yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Nationwide ban of cell phone use while driving is around the corner

The National Transportation Safety Board today made a far-reaching recommendation to ban all non-driving-related use of personal electronic devices while in the driver's seat, including hands-free use.*

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-13/...t-phones-texting-pickup-truck-driver?_s=PM:US

A federal safety board called Tuesday for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving.

The recommendation is the most far-reaching yet by the National Transportation Safety Board, which in the past 10 years has increasingly sought to limit the use of portable electronic devices -- recommending bans for novice drivers, school bus drivers and commercial truckers. Tuesday's recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.

It would apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices, but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said.

The recommendation would not affect passengers' rights to use such devices.

You'll find me all over this tread but at post #31 I stated what is my opinion about this recommendation and how this problem should be solved.

BTW, please focus on the real issue here with this NTSB recommendation which is ban of smart phone GPS navigation and voice hands-free while they allow same thing if it's factory installed as built-in unit.

So problem here is not texting while driving which is already banned in 35+ states and now will be banned everywhere (I fully support that) but forbidding us to use our phone navigation and hands-free voice while driving. Those 2 things never have been banned anywhere and they would be allowed to use in the future but only if it's built-in.

I'm asking why built-in navigation and hands-free usually installed down and bellow is safe to use while driving and for example our phones usually placed up and in the line of sight are not?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] ack154:
Yes, but what does this have to do with the SGSII?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
LOL.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Red5:
Absolutely nothing, so its a good thing he put it in General. The only thing it has a slight connection is that its cell related, but thats stretching it.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] highaltitude:
Hopefully you're not as dumb as you sound.

This would suck if this law passes. It states no electronics whatsoever, other than in dash navi. No cell phones, no ipods, not nothing handheld or bluetooth in the car. If you dont have a car or drive at all then dont worry about it.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] nyydynasty:
LMAO - i dont get your post. It has everything to do with the GS2 ...... along with every other phone on the market.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] seh6183:
Welcome to California.

A state where adults are unable to make decisions for themselves. I can't wait to get pulled over for picking my nose.

"Sir, do you have any idea how distracting and DANGEROUS it is to pick your nose while driving? License and registration... you're going down hard for this one"

What a bunch of jokes.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] TOA Duck:
I wouldn't mind if this passes. My mother was put in the hospital last week in an accident where the guy rear ended her going 50. He was messing with his phone. She was turning left and was completely stopped.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
My biggest gripes are that we won't be allowed to use our built in GPS functionality and not be able to dial/receive call using hands free accessories.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
What about GPS, music, etc?

Please read the article.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] NJGSII:
If Im reading the article correctly, you can still have them in the car. You just can't use them while driving. I already do that without needing a law telling me not to.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
+1
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] nyydynasty:
right but there are too many "grey areas". I just dont see this passing at all.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
That's correct. It's not contraband. But then why have it when you can't use it. Just think of all accessories you won't be allowed to use in car while driving.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
If we, people, don't act against it, I'm afraid it's done deal.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] AvengerBB:
There won't be anything "nationwide". We live in a republic and states make their own laws. Yes, the federal government can tie funding to certain minimum criteria, but that's it. Heck, the states can't even agree on standards and punishment for DUI.

This won't make it anywhere anytime soon, and will be vetted at many state and local levels before anything goes mainstream.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
@colbynmeghan

How many people have built in navigation in their cars? Don't you think that drivers will be more distracted not being able to navigate and follow directions from smart phones?

Possible scenario:

I think I should turn left here (moving left)...no, no, I should go right! (moving right)...BAM!
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] mostyle:
Has nothing to do with him being dumb.. Don't be so rude...

See the difference? That's what he was referencing.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Miami_Son:
First off, NHTSA has no legislative authority. They can't make laws only recommendations. Second, I am a cyclist and motorcyclist who recently moved from CA to FL. In the past 5 years I have seen a dramatic increase in distracted driving that has many times put me at risk as I cycle around town. The law in CA is a joke primarily because it is barely enforced and is largely ignored. As a motorcyclist I can always tell when a driver ahead of me is using a phone or other device. They eschew turn signal use, they drift in their lanes, they often make abrupt lane changes, etc. It has gotten so bad that I considered giving up my street bike. The same for cycling, only I will probably not see the driver who runs me over from behind while on his/her cell phone. Now that I'm in Florida where there is no law against cell phones in cars I am considering it again, especially with all the elderly drivers here.

