Ok... this is a 3 part questions thread.

1. Is it illegal to use a cellphone while driving? By this I mean holding it with your hand and not using a hands free set. I'm assuming it is, but I want to make sure that Califonia passed this law.

2. If the answer to #1 is yes... how strict are the laws?

3. What hands free device do you all have/use? Texas hasnt passed any laws against using cell phones but I'm moving to Cali in 2 weeks. Any pics would be great. Looking for something cool, comfortable and not dorky. Also, where do you all place your phones while driving? I've yet to find somewhere to place my phone while I'm driving.

Thanks in advance for any info & pics.

No, it is not illegal to talk on the phone while driving in CA.

^^ unfortunately ^^

No, it is not illegal to talk on the phone while driving in CA.

It isnt? I could have sworn it was because I thought I saw everyone using an ear piece while I was in Cali. I also thought I had seen it in the news a while back. I hardly ever use the phone, but I dont own an ear piece which was why I asked for a recommendation.

Thanks

yeah. there were many rumors going around about it. but don't think it ever passed. so yeah i believe u can use ur cell phone while driving. but i don't cause i dun wanna take that chance.

1. No it isn't illegal, but there's talk of laws to make it illegal.

3. I use an Etymotic ETY.COM: http://etymotic.com/ephp/etycom.asp. It's very clear, and you don't have to shout for the other person to hear you. I've found the soft eartip works best, as long as you make sure you clip it to your collar so it doesn't slip (less distraction).

Also make sure you account for the distraction of talking while driving. :-)

they are trying to pass it. I actually signed a petition the other day to illegalize talking on the cell phone while driving

On average you will see more people on cellphones while driving than not here in So California. The Law wont pass... too much money involved in the Cell phone business here that it wont happen. over 95% saturated of people have cellphones... the companies want to make as much money as possible at the cost of safety.

Btw, I use a Bluetooth headphone with my Razr V3.

1/2 of the police i see are on the cell when patroling......

CHP does have the discretion of giving your a ticket if you are driving on their freeways while holding a phone to your head....

It is NOT for using the phone but for the "wreckless driving" that you MIGHT be commiting at the time.
I am very good friends with the Chairman of a police academy and he tells me that this is something that the CHP is training their officers on. Basically they're using the "wreckless driving" (which is very vague in the CVC) to give you a ticket if they see you on a cell phone and you so much as even BEGIN to swerve.

Lets be real here...driving while holding a phone is usually NOT a good thing. I see way too many crazy drivers doing it every morning on the 405 fwy and I would be surprised if the law did not pass.

The Law wont pass... too much money involved in the Cell phone business here that it wont happen. over 95% saturated of people have cellphones... the companies want to make as much money as possible at the cost of safety.

From a financial standpoint, I must disagree.
Imagine the sheer earning possibilities of our major cell phone providors if now they pretty much were GUARANTEED to sell you an additional accessory to your already over priced cell phone... Especially if you're opting for the expensive headphones such a a bluetooth or other wireless devices. That's an extra $20 - $150 PER California Driver! :eek:

On a side note: I would GLADLY sign a law making it illegal to use a cell phone on a public road without some type of "hands free" device.
I've lost one car to this already... Got my car totaled by a guy using his cell phone while driving a m/t pick up truck.

Sorry for the long post... :o

Some companies such as Tmobile already include a handsfree headset w/ the phone..

i use a bluetooth headset w/ my bluetooth-compatible cell phone... no wires dangling anywhere, you can even leave the phone in your pocket if you're not calling anyone!

I use a Motorola Bluetooth ear set. Its great. I just toss my phone in my armrest and I'm good to go. When my phone rings, it answers in two seconds without me touching a thing. Voice dial as well so it really is hands free.

they passed a law that if you get in an accident and you were on the cell phone you will get a fine.

It's a small fine. Can't remmber how much. I think it's $ 100

They should be illegal. People don't pay attention anymore and are careless drivers.

My brother was killed by someone who was distracted while talking on the cell phone.

Studies have shown that talking on the phone while driving is more hazardous than drunken driving.

Studies have shown that talking on the phone while driving is more hazardous than drunken driving.
Just wait until those drunks start using cell phones = instant death.

Studies have shown that talking on the phone while driving is more hazardous than drunken driving.

Don't believe everything you read, if you put 10 people on a cell phone and tell them to drive home, i bet all 10 will make it. If you put 10 drunks behind the wheel, 3 might make it..and 7 will be dead or have killed other people.

Plus if they make it illegal think about how dangerous that would be, people pulling off to the side of the freeway when their cell phone rings, changing 5 lanes at a time, and a few more reasons. I hate to say it but they almost have to make it illegal to prove that it should be legal(after a bunch of wrecks).

oh yea, i know zero people that were killed by someone talking on their cell phone. I know 5 or more people killed by a driver under the influence, and a lot more people talk on their cell phone then drink/smoke and drive.

[QUOTE=Navybeardbb]Don't believe everything you read, if you put 10 people on a cell phone and tell them to drive home, i bet all 10 will make it. If you put 10 drunks behind the wheel, 3 might make it..and 7 will be dead or have killed other people.
[QUOTE]

Yeah, but out of the 10, at least 1 will be driving 35mph in the passing lane creating a huge traffic congestion with no cars in front of them. It may not kill them but it's sure creating a dangerous situation for everyone else. Remember, slow traffic keep right. Keep right saves lives! :D

Studies have shown that talking on the phone while driving is more hazardous than drunken driving.

