Feds Want Cell Phone Ban for Teen Drivers

Iria · Sep 21, 2005, 05:55 AM

(09-20) 16:48 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- New drivers have enough things to worry about without adding cell phones and other wireless devices to the mix, federal safety regulators say. They want all states to make it illegal for teenagers and other novice drivers to jabber on phones.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday voted to add to its annual list of "Most Wanted Safety Recommendations to States" a ban on novice drivers using any wireless communication devices.

"Learning how to drive while distracted is definitely a recipe for disaster," said the safety board's acting chairman, Mark Rosenker.

The NTSB only has the power to make recommendations, but its staff and board members personally lobby — often with success — for changes the board considers most important.

"It does make a difference," said Judie Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which supports the ban.
__________
Read More / Source: SFGate

Son_of_Thunder · Sep 21, 2005, 06:13 AM

Well that kinda sucks. I mean, I never chat on my phone in the car, but I do need to use it sometimes. Ask anyone I talk to though, they'll tell you I keep it brief and to the point.

It would suck though if I got pulled over for calling home to tell mom I'll be late for dinner.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 21, 2005, 06:18 AM

Good for them...I hope they raise the driving age to 17 too and make you keep your learners for 2 years instead of 1.

SFOSOK · Sep 21, 2005, 07:01 AM

I wish they raise it to 18, my father made sure I did not get to drive till 18th B-day. If you need to use your phone get a headset. They should also add to the list

While Driving
1. No doing you make up
2. No watching TV
3. No eating a meal that obviously requires two hands to eat

DMV should regulate this:
1. You should have to be able to see over your steering wheel to drive your car
2. No SUV's allowed ever on the road
3. If SUV's are allowed women are not allowed to drive them until they are done with menopause.
4. No SUV's.

Edit: No SUV's

Iria · Sep 21, 2005, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFOSOK

I wish they raise it to 18, my father made sure I did not get to drive till 18th B-day. If you need to use your phone get a headset. They should also add to the list

While Driving
1. No doing you make up
2. No watching TV
3. No eating a meal that obviously requires two hands to eat

DMV should regulate this:
1. You should have to be able to see over your steering wheel to drive your car
2. No SUV's allowed ever on the road
3. If SUV's are allowed women are not allowed to drive them until they are done with menopause.
4. No SUV's.

Edit: No SUV's

Haha, I love the no SUVs part. BTW, did you know that technically some SUVs are illegal on many California roads. Interesting Slate article here.

After reading this I wondered why CA didn't take advantage of this by simply charging a high registration fee for these oversized SUVs. I mean, really, they cost so much the owner's gotta be able to pay, right? If they're ruining roads I pay taxes for I want them to add some money to the state's coffers.

Also, I really laughed at some of the comments people made when this article was first published. People couldn't get it through their thick skulls ... the law is based on GVWR. Not your current vehicle weight at certain times of the day or anything. So it's totally fair.

SFOSOK · Sep 21, 2005, 07:36 AM

Yeah, SUV's are really horred, and after a certain size they become dangerous even more so. I'm sure you have delt with the times when there is a gigantic SUV in front of you that brakes fast and hard but blocks your entire veiw so you don't know hen to slow down. I mean, I seriously hate those things, I'm not sexist or anything and I know some(a couple) decent women drivers, but I mean I have not found out the purpose of this vehicle yet. Do they buy it for the same reason men buy tiny black sports cars? To look like they are rich, try to increase the size of their wang (dunno how that applies to women), and increase their ego. If I ever go completely insane the first thing I will do is take a monster truck and just hunt down all those SUV's. Another thing I despise is raised trucks or lower trucks that are "tripped" out so they have virtually no truck bed, spinners on the wheel's, the most annoying color to the eye (usually orange or yellow), a modded hood for better airflow (for a truck?!), and last but no least a fin on the back... I don't think I need to say anymore bout that.

They only reason I drive a black camaro is because it was the closest to the knightrider car I could find, now I pay for it by having to watch SUV's and trucks try to race me from every red to red light.

***craig5320*** · Sep 21, 2005, 01:49 PM

I don't think this should be restricted to teens, there are plenty of stupid drivers who aren't novices or teens.

Here in the UK there is a mobile ban now, only handsfree kits are legal, and they're still advised against.

The amount of times I've seen people on phones swerving around the road, it's disgusting.

EcPercy · Sep 21, 2005, 04:16 PM

Just go ahead and ban cell phones for everyone... You should be forced to use a hands free mode or nothing at all.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 21, 2005, 04:19 PM

i hate the most when people try and drive a stick shift and talk on the phone

Kittens · Sep 21, 2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EcPercy

Just go ahead and ban cell phones for everyone... You should be forced to use a hands free mode or nothing at all.

I like that idea.

Rayder · Sep 21, 2005, 05:13 PM

In my area, it is against the law to drive and talk on a cell phone already. People do it all the time anyway.

