Do you think the government should ban cell phone use while driving a vehicle? It seems that texting, surfing, talking and retrieving messages is getting out of control. I understand that many feel the government has no business in something like this. I also believe that we sometimes need to be protected from ourselves.
At what point does safety trump convenience?
Just curious what others think.
I think it is already illegal to be texting, surfing, and answering messages unless you can do it handsfree in MN. I personally will use the I am driving excuse to not answer text messages even when I am not driving. 
dd
I think cell phones are the best eugenic tool we have left.
That and early ice fishing…
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I think cell phones are the best eugenic tool we have left.
That and early ice fishing…
Especially if I get you while I’m texting…
Should we also ban eating, smoking, putting on make-up, smoking, drinking, adjusting radio volume, GPS. All are distracting.
Do we make everyone retake their drivers test after they reach a certain age?
Can we also make people take an IQ test before they get to privilege to drive?
People seem to care less and less about other drivers. Some drivers expect others to move for them, slow down for them, etc.
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Should we also ban eating, smoking, putting on make-up, smoking, drinking, adjusting radio volume, GPS. All are distracting.
Actually I think we should. It’s really scary out there.
Actually I think we should. It’s really scary out there.
What he said!
As much as I like my phone and the ability to use it, I’d give it up so the idiots out there couldn’t use theirs.
Thats a tough question, some days I feel like yeah they should when I have to blow my horn and bring the attention to the person texting in front of they are headed into on coming traffic or hey look for the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Since I returned to school I see alot of texting etc while driving and it is scary at times. Let me clarify this statement, it not just the young adults I see doing this, actually I am seeing more and more older adults doing this. So maybe we shouldn’t ban the cellphone use in a vehicle whie driving, to much government control, but then consider this, they relate texting while driving to be as dangerous as drunk driving. Do we legalize that then to, I know sounds extreme, but if someone killed one of my loved one because they couldn’t put the da– phone down to drive I would be extremely P——. If they do kill someone then what should the penalty be?
Yeah sure is a tough one that I do not think even if made into a law it will be followed very much, people still drink and drive knowing that they could kill someone. So I geuss I am on the perverbial fence on this one.
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Should we also ban eating, smoking, putting on make-up, smoking, drinking, adjusting radio volume, GPS. All are distracting.
Do we make everyone retake their drivers test after they reach a certain age?
Can we also make people take an IQ test before they get to privilege to drive?
People seem to care less and less about other drivers. Some drivers expect others to move for them, slow down for them, etc.
x2
Or, we could demand that the existing laws get enforced. 
Maybe we should ban guns because so many people can’t seem to use them responsibly. Wait a second…..
That would be nice but I do not think there is enough law enforcement officers to make that happen and with cuts to those departments it is making it an even more difficult task.
Just stiffen the penalties for causing a accident while on the phone. Loose you license for 30 days. Go to some stupid people classes. As much as i like texting maybe we should just ban texting all together. Not sure why people are so afraid of talking to each other.
Here is MN’s statute of this:
169.475 USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.
Subdivision 1.Definition.For purposes of this section, “electronic message” means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is designed or intended to be transmitted between physical devices. An electronic message includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, a text message, an instant message, a command or request to access a World Wide Web page, or other data that uses a commonly recognized electronic communications protocol. An electronic message does not include voice or other data transmitted as a result of making a phone call, or data transmitted automatically by a wireless communications device without direct initiation by a person.
Subd. 2.Prohibition on use.No person may operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device to compose, read, or send an electronic message, when the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic.
Subd. 3.Exceptions.This section does not apply if a wireless communications device is used:
(1) solely in a voice-activated or other hands-free mode;
(2) for making a cellular phone call;
(3) for obtaining emergency assistance to (i) report a traffic accident, medical emergency, or serious traffic hazard, or (ii) prevent a crime about to be committed;
(4) in the reasonable belief that a person’s life or safety is in immediate danger; or
(5) in an authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of official duties.
History: 2008 c 350 art 1 s 38
DT
IMHO
I drive for a living and it sounds like a great idea. Although it will not help it comes down to the fact that our culture is becoming very selfish. Everyone seems to think the are the most important person on the road and you need to get out of their way. Until our culture regains respect for others it will only get worse. In the mean time stay alert and stay safe.
Now please show me the speed limit statute:
Pretty sure 95% of drivers break that law everyday
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IMHO
I drive for a living and it sounds like a great idea. Although it will not help it comes down to the fact that our culture is becoming very selfish. Everyone seems to think the are the most important person on the road and you need to get out of their way. Until our culture regains respect for others it will only get worse. In the mean time stay alert and stay safe.
That is exactly the direction I was trying to steer this thread 
Yesterday I was sitting at a traffic light. On my right were three cars waiting to take a left. When the light turned green, nobody moved. I was waiting for the horns to start blowing when I saw that all three women were texting and none of them had noticed the green light. Sigh….
Anybody think the fact that there are 3 times as many cars on the road now as there was “back in the day” contributes to all the people thinking they own the road or being bullies ? I do… 
As far as cell phones, it should be illegal, just like driving high or drunk… and let’s face it.. a texting 17 year old…PLEASE !!! 
As a Fleet driver the company I work for already has the no cell phone Rules in effect.If you are caught using a cell phone while you are operating a company vehicle you get a day off without pay.Also I have heard that if you are in an accident one of the first things the Insurance companies do is check cell phone records. That could be for commercial drivers only I’m not sure. So for me a new state law wouldn’t effect me very much.
What they really should do is ban driving.
Excuse me, my green shirt just came in to help me get dressed.
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too late, i’ve already bred…
AND if she wants to use the car she will NOT text…
Banning anything does not work, look at the last couple of days where drunk drivers had accidents that made the news, look in your local paper and all the DUI’s. Until the laws are enforced and people are actually afraid of the consequences, nothing will change. 
Thanks for the replies. Some interesting thoughts. I don’t think a partial ban like we have now would ever work. Either you can use the phone or you can’t. I think a vast majority would follow the law not to use a phone if it was a law. As far as penalties go I think they are up to 85-90% compliance for seat belt use. If you target cell phone use and write tickets people would get the idea. You always are going to have the select few who chose to break the law, no matter what the law might be.
This has been a interesting discussion.
Merry Christmas everybody. 
I agree about enforcement, it needs to be upped re cell texting.
It will work. In Norway, the last time i checked, you lost your license for one year for your first DUI, for life on the second, one year jail for the third. Sweden was similar. NO ONE drove while drinking. Applied to all foreigners also. EVERYONE told you about it.
We can stop texting if we want to…
I admit that I use my phone extensively while driving low-traffic interstate. I hate being on the phone in moderate or dense traffic. I think the biggest problem is the lack of common sense and knowing your limitations.
I prefer to not give up my right to using my cell phone, but I would follow the law. My real concern is where do you draw the line on more laws. Fatigue and falling sleep is a huge contributor to a majority of single vehicle accidents, and big percentage of multi-vehicle crashes. Will we just reach a stage where we all have cameras installed (similar to what is used in the safe teen driving program), connected to an on board computer to collect vital statistics, and take an annual IQ test along with ability, motor skills,………..
FYI – I watched a neighbor pass me this morning taking her kids to school. She was leaning over adjusting THE TV, in the left lane passing me, with an oncoming vehicle in a boarder line distance for safe passing 
Outlaw cell phones and only outlaws will have cell phones. 
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