Some parts of Canada have bans on drivers talking on cellphones while driving.

Some provinces want to have such laws.


The main reason for bans on talking and driving is that talking on a phone (or txting) distracts drivers from safely operating their vehicle.

Should talking on cellphones while driving be made illegal?

Talking on cell phones is not as dangerous as texting while driving.

Although I can text without looking now, so I can still watch the road.

Hands free head sets are the way to go.

Yes, so long as its permitted while wearing a hands free device. Approx 30% of the people that almost get in an accident with me are on their cell phone, maybe more.

And when I'm on my cell I have to admit I have a harder time focusing on the road.

CA banned talking on cellphones without a hands free device; however, its still legal to text message... dumb imo.

It's actually illegal in a few states in the US, and imo, it is very dangerous. Speakerphone was invented for a reason. :D

When I use speaker I keep finding myself leaning towards the phone and raising my voice/straining to hear. Doesn't help imo :P

I think people should be discouraged from cellphone talking while driving, but I don't think it should be made illegal, or at least driving to distraction shouldn't be the main reason. I think texting while driving is super dangerous, but how would anyone prove that someone was sending a text message when s/he caused an accident? As for banning GPS's - they might even be less of a distraction than pulling out a map!

I can think of heaps of things besides cellphones that distract drivers and cause accidents, including a heated discussion with a passenger, kids in the backseat, eating... etc. The list is huge.

I just don't think it's fair to say that cellphones are so much more distracting than anything else.

It's illegal throughout the UK already.
Actually, all non-driving activites (eating, drinking, smoking, talking, moving hands briefly from the ten-and-two position etc) are not permitted when driving.

Personally, I say better safe than sorry. That call can wait.

I think it's a very dangerous practice. And studies have proven that hands-free isn't any better, the distraction is the same.
I think they should be illegal except in cases of emergency.

I'm really glad I'm not on the same roads as Muppetmaker there. That's scary. Texting?!

You missed blinking burping and farting.

Bluetooth handsfree voice activated earpiece.

That's what I use and it works for me. So far I have only written off 3 cars and run over 1 schoolkid and 1 cyclist in 15 years of driving.

People driving and talking on the phones have forced me to use this


I have had so many close calls with drivers yakking on the phone. I don't talk on the phone at all when driving - once or twice when I was stopped in traffic I've called to let people know I'm going to be late.

If I get a call while driving I usually ignore it. If I'm in a safe place, I pull over to answer it.

I love watching the cops talk on their cells while driving, and no, they don't use handsfree devices, even though that's the law in NY and NJ.

By checking the records of the person's cell phone account. My monthly bill tells me where every text message went and when it was sent.

Personally, I hate the distraction talking on a cell phone while driving. My wife used to call me fairly often while I was driving just to chat. I told her flat out not to call me when I'm on the road unless it's a dire emergency.

My fire-engine red SUV has been rear-ended three times over the last few years. Each time, the other driver was on their cell phone when it happened. So I'm sure by now you know which side of the fence I fall on.

Anyhoos, once upon a time, Mythbusters did an experiment showing that talking on a cell phone while driving was just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. If it convinced Adam Savage, then it's good enough for me. ;)

Funny you mention this. My lawyer cousin just sent an email saying he would represent anyone in the family who got a ticket for this and wants to fight it because he thinks the law is a joke.

The ability to drive while talking on the cellphone varies from person to person.

Some people can drive and talk on the cellphone just fine. Some people can not. Some people simply don't know how to drive.

My argument is, if you ban cellphones and call it "hands free" then you must ban doing anything else while driving. No eating, no talking, no listening to the radio, etc. The law should then make it mandatory to keep both hands on the wheel at the same time.

Ridiculous right? Exactly. It's an not an issue of having both hands on the wheel, it's an issue of being able to concentrate on 2 things at one time: driving safely and whatever else.

Some people just can't do it.

Drivers yapping on their cells p*ss me off. It's obvious they are not paying attention to driving. And you can always spot them a mile away.

My car is equipped with Bluetooth so the phone rings over my stereo speakers and I can hear the caller over the stereo speakers and talk to them. I'm not sure where my microphone is, I think it's built into my rear view mirror or the dash somewhere. I just have to hit a button on my steering wheel when the phone rings.

Even with the Bluetooth I keep the calls short and sweet.

It depends. You can talk on the cell phone and still pay attention to driving. I personally think though, that for something like this, it's better to leave it up to the discretion of the drivers. I don't say this because I tend to talk on the phone when I drive a lot (I never do unless someone calls me, which is not often). I say it because I still have yet to find any reason why it's any different than any other common activity people partake in while driving. Things like: talking to your passengers, messing with the radio or CDs, reading directions on a paper, getting out the money for a toll, etc etc etc. Even hands-free phones--sure you have both hands on the wheel, but your attention still is elsewhere. So, I think if they are going to pass a law banning driving while on a cell phone, they should generalize it or throw out the idea altogether.

I think attitudes towards mobile phones in general are in need of revision.

At the risk of sounding like the parent of a teenager they are a privilege, not a right.

All mobile services provide a voicemail service so the caller can leave you a message.

There are very few occasions when you need to be on the phone and drive at the same time.

In Washington talking on a cell phone while driving is illegal unless a hands free devise is used. This started up this July(I think). I suppose I think that it is a good law to have. I know that there are some people who can talk on the phone and still be very effective drivers. The problem is that there are also people who think that they can do this and they really can't. It kind of reminds me of the Kantean idea of universality. I don't want those people (I would guess it's a majority of people, but I have nothing to back that up with apart from experience) who can't multi-task to be talking on the phone and not paying attention to driving. If I don't want others to do it, I shouldn't do it. The best way to make this happen is to make it a law.
I do miss talking on my phone on the long, boring drive between college and home, though.

I do think that this should be a law, and I definitely think texting should be illegal.

A friend of mine always texts while driving, he tells me that he is really good at driving while texting. I think this is a f**king joke, sure maybe he is good at texting and driving, but I bet you anything he is better at JUST driving.

Everyone thinks they are a good driver, but accidents happen and you can't tell me that you will react as quickly if you are sending a f**king text message.

Phone sex?

Close, but no cigar.

That's my preference too...

I hate text messaging. I've only ever sent a handful. This is probably why I've never look to see if I could find the date and time of every text message.