Driving While Talking On Your Cell Could Soon Be Against The

[DMS]

Several states have passed laws that prohibit drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving.

And now if one lawmaker has his way a similar ban could be coming to Kentucky.

"Some people want to ban cell phone usage entirely while in a vehicle, I do not, however I do want to limit how people can use them," said Rep. Dave Floyd with the 50th District.

Under his proposal drivers would be allowed to use their cell phones in the car, but they would need to be using a handsfree device.

"Technology has made it possible for wireless devices, people can also use speaker phone, which allows us to make a call without taking our hands off the wheel while talking," said Floyd.

This proposal will come under consideration in February 2009. Should it pass and become law, it could go into effect as early as next July

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/34242234.html

[LC addict]

Honestly, I use a bluetooth device when Im driving and i can't imagine trying to drive and hold a phone, I think its a good idea.

[E_]

I think some can do it and some can not. A study was conducted recently and it was not really the act of holding the phone while driving but instead that some drivers lose focus of the road while they are talking on the phone whether it be a speaker phone, blu tooth, or holding it by hand. All seemed to have the same results with some of the test subjects. Some were greatly impacted by talking on the phone and some were affected at about the same level as having a conversation within the vehicle.

I am against this ban but daily I do see those that for SURE should NOT be driving and on the phone. Then I see even more putting on lipstick, reading the newspapaer, eating fast food, etc that are driving out in front of others etc.

[FasterThanYou]

Will I still be able to text and email while driving?

[DMS]

Will I still be able to text and email while driving?

As crazy as it sounds I remember seeing awhile back Calf. ( i think) had banned talking BUT not texting. (insert icon of smacking oneself in head with tack hammer)

[shocka43]

Better yet....Lets ban some people from driving...PERIOD. DWHUA. Driving With Head Up A....I think it is in the Ohio Revised Code as well as Kentucky law.

Personally, I have Microsoft Sync. Won't have another vehicle without some sort of program/device/hardware/software ever again.

[DMS]

I agree Shocka! IMO everyone should have to take a new driving test every, say 5-10 years. There is ALOT of people that needs to be off the road. Like when the CDL test thing started. Many drivers were removed from the pool. I personally know of two legally blind people (drawing disablity) who run the road all day everyday. Also a couple that cannot read and write. How are they gonna know if the sign says "Bridge Out" , "Accident Ahead" or whatever?

[shocka43]

I agree Shocka! IMO everyone should have to take a new driving test every, say 5-10 years. There is ALOT of people that needs to be off the road. Like when the CDL test thing started. Many drivers were removed from the pool. I personally know of two legally blind people (drawing disablity) who run the road all day everyday. Also a couple that cannot read and write. How are they gonna know if the sign says "Bridge Out" , "Accident Ahead" or whatever?

Even for officers, when we have the means to send someone for a retest, it is difficult without the right wording.

In our write ups that go to the state for a retest...Usually after a crash or some sort of violation that would lead us to a contact with a "not very good driver"....Age is the most apparent thing that we deal with in regards to retesting. Unfortunately we can't put on the form, "Due to the (driver's) age and abilities, I feel they need to be retested to determine if they should be on the road." We get it kicked back because it falls under age discrimination, even when other's lives are on the line. We have to word it in a fashion that age and other apparently "discriminatory" terms aren't used. It is pretty sad when you have a means of testing young individuals to determine if they are "able" to drive, but yet we can't test older people to see if they are "able" to drive. Both sides are on each side of the bell curve. There are many accidents that we see every year dealing with the elderly and age/limited abilities were a factor in the crash. We field calls all the time from elderly individuals wanting to file charges against family members for taking the keys to their car. You hate to take something away from an individual who is limited as is, and driving is usually one of their last "freedom" things they enjoy. Unfortunately, others are put at risk.

[MissSwitzerland]

There was an accident here in town a couple of months ago that involved a guy who was checking his calender on his cell phone when he hit a dump truck head on. He was driving a Jeep. He doesn't have to worry about what's on his calendar anymore.

It's scary how many distractions there are in vehicles today. We looked at motor coaches not long ago, just for kicks. Several of them had DVD players installed in the dash. Now, tell me how quick a person driving one of those huge mothers could get it to stop when he realized he was watching a movie instead of the road?????

[E_]

What about the indash TVs, Computers, Navigation etc.

[MissSwitzerland]

Or the blonde driving down the road putting pantyhose on because she got a run in the ones she had on earlier????

(Not that I would know anything about that!!)