# Cell Phone Use and PSAs Against Distracted Driving: What Seems Excessive to You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511 "2022-08-11T21:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/81 "2022-08-14T05:09:35Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > while others can drive pretty well while doing some texting while others would get in an accident. > > I don’t believe that anyone is able to drive well while taking their eyes off the road long enough to read or send a text. > > I have met some who claim that they can, and what actually happens is that they stop paying attention to the road, and don’t know how badly they are driving. I was in a vehicle with someone who claimed they could text and drive, so they would pull out their phone, swerve all over the road, then say, “See, easy.” only having avoided accidents due to the actions of other drivers on the road. That’s fine. I don’t doubt your experiences but I doubt your conclusion. I’ve seen it. I’m not one but I know someone who can drive effectively while doing a little texting. I’ve been in his car often enough. It makes sense too, though, doesn’t it? Different people have different capacities. _ **I am not saying that people should do it. I am not advocating for it.** _ I am merely saying that some can drive effectively enough. Is it safe? No it is not. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/82 "2022-08-14T05:29:39Z")
There are some people out there that shouldn’t even have a hands-free phone in their car. I am sure y’all have seen them (and some of you _are_ them)- The ones that visualize the people that they are talking to, either where the phone is or off to the side where the passenger usually sits. If you are visualizing the person you are talking to there is no way in hell you are paying as much attention to what is really happening in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/83 "2022-08-14T05:32:33Z")
As a lifelong motorcyclist, I can spot the distracted drive from far away. On a bike I sit higher than the height of cars and can see far down the road. I spot them ahead and come up to them, and sure enough they’re on their phone. Many of them! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/84 "2022-08-14T05:50:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yeah, mine, too. Why wouldn’t you mount your phone/GPS where it’s easy to see? I’m aware that some/many people do that, but all too often I see people staring at their laps while driving. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/85 "2022-08-14T06:03:51Z")
Here’s a PSA from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. [It’s clearly encouraging motorists to put their cell phones in the glove compartmen](https://vimeo.com/525193024)t before driving. The radio ads are more direct. https://player.vimeo.com/video/525193024?h=98377412c7&app_id=122963 ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/86 "2022-08-14T09:48:39Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I don’t know how it works exactly, but I send out a lot of texts to clients, and sometimes get a reply along the lines of, “I am driving now and cannot receive texts. If this is an emergency please reply with ‘urgent’.” This is what my husband’s phone says and it’s because he has it paired to our car. It is not enabled by travel speed. Otherwise, he would have this probably every time we take the train. Distracted driving just means that the driver isn’t prioritizing the control of a deadly machine. Distraction can be caused by eating, a [spider](https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/drivers-panic-over-spider-leads-to-north-vancouver-rollover-crash-4337005), a phone ringing, or even a conversation with a passenger of the vehicle. The driver has the responsibility to be in control at all times. Probably more drivers should set their phones to “do not disturb” when driving, especially if they do not have a hands-free option. Putting one’s phone in the trunk does seem to be a bit excessive, especially since a lot of people would probably forget it, and then have other problems. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/87 "2022-08-14T12:57:47Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > This is what my husband’s phone says and it’s because he has it paired to our car. It is not enabled by travel speed. Otherwise, he would have this probably every time we take the train. My current settings just do nothing when someone texts me while I’m driving. I get no alert, they get no response. I really like the “no alert while driving” feature, which is triggered by using Google maps in auto mode. But a couple of years ago, the phone would recite the text to me, and there was a one-tap response that said, “I’m driving, I’ll reply later”, or something like that. I could probably still have it read the text, but i prefer just not knowing I’ve been texted, so i haven’t looked around the options. Ever since this option was added to Google maps, I’ve used it. I can exit driving mode if I’m the passenger. I mean, i suppose i can if I’m driving, too, but i routinely DO exit driving mode when I’m using Google maps as a passenger. Anyway, i think there are lots of better options than putting the phone in the glove box. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/88 "2022-08-14T14:52:19Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Here’s a PSA from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. [It’s clearly encouraging motorists to put their cell phones in the glove compartmen](https://vimeo.com/525193024)t before driving. What I’m seeing in that video is one driver handing his phone to his passenger (his mom?), one putting her phone in the glove compartment, and one setting her phone to Do Not Disturb. So, definitely encouraging drivers to put away / not use their phones while driving, but not insisting on any one specific way of doing so. And yes, I believe there exist people who are so strongly tempted to reach for their phone if it’s within reach that putting it somewhere like the glove compartment or the trunk really is the best policy for them. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/89 "2022-08-14T16:40:15Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Your employer can imprison people? Do you work for a government? A Fed. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/90 "2022-08-18T23:54:01Z")
Here’s an ad where, at the beginning, there’s some friendly prodding to motorists to put their cell phones somewhere out of reach (e.g., a glove compartment). https://player.vimeo.com/video/523994795?h=6d2a848d29&app_id=122963 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/91 "2022-08-19T02:25:23Z")
That just doesn’t make sense for me because I use mine for navigation. Many other people do too. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/92 "2022-08-19T02:31:57Z")
You can if it is handsfree in CA. And it seems even if not hands-free- > **[Using cellphone map while driving OK’d by California court](https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/02/27/using-cellphone-map-while-driving-okd-by-california-court/)** > > Using cellphone map while driving OK’d by California court T_alking on a cellphone while driving, get a ticket. Text while driving, get a ticket. Glance at that all-powerful map on your iPhone while driving? No problem._ _That was the conclusion Thursday of a state appeals court in Fresno, which for the first time in a California case found that drivers can use maps on their smartphones without risking a hands-free cellphone ticket._ _The court’s ruling is almost certain to be welcomed by drivers who’ve come to depend on maps programs and GPS functions to get where they’re going, but it is unlikely to end the confusion over what’s legal — and what’s not — under California’s hands-free law._ ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/93 "2022-08-19T22:44:26Z")
I keep my phone paired with my car and that allows completely hands-free operation. However, I never make and rarely accept calls while in motion. The main benefit is that the car will call for help automatically if I was in a collision serious enough to set the airbags off. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/94 "2022-08-22T14:31:56Z")
For me, nothing beats the time I saw my bus driver doing a full on crossword puzzle with pencil and paper while driving. I should’ve reported him, yes, I know. I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511/95 "2022-08-22T23:49:23Z")
Turning off the phone, _and_ putting it in the trunk of the car? This reminds me of the old pre-internet days (back when you GENERALLY had to actually _swipe_ a credit card through a reader to use it) when it was suggested that shopaholics should literally freeze their credit cards in a block of ice so they couldn’t use them for a while. I think that PSA is being extreme only for the sake of those who _compulsively_ text and drive, much as the credit-card-in-ice suggestion was made to the masses, but only expected to be followed by those who need it most. In this case, by those who would have a problem when hearing their phone chime and compulsively needing to answer it (don’t know why one couldn’t simply _silence_ the phone and put it away, though, instead of turning it off entirely). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-use-and-psas-against-distracted-driving-what-seems-excessive-to-you/969511.md?page=4)