Letter of the week, 7/14/08: Why have cell phone laws?

[David]

Cell phone law
Editor:

Several weeks ago, I was traveling south on Meriden’s North Colony Road when a driver in a pickup truck, talking on a cell phone, headed straight toward me swerving at the last minute to avoid a collision. On another occasion, in an adjoining town, a police car was stopped — waiting for the traffic light to change. On his side was another auto with someone using a cell phone; not even a warning was issued.

The