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I thinks it's a given that some of us won't draw the line when it comes to scorning those guilty of texting and conversing on a cell phone while driving.

That said, here's what I witnessed in the last 10 days that wasn't overtly unsafe, but still a giant pain...And that's the other knock on these witless cell phone drivers, their sense of entitlement and the heck with the rest of the world.

To wit: A man who simply wouldn't stop diddling his phone once the traffic light was green. I was positioned directly behind him with a clear view of what he was doing. I waited a slow count of 7 and then someone behind me tapped their horn beating me to it. Cell phone jerk just sat there steadily diddling his phone. I finally blasted my horn. No result. There was a line behind me who chimed in. With little green left on the light, he abruptly took off. What a jerk.

On Hwy 6, I pulled into a line of cars laboriously passing a woman fully engaged in a conversation on a cell phone, utterly oblivious to the speed limit of 55. Her speed? Approximately 40/45 mph. Chalk up another jerk.

I'm certain there are countless stories of this sort of cell phone driving/jerkdom abounding, not counting the hideously hair raising kind of cell phone driving anecdotes...

Do cell phone driving jerks, plus the overtly unsafe phone drivers exceed the garden variety non-cell phone driving kind?

In my experience - they do now!

So what to do?

I dunno, join the crowd. Set up a front seat re-loading station or build model airplanes or start a business. I could put my driving time to better use than merely paying attention to the road.

Why not?

Nobody'd mind...

RottenApple,

I commend you for doing an up to date, safe, cell phone using job of driving.

I have to, at least to some extent, agree that all cell phone drivers aren't created equally. Obviously, some have more aptitude to use a cell phone and drive more safely than others.

That said, it's my experience there are a greater number of cell phone drivers whose aptitude for safe driving is deplorable, those these same folk can reasonably safely grind up a sandwich or put in a CD. Weird...

Why this is so, I don't know?

My speculation: It's far, (further emphasis) FAR more engaging for some to converse on a cell phone while driving.

As time passes thus engaged, this secondary activity insidiously becomes primary. This is especially so if a conversation continues uninterruptedly versus a quick, to the point message lasting less than say, a minute...

Chas.,

I understand each time an unreasonable restriction is proposed by the powers that be, we ultimately see it refuted, creating a new ratcheting up effect with those in favor of greater restriction doing the old try and try again approach.

I've only mentioned a few close calls I've encountered with those who drive while using their cell phone.

I'm not exaggerating to bolster my claim to say I've very few dangerous driving encounters with folks gnawing on a burger say, than in comparison to those driving while cell phone using.

If, as I think is being suggested, cell phone drivers (if you will) are on par with any other driver who talks to his passengers or does some other innocuous driving activity, then I respectfully disagree. I submit to you that cell phone use is THE most distracting activity while driving ever...

I don't think I'm being manipulated by the media. I have first hand, multiple encounters with cell phone drivers that have created close calls. I can't recall the last time (if ever) I had one that the driver had a burger in his hand and almost collided with me or was fiddling with the radio. But yeah, I've witnessed a cell phone driver mentally transported away from his driving duties to a plane of some other inattentive existence bearing no resemblance to his first duty, driving....

Am I campaigning for additional laws to address what I think is a rather new and quite real menace?

No.

I keep my head on a swivel and know if I survive a crash created by an oblivious bonehead cell phoner because his priority was chiefly addressing his phone, I'm going after him in every legally possible way I can.

Yes, we all have very strong opinions regarding distracted driving, with texting while driving leading the pack and cell phone blabbing taking a solid second place.

Opinions vary on what to do about this newest driving distraction, but in the past I heard little in the way of the general public expressing a strong outcry against other distractions such as: driving while eating, tuning the radio, etc. Such distractions simply didn't loom large as a general public outrage.

Cell phone use while driving does...

So, for all you cell phone usage while driving apologists - why do you think this is so?

srothstein,

Your idea is brilliant!

Bravo!

As for invoking another country's approach as a traffic exemplar for the U.S., no thanks.

I'm not being xenophobic when I say Europe is not a model of how we in the U.S. should conduct ourselves, though I appreciate some revere their every move.

I see both sides.

All I can say is not that long ago a woman almost killed me when she blithely went through a stop sign while blabbing on a cell phone, causing me (on a bicycle) to run into a ditch.

Had she been paying attention to her driving and not talking on a cell phone it most probably wouldn't have happened.

Yes, you can rationalize all you care to about other activities that distract while driving, but the insanity of texting and to a lesser degree talking on a cell phone while driving is one of a very high number of causes of car accidents.

The rationale of texting on a cell phone and driving reminds of those who insist they can drive drunk just fine...never had a problem.

Should there be new laws?

No - However, if you cause a vehicle accident due to cell phone usage and driving, the villagers should handle you like Frankenstein with chanting, pitchforks and lit torches at your home...