why not use handsfree cells when driving?

This is a bit O/T, but I thought Saturn drivers are an intelligent crowd, so
here goes:

I have a cell phone and always use a handsfree device or a headset
especially when driving. I cannot for the life of me understand why, when
they only cost around $10. or slightly more; ppl drive around with one hand
up to their head, blocking their vision and disabling that hand while
driving, when it is very simple to use a handsfree cradle or a headset?

Is it a vanity issue of appearing to be seen talking to oneself? Then why
doesn't this rule apply when singing along to the radio? Vanity isn't an
issue when giving someone the finger or cutting them off, so how do cell
phones suddenly change this rule? Hmm, I can be an a**hole in public behind
the wheel, but God forbid anyone see me talking to my dashboard!
I almost get ananeurysm just thinking about the logic behind that.

Cellular stores sell these as expensive items, but anyone can buy one of
these at any K-Mart or WallyMart for around $10. to $20. dollars if they
look. I have a wonderful speakerphone/charger combo for my Nokia that I
bought at WallyMart. The sound quality is great! I also have an earpiece mic
combo for my Motorola that I clip to my seatbelt.

Is it that ppl just don't know about handsfree devices? or that they are
just too lazy to be bothered? or that they think that they look cool with
their elbow in their face? I just don't get it, please help me to understand
this.

I have gotten so peeved when I see ppl who let alone probably cannot chew
gum and walk at the same time and are so involved trying to manage a cell
phone and a moving vehicle at the same time that I have almost thought of
doing this idea:
Going to the Dollar Store and buying a few $1. cell phone earpiece/ mic sets
(yes! you can buy them there!) and honking at ppl who are too busy yappin
instead of driving. When they put their window down, I'd throw the headset
into their car and yell "You need one of these!".

Somebody please tell me what I'm missing so that when one of these bozos
makes a right- turn into my fender or runs me off the sidewalk because they
are distracted, I can then empathise with thier situation.

(to quote the comedian Lewis Black "I am confuuuused".)

Oh, btw - I just saw advertised some new cigarette-lighter powered
appliances: toasters and pizza makers. I wonder what behaviour THAT will
bring out if it ever catches on.

 

mjh404:

Nice rant...I enjoyed it!! I agree with it too.

Using a headset is law where I live - first in North America, I believe. A
lot of people still don't use them however. My main motivation in using
mine (aside from the risk of $150 tickets) is purely for comfort reasons.
It's just easier. Mine cost about $60 CDN though (which I think is worth
about $1.87 US), not the 10 or 20 bux you quoted. I have tried the cheaper
ones and I don't think they are worth it. Just my opinion.

Regarding the vanity issue - it's no problem for me. I actively talk to
myself now anyway!

I saw a gut the otherday attempting to talk on a cell, drive a standard, and
eat an ice cream cone - all at the same time!! It was real fun to watch!!

Cheers!

Glomis

 

I don't get it either and I agree the headsets are pretty easy. I haven't
used a speaker phone adapter. The new Toyota Prius has Bluetooth built in
and my Sony-Ericsson phone would be compatible.

The ads for GM OnStar look like you can have built in speaker phone on GM
products - I like that too.

I am coming to the conclusion we are all trying to do too much, too much of
the time. When we're driving, lets drive. When we're talking, let's wait
till we get someplace where we can stop and have a decent, coherent
conversation. Exceptions are fine, but I prefer to minimize them instead of
making them the rule.

Of course if you're a teenager with a car you like, and maybe have
personalized, I'm sure there's a coolness factor for having the phone glued
to the side of your head. (grin)

Thanks for the digression.

 

I believe there have been studies that show that a handsfree system doesn't
really reduce driver distraction that much - it eliminates the physical
distraction from holding the phone, but not the mental distraction of
conversing with someone not in the vehicle who can't see what the driving
situation is..

 

I've got OnStar on my '03 VUE. The cell phone system the service uses is
incorporated into the rear-view mirror, totally hands free.

 

Most of it is pure laziness I'm sure. In Calif, at least, handsfree devices
come with new cell phones. Most people I'm sure misplace those
items.....handy as they are. I like em and I think they make good sense.

 

Statistically, it doesn't matter as far as accidents go - it's the
conversation which is the problem (focusing on something other than
driving), not whether the cell phone was connected to a hands-free kit or
not.

Functionally, the handsfree device is definitely easier to use

 

Well, one good reason to not use one is that you'll tend to keep
your calls shorter and restrict talking to things that are really
"necessary". Studies have shown that it's the MENTAL distraction
that makes cellphone use hazardous, not the handling of the phone
itself. The only way to make the phone safer is, in essence, to not
use it.

 

Unless of course it's called "OnStar" and you're paying for it... THEN they
don't complain so much, I guess.
:-/

k. sorry. opinion plunker. BUT! Since you asked, I think cell phones are
simply an evolutionary boost to more readily identify drivers who shouldn't
really be driving anyway, but are clever enough to avoid detection if they
don't try to do more than one thing at a time. Like gas AND steering, for
example.

-e