A bad idea

Using a cell phone while driving is generally a really bad idea. It is distracting and dangerous. How amny times have you seen some yutz yammering away on a cell phone instead of paying attention to the road.

One of the few things more dangerous then a cell phone in a car is a government which oversteps its bounds by banning a device, instead of banning inattentive driving in general. Reading that article, my city is going to even try for more folly by allowing cell phone use for people whose jobs require it -- so the I guess using a phone isn't dangerous at all if it is your job, right?

The problem with banning cell phones while driving is that it is unfair to single out one particular cause for inattentive motoring while continuing to allow others. Eating, shaving and putting on makeup, and turning around to yell at the kids fighting in theback seat are all just as distracting as phone usage. And don't even mention fumbling to switch songs on your iPod (the next high-tech threat to traffic safety?)

A much better solution would be to continue to enforce existing laws against reckless driving, and to very harshly penalize those whose use of a cell phone causes a traffic violation or accident.