Comments on: Is a Ban on Using Your BlackBerry While Driving Coming?

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:04:30 +0000

Texas may be about to pass a law that bans using a BlackBerry while driving. No BlackBerry While Driving in Texas

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:00:19 +0000

TRS,

Although I understand your sentiment, I am going to have to go with Nor Cal Chevy on this one.

The law isn’t to punish the many people that you know who drive safely while using hands-free kits. It is to protect those be that are in accidents caused by drivers not using them.

Driving is not a right, it is a privilage.

Additionaly, the folks that already have hands-free kits to use while driving could probably care less about the law anyway.

By: TRS

TRS — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:08:08 +0000

But that’s the same philosophy as “let’s punish everyone equally for the mistakes of a small group of people”.

I know many people who use Blackberry devices while driving with hands-free kits and they drive very safely and are very productive. Of course, they don’t type on them while driving….that’s just insane.

I’m just saying, let’s be careful that we’re not giving up too many freedoms by letting ‘big brother’ control another aspect of our lives by instituting another law just for the sake of “protecting us once again from stupid people”.

Instead of throwing laws around like candy, let’s work on improving the technology even further. How about voice recognition (speech to text), which could be done hands-free. Etc….

By: Nor Cal Chevy

Nor Cal Chevy — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:42:15 +0000

Well, the law would more specifically protect people from other peoples stupidity. When there is an accident, it’s not just one car involved (normally)

By: TRS

TRS — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:18:53 +0000

I personally don’t feel that it’s the government’s responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity. This may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. It really bothers me to see how many people drive with one hand while holding a phone up to their ear with the other. It also bothers me to see how many “almost accidents” happen because of these people.

Anyone who can afford such a device can certainly afford, at least, a wired earbud if not a full blown bluetooth headset.

I don’t think talking on phones while driving should be banned all together, but people should be required to use hands-free kits. If we ban someone for talking on the phone, then we may as well set up a law that prohibits a driver from carrying on a conversation with the passenger in the seat behind them. It’s just as distracting while driving.

By: Nor Cal Chevy

Nor Cal Chevy — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:24:29 +0000

I think there already is a ban in California. I’ve been pulled over (Threatened with a ticket) before because the cop noticed I had earphones in for a walkman radio. I doubt that they would distinguish between the two.

Your not suppose to have any headset even the earplug versions on while driving. At least that is what I was told by the highway patrol

By: Rich Wagner

Rich Wagner — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:02:00 +0000

I am sure that most comments that will follow will say that you shouldn’t use your Blackberry while driving. The only problem is that this is one of those instances where the group is smarter than the individual.

Some of the very people that will say that you should never use your BlackBerry while behind the wheel will be the very ones trying to tap out a quick response while driving with their knees or stopped at a red light later on today.

When you really think about it, many laws are created simply because personal responsibility and common sense don’t kick in.