cell phones killed the dinosaurs

[louer]

One subject of recent impassioned debate in CA has been talking on a cell phone while driving. Californians, like NYers already, will be required to use hands-free devices by Jan 1, 2008

Comments

[cloudmistress]

I think you and I got cell phones about the same time, back toward the end of high school. I've had a headset of one sort or another since that time. And you know what? Being a SoCal gal, the vast majority of my driving is done solo, and always has been. And I agree that sitting in traffic is an excellent and sometimes the only time I have to make phone calls. I've discovered that I am far more distracted when the rare event occurs and I have someone in the car with me that when I'm talking on the phone (ask my parents or co-workers). The phone is normal, but if I have a person, I have an urge to look at the person next to me while talking. Not a brilliant driving combo, but I'm aware that it's a problem, so I usually catch myself. If I learned how not to do this in high school, I've forgotten since I started doing a crapload of solo driving when we went to college. So yeah, I don't buy that it's any specific thing, but that everyone has to deal with elements of driving that are distracting to them.