Catching up on news from Scotland, just read that a football player was fined for using his cell phone while driving. This became an offence in the UK a year or two ago though this is the first I’ve read of anyone getting a citation although, admittedly, I don’t keep up with the news on a daily basis.
Personally, while I’m probably among the first to deride our erosions of freedom in recent years, this is one instance I have to say “Good for that law!” I believe cell phones have their place but do they have to be ‘every place’ we are or go? Sure, it’s getting to be an old argument but the senseless use of cell phones continues to increase and no matter where one goes there are those who seem to have one attached to their ear or, worse, find people wandering around streets, stores, on the beach talking to themselves…or so it appears until you spot a bluetooth in their ear. What drives people to be that much in need of…I would say verbal contact but text-messaging is just as bad.?
Due to a relatively recent law in the UK a professional footballer was fined £60 for using his cell phone whilst driving. It didn’t help that he ignored his court dates and had to delivered a warrant. Ultimately, besides the fine he was given three points against his licence. And I say “Hooray” to that. Several cities around the US have also decided cell phone use while driving to be an offence but I wonder how often drivers are cited? Emergency use, of course, is still permissable and I have no problem with that…for me, that’s the best possible reason for even having a cell phone but I just don’t get the argument that it is no more hazardous to one’s driving attention than a car stereo playing or even drinking a cup of coffee (which, I might add, I willingly confess my guilt). I think we all have found we can multi-task while listening to music, a conversation…it’s background only (even if singing along or arguing with a talk show host). Cell phones are something else, particularly with the predominance of flip phones. Yes, I have used mine a few times while driving and hate it. Attention from the road is minimal while dialing a number or even using speed dialling; control also when trying to keep a small phone between ear and shoulder but worse when that becomes bothersome so one hand has to hold the phone with only one hand left to steer. Making a turn under those circumstances is iffy, at best. And for some reason, most people tend to pay more attention to, become immersed, in a phone conversation even over that of an accompanying passenger.
And there are those…impossible for me to believe, even…who drive and text message at the same time. Why? As strongly as I personally feel about cell phones and driving, I can allow some justification for a phone call but certainly none for a text message. We recently took an acquaintance up to Wilmington…about a two hour drive, give or take…and in those two hours he was either answering his cell or texting approximately every four minutes. Yes…I actually did end up timing. A passenger, yes…but he had asked if he could ride with us and to me, this behaviour is just rude. We’ve also been to dinner with this same person the duration of which his cell constantly rang, he was texting or reading a text message, making calls. And this really is a pet peeve of mine at best. Going for lunch or dinner and being privy to several unwanted conversations around us as people eat and phone or accept calls. And they YELL! I don’t want to know their business and, at the same time, would much prefer to enjoy a relaxed, quiet repast. Aside from that, countless occasions my dining companion and I couldn’t even continue our quiet conversation because of this impropiety. One of those days we are going to invest in an interrupter…one click and it breaks their connection. That, too, is rude I feel but warranted. Somehow, someday, they just have to get this message…there are places where cell phones are unwelcome.
I was very pleased to see one of our local stores post a sign on their counter…”While you are being attended to please do NOT use a cell phone!” Other establishments ask that cell phones be turned off. I’ve worked retail the last few years and here’s a tip to customers who insist upon carrying on their conversations while paying for their items. Good service encompasses a friendly, polite greeting from the sales person…most of the time those on their phones just ignore it. Sure, they may later apologise that they “didn’t hear you” but if they had been courteous enough to take the phone from their ear they would have. Many stand there digging in pockets or purses for change, wallet, you name it…and continue their conversation…mostly along the lines of “Yeah! We’re here now…weather is great/horrible! Where are you? What are you doing? I’ll be home in a couple of days (or tonight!) so see you then…you have my number, right?” Yeah…we have your number for sure.
Get a life, people! The generation NOT “X” (although many of them are as guilty) not only survived without a cell phone but so did others in their lives. When you go off on a vacation or a break…guess what? It’s to get away. And you can’t even blame others for calling you because you have a choice…turn the phone off, leave it in the car, answer if you must but then excuse yourself by saying you can’t talk now and will call back. It’s not that hard a choice.
The other evening we decided to dine out at the end of our errand shopping. Shown to a booth, directly behind was a man, alone, holding forth in a very loud voice on his cell phone. Fortunately, he left the restaurant within a couple of minutes. I had to wonder two things…had he been on the phone all the way through his meal was foremost. The other, if not and he was ready to leave anyway, why not wait until he had? Then, when we were ready to head for home and pulling out of our parking space, we waited for an SUV also pulling out of theirs. Be polite, don’t make them feel rushed, give them time…we were not in that much of a hurry, obviously. Then, as she managed to get her vehicle three quarters of the way out of her parking space, fury…she was having problems because her left hand was on her cell phone cupped between that hand and left ear. Had we known I doubt we would have been as polite as we were in waiting. And I don’t doubt for a second that there have been many more accidents/fender benders caused by people who just can’t bear silence or seperation from another. You don’t need a car or a phone…you need a rope.
I am with you every step of the way on this one.
To be honest, I am NOT a phone person at the best of times. I detest the telphone, could be because I have to use it often at work.
As for mobile phones, I can live without them.
Okay, they are great for an emergency but I agree that people ought to be charged for using a mobile phone while driving.
One woman in England has recently been to court for killing a 19year lad on a motor cycle while she was texting a friend.
Yes, the lad did go through a red light but she was not aware of what she was doing. Had she not been on that phone, he may have been alive today.
How can anyone text and drive at the same time?
She is waiting to be sentenced next month. She is fairly young herself, so two lives wasted because of mobile phones.
Surley society is not so fast moving that we have to talk to someone at any time of the day or night and the conversation is usually just idle talk. That is what I tend to overhear when someone next to me is on the phone.
Emergencies yes, anything else NO!