Notebook: Distracted Drivers

The National Safety Council warns that phoning while driving quadruples your risk of an accident. Katie Couric comments on whether cell phone use should be illegal on the road.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Katie
• Couric
• Drivers
• Accident
• Illegal
• Cell
• Phone

[beexsama]

Banning phones make people even more distracted. Because, now they have to look out for cops while talking on the phone.

[canisdormit]

I think the more important issue is why Katie is trying to look like a teenage boy.

[sublimemomdinah]

Why do they delude themselves that they could do both?

[MishuTaste]

I think it's stupid when people try to dial a phone number while they're driving: especially on the freeway.

[hypnofan35]

Here is an idea. The time on the phone is probably logged somewhere, and therefore can be shown if not proven. Just because an abuse can be hidden or go on observed, does not mean it is non existent. You go to traffic court, they check your phone records, and maybe then warn the person not to be talking on the phone while driving. I think what should happen is a rapid transition to A. I. driving or self driving cars. Probably soon would be good. This would allow semi impaired people ride.

[68NYC]

Yes...

Some where along the way of the overall convenience-

commonsense has gotten overlooked.

Pulling over on the highway for a call isn't the safest thing to do either and i have seen that also.

Guilty?? yes.

Denying the problem?? No

Fatigue and overstressed drivers only adds to the problem.

[penguin217]

Its banned in Australia and has been for sometime, you risk a large ticket if caught. About time the US followed our lead. Anybody who thinks its not dangerous is a idiot!

And yes there are examples of other multitasking, such as women doing their hair while driving or putting on lipstick etc.

Equally dangerous!!! Equally STUPID!!!!!

[d3adp001]

Police do it everywhere they go, plus they have a computer going on the same time, the stats are bs. Its funded by insurance companies so they can deny cover to you if you were using your phone. A cop is just a person if they are capable of performing the task then so are the rest of us. If we aren't then neither are they. So which is it? can't have your cake and have eaten also.

[TheLostTruckDriver]

I love how several people who obviously think they have to talk on cell phones are thumbs downing my statement. I've driven through all 48 states and been in close calls and seen the accidents. I know most people can do this safely. Most people can probably drink a beer or two and drive.

There will be something better than cell phones in the future so that everyone will be on touchless, headset-less too. Probably built in to cars like radios on steering wheels. But right now we divide.

[madebutante]

Require largest companies to allow employees to work /telecommute from home. Stagger work hours. This will alleviate some traffic and help safety all around. Actually, we should ban cell phones (except for emergencies; provide free phone booths and land lines (utilities are SUPPOSED to be free - probably was when it all started - a PUBLIC service, not a private enterprise.) Cell phones are killing off the bee population . There's a 75% decrease. At 100%, Einstein said we'd have 4 years to live.