Heh, our landline phone goes unused for days at a time (DSL not withstanding). I never saw a practical use for a cell phone personally. It would NEVER get used.

Drakon · Sep 21, 2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig5320

I don't think this should be restricted to teens, there are plenty of stupid drivers who aren't novices or teens.

Here in the UK there is a mobile ban now, only handsfree kits are legal, and they're still advised against.

The amount of times I've seen people on phones swerving around the road, it's disgusting.

I fully agree. It should be for adults and teens

Necrosis · Sep 21, 2005, 06:45 PM

I always use my head set, and even then when I have to talk I'm totally focused.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 21, 2005, 07:03 PM

I tell people "if I stop talking or itsounds liked i set you in the seat, I'll be right back, I'm driving"

Sep 21, 2005, 05:55 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Feds Want Cell Phone Ban for Teen Drivers (09-20) 16:48 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- New drivers have enough things to worry about without adding cell phones and other wireless devices to the mix, federal safety regulators say. They want all states to make it illegal for teenagers and other novice drivers to jabber on phones. The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday voted to add to its annual list of "Most Wanted Safety Recommendations to States" a ban on novice drivers using any wireless communication devices. "Learning how to drive while distracted is definitely a recipe for disaster," said the safety board's acting chairman, Mark Rosenker. The NTSB only has the power to make recommendations, but its staff and board members personally lobby — often with success — for changes the board considers most important. "It does make a difference," said Judie Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which supports the ban. __________ Read More / Source: SFGate

Sep 21, 2005, 06:13 AM	#2
Son_of_Thunder HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 1,441 Rep Power: 50 System Specs	Well that kinda sucks. I mean, I never chat on my phone in the car, but I do need to use it sometimes. Ask anyone I talk to though, they'll tell you I keep it brief and to the point. It would suck though if I got pulled over for calling home to tell mom I'll be late for dinner. __________________

Sep 21, 2005, 07:01 AM	#4
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	I wish they raise it to 18, my father made sure I did not get to drive till 18th B-day. If you need to use your phone get a headset. They should also add to the list While Driving 1. No doing you make up 2. No watching TV 3. No eating a meal that obviously requires two hands to eat DMV should regulate this: 1. You should have to be able to see over your steering wheel to drive your car 2. No SUV's allowed ever on the road 3. If SUV's are allowed women are not allowed to drive them until they are done with menopause. 4. No SUV's. Edit: No SUV's __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Sep 21, 2005, 07:36 AM	#6
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Yeah, SUV's are really horred, and after a certain size they become dangerous even more so. I'm sure you have delt with the times when there is a gigantic SUV in front of you that brakes fast and hard but blocks your entire veiw so you don't know hen to slow down. I mean, I seriously hate those things, I'm not sexist or anything and I know some(a couple) decent women drivers, but I mean I have not found out the purpose of this vehicle yet. Do they buy it for the same reason men buy tiny black sports cars? To look like they are rich, try to increase the size of their wang (dunno how that applies to women), and increase their ego. If I ever go completely insane the first thing I will do is take a monster truck and just hunt down all those SUV's. Another thing I despise is raised trucks or lower trucks that are "tripped" out so they have virtually no truck bed, spinners on the wheel's, the most annoying color to the eye (usually orange or yellow), a modded hood for better airflow (for a truck?!), and last but no least a fin on the back... I don't think I need to say anymore bout that. They only reason I drive a black camaro is because it was the closest to the knightrider car I could find, now I pay for it by having to watch SUV's and trucks try to race me from every red to red light. __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Sep 21, 2005, 01:49 PM	#7
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,282 Rep Power: 428 System Specs	I don't think this should be restricted to teens, there are plenty of stupid drivers who aren't novices or teens. Here in the UK there is a mobile ban now, only handsfree kits are legal, and they're still advised against. The amount of times I've seen people on phones swerving around the road, it's disgusting. __________________

Sep 21, 2005, 06:18 AM	#3
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	Good for them...I hope they raise the driving age to 17 too and make you keep your learners for 2 years instead of 1.

Sep 21, 2005, 04:16 PM	#8
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 64	Just go ahead and ban cell phones for everyone... You should be forced to use a hands free mode or nothing at all.

Sep 21, 2005, 04:19 PM	#9
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	i hate the most when people try and drive a stick shift and talk on the phone

Sep 21, 2005, 05:13 PM	#11
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,160 Rep Power: 71	In my area, it is against the law to drive and talk on a cell phone already. People do it all the time anyway. Heh, our landline phone goes unused for days at a time (DSL not withstanding). I never saw a practical use for a cell phone personally. It would NEVER get used.

Sep 21, 2005, 06:45 PM	#13
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	I always use my head set, and even then when I have to talk I'm totally focused.

Sep 21, 2005, 07:03 PM	#14
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	I tell people "if I stop talking or itsounds liked i set you in the seat, I'll be right back, I'm driving"