Do you think driving while talking on a cell phone should be illegal?

-- Chris M (chrism1921@yahoo.com), September 13, 2000

Answers

Yes, I certainly do think it should be illegal!! I don't want to die in some car wreck just because some asshole had to check on his dumb wife that wants him to call her every 15 minutes!!

-- Darren K. Romitti (lastprod@goldrush.com), September 14, 2000.

It should be illegal and in most states here in Australia it is. You get a big fine which makes your phone calls very expensive. But that doesn't stop the morons from doing it and in my experience it's usually women and they are usually also checking out their make up in the rear view mirror at the same time. I have seen this. It's very scary on the roads sometimes.

-- Peter (pdl@interact.net.au), September 14, 2000.

I'll argue: I don't think it should be illegal. I mean, not unless they are willing to make it illegal as well to smoke, put on makeup, masturbate, and eat jack in the box tacos while driving...all of which are equally distracting from the task at hand. And hell, I've been known to talk on the phone, eat sushi with chopsticks, shift gears and drive all at once with no problem. It's all about multitasking.

Personally, I think if you want to cut down on driving hazards, cell- phones aren't the place to start; just revoke the license of anyone who drives a minivan. That'll cut a big healthy chunk out of our accident-rate right there.

-- donny (donnydonnydonny@hotmail.com), September 14, 2000.

Yes! A thousand times YES! How many people are going to have to be seriously injured or worse, die? Think about it. Most people have trouble talking on a cordless phone and navigating the furniture in their home! Not only should it be illegal, but if you get caught doing it more than three times I think you should lose your license!

-- Harry F. Mudd (harryfmudd@hotmail.com), September 14, 2000.