agarrison1 wrote:

The thing that irriates me so much about cell phones is that everyone in the Memphis, TN area has one, and they all use it while they drive. The only times that I drive are early in the morning (around 6:30), and just before the afternoon rush hour stops. What puzzles me is that every morning, I usually get stuck behind someone that is much more interested in talking on their phones rather than drive. Since Memphis drivers can't drive at all, what little mental capacity they have is turned toward the conversation at hand, rather than on the already overcrowded and unsafe roads. Mind you, this is at 6:30 in the morning. With rush hour as bad as it is here in Memphis, its one heck of a journey to try to travel in town. Personally, I have never used a cell phone while driving (if I call anyone, I'll call them before I leave while sitting in the parking lot). As bad as the conditions are in Memphis, there should be some sort of law or fine for using a cell phone. I know that this rant doesn't really mean anything to anyone not around the city of Memphis...and I don't wish it on anyone...cell phones while driving gets a wholehearted NO from me.

Welcome. Nice intro. I don’t care to talk on the cell phone either, it makes me nervous cause I have gone off while talking and not paid attention to where I was going. Very scary.

Even hands free cell phones take your concentration away from driving.

My phone automatically answers a call and puts it on speakerphone when I'm in the car, so I have no need to take either hand off the wheel.

However, even then I find it depends on the conversation. If its a stressful one, eg disagreement with somebody, then I get very distracted from driving. If its an easy conversation talking rubbish with a friend then I can keep my concentration on the road also.

Recently though, I've decided neither is a good idea and just keep incoming calls short, eg 'Hi, who's calling? I'm driving. I'll call you back later'.

sierra1991 that makes good common sense.

That's why I have voice mail... If they don't leave a message, then they didn't want to talk to me very badly anyway...

Right on

i try not to use cell phone while driving, or let someone else answer my call or entirely put off the phone

Cell phones ("Mobile's" over here...) - are they a blessing or a curse? I'm inclined to think of them as a blessing, but that's probably because I'm too young to drive! I accept that having a conversation on handsfree is safer than on a phone, and agree with the ban. What I can't see is how a conversation via handsfree is any different to conversing with the passengers, which is encouraged on long journeys to keep the driver awake. Any thoughts?

OLDNY wrote:

Even hands free cell phones take your concentration away from driving.

I somewhat disagree. How is this different then having a conversation with someone else that is in the car? Some people mention that it is because you still have to answer and hang up the phone. But that's no different than changing the station on the radio or putting in a new CD. I hope we don't ban radios one day. No noise in the car will drive me crazy! lol

I will admit, I am guilty of talking on the phone while driving and *knock on wood* I haven't had any accidents or even come close. I am very defensive driver though from driving a motorcyle for the past 13 and half years, in a town full of crazy tourists. lol

The few times I have taken or made a cell phone call from the car I have found a place to pull over. If the call is worth making, it is worth making safely.