Safety and Cell Phones

[Shutterbug]

I want to count heads one an on going issue concerning driving and cell phones. This is something that is here to stay and I want to poll the NB owners only. Please be honest, Thanx, Gail

[digitalputty]

No cell phone here ... WOOT!

[CaptainXeroid]

I don't answer the phone while I'm driving. I tried a hands free gadget, having stuff in or around my ears bugged me. The last one I had would make my phone redial the last number, and that got even more annoying than telemarketers calling me.

[Steinola]

Even with hands free, I found that I completely blank on the driving for rather scary lengths of time. So I always pull over.

I say "always"... chea... I think I've only received a cell phone call maybe 3 or 4 times while I've been driving in the 5 years I've had a cell. In general, I don't see the point of talking on the phone while you're in the car at all.

[73standard]

I hate cell phones, just ask 73LadyBug. The only reason I have one is because she want's me to have one, otherwise I'd be happy with out one.

[SoonerBug]

As an avid motorcyclist I pay great attention to the cars around me. I can say with no doubt that 90% of the close calls I've had on the bike and in the car in the last few years have been due to some driver paying all their attention to a cell phone call and none to their driving.

SB

[Mazzzja]

I have a handsfreeset, but I hardly ever get called when I'm in the car.

[neko]

If I know that I will receive a call I always setup the handfree system before to start the car. All the other times I just take the phone off and place on the back of the car. Since it is set on vibrate only I never know if someone calls me and I am not tempted to answer. I am in the car for about two 30 minutes trips in the morning and one 10 minutes in the evening. So it is really rare that someone receives my callback much later (and I would hope that my friends would prefer a late call than me splatted over a wall ).

[pdoel]

If I need to make a call, I always do so at a long stop light when I know I have time to make a quick call. If I can, I'll make the call before I leave, or once I get to where I'm going.

There are times when I get calls that I can't ignore, and have no choice.

Unfortunately, there are many distractions of drivers. The radio, other passengers, people walking along the road, eating, putting on makeup, etc. These are all just as dangerous. But it seems we only focus on cellphones.

[warren]

generally, i pull off the road to take/make a call from family...or i'll just let voicemail catch the call and i'll return the call later.

current phone has no speakerphone capability, and i don't have voice-activated dialing.

won't even try looking thru my bifocals at those teeeeny tiny numbers on the keypad while driving.

i'll occasionally call back to my office to tell my cellmates a particular route home is at a dead stop (including me )

[Severecaraddict]

I use my hand to use the phone. I rarely drive with both hands anyway, and I always leave the phone in a spot that is easily accessable to where I don't have to take my eyes off the road for very long. I know its dangerous, but so is driving in general. I've come closer to wrecking trying to find a radio station or changing CDs while driving.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by digitalputty

No cell phone here ... WOOT!

Wow, so I'm not the only one left without one.

Yup, my time driving my car is my alone time to spend with my car.

[larryziegler]

I will use the hands free equipment if I know I'm going to be making calls when I drive, otherwise, I just hold it with my right hand to my ear. Driving is second nature to me, so I have no issues on being able to pay attention and drive while on the cell phone, unlike many other folks. The downside to the hands free equipment is that I don't hear the conversation nearly as good as I do with the phone at my ear. I'm not one who is on the phone in the car evcery second, but if I am driving 2-3 hrs to a business meeting, I will plan in advance to make use of my dead time to return phone calls or get work done via the phone while driving. I do make use of my phone as its intended...to keep my conversations as short as possible and I rarely use the internet capable features, as it takes too long and is still quite inefficient.

[Fowvay]

I rarely make phone calls and when in the car even less often but If I am in a safe situation I will answer my cell phone and hold it to my head while driving.

[VDUBYA]

I'm guilty of using it while driving. I don't like to , but there are times I have to take the call.....

[AmyJane]

I very rarely will talk on my cell phone in the car without a hands free. Sometimes If I'm on a long trip and I'm talking to someone to pass the time I have to take a break and hang up for a while only because the hands free that I have is uncomfortable and hurts my ear. But if I'm driving and my phone rings and I cant find my hands free if I think the call is important I'll open up my phone and hold it away from me and say "Hang on!" and I'll locate my hands free and plug it in...otherwise they get the voicemail.

[TechnoKäfer]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

I rarely make phone calls and when in the car even less often but If I am in a safe situation I will answer my cell phone and hold it to my head while driving.

Ditto. I have a growing dislike for cell phones.

[Otto the egg]

Technically, my wife and I have 2 cell phones. One is built into the Onstar system on our truck (hands free), and the other one is a typical hand held. Both are used for emergencies (i.e. break down or car accident) only.

I can't imagine what is so important that people have to chat about, that can't wait until you are at home, the office, or off the road.

Speaking of offices... everyone at my place of work has a phone sitting on his/her desk. All the phones have a direct call in number so you don't have to go through a switch board... yet, atleast 1/4 of the people carry thier cell phones around yacking on them. why?

[Severecaraddict]

Originally Posted by Otto the egg

Technically, my wife and I have 2 cell phones. One is built into the Onstar system on our truck (hands free), and the other one is a typical hand held. Both are used for emergencies (i.e. break down or car accident) only.

I can't imagine what is so important that people have to chat about, that can't wait until you are at home, the office, or off the road.

Speaking of offices... everyone at my place of work has a phone sitting on his/her desk. All the phones have a direct call in number so you don't have to go through a switch board... yet, atleast 1/4 of the people carry thier cell phones around yacking on them. why?

I talk on my cell phone a lot because often I am on the go as is the person I am talking to, so finding a mutual time to be free and at home can be difficult. Do you use your ONSTAR phone a lot? Their pricing plans are RIDICULOUS even if you do get the first year free.

[Otto the egg]

Originally Posted by Severecaraddict

Do you use your ONSTAR phone a lot? Their pricing plans are RIDICULOUS even if you do get the first year free.

Since I only use it for emergencies... I hope I am not using it a lot.