These laws are not about restricting individual freedoms, but about making the tax-payer funded roadways safer for all. Driving is a priviledge, not a right, and government is supposed to be involved in issues of safety for all. The problem is that too many people think they know what's best and will disregard common sense in the absence of law. Case in point, I was riding my Harley in CA last month when I came to a stop at a light. As I approached I noticed that the car in the lane to my left had stopped about 2 car lengths from the limit line and had both right side tires on the lane line. When I was alongside the car I looked over and saw why. She had an iPad on her lap and steering wheel and was furiously tapping away at it. Do you really need a law to tell you that such behavior is unsafe and distracting? Apparently, many drivers do. The attitude these days is people will generally do whatever they can get away with. Don't blame government for feeling the need to sometimes protect us from ourselves.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] TOA Duck:
^

+1
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
My guess is that most states will follow recommendation to the letter like they followed it before.

BTW, I agree with you that fines will be different from state to state. Poor states will have much higher fines...
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] brent8577:
bad drivers are bad drivers no matter what they do. i will continue to use my phone and smoke.

MOD EDIT: Illegal drugs are still illegal and are not permitted to be talked about here.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] brent8577:
and until people are not permitted to use homophobic slurs and physical violence...i will do whatever i want. if you see me coming, get ready to dive and roll! ;)
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Miami_Son:
What city are you in so I can avoid it.:rolleyes:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] NJGSII:
I don't think there should be a law mandated against the use of mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. It should just be common sense though which isn't that common.

Whenever my phone is in the car with me and its in the charger. I don't usually answer a call or text till I get to my destination. The first and foremost goal is that I get to where I'm going safely as safely as I possibly can. I don't know how many times where I had to maneuver to avoid an accident as the result of someone else being on a phone or texting that if I were doing the same myself Id have no time to avoid them.

Focus on the road people. Not your device that you can get again if it breaks. Once you go, you're gone and you aint coming back.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Miami_Son:
Like I said in my previous post on page 2, too many people will do whatever they can get away with. That's the society we live in today. We care more about our own desires than our collective safety. We don't care about the risk to others so long as we get to do whatever we want. That's why government steps in to create laws. Not because they want to, but are forced to because we can't self-regulate ourselves. If this does become law it will be because common sense isn't and we'll have no one to blame but ourselves. And it will go to the extreme of prohibiting ALL cell phone use in a car instead of just requiring hands-free use because people will continue to ignore the dangers of distracted driving.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] raduque:
My phone mount puts my phone way up high on the dash, where I can reach it with my right hand with a minimum of effort. My phone is my source for music in the truck, the most I do with it is swiping to the next song or answering a call.

I absolutely DO NOT text while the truck is in motion or even in drive, and I ONLY make outgoing calls when stopped for longer than 30 seconds at a red light Text or fiddling with Navigation only happens when pulled over and stopped in a parking lot.

I do talk while driving, but I pay a minimum amount of attention to the conversation, which REALLY irritates people - "what are you doing, why aren't you PAYING ATTENTION TO ME?"

"I'm driving, you douchebag, get over yourself."

I see this as a very bad thing. Dicking around with an in-dash Navigation unit is worse than messing with a phone - with the phone, at least, you can bring it up into view and not have to take your eyes completely off the road.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] yahoowizard:
Well, they are allowing handsfree equipment in the car, as far as I heard, they just don't want you operating the phone to make calls or send out texts. They're looking to bring about a standard that cars should have a capability to link cell phones with the car so that the mobile phone goes back to where it started (being a car phone). But yeah, not going to lie, texting while driving is a big no-no, but at the same time, it's going to be a ***** to enforce it as people can claim they were just changing the song or trying to look up directions.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] BigMc71:
Studies show that hands free is not less distracting than holding the phone. It's the conversation that is mostly distracting. I'm sure there are hands free equipment manufacturers that are lobbying for their benefit. Invest in those companies now. That being said, texting is the killer. You can just watch the swirving cars, the late stoppers and late starters at lights and know they are testing. Bobble heads as they look up and down, up and down....
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
I'm rider, just like you, but this recommendation is ludicrous. Some study shows that conversation with other person in the car is 2(two) times more distracting then using hands free device. And what about kids? Should we be alone in car all the time? And what about millions of other distractions? Government and states should invest in better driver education to reduce number of accidents. This, for me, is nothing more then another tax to fill empty budgets. Drivers would still answer important call thus this time they would look all around looking for cops and be more distracted. My take on this matter;

Enforce current laws with harsher fines and invest into better drivers education.

