Americans Begin Questioning The Wisdom Of A National Cell Phone Ban

Junior Woods has a well-practiced routine for conducting business on the road: While driving throughout rural Arkansas, the electronics salesman steals a glance at his cellphone every so often, checking for text messages and emails.

"I can keep both hands on the steering wheel and just look down my nose and read in 10-second intervals," Woods said in a phone interview from Rogers, Ark.

Like millions of other Americans, Woods uses his car as a mobile office, relying on his phone almost every hour of every workday to stay productive and earn a living.

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PUGPROUD - 12/15/2011 9:16:50 AM

+1 Boost

If you don't outright ban them then make your insurance void if it can be proved you were on your phone during an accident. We are going soft as a country because no one seems to think they are responsible for their actions. Time for a rethink before some kid texting his girl for the 50th time in the last 20 minutes kills you or a loved one.

Agent009 - 12/15/2011 9:38:53 AM

+1 Boost

They are talking about banning all voice and internet communication including handheld. Of course the law "forgets" about other two way communications such as a two way radio.

theman440 - 12/15/2011 7:01:28 PM

+1 Boost

I second this...

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/15/2011 2:12:43 PM

+1 Boost

Good Point 009.

I was just wondering about Big Rig Drivers and the CB(?) radios they use. Surely they are more dangerous as they require one hand to be off the wheel.

However i do have to say some people make me want to agree with the ban.

10 seconds is a fantastically long time in a moving vehicle to be looking at a phone, i never look at my phone for more than 2-3 secs at any one time and even then i know i am at the mercy of the gods if someone or something darts into my path during those secs, for someone to think it is acceptable to look at their phone while driving for 10 secs.............
God help us........

irishmike - 12/15/2011 6:16:09 PM

+2 Boost

I see a few out there who can multi-task fairly well. But for most, this is probably a good thing. I've been in some dangerous situations with involving these knuckleheads.

atc98092 - 12/15/2011 8:12:41 PM

+1 Boost

I am a ham radio operator (not CB!) and there have been times that talking on the radio has kept me alert. Early in my career as an Air Traffic Controller, I lived almost 50 miles from work. After working a mid-shift (we worked rotating shifts, so I had worked a day shift before and only had 10 hrs between shifts) I would really find myself struggling to stay alert while driving home. Talking on my radio kept my mind alert, and I had no trouble paying attention to my driving.

Of course, after I passed all my training I moved within 3 miles of my work location, so fatigue was no longer a factor on my drive home :)

TheGenius - 12/16/2011 7:13:03 PM

+1 Boost

Nothing new. Just Washington bureaucrats trying to make themselves relevant..I get the handheld and texting ban but all cells including hands-free???? They might as well ban cells and radios for cabs, bus companies, policemen, soldiers, security firms, truckers, ambulances etc.. That way we will all be very safe! I have no idea where we get these idiots that make decisions for all of us its just unbelievable.