NJ Drivers, Time to Put down Your Cell Phone While Driving
Starting today, March 1, 2008, New Jersey’s new cell phone law becomes effective. The law makes talking or texting with a hand-held phone while driving a primary offense, which means cops can pull over the drive simply because he/she is using a hand-held phone, whether there’s any other violation involved or not. Before, it’s only a secondary offense. With the new law, violators are subject to a fine up to $250, making NJ the most expensive state for talking one cell phone when sitting behind the wheel (FoxBusiness). The new law also makes New Jersey one of five states (other four are California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington) and D.C. that prohibits using hand-held devices while driving.
But will a hand-free phone, either a Bluetooth equipped phone or a phone with an earpiece, make talking when behind the wheel safer? The answer is not necessarily. My local news station WCBS 880 quoted an IIHS official when reporting the new NJ law as saying
The conversation itself is the distraction.
And there’s no difference whether you are using a hand-free phone or a hand-held one. Accident happens when the driver is distracted.
Well, since now the matter is getting serious, it’s time to dig out my Jabra Bluetooth Headset that I bought a couple of years ago, but never used before because I don’t have a lot of calls, especially when I am driving 
*Photo from Cellphonesafty.org
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It is about time more of these laws begin taking effect. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve nearly been killed by some idiot who’s more concerned with their conversation on the phone than the other people on the road.
I wish they would make this a law all across the company. It’s so scary when people are on the phone and not paying attention to the road.
It sounds a little strange to me. If “the conversation itself is the distraction”, how about talking to someone who is also in the car?
I think whether using a hand-hold or not makes a difference
Actually, according to ghsa.org, there are about two dozen countries have laws ban using hand held phone while driving. Here in US the issue is up to the states, where the law is much easier to get passed.
Yifan: Talking, eating, drinking, etc., there are all distractions that could lead to accidents. But I think no law can ban talking, eating, or drinking in the car.
Think safety , think for others also,
Good Luck,
Tracy Ho
wisdomgettingloaded
My ex-girlfriend used to drive with her knees while putting makeup on. Frightening experience riding in the car with her — and not just because of this.
I applaud your legislators for banning hand held phones. Unlike all the pseudo research claiming that the conversation causes the distraction and not holding the phone, the facts are the two topics are different and each has their own drawback and effects, with hand held being worst for distraction and for effecting driver ability to respond to emergencies.
THE TRUE DATA FROM THE FIELD shows that
1- 43% of accidents occur when the phone rings in and drivers try to answer. (NO CONVERSTATION YET)
2- 32% of accidents occur when a driver tries to dial a number or worst yet, texting. (NO CONVERSATION YET)
3- The remainder caused by multiple reasons including conversation.
I agree that cell phone use while driving is an epidemic sweeping the globe. For each car on the road, (roughly 650 Millions world wide), there’s at least 4 Cell phones and the possibility of a driver having a cell phone is 4 to 1. Unfortunately, there are no business models to address this problem, so existing automotive and telecom business models continue to clash on the road.
Let’s face it, connectivity gives us competitive edge. If we turn off our cell phones, we will be passed by Europe, Japan and the rest of the world. When banning Cell phone, legislators put their constituents at a disadvantage to others where legislators did not enact similar laws. When it comes to teenagers, I want mine to stay in touch. What we need is middle ground that’s based on safety.
This is where innovative thinking can come in to solve the problem by re-engineering our life behind the wheel while including teenagers as well as elderly into the solution. This Re-engineering should create order in the vehicle and give priority to driving tasks over other activities, but still enable other activities while helping keep/or even assuring Eyes on the Road and Hands on the Wheel.
We have developed, proved and globally patented a system that balances the entire driving experience with emphasis on safety, but still allowing drivers to use communication technologies while driving. Our system has the following key features:
1- Hands are monitored to be on the steering wheel, this enables configuration to enable or disable devices when hands status is not compliant with safety.
2- The driver controls all accessories, including cell phones from “thumb gesture� on the steering wheel.
3- Incoming communications are silenced when Drivers are passing, merging, changing lanes, turn signal engaged, etc.(So as not to surprise the driver).
4- Any information, wether from a caller ID or navigation direction is given verbally to the driver so there’s no need to look at a screen
5- System is calibrated to driver’s skills and experience so a teen aged driver is given certain allowances and elderly drivers are provided more assistant.
6- System is Geographically aware based on Navigation data of curves, lights, stop signs and other legal boundries and can warn driverns to slow down or modify behavior when distracted
7- The system can fits into a cell phone, and connects to the car network “CAN� physically or wirelessly and communicates with the steering thumb sensor in the same manner.
8- The system also detects signs of DUI from thre driver handling the steering wheel, heart, sweat, temp, gripping strength and steering corrections, and then reports the driver to police, activate the emergency lights and limit speed of the vehicle.
We need to stay connected to stay competitive, but we need to do it safety. What we need is to educate our legislative bodies to require a device like ours on every vehicle. Automotive and Telecom companies have been toying with speech recognitions for over two decades now, but the automotive environment is too harsh to allow a desktop environment to succeed.
We are looking for capital to produce an aftermarket version. 88% of people that see our demo say they’ll buy such a device while 87% think of it as the safest thing as compared to what’s out there. Please contact us on http://www.actplace.net .
Thank you: Mouhamad A. Naboulsi, president Applied Computer Technologies, Inc.
http://www.actplace.net
AMEN TO THAT! I wish we could get laws passed in Kansas and Missouri that would curb this like they did in New Jersey.
It will be interesting to see how this new law effects accident rates.
I also agree that it’s not the phone that’s the problem, it’s the conversation itself.
-Grant
I live in NJ and I see people on the phone while driving all the time. It does not seem as if this “law” is being enforced. I use an earpiece while driving.I find it very frustrating when other drivers find it more important to be on the damn phone than use their blinker!! I cannot even count how many times I’ve been cut off because of that situation. Hey new idea..let’s make blinkers optionally in cars and install arm rests on doors so people can rest their arm while on the phone! Obviously that seems to be the priority!! If I were to get pulled over by a cop I’d ask him…what’s the deal with this “law” regarding cell phones and blinkers being optional!!