I havent heard of this, but its a good thing. More incentive not to be an asshole.

Here, its illegal to drive while talking on a phone, you can get pulled over and fined for it (but that rarely happens). It's legal to use a hands-free kit, with earphones or whatever.

I view this concept as a positive way to enforce not using any phones while driving but I fear that its yet another ploy by the insurance companies to dig deeper into our pockets somehow.

I remember when I was a kid that it was not necessary to have insurance to get license plates for a new car. Now it is, which in theory is a good thing but the catch is, now that its law the insurance companies hiked the rates because you now have to use them.

What I am trying to say is, this can be ripe for abuse from those that be. Personally I think all insurance should be, the less you use them the lower the rates until it reaches a point where you are simply covered until you have need of them. Then you begin the process once more.

Also, another funny thing about insurance. I can drive but one car at a time. Why do I need insurance on each car? If I have 3 or 4 cars I need 3 or 4 policies yet, I can but drive them one at a time. I think this is an example of how a theory can be abused and this new cell phone one can also end up handled poorly.

Lets hope not because something must be done to prevent the phones used and if this goes badly any future attempt may not work if this one is used as an example.

Yeah, this is kinda my fear too, as in my previous posting but, what else can be done? People won't stop using them and the law is taking ages to do anything. Whats left? My premiums go up all the time to compensate for some jerk who wrecked another Mercedes while on his phone.

Thats a topic worthy of debating. IMO, it wouldn't help to increase the level of law enforcement on the motorways because so few of the law actually cover the areas they are supposed to. You have local traffic cops on the interstate and drug enforcement there as well. Why would either be on the freeway system when everyone knows there is more drugs and traffic violations inside the cities?

Also, from my limited observations, the law themselves are breaking at least as many laws as the people they are ticketing. From speeding or improperly changing lanes to cell phone usage and believe it or not, laptop use. I would rather not share the highway system with even more of these law enforcers. " SRC="images/smiles/sad.gif">

Another point, how exactly are you aware of the "poor moderation" within the states? Can your information even be first hand experience?

Lastly, its a fact that the amount of hands on the steering wheel are not the general cause of the accidents in question. A hands free device will not prevent any accident. One may question how much attention goes into a conversation but the act of the conversation is the cause in every case. The only difference between each accident is, how much distraction each individual can take before the mishap eventually occurs.

Anyone who thinks a hands free device can prevent anything is only fooling themselves. Anyone who really feels its OK to drive and talk on the phone is more than likely the ones who least need be on them as being unaware that they are the problem usually is not a good thing.

I am not laughing at you but, this brings up an interesting point. Some states know that people are this bad and have taken measures to put rumble strips not only on the edges of the roadway to assist people in preventing driving off the edge but also have them in between the lanes to help stop drifting into other peoples way. I am not talking about the little reflectors but actually grooves that make a loud growly sound when you drive on them.

Its a nice feature but can be annoying if you need to swap lanes. Its a shame that everyone need pay the price for the few.