No more phones or other "devices" while driving!!??

[kenglish]

Don't know where else to post this, so let's start here.

"WASHINGTON (AP) - States should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday.

The recommendation, unanimously agreed to by the five-member board, applies to both hands-free and hand-held phones and significantly exceeds any existing state laws restricting texting and cellphone use behind the wheel."

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=127&sid=18466090&title=ntsb-recommends-ban-on-driver-cell-phone-use

So, how does this affect the "Broadband Future", when we are all expected to be streaming radio (and, God knows what else) over our phones and "other devices" while we drive? I also assume they would try and include a portable radio, a Walkman, or a Ham radio, as well.

 

[TheBigA]

So, how does this affect the "Broadband Future", when we are all expected to be streaming radio (and, God knows what else) over our phones and "other devices" while we drive? I also assume they would try and include a portable radio, a Walkman, or a Ham radio, as well.

Obviously use of phone as radio would be excluded. But that's a very small number anyway. The biggest use of cell phone in car is for talk, #2 is text, #3 is email, and #4 is internet. Use of cell phone for radio is way down the list. I use my cell phone as GPS more than anything else.

 

[KeithE4]

Don't know where else to post this, so let's start here.

"WASHINGTON (AP) - States should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday.

The recommendation, unanimously agreed to by the five-member board, applies to both hands-free and hand-held phones and significantly exceeds any existing state laws restricting texting and cellphone use behind the wheel."

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=127&sid=18466090&title=ntsb-recommends-ban-on-driver-cell-phone-use

So, how does this affect the "Broadband Future", when we are all expected to be streaming radio (and, God knows what else) over our phones and "other devices" while we drive? I also assume they would try and include a portable radio, a Walkman, or a Ham radio, as well.

Per CNN, this would not apply to hands-free devices or passengers. No mention of ham/CB radio, or devices used for streaming. The intent is to stop cellphone talking and texting by drivers on the road.

 

[radiophiler]

CNN has since corrected its coverage to match that of other media in that the PROPOSED ban WOULD include hands-free devices.

The NTSB proposal does not cover an in-dash Internet radio that would be tuned the same was as an AM, FM or satellite radio.

But shuffling through your iPod on the actual device? That would be covered. Integrated iPods would NOT be covered.

And to be clear, it will be up to the states to enact this. No state has a ban right now that is this strict.

In fact, there are still 15 states that haven't banned texting while driving. Pennsylvania just because the 35th to ban texting in November.

 

[KeithE4]

CNN has since corrected its coverage to match that of other media in that the PROPOSED ban WOULD include hands-free devices.

The original article was very short at the time I posted.

The NTSB proposal does not cover an in-dash Internet radio that would be tuned the same was as an AM, FM or satellite radio.

But shuffling through your iPod on the actual device? That would be covered. Integrated iPods would NOT be covered.

And to be clear, it will be up to the states to enact this. No state has a ban right now that is this strict.

Just like the 55 MPH laws of the '70s, the Feds will make the states "an offer they can't refuse" - withholding of federal road money - unless they pass this law.

In fact, there are still 15 states that haven't banned texting while driving. Pennsylvania just because the 35th to ban texting in November.

It's technically not illegal in Arizona either. We have a distracted-driving law that should cover it, but it's rarely if ever enforced.

 

[kenglish]

How would the cop know WHAT you were doing with the phone? He'd just have an excuse to pull you over if he saw you touching it. As we all know, he'd then have a right to search you, the car, and the passengers...."fishing", so to speak. At the least, you'd be detained for quite some time.

But, the point is, will something like this kind of law put a damper on the "streaming" craze that the FCC predicts is coming?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

How would the cop know WHAT you were doing with the phone? He'd just have an excuse to pull you over if he saw you touching it. As we all know, he'd then have a right to search you, the car, and the passengers...."fishing", so to speak. At the least, you'd be detained for quite some time.

This is already the case in Indiana, where "texting" is forbidden while driving. Apparently "Facebooking" is not.

But, the point is, will something like this kind of law put a damper on the "streaming" craze that the FCC predicts is coming?

If such a revolution is coming, this won't stop it.

On the contrary, I would suggest that the number of drivers who call/text while driving grows every year despite more and more states banning the practice. I have nothing other than anecdotal evidence for that, though.

 

[crainbebo]

I wonder what's next. A ban on listening to FM in your car unless you're driving, and not parked? A ban on playing a CD since it's a "distraction"? Yes, I would have a cell phone ban in all 50 states, as that's unsafe, but not iPods or hands-free devices.

The unfortunate thing is, WA has a law that bans talking/texting on your cell phone, but I still see MANY people breaking the law. The police aren't noticing enough...

-crainbebo

 

[TomZ]

Simply another law for "Selective Enforcement"

 

[SirRoxalot]

There's a simple answer to this. The "automotive entertainment system" will simply incorporate a hard drive that lets you upload your MP3s, and pre-select internet streams that you want available. It'll also do GPS, and bluetooth to your phone to make phone calls, read text messages, and access the Internet using your data plan. Oh, BTW, it's already here. And let's not forget OnStar and the host of other manufacturer-provided connectivity services. It's about getting it off the hand-held device which is hard to read and hard to navigate while driving.

 

[kenglish]

There's a simple answer to this. The "automotive entertainment system" will simply incorporate a hard drive that lets you upload your MP3s, and pre-select internet streams that you want available. It'll also do GPS, and bluetooth to your phone to make phone calls, read text messages, and access the Internet using your data plan. Oh, BTW, it's already here. And let's not forget OnStar and the host of other manufacturer-provided connectivity services. It's about getting it off the hand-held device which is hard to read and hard to navigate while driving.

I'd agree that the AES is the best way to handle it in the future, but what about in the interim? It will be years before we all have those in our cars, just like it took years to get the AM Radio X-Band (1600-1700 KHz) in our car radios.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Anybody else smell a boom in the after-market for AES?

 

[nocomradio]

I don't see this having much of an effect beyond not allowing hand-held phones and texting while driving. Personally I don't see any problem with that at all. An automobile is not a telephone booth. As one who has ridden a motorcycle for over 25 years now and rides regularly and far on the highways of this country, distracted drivers almost always tend to be using a phone when I've had any close-calls with vehicles. E

New York banned hand-helds a number of years ago, as has Maryland. I don't know if its significantly reduced the rate of incidents, but if a person is so busy with a phone call they are willing to endanger someone else's life in the process, the least they deserve is a healthy fine. Still though, in both of those states I routinely see drivers with a phone pressed to their ear.

 

[nd2023]

Many states have laws against using a cell phone while driving but it is impossible to enforce. A "cell phone checkpoint" similar to a DUI checkpoint is useless because people won't use their cell phones when passing through them. Cameras in vehicles are unconstitutional. Having the carrier report cell phones being used while moving at high speeds is impractical because passengers may also use cell phones. It's all but impossible to see into a moving vehicle at night. This law will have no effect. If the fine is too high cops will be reluctant to write tickets (just like the $300 fine for honking in NYC is enforced only a few dozen times a year even though you can't go a minute without hearing a car honk). If it's too low it won't be a deterrent and the cost of enforcing the law will not justify the revenue produced.