And yet more bad cell phone news

(CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
phones.

"There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.

Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.

"Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
use."

Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
while driving unless it's hands-free.

In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.

The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
using cellular phones that are not hands-free.

McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
records, even with a customer's consent.

Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
equally to drivers in the United States.

The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.

"Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
change behavior," he said.

The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:

# Assess whether a given call can wait.

# Do not take notes while driving.

# Do not talk while in heavy traffic.

# If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
mobile phone.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
following those guidelines will not lower that risk.

What's the difference between talking to a passenger or a hands free cell.
They going ban passengers too!
"RichA" > wrote in message
...
> (CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
> even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
> wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
> phones.
>
> "There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
> phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
> published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
> Institute for Highway Safety.
>
> Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
> driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
> after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
>
> "Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
> hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
> said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
> hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
> detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
> use."
>
> Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
> while driving unless it's hands-free.
>
> In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.
>
> The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
> using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
>
> McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
> States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
> records, even with a customer's consent.
>
> Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
> equally to drivers in the United States.
>
> The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
> Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
> distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
> encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.
>
> "Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
> John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
> called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
> driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
> change behavior," he said.
>
> The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:
>
> # Assess whether a given call can wait.
>
> # Do not take notes while driving.
>
> # Do not talk while in heavy traffic.
>
> # If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
> mobile phone.
>
> The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
> its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
> at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
> following those guidelines will not lower that risk.

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:35:07 -0400, RichA > wrote:

>
>The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
>using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
>
>McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
>States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
>records, even with a customer's consent.
>
>Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
>equally to drivers in the United States.

If she actually believes that last statement she's an idiot and
shouldn't be conducting surveys. Her results are scientifically
useless when drawing conclusions about the United States.

You would sure think that there would be no difference between talking to a
passenger and a cell, but apparently, there is. I have seen so many drivers
do stupid things while on cell phones that I thought about investing in a
jammer. At least I could enjoy a meal in a restaurant without being having
to listen to, first the f**king phone ring, then 1/2 of the conversation.
The only thing that keeps me from buying one, (besides the fact that they
are very illegal) is the thought of cutting off someone's call, and having
them hit someone (me) while fiddling with their phone.
People who can not drive and use a cell phone should be allowed to do
either.



"razz" > wrote in message
...
> What's the difference between talking to a passenger or a hands free cell.
> They going ban passengers too!
> "RichA" > wrote in message
> ...
> > (CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
> > even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
> > wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
> > phones.
> >
> > "There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
> > phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
> > published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
> > Institute for Highway Safety.
> >
> > Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
> > driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
> > after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
> >
> > "Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
> > hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
> > said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
> > hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
> > detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
> > use."
> >
> > Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
> > while driving unless it's hands-free.
> >
> > In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.
> >
> > The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
> > using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
> >
> > McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
> > States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
> > records, even with a customer's consent.
> >
> > Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
> > equally to drivers in the United States.
> >
> > The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
> > Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
> > distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
> > encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.
> >
> > "Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
> > John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
> > called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
> > driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
> > change behavior," he said.
> >
> > The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:
> >
> > # Assess whether a given call can wait.
> >
> > # Do not take notes while driving.
> >
> > # Do not talk while in heavy traffic.
> >
> > # If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
> > mobile phone.
> >
> > The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
> > its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
> > at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
> > following those guidelines will not lower that risk.
>
>

just ban woman drivers and the problem would be solved.....

Hubby says:
"This test is not relevant here in the US BECAUSE
these people live in Australia, therefore they already drive on the wrong
side of the road, and are already distracted"

End quote

Kate

hee hee hee... snikker... giggle.... wait.. I need to call my brother on his
cell phone and tell him....
let me dig in my purse and get the number, oh DAMN, hot coffee on my lap...
****, I smeared my lipstick, OUCH! Damn! I broke a nail when I tried
shifting with the cell phone in my hand, would you hand me my nail file?
thanks




"RichA" > wrote in message
...
: (CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
: even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
: wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
: phones.
:
: "There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
: phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
: published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
: Institute for Highway Safety.
:
: Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
: driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
: after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
:
: "Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
: hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
: said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
: hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
: detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
: use."
:
: Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
: while driving unless it's hands-free.
:
: In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.
:
: The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
: using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
:
: McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
: States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
: records, even with a customer's consent.
:
: Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
: equally to drivers in the United States.
:
: The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
: Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
: distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
: encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.
:
: "Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
: John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
: called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
: driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
: change behavior," he said.
:
: The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:
:
: # Assess whether a given call can wait.
:
: # Do not take notes while driving.
:
: # Do not talk while in heavy traffic.
:
: # If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
: mobile phone.
:
: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
: its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
: at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
: following those guidelines will not lower that risk.

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:45:41 -0500, "razz" >
wrote:

>What's the difference between talking to a passenger or a hands free cell.
>They going ban passengers too!

Before cell phones, I rarely ran into MORONS driving at 40mph
on the highway. Now it's all the time.

