart. You’re wrong. :)Of course, handsets are worse than hands-free. No question — you lose some vision as well as being distracted. Now, as far as hands-free vs. someone in the passenger seat: your passenger can see the road, and may indeed be able to yell “Watch out!” before you run over a herd of undergrads in Harvard Square. Your co-converser on the hands-free is blissfully unaware of where you are or what you’re doing.No, it’s true, you can’t legislate away all distractions, but this one seems more prevalent than the others — even a big, juicy burger … mmm, Burgers…And as for your last “nutty perfesser” point: what are you, a creationist? Pathetic strawman. I reject it completely. Don’t troll me, you. (waggles finger)Now here is a study with a really confusing headline:http://www.hcra.harvard.edu/cellphones.html—“Updated Study Shows Higher Risk of Fatality from Cell Phones While DrivingCosts and Benefits of a Ban are Roughly Equal “—Say what?
even a big, juicy burger … mmm, Burgers…See? See? You’re getting distracted!As for my guardian co-passenger who will thoughtfully let me know before I run us both into a tree, any driver who needs a passenger to warn of obstacles in the road shouldn’t be driving anyway, cell phone or no. Besides, what if my co-passenger is blind? May I talk to him then, or shall the benevolent and all-knowing state only allow me to converse with passengers who also serve a visual warning function?As for my “pathetic strawman,” I reject your rejection! There are “studies” out there that “show” that just about everything is dangerous. The silliness you cite to from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis is an excellent example of why we should be very skeptical of basing public policy on them.