But no, "they" don't think about safety. Only money.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] :
Then they should put a ban on operating the radio or changing CDs. No different and takes about the same amount of time to look down and switch radio stations or CDs as it does to change tracks on your phone.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] ack154:
Let me explain my post to some of you as if you're infants (and jerks)...

Why bother posting this in the SGS2 forum? It concerns EVERY mobile phone/device/whatever. So why post it just here?

Should be here: http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=256
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Half of all posts in General is just like mine. You should go to other threads and ask the same question. Or just leave it to moderator to decide. Don't you agree?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] ack154:
Ah... the "everyone else is doing it" excuse. Classy.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] hchxoom:
Well said, and on point. This is about fundraising under the guise of public service. Damned lib elitists that think they know better than the unintelligent masses, and that they've found yet another way to dig in everyone else"s pockets. One day, I hope this country will wake up and realize who the real 1% knuckleheads are and see that they're the ones putting it to the other 99% of us (and it ain't the corporate suits or wall streeters, though many of them aren't angels).
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] ryusen:
If it's the conversation that's the problem, what's the different between talking on a hands free device and to a passenger. I just don't like a blanket blame of the technology when it's more specific behaviors. What about eating while driving? Putting on make up while driving... no one wants to start campaigns against that. I think it boils down to people want a convenient thing to blame.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
To be honest I wasn't thinking about "other" General because I never go there. I want it to discuss with my fellow members who have same device as mine. Peace
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Miami_Son:
I think you misunderstand. I have a BT head unit in my truck. I almost never take my phone out of the case I carry it in as it pairs automatically with the truck when I start it. I can initiate/answer a call without touching the phone (most of the time) and I have steering wheel-mounted controls for the volume and other radio controls. I'm a responsible cell user. Unfortunately, I see way too many people who aren't and those are the ones who will cause the law to go too far because they insist on doing things their way. The hands-free law has been on the books for over a year in CA and yet I regularly saw people breaking it and driving dangerously. Enforcement doesn't seem to matter to them because they can easily afford a $100 ticket that puts no points on their driving record. I know people who have been ticketed multiple times. So what choice do lawmakers have but to make a tougher law? Maybe if they said that such a ticket would affect insurance rates or that having an accident while using a cell phone has the same punishment as a DUI people might wake up. In any case, there has to be some constraint because people today are not and will not regulate themselves. I'm not in favor of a complete ban, but just being here in FL for a month after leaving a state with a hands-free law makes me scared for my life. Tons of elderly drivers using cell phones while driving...now there's a nightmare scenario!:eek:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] lonewolf69:
MISLEADING title - NATIONWIDE BAN on Galaxy S2... (really???!?)

Please consider updating the TITLE because it misleads people, the proposed BAN is for ALL cell phone and electronics NOT just Galaxy S2...
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
@Miami_Son

I think you misunderstood. They're trying to ban all hands free and GPS devices unless they come factory installed or professionally built in car/truck. It's nice that you already have it but what for majority of us who can't afford it?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] hchxoom:
I think you actually validated his point... the proposed solution will raise funds and do nothing to change behavior. It will also take law enforcement time away from the real issue - reckless driving. A better solution than niggling at the masses and padding govt coffers would be to put the hammer to the idiots that put others at danger.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Title was without AT&T Galaxy S2 but...long story...

I'll consider...again.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] :
I changed it. It was misleading.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] axis01:
This is the reason why people have dumped on your thread. It has NOTHING to do with the proposed legislation, it has EVERYTHING to do with the way you worded the title. It's not a nationwide ban of GSII's but all cell phone use.

