Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
You have probably heard the statistic that a driver using a cell phone is as dangerous as a slightly drunk driver. But did you know that the following countries have passed laws against it?
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
The United State's answer is a resounding: What do you mean? We drive drunk all the time. Only the following states have passed definitive bans against cell phone usage while driving:
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
- New York
Many states have passed laws banning bus drivers from talking on cell phones while driving, and some states have pending laws on the subject. Why does the U.S. federal government blackmail the states via highway funding on the issue of BAC intoxication standards but remain silent on this issue?
Okay, okay, driving drunk is one thing, cell phone use while driving is another. I admit I partake from time to time, but I think the one that takes the cake is shooting video for podcasts or video presentations while driving. A video of lane splitting is one thing, but imparting deep wisdom or funny anecdotes - do you really want to be distracted from driving reducing the quality of your spoken and recorded message? Discuss.