Sunday, January 11, 2009

California Cell Phone Ban is a Joke....and More!!!

In July of 2008, California banned the use of cell phones while driving for all persons under the age of 18 years. The State also banned the use of hand held cell phones for persons over the age of 18 while driving. All cell phone users have to utilize hands-free devices, either corded or cordless, such as Bluetooth, to be within the law and avoid fines.

That law is a huge joke! Every day I watch dozens of people with their cell phones glued to their ears and yapping away. There are a number of possibilities for their idiotic behavior:

  • They don't give a rat's ass about the law
  • They don't care if they get caught
  • They would rather pay the fine than shut their mouth
  • They think whatever they have to say is more important than safe driving
  • They think they can talk and drive but they can't chew gum and walk

So, brilliance aside, what the hell did the lawmakers think these rocket scientists were going to do to dial their cell phones? Not all of them have voice dial, so here we now have motor mouth tethered to the cell phone by their new hands-free ear bud and microphone combo, holding it up in front of him or her, trying to see the keyboard and dial a number. Or, looking down, totally eyes off the road trying to do the same thing. Or, better yet, holding a piece of paper and a pen and the cell phone, while trying to write down a number that has appeared on the screen, and must be of utmost importance.

Then our brilliant lawmakers impose a very stiff (trying not to vomit) $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses if you get caught on the phone while driving. No points on the license, just a minuscule fine. They should have made it hundreds of dollars! Leave it to our lawmakers to pass a law with no teeth in it! God forbid they actually create a law that would help improve safety on our highways and put some teeth into enforcement efforts by law enforcement agencies. No, not in California! Once again, it cements our title as the Granola State!

To make this even more tragic, nobody though to ban texting! Until now. So, effective January 1, people can no longer text on their cell phone, Blackberry, PDA or whatever, while driving. But you know they will anyway! Ever watch some idiot driving along trying to text and drive? It's scary as hell. Their car weaves and bobs as their thumbs flit from key to key, the car rhythmically moving in tune to the miniature keystrokes from one side of the lane to the other.

Like most abusers of any technology, cell phone users in vehicles may soon find they are totally prohibited from using the phones in vehicles. Period. On January 11, 2009, The National Safety Council advocated a total ban on cell phone use while driving, stating the practice is clearly dangerous and leads to fatalities.

The group's president likens talking on cell phones to drunken driving. She says cell phone use increases the risk of a crash fourfold, and that hands-free cell phones are just as risky as hand held phones.

The council examined more than 50 scientific studies before reaching its decision. One is a study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. It estimates 6% of vehicle crashes causing about 2,600 deaths and 12,000 serious injuries a year are attributable to cell phone use.

Yes, I have a cell phone. No, I don't use it in the car. I turn it off most of the time unless I have a need for it. It has voice mail so if I get a call and I don't answer, someone will leave a message. If not, the call wasn't important enough for me to answer anyway. That's the nice thing when you become the master of technology, rather than let technology become your ruler!

I abhor people yapping on the phone incessantly behind me in the grocery line, or at the bank or anyplace else. They talk loudly because they must think they need to be loud to be heard, and it's damned obnoxious. Fully grown men and women sound like children when they get on the cell phones, and their incessant chatter must make them believe that they are so important that the world will stop unless they have communication every second of every day, no matter what else is going on around them. They don't seem to have a clue how impolite it is, nor what an imposition it is on others, to listen to the constant barrage of yapping from all angles. And, if you raise your voice so you can be heard over their motor-mouthing, they give you the evil-eye, like you're interfering with some God-given right to communication!

Finally, a word to the wise. Giving out all your credit card, Social Security and other information over your cell phone is not only unsafe, but pretty stupid. Period. No, nobody has to use high tech decoding equipment to stealthily get those numbers. Just stand near you while you're talking and placing an order, or using your talking bank teller and they have all they need. I've heard people carry on conversations where they obviously give out their credit card numbers, then after a pause, state other numbers which I believe either to be their PIN or the Security Code on their credit card, either of which can cost you money, or at least big time financial headaches in the wrong hands. If you're using the Takling Teller as many banks have, lowering your voice when you give your PIN might not be enough, if someone can hear and copy your account and PIN down, they can clean you out in a heartbeat.

Finally, not being aware of your surroundings and being on a cell phone can have disastrous consequences if someone were to accost you and you don't hear them coming. Paying attention to your surroundings is a cardinal rule of personal safety, and being distracted while on a cell phone caln give an attacker the edge they want or need. Another reason not to constantly have that gadget against your ear all the time. Speaking to a friend doesn't help in an emergency...being fully cognizant of all that is around you is situational awareness and leads to personal crime prevention.

Face it, the cell isn't the most important thing in the world. And if using it results in an accident, personal injury, or other harm, it's not technology put to good use. Even the best technology can have deadly consequences when used without considering its effect on other systems you must also control and interface with.

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