Should cellular phones be banned from use when driving?
Author : teriann
Driving while on the phone - A dangerous combination! copyright 2011 Teri Ann Paisley
Remember the ’good old days’ when if you wanted to talk on the phone you waited until you got home? Remember when you used a phone to make calls and not listen to music and watch movies?
Okay, maybe there are a lot of advantages to the widespread use of cell phones but they cause a lot of problems too!
The most significant impact is on the safety of everyone who uses their phone while driving. I have seen several drivers so engrossed in their phone conversations or browsing the internet that they don’t pay enough attention to what’s happening on the road.
This spells disaster for the unwary pedestrian and drivers.
Jamaica is considering a ban on the use of cell phones while driving. Certainly, a ban against using the phone while driving may be the route we should take to safeguard all road users.
That’s my two cents. What do you think about the issue?
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http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110210/lead/lead2.html#
Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner On-line writer)
Tags: accidents, cell phones, drivers, driving, pedestrians
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44 Responses to “Should cellular phones be banned from use when driving?”
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banning the use of cell phones while driving should be enfoced with a heavy penalties as these drivers put people on foot or other drivers lives @ risk because they get distracted.
YES..IT CAUSES DISTRACTION AND BELIEF IT OR NOT CAUSED A LOT OF TRAFFIC COLLISIONS ON THE ROAD
I don’t think phone calls should be banned but texting surely should. Taking your eyes off the road is never a good idea.
Hell yea’
yes
What about using a headset or the speaker phone option in order to have your hands free to steer the vehicle?
Yes, definitely. Not all persons can multi-task. Driving is a full time job and shoud be treated as such. The fine should be very high for persons who commit such act as this can cause the lives of others and leave children and spouse to suffer.
it takes a great deal of concentration drive. It is distracting to be driving and talking on the phone and hence pedestrians, animals and other drivers are at risk. The use of Head set could be implemented
yes it definately should!
Driving requires 100% attention. No matter how good a driver you think you are, w/o 100% attention you will never be able to react with your full attention to something coming at you out of nowhere. By the time you react, its too late.
First we must look at the statistics of how many accidents are caused by the use of cell phones. I bet this pales in comparison to the factors caused by poor road conditions, hazards in the road such as when JPS and NWC etc. have unfinished worked and not put up proper warnings to advise motorists. Too many Jamaicans also drink and drive and some drive defective vehicles. Finally many Jamaicans drive recklessly and way too fast especially the taxi drivers most of whom are illiterate.
OH YES!YES! ONE MORNING I WAS USING THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE OTHER VEHICLES STOPPED BUT THIS LADY WAS ON HER CELL PHONE TALKING GOD MUST HAVE SEND AN ANGEL THAT MORNING ALSO IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BIG JEEP GOOD ,THING I BOUGHT A OBSERVER THAT MORNING I HOLD IT UP AS THE CAR CAME CLOSE TO ME MY KNEES ACTUALLY GAVE WAY I YELLED GOOD THING SAY HER BRAKES A FUNCTION.I BELIEVE A 100% IT SHOULD BANNED.
Definitely yes,it shoud be banned.When one is driving they should be concentrating soley on that and nothing else.If a driver receive a call,he/she should find a safe place to stop and recieve or make their call,especially when their are passengers in their vehicle.Recently on my visit to Jamaica,I had an argument with a mini bus driver about him using his cell phone while his vehicle was full of passengers and he was about to drive off after pointing out to him some of the reasons why it was unsafe to use his phone while driving,he saw sense and did not use his it.
I say if we can be contemplating giving persons with impaired hearing permit to drive,
why not the use of cell phones. There are some persons who definitely are a threat when driving and using cell-phones; they should be persuaded to avoid using the phone while driving.
I suspect that ‘the agree’ respondents are non drivers. Drivers should be responsible and be discretionary about using their phones. I suspect that there are many other things out there more threatening to road users than cell phones. Let’s deal with them first.
Yes, it is not necessary while driving. Some people cannot walk & talk much less drive & talk. Heavy penalties should apply also.
