Comments on: Hands-free Celphones Do Not Aid Safety

By: Hugo

Hugo — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:37:57 +0000

And with more and more phones combining tiny bluetooth headsets with voice recognition, it’s easy to talk without flashing the phone to the police! I think we’re stuck with it…

Thanks for the blog BTW. And thanks to IT Business for pointing it to me. Ciao.

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:05:03 +0000

All agreed, Hugo. I wonder though whether any law on this will be enforceable if it isn’t absolute - ie a “bright line”. I suspect that any wiggle room would simply make enforcement too difficult ….

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:34:07 +0000

There, I corrected that funny Huo, with a Hugo. Maybe still funny but I’m used to it!

I still think that good sense should prevail and that an intelligent driver can manage a cell phone in the car if he can manage other distractions. Good sense dictates that you don’t have to take calls while driving, voice mail and other gizmos allow you to manage your incoming calls, at the very least a handfree set allows you to answer an important call and tell the caller your busy. If you need to make a call, just park. Common sense really, like don’t eat your dinner while driving at 120 km/h!

Just as we won’t go back to a horse and buggy, cell phones will stay in cars forever, we just need to learn how to you use them in a safe way.

But you’re right, if a government has the guts to ban them in cars, I’ll adapt in the blink of an eye. But don’t take that radio away from me!

By: Rob Hyndman

Rob Hyndman — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:02:29 +0000

Surely that’s not the point, Huo. There’s no question that no distraction is a good distraction. There’s also no question that if one can’t carry kids or other adults one might as well ride a horse and buggy.

Phones are different. We lived without them in cars perfectly well before they were invented. No reason why we can’t do the same now.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 15:55:38 +0000

It is quite clear indeed and I agree with your conclusion. I’ll add that given that, if we want to ban cell phones from cars, we should also ban radios, kids and other passengers unless they have duct tape over their mouths.