If you compare total drunk driving accidents to total accidents while cell phoning, this very well might be true... but as a percentage I'd doubt it, and in terms of severity of accidents, I'd also doubt that.

Anyway, yeah, it's legal but I wish it were not. I see WAY too many unattentive drivers on cellies on these LA freeways. Given the frequencies of rear-endings causing accidents, I'd suspect that a hands-free requirement would help improve traffic a little too.

I use Jabra when Bluetoothing and Jabra when wired...they're so comfortable you forget you're wearing them... Sometimes I'll walk around at home for an hour or two after making a call before I realize that I'm still wearing my bluetooth earpiece.

Sometimes I'll walk around at home for an hour or two after making a call before I realize that I'm still wearing my bluetooth earpiece.And your Borg fashion statement while talking aloud to thin-air really get the ladies hot, huh? :D You look absolutely ridiculous and self-important, let alone irritating for those around who don't give a damn. Go squat-talk in the toilet stalls like the others. -jk- ;)

I fly weekly and I want to rip the things out of any person's ears behind me on the jetway boarding a plane, making everyone suffer an inane last-chance loud speech yelling at a subordinate or trying to close a deal. I lean over to be overheard by the other party and have a little fun with his "negotiations" and prefessional image that I won't share here. ;)

And your Borg fashion statement while talking aloud to thin-air really get the ladies hot, huh? :D You look absolutely ridiculous and self-important, let alone irritating for those around who don't give a damn. Go squat-talk in the toilet stalls like the others. -jk- ;)

Yeah, I mean, I rarely walk around with it on in public unless I'm using it... but yeah, I'm sure on the rare occasion that I do, people think I'm trying to look cool or something. Oh well. I just do what's convenient for me. People can think what they want... ;)

I thought City of Santa Monica made illegal. I guess it didn't happen from what you guys are posting here.

Latest studies on cell phone use- show NO difference in number of accidents with "hands free" set up, studies indicate , it's the mental concentration, that contributes to accidents, while folks are engaged in telphone conversations. A recent Canadian equaltes talking on a cell, and driving under the influence (.08).

There was a law written and passed by the legislature. Arnold vetoed it after a lot of pressure (and probably a lot of money) from the telco industry.

When I got my phone, they didn't have any handsfree stuff that worked (I wear glasses and have long hair). Also, the two holders for my phone (Verizon), fit either on the dash or in the cup holder. I got the cup holder one, and always bang my elbow when shifting :( The dash one sucks, and didn't look like it would work on the 8's dash.

Of course, with an MT, I find that using a cell phone in traffic is impossible (I'm not a 3 armed martian -- one arm for the shift, one for the steering wheel, one for the phone :) ).

I believe it is illegal for bus drivers to be talking on a cell phone w/o handsfree. New law that went into effect this year.

Latest studies on cell phone use- show NO difference in number of accidents with "hands free" set up, studies indicate , it's the mental concentration, that contributes to accidents, while folks are engaged in telphone conversations. A recent Canadian equaltes talking on a cell, and driving under the influence (.08).Then what's the difference between talking on a hands-free device and talking to a passenger in the car?? This is something I've always wondered...

BTW, I'm definitely against cell phone use in the car. I know myself, and I CANNOT talk while I drive...I have to pull over. I'm no good at multi-tasking ;)

oh yea, i know zero people that were killed by someone talking on their cell phone. I know 5 or more people killed by a driver under the influence, and a lot more people talk on their cell phone then drink/smoke and drive.Wow, you should sell your population survey results to some stats company! They could make millions. Sigh. :rolleyes:

I believe it is illegal for bus drivers to be talking on a cell phone w/o handsfree. Being responsible for passengers takes priority. Personal calls you can make/take on personal time. They can wait until stopped or on break. It's not like a 2-way radio with clipped talk with a dispatcher. How about truckers?

Well, I don't know about the rest o' these here parts but L.A./Orange County drivers on their cell phones are as ubiquitous as the botox and friggin deadly to boot. The worst part is not that they are all wretched, heinous drivers (which they are) but that they are usually driving a gigantic SUV (and its usually Beverly Hills housewives). My road rage goes haywire and I want to HULK SMASH all of their cell phone-gabbing asses. I can't tell you how many times I've had to swerve my beloved 8 for fear of being crushed under a Hummer's stray tire while the asshole with the small penis driving obliviously continues chatting about nothing on his cell.

Bottom line: The Powers That Be should ban cell phone driving in L.A. Or at least enforce hands free law. I know that the stats don't change but maybe some people might start using their damn turn signals!

What I really like about the SUV driving Soccer Moms (etc.) is the way they almost go off the road when you zip by them on the right doing about 30-40MPH faster than they are going. One second you are flashing them from behind, and they see you but do nothing. A little while later, you get fed up and pass them, flooring it when you do so. They see you in front of them (when they just saw you behind them), get very confused, and steer to the left.

Happened about 10 times in the last couple of weeks :D

Note that I don't cut them off. I don't slow down when I pass them, and there is usually at least 1/2 mile in front of them with no cars in the left lane (which they are in).