Let it go, people.
Your cellphone that is, while driving.
Until now, the state of New Jersey’s law against holding your cellphone to your ear while operating a motor vehicle has been easy to flout. Police, if they were to cite you for it, first had to find another reason to pull you over, such as a busted tail light.
That changes on Saturday, March 1, when text-messaging or using a cellphone without a hands-free device while driving becomes a “primary” offense. Meaning you can be pulled over and cited for that alone.
Rumson Police have been trying to get the word out, using a flashing message sign parked on West River Road.
“I’d hate to stop somebody and hear, ‘Oh, I never heard of this,’” says Sgt. Robert Boyer, who heads up traffic safety for the department.
According to the Washington Times, New Jersey and Washington are the only two states in the union that ban texting while driving. Five states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting cell-phone use without hands-free devices by drivers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Is texting while driving prevalent? Boyer says he hasn’t seen much of it, but notes that it’s an activity “that’s a little harder to see. And it seems like it would be a pretty heavy distraction to a driver.”
There are exceptions to the hands-free requirement, all having to do with emergencies, such as the reporting of crime or accidents. The Borough of Hawthorne in Passaic County has posted the text of the statute on its website.
The law carries a $100 fine but no points.
Taken from the statute:
"As used in this act, "hands-free wireless telephone" means a mobile telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of such mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a conversation without the use of either hand; provided, however, this definition shall not preclude the use of either hand to activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of the telephone."
BUT I CAN STILL PUT LIPSTICK ON, MY HUSBAND CAN STILL SHAVE, AND I CAN SMOKE A CIG WHILE DRINKING AND EVEN POURING A CUP OF COFFEE? i CAN STILL FUMBLE WITH A BIG MAC AND A DRINK OF SODA AT THE SAME TIME. HECK I CAN EVEN WATCH TV IF I WANTED TO.
I have a blue tooth so I dont care much about this law. But for goodness sake who benefits from this law? The wireless bluetooth tech folks, thats who. More sales means more lobbying cash for the politicians from verizon, sprint, omnipoint and the likes of em.
If you look around, nearly everyone is on the phone. I pulled up next to some woman the other day texting as she drove. We have seen the damages this causes, I believe five girls were killed when the driver was texting and got distracted, she not only took her life, but four others in the car.
Anything that will make people more attentive to the road should be applauded. If you have the phone being held up with one hand, it means you only have 1 on the wheel, in the event of an emergency maneuver you are much less likely to do so if you only have one hand. By using the bluetooth, everyone will be able to talk all they want while still being in full control of the vehicle.
I do agree with you on the fact that this is no different than eating, putting on make-up or whatever, but I believe more people talk on their phones 1000 times more than the others combined so this law will make a difference.
Again, just like the parking meters, pay for the time you won't get a ticket. Put on your bluetooth and you won't get a ticket, its that easy. Besides the cost of the things have come down so much it really isn't an issue, I remember my first one was nearly $200, now you can get one that is 10 times better for around $35 bucks, if you don't want to spend that much just use a wired version, they come free with most phones.
While I am not concerned with who makes money off this, etc. I do want to take the measures necessary to make the roads safer for drivers and pedestrians and this is a step in the right direction.
Texting while driving sure is relevant! I have seen girls coming out of the Red Bank Regional lot, texting while pulling out onto Ridge Road at the same time. Texting while driving was the cause of a tragic accident last summer in which 5 teenage girls were killed in New York coming from a cheerleader competition.
From the coverage: "Cell phone records show a series of text messages, one was sent from the phone belonging to the driver, Bailey Goodman, at 10:05:52 pm. A reply was sent to her phone at 10:06:29. Twenty-eight seconds later, a passerby called 911 to report the accident that had instantly killed Bailey and her four friends. He said he had seen the accident but it took him seconds to pull off the thruway safely to make the call."
In general, studies have found slowed reaction times from drivers on cell phones. Hands-free is irrelevant.
http://www.hfes.org/Web/PubPages/celldrunk.pdf
http://www.hfes.org/web/DetailNews.aspx?ID=72
Holding the handset is not the problem. Having conversations slows reaction time. So if two or more people are in a car, and a cop sees one of them talking, better pull them over.
Interestingly, one of the studies made the comparison that a teen talking on a cell phone has reaction times as bad as a 70-year-old. Hmmmm….
They ought to make the driving age 21 for women.
I was having dinner a while back at a restaurant and observed a man and woman at the next table. She talked through the entire meal and he didn't say a word. Why would he? She was talking on her cell phone! To whom remains a mystery.
More than the driving/safety issue, I would like to hear from a qualified shrink and/or sociologist who knows why Americans (everyone?) can't go more than five minutes without talking on the telephone. We've all overheard the conversations on trains, in supermarkets, in restaurants and stores. World peace is never at stake; major business deals are seldom taking place. What on earth is so important that we can no longer eat dinner, drive a car or shop for groceries without gabbing on the phone?
As if you didnt know Padrone, they are all talking about the magic show at Borough hall, you know the one…where they make tax money disappear
I walk my beagles on the back roads of RUMSON and the amount of women?
on Cell phones driving escalades or Rovers,
at 40mph in residential zones is crazy… yet they are the ones picking the kids up at school cause its unsafe to have them walk home cause of the drivers like them???
I dont get it I go to a restaurant for lunch and get a call I say later Im eating…
I work in the deli at Foodtown nights,,,
the kids are all texting, the customers are all getting approval on their purchases…and if I make a mistake cause they are gabbing… I eat it?
and say Im sorry I didnt know you were talking to me … or making a order or getting info from the 411 operator? Want a pound of ham or the storebaked … put it down and relax life is abitch and than the phone rings…
What u wanna big cup or a lb of tater salad?
love ya all but take off your hats while you shop and stick the phone up your ass!
if anyone from the redbank area needs a headset for there celphone come to my store 81 a monmouth street im next door to arts barber shop and i will give you a eadset for $15.00 i carrey the best cellphone accesories in red bank and in the area so stop on in like i said i will give it to you with the mention of this post thanks dont get a 2 pointer on the drivers licends
charles