Transportation Sec wants to ban all phone use in cars

On Oct 11, 12:36*am, Harry K > wrote:
> On Oct 10, 8:56*am, Nate Nagel > wrote:
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> > On 10/10/2010 11:16 AM, Harry K wrote:
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> > > On Oct 9, 10:20 pm, > *wrote:
> > >> On 2010-10-10, Harry > *wrote:
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> > >>> On Oct 8, 11:43 pm, > *wrote:
> > >>>> On 2010-10-09, Harry > *wrote:
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> > >>>>> On Oct 8, 4:08 pm, > *wrote:
> > >>>>>> "Criminal Drivers Murder 35,000 Americans a >
> > >>>>>> wrote :
>
> > >>>>>>> Of course the auto industry is fighting this. More crashes mean more
> > >>>>>>> car sales.
>
> > >>>>>>>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-1...ging-u-s-ban-o
> > >>>>>>> n-all-driver-phone-use-in-cars.html
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> > >>>>>> Two major studies, one in the U.S. the other in Europe show accident rates
> > >>>>>> did not drop when handheld cellphone use while driving was banned.
>
> > >>>>> Because people did not stop doing it. *Making a law against it is
> > >>>>> useless until they can come up with some way to _enforce_ it.
>
> > >>>> How is that war on drugs going?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > >>>> - Show quoted text -
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> > >>> How is it that y ou keep missing "ineffective enforcement"? *Actually
> > >>> your question has zip to do with the subject. *In any case, the "war
> > >>> on drugs" is unwinnable.
>
> > >> Because the war on drugs is a classic "ineffective enforcement" is the
> > >> answer of a control freak situation. More and more enforcement with more
> > >> and more rights tossed by the wayside and still the "problem" continues.
>
> > >> You want to deal with the "cell phone" problem? Simple, start enforcing
> > >> the laws on lane usage, right of way, etc and so forth. Does it really
> > >> matter if the driver who cuts you off is on the phone, reading the
> > >> paper, has the side mirror folded in, shaving, painting her nails, or
> > >> any other activity where the driver isn't paying full attention to the
> > >> task at hand? *But oh, cell phone is use is evil... blah blah blah..
>
> > >> We don't need more laws or guys with guns enforcing them or control
> > >> freak "1984" gizmos. Just stop this go slow to compensate for stupidity
> > >> crap. Just stop it and start enforcing right of way and proper lane
> > >> usage. Done.
>
> > >> But if you really want an equipment solution to the problem? Ban the
> > >> automatic transmission. Problem solved.- Hide quoted text -
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> > >> - Show quoted text -
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> > > "control freak"? *How is pointing out that making a law againsst
> > > something is useless unless it can be enforced?
>
> > That's a valid point and I think one that we all agree on.
>
> > Brent's point, which I agree with, is that "banning" cell phone use is
> > difficult to enforce and will have less impact than simply enforcing the
> > laws that are already on the books (right of way, using mirrors/signals
> > etc.) that are NOT currently enforced would.
>
> True but without a law there is no way the stupid action that led to
> an action can be punished. *I am sure you have also seen the "was
> texting prior to impact" reports.

You're missing the point. Since existing laws aren't being enforced,
you want to pass a new law that is even more difficult to enforce than
the existing ones. What do you think, in the absence of any other
changes, the net result is going to be?

>
> > Would it be so hard to simply start ticketing people for driving like
> > asshats whether or not they are on the phone? *I don't really care if
> > the combusting rectum that just almost hit me was on the phone or not,
> > all I care about is that there are some consequences for his actions.
> > Unfortunately, about the only way to achieve this given the indifference
> > of the police is by driving an old International Travelall or similar
> > equipped with a front bumper salvaged from a tow truck while suffering
> > from temporary myopia. *(I've been tempted, believe me.)
>
> Something needs to be done about he problem. *What that is, I don't
> know but I do know the current methods are not working.
>
> As to the 'big bumper' bit. *Yep. *I grew up on a stump farm in Idaho
> up on a ridge with 7 miles of narrow 1 lane road. *Had a neighbor that
> would cut corners, not move over far enough, etc. *Then the old man
> got a different grain truck. *Bed had bolts holding the edge iron on
> and sticking out about an inch all the way around. * That thing got
> plenty of clearance .
>
> Harry K
>
>
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> > > So you are for free use of anything in a vehicle?
>
> > So long as you can drive in a safe and legal manner, yes.
>
> > nate
>
> And therein lies the problem with CP use. *It has been proven that the
> average person cannot do it.

So then if the existing laws against driving poorly were actually
enforced, those people would get tickets, no?

nate