Driving home today, I was on a moderately busy road when I pulled up behind a van-ish type of vehicle at a light. When the light turned green, the vehicle in front of me started move but never got above 20 - 25 mph in a 40 zone. After about 15 seconds of that irritation, I pulled up next to the vehicle and looked over. The vehicle was being driven by a female around 40 - 60. Then I noticed the nice CELL PHONE in her hand. Since she was talking and driving at the same time, most of her attention was put on listening to the person on the other end of the line. After viewing that horrible display of driving skills I felt like pulling in front of her, stopping, walking up to her door, ripping the cell phone out of her hand, setting it on the ground, jumping on it about 200 billion times and finally walking back to my nissan truck, calmly.

I personally am not a big fan of a cell phone and really have not a lot of desire of owning one. Although cell phones do have advantages, i.e. broken down on the side of the road, no one in sight. I believe that drivers using a cell phone should get a ticket just like drivers getting a ticket for not wearing their seat belts. Talking and driving is just as bad as not using a seat belt. Both are deadly in their own ways.

I am not a fan of using phones while driving either, but I'm guilty I have done it.

I have never used a mobile (cell) phone while driving without using a hands free kit. Over here there are rather large fines if you are talking on the phone without a hands free kit while you are driving. I think it is 2 points off your license and a $250-275 fine.

I agree with both of you. I've been on a cell phone while driving, but I pick my spots. Yep, they're great for emergencies. I've often been asked why I didn't answer my cell. My response is that I didn't have the need to call anyone so it was shut off!! Great way to extend battery life, by the way...However, having 2 teens around, the cell-phone is sometimes the only way to keep in touch with them

In France the gendarmes will definitely ticket you for phoning & driving...

GP

I've heard about the new models of acura tl and many other cars having built in bluetooth. So you can dial and talk on the phone hands free by just having your bluetooth phone in your car. That's pretty awlsome.

I read that using your hands is not the only problem if you're on the phone while you're driving. Your brain focuses on the conversation and not all the outside stimuli, and that is a big part of the problem.

I personally do not see any diffrence between talking to someone using handfree and talking to a passanger in the car. They both are simular, only diffrence that I can see is that when you are talking to a passanger you everynow and again glance over at them.... removing you attantion from what is infront of you. With handsfree you don't have that problem. My .02

using cell phone while driving will cost you 140 Euro here, and very soon some point will be taken off you driving license.

i try not to use it, find a place to stop to take the call or call back if the number of the caller appear

Here in Hellas the fine is about 300€ and 2 points off your license. But the point is that it really is very dangerous - for the fellow drivers\passengers - talkind on a cell phone even with a hands-free kit and driving at the same time.

It is against the law in all the states I drive in to use a cell phone while driving. I have been able to conduct a business and have never owned a cell phone. I actually think in a lot of cases it is just pretentious by many to have one.