YES, YES, YES it MUST be BANNED immediately. USING the telephones causing HUNDREDS of accidents each year. It is fully banned in this this country, and not even TEXT messages can be done while driving. It is a fine of $250.00 and THREE points on your driver’s licence. So Jamaican government, please BAN the use of telephone uses by ALL drivers in ALL moving vehicles.
Since talking in the car is permitted, one should be able to use a mobile phone as long it has hands-free options.
McSage, you have mirrored my thoughts.
It is not the talking per se that is dangerous; it is the fact that the drivers’ hands are not totally free to operate the motor vehicle.
Simply put, if you have one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand is being used to hold the phone to your ear – you have no hand with which to shift gear, place the car in park, swerve from another vehicle or a pedestrian, depress your horn, turn on/off the indicators, or simply to control the vehicle.
Speaker phones and/or headsets should be the way to go.
Indeed, mobile phone use should be banned when driving.
Handheld devices should be banned while driving. Using a handsfree device is not dissimilar from conversing with a passenger in the vehicle – so I would approve its usage.
Handsfree, heavy & enforced fines would save lives. Cell phones coupled with speed kills. Many North American cities are enforcing these laws, why not Jamaica where so many are dependent on cell phones.
The insurance institute of the us did a study of cell phone use and none use. and find out that if cell phone was banned. it wouldn’t change a thing when it come to distraction when driving. they find out that your coffee. and the passenger you have sitting next to you in the front seat is as much a distraction . as the use of a cell phone.
Yes please ban using cell phone while driving.right now , I believe, only irresponsible people drive while using a cell phone.the penalty should be severe and I suggest J$500000.00 and there after loss of driving licence accompanied by an even larger fine. Save lives please.
YES!!!!
If the aristocrats, politicians, police and soldiers are going to be banned as well I have no problem. But we know how the ting run. They will be treated as if it is safe for them to do while unsafe for others. Ever seen a police with seatbelt on? Cant recall.
I agree with you totally. Please write more.
Hands-free is the way to go. Some people drive and talk to their passengers. What’s the difference? Taxis are more dangerous. And their passengers sit and allow them to drive them any ole how? There is the danger!
Yes for sure, there should be no distraction while driving would not even recommend hands-free. We use to do pretty well without the use of cell phone at one time therefore doing without it for an hour or less wont kill us it might actually save our lives and the lives of pedestrians and other motorist. If its an emergency pull off the road and use your phone.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
I hear you loud and clear Erwin! Let’s hope it is done promptly!
Use a handsfree kit….That is what they are made for….No handsfree kit, no cell use.
That’s great.very helpful,thanks a lot
Yes !!!
I am in complete agreement in the banning of cell phones while driving. Driving requires much concentration and on the Jamaican roads most drives have to drive defensively due to professional novices on the road. Talking on the cell phone takes away ones levels of concentration and increases the driver’s chances in getting into a deadly accident.
From experience (personal and otherwise) I know that talking on the cellphone is very distracting and consequently a safety hazard. I think it is unfair to allow careless drivers to place others’ lives at risk along with their own and as a result I believe that usage of the cellphone (talking, texting) should be banned forthwith.
yes it should be banned, i am guilty at times and im very good at multitasking but right is right for the good of everyone…….ban it.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to post this. I really liked reading it and am looking forward to more posts from you! Keep ‘em coming.
Winston Bedward, persons with impaired hearing are very good drivers; they are not distracted by noise around them and they are always alert.Their eyes see more than you see. When you are driving and talking on the phone, your brain is engaged doing different things. Driving requires one to stay alert to potential hazards on the road. I’ve seen some horrific driving in JA because a lot of drivers do not obey the traffic safety laws or care about who their careless driving affects. Yes! Talking on cellphone should be banned.
Yes! driving behind a driver who is using a cellphone will prove that this is a dangerous way to go.
YES!!!CELLPHONE SHOULD DEFINATELY BE BANNED WHILE DRIVING,BECAUSE THIS PUT BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS AT RISK WHILE ON THE ROAD.
Hell NO! Drive and Walk at your own risk.
Yes it is dangerous it is banned in other countries The Police worry so much about seat belts it is important but using cell phone and driving is more dangerous.They are not hearing a thing one hand on the stering wheel, the jamaican woman are worse
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