NTSB calls for blanket ban on cell phones in big rigs~

[Sunshine]

I think it is abominable that professional drivers don't mind putting other drivers at risk!

SHALL COUNTY, Ky. — Truck drivers say they need them to talk to their families, keep in touch with companies and stay safe. So, they can't believe the government wants to ban all cell phone usage in big rigs.

It's a real issue that has the entire truck-driving community in an uproar.

This is in reaction to the announcement that a trucker texting and talking on a cell phone caused a deadly accident on Kentucky's I-65 near Munfordville last year.

NTSB calls for blanket ban on cell phones in big rigs | WPSD Local 6 - News, Sports, Weather - Paducah KY | Local

 

[Quantum Windbag]

There are already bans on texting and using the cell phone while driving, why ban the, completely?

 

[Sunshine]

There are already bans on texting and using the cell phone while driving, why ban the, completely?

Maybe it isn't working.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Talking on the phone isn't illegal, but texting is in many states.

Why ban them? Just push for all 50 states to have anti-texting laws.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

There are already bans on texting and using the cell phone while driving, why ban the, completely?

Maybe it isn't working.

Maybe they are overreacting.

 

[alan1]

I think it is abominable that professional drivers don't mind putting other drivers at risk!

SHALL COUNTY, Ky. — Truck drivers say they need them to talk to their families, keep in touch with companies and stay safe. So, they can't believe the government wants to ban all cell phone usage in big rigs.

It's a real issue that has the entire truck-driving community in an uproar.

This is in reaction to the announcement that a trucker texting and talking on a cell phone caused a deadly accident on Kentucky's I-65 near Munfordville last year.

NTSB calls for blanket ban on cell phones in big rigs | WPSD Local 6 - News, Sports, Weather - Paducah KY | Local

Do you feel the same way about everybody that is driving?

 

[RadiomanATL]

Drivers have talked on CB's for decades. Whats the real difference between that and talking on a cell phone.

I'm good with the anti-texting thing. I think that should be illegal in all 50 states. But talking? Nah.

 

[Cuyo]

Drivers have talked on CB's for decades. Whats the real difference between that and talking on a cell phone.

I'm good with the anti-texting thing. I think that should be illegal in all 50 states. But talking? Nah.

Just like when normal car drivers talk on the phone... It ain't the talking, it's the dialing.

Which is why I think hands-free requirements are bunk.

 

[Sherry]

There are already bans on texting and using the cell phone while driving, why ban the, completely?

Maybe it isn't working.

Maybe they are overreacting.

I think they are...there are all sorts of distractions in the cab of any vehicle. No doubt many an accident has been caused while eating, fiddling with a cigarette lighter, changing the station/channel on the radio/CB, etc.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Drivers have talked on CB's for decades. Whats the real difference between that and talking on a cell phone.

I'm good with the anti-texting thing. I think that should be illegal in all 50 states. But talking? Nah.

Just like when normal car drivers talk on the phone... It ain't the talking, it's the dialing.

Which is why I think hands-free requirements are bunk.

I have one touch dialing on my phone.

There's also voice dialing.

 

[Cuyo]

Drivers have talked on CB's for decades. Whats the real difference between that and talking on a cell phone.

I'm good with the anti-texting thing. I think that should be illegal in all 50 states. But talking? Nah.

Just like when normal car drivers talk on the phone... It ain't the talking, it's the dialing.

Which is why I think hands-free requirements are bunk.

I have one touch dialing on my phone.

There's also voice dialing.

Mine has it too, I think most new phones do.

In any event, imo the hands free device doesn't help. It's not the act of holding the phone to your ear. I don't actually know anyone who drives with 2 hands anyway, even when they're not on the phone.

edit: of course, all big rigs have manual transmissions... Somethin to think about.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Just like when normal car drivers talk on the phone... It ain't the talking, it's the dialing.

Which is why I think hands-free requirements are bunk.

I have one touch dialing on my phone.

There's also voice dialing.

Mine has it too, I think most new phones do.

In any event, imo the hands free device doesn't help. It's not the act of holding the phone to your ear. I don't actually know anyone who drives with 2 hands anyway, even when they're not on the phone.

edit: of course, all big rigs have manual transmissions... Somethin to think about.

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

 

[Cuyo]

I have one touch dialing on my phone.

There's also voice dialing.

Mine has it too, I think most new phones do.

In any event, imo the hands free device doesn't help. It's not the act of holding the phone to your ear. I don't actually know anyone who drives with 2 hands anyway, even when they're not on the phone.

edit: of course, all big rigs have manual transmissions... Somethin to think about.

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Mine has it too, I think most new phones do.

In any event, imo the hands free device doesn't help. It's not the act of holding the phone to your ear. I don't actually know anyone who drives with 2 hands anyway, even when they're not on the phone.

edit: of course, all big rigs have manual transmissions... Somethin to think about.

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

I guess I'm just used to one touch dialing. And voice dialing.

 

[Cuyo]

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

I guess I'm just used to one touch dialing. And voice dialing.

While driving I voice-text now too, which seems redundant to the point of absurdity.

 

[alan1]

Mine has it too, I think most new phones do.

In any event, imo the hands free device doesn't help. It's not the act of holding the phone to your ear. I don't actually know anyone who drives with 2 hands anyway, even when they're not on the phone.

edit: of course, all big rigs have manual transmissions... Somethin to think about.

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

I feel more comfortable with truckers (that drive all the time) doing it than I do with casual drivers (that spend an hour or less behind the wheel on any given day) doing it.
Kinda like I feel more comfortable with soldiers holding firearms more than I do the casual citizen.

 

[RadiomanATL]

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

I guess I'm just used to one touch dialing. And voice dialing.

While driving I voice-text now too, which seems redundant to the point of absurdity.

I don't voice text, just voice dial.

"Call, wife".

things like that.

 

[Cuyo]

But dialing doesn't pull your eyes off the road any more than changing a station on the radio a few times, changing the CB settings, adjusting a mirror....

I don't know about all that, the stuff you mentioned is mounted just below the windshield in your line of site, and there's only a few buttons to deal with. As opposed to the phone you're staring at it, making sure you pressed the right buttons, etc.

I'd feel better if truckers weren't doing it.

I feel more comfortable with truckers (that drive all the time) doing it than I do with casual drivers (that spend an hour or less behind the wheel on any given day) doing it.
Kinda like I feel more comfortable with soldiers holding firearms more than I do the casual citizen.

Yeah but if a casual driver drifts into you, you've got an insurance nightmare and a trip to the body shop on your hands. Big rig, you're almost certainly dead.

 

[Cuyo]

I guess I'm just used to one touch dialing. And voice dialing.

While driving I voice-text now too, which seems redundant to the point of absurdity.

I don't voice text, just voice dial.

"Call, wife".

things like that.

You have an android by any chance? I can now say, for example, "Call target" and it will look up and dial the nearest Target to my location. Wicked cool. "Navigate to" as well.

 

[RadiomanATL]

While driving I voice-text now too, which seems redundant to the point of absurdity.

I don't voice text, just voice dial.

"Call, wife".

things like that.

You have an android by any chance? I can now say, for example, "Call target" and it will look up and dial the nearest Target to my location. Wicked cool. "Navigate to" as well.

Yeah, i can do that too, but haven't had a need to use it. I'm not in a vehicle for more than 20 minutes at a time. So I just wait until I get somewhere.