>"RichA" > wrote in message
.. .
>> (CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
>> even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
>> wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
>> phones.
>>
>> "There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
>> phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
>> published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
>> Institute for Highway Safety.
>>
>> Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
>> driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
>> after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
>>
>> "Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
>> hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
>> said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
>> hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
>> detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
>> use."
>>
>> Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
>> while driving unless it's hands-free.
>>
>> In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.
>>
>> The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
>> using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
>>
>> McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
>> States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
>> records, even with a customer's consent.
>>
>> Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
>> equally to drivers in the United States.
>>
>> The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
>> Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
>> distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
>> encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.
>>
>> "Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
>> John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
>> called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
>> driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
>> change behavior," he said.
>>
>> The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:
>>
>> # Assess whether a given call can wait.
>>
>> # Do not take notes while driving.
>>
>> # Do not talk while in heavy traffic.
>>
>> # If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
>> mobile phone.
>>
>> The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
>> its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
>> at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
>> following those guidelines will not lower that risk.
>

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 17:15:46 GMT, "jim.gm4dhj"
> wrote:

>just ban woman drivers and the problem would be solved.....

Several years ago a local man was decapitated while talking on a cell
phone to his wife. The dumb nob drove his BMW under the back of a
broken down 18 wheeler.

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:48:53 -0700, "Me" > wrote:

Every time I am confronted with a "rude and intrusive use of a cell
phone " I take a great interest in their conversation. Last year a
woman in a doctors office proceeded to make all her business and
personal calls while waiting for her appointment. Of course she was
sitting next to me. I turned and started to nod and smile and look
genuinely interested in her conversation...which was the last one she
made in the office before she went outside to finish the remaining
calls. It unnerves them. If they insist on sharing the
conversations with the rest of us we can participate too.



>You would sure think that there would be no difference between talking to a
>passenger and a cell, but apparently, there is. I have seen so many drivers
>do stupid things while on cell phones that I thought about investing in a
>jammer. At least I could enjoy a meal in a restaurant without being having
>to listen to, first the f**king phone ring, then 1/2 of the conversation.
>The only thing that keeps me from buying one, (besides the fact that they
>are very illegal) is the thought of cutting off someone's call, and having
>them hit someone (me) while fiddling with their phone.
>People who can not drive and use a cell phone should be allowed to do
>either.
>
>
>
>"razz" > wrote in message
...
>> What's the difference between talking to a passenger or a hands free cell.
>> They going ban passengers too!
>> "RichA" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > (CNN) -- A study released Tuesday said drivers who use cell phones --
>> > even hands-free models -- are four times as likely to be involved in
>> > wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use cell
>> > phones.
>> >
>> > "There was no safety benefit whatsoever from using a hands-free
>> > phone," said Anne McCartt, one of the authors of the study, which was
>> > published in the British Medical Journal and paid for by the Insurance
>> > Institute for Highway Safety.
>> >
>> > Researchers for the institute compared information on 456 crashes with
>> > driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly
>> > after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
>> >
>> > "Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use
>> > hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use,"
>> > said McCartt. "In fact, to the extent that drivers perceive that
>> > hand-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a
>> > detrimental effect if drivers increase their use of hands-free phone
>> > use."
>> >
>> > Connecticut and Chicago are the latest locales to ban cell phone use
>> > while driving unless it's hands-free.
>> >
>> > In the study, neither gender nor age affected risk.
>> >
>> > The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while
>> > using cellular phones that are not hands-free.
>> >
>> > McCartt said she had wanted to carry out the study in the United
>> > States, but phone companies would not release customer billing
>> > records, even with a customer's consent.
>> >
>> > Still, she said she saw no reason why the findings would not apply
>> > equally to drivers in the United States.
>> >
>> > The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a
>> > Washington-based trade group, downplayed the findings, saying the
>> > distractions associated with mobile phones are no different from those
>> > encountered by drivers who eat or talk with passengers as they drive.
>> >
>> > "Hands-free is a matter of convenience, a matter of comfort," said
>> > John Walls, vice president of communications for the association. He
>> > called for education and heightened awareness about any problems to
>> > driver safety that might be posed by distractions. "That's the way to
>> > change behavior," he said.
>> >
>> > The CTIA contends that following these guidelines can minimize risk:
>> >
>> > # Assess whether a given call can wait.
>> >
>> > # Do not take notes while driving.
>> >
>> > # Do not talk while in heavy traffic.
>> >
>> > # If possible, pull off the road and park in a safe location to use a
>> > mobile phone.
>> >
>> > The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety disagrees, maintaining that
>> > its study shows that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while
>> > at the wheel significantly raises the risk of a serious crash, and
>> > following those guidelines will not lower that risk.
>>
>>
>

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:08:53 -0400, RichA > wrote:

>
>>What's the difference between talking to a passenger or a hands free cell.
>>They going ban passengers too!
>
>Before cell phones, I rarely ran into MORONS driving at 40mph
>on the highway. Now it's all the time.

Then you've never driven Rte 128 around Boston or anywhere on the
Beltway around DC.