The ban has no bearing on ipods unless you're messing with it when your driving. If they ticketed me for listening to my USB connected Ipod, they would be able to do the same for listening to the radio and CD player. :rolleyes:
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Thanks. And you know why I changed it. It was honest mistake.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] :
It was fine, just a little misleading... now the title dosent specify just Galaxy S 2 phones, but all phones. Not a big deal, just a minor detail.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Miami_Son:
I added this capability to my 12 year old truck for under $175. If you can afford a $500 cell phone, you can afford a BT-capable head unit. An all out ban is unrealistic simply because lawmakers drive and own cell phones, too. They aren't likely to give up theirs. There's lots of things that distract us when driving, but holding a cell phone to your ear in a conversation is especially dangerous because drivers ignore things like turn signals, safe lane changes and proper following distances. At least restricting them to a hands-free option leaves both hands free to do what they should be doing with them. I do believe there should be an all out ban on texting while driving, though. No way to do that safely since it requires your eyes to turn to the device.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
You obviously forgot that title was the same as it's now for first 2 pages and reason I changed it but never mind. We didn't come to this tread to talk about title change.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Come on. Be realistic. Are you saying that you can install built in hands free with GPS navigation for $175? More likely $500+ with labor. And most people got their smart phones with 2 years of contact paying $0 (zero) up to $200. And texting while driving ban is already in affect and I fully support it. I even ask for harsher fines.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] twiggums:
There is no reason not to pay full attention while driving, a driver not paying attention can take innocent lives in seconds. Theres nothing i can do with my phone that is important enough to kill anyone over. Even though the odds of it causing an accident are minute it's not worth it to me, especially if i can completely eliminate that distraction so easily.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
Are you a robot? It's completely natural to get distracted because driving from home to work and back for years is boring. It's human nature. Even NASCAR drivers get distracted while doing 200+mph.

.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] hchxoom:
The discussion is turning a bit more sensible now, but still off target IMO. The problem is that legislation/regulation can't keep up with technological changes. The reality is that I can now send and receive texts on my SgS2 (and many other current devices) without touching them with the right app and BT connectivity, even just a $20 earpiece. One could easily argue that such communication is safer than ongoing dialogue (whether on the phone or with an in car passenger) because it can be done on demand in safe situations wheras live conversation is ambivalent to the immediate situation.

Personally, I don't use texting at all (on the road, in the office or at home) except for rarely when I can't get out of a meeting and need to get an urgent mast out, and I try to minimize calls in the car. I use hands7free calling almost exclusively, though there have been times when I've elected to pick up because it seemed safer for some reason. On any call in which I need to be truly engaged, I pull over and stop.

I can honestly say that I've made more boneheaded decisions driving due to spilling a drink, reaching for something, or focusing on something else too intently (passenger conversation, meeting I just had or am headed to, or even the radio) than I have due to portable electronics. Unless something new has come out recently I haven't seen, most studies have suggested the same is true for most people across the nation and that cell phone tragedies, while sensational and thus newsworthy, are no more dangerous than talking with passengers or other much more common distractions.

Ultimately, we can waste resources studying and writing laws about tech use - IMO about as good a use of money as the millions same gvt spent pursuing Barry Bonds or the billions of stimulus dollars spent on pet political projects - or we can eliminate some of the silly regs we put on our law enforcement officials to enforce and give them back the time to focus on the meatheads that endanger others with reckless driving, whatever the cause.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] twiggums:
I openly admit distractions happen, and cause accidents. But if i can completely eliminate one distraction by simply not playing with a phone while driving i certainly will.

There's no reason to willingly add unneeded distractions in my opinion. What happens to NASCAR drivers when they get distracted alot?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] rquinn19:
Meanwhile I can't find a cop who isn't on the phone when their driving. Secondly, how about the people that read the paper and drive, put on makeup, have dogs in their laps? And lastly I don't text and drive. If I couldn't talk and drive then I shouldn't be driving. What's next? No conversation with passengers while driving?
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
We are talking about how using built in hands free and GPS is OK and same thing with our phones is not. Same thing. But not.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] twiggums:
Hmm i read you previous response as stating distractions exist so why should one more matter. Guess i just read it wrong.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
@hchxoom

I couldn't agree more.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] colbynmeghan:
I have, been helping petiole move all day today, so I haven't been on. But while I was driving a,Uhaul I was almost ran off the road while someone was putting on makeup and texting on the interstate where we both are going about 65 and have, construction on both sides of the road.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] Luzce:
I think the ban is a very good idea. Unfortunately much too many people can't walk and chew gum at the same time, much less read a Kindle book or finish level 3-14 of Angry Birds. I myself am planning on upgrading the car stereo to something bluetooth & touchscreen. Should replace the need for a handset dialing and iPod fiddling.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
My response was response on your post. Maybe little bit of topic but I couldn't help it.
[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777] alex72:
So you don't need GPS navigation, directions, traffic updates, etc...

Or you need it but you'll buy a new car/truck with everything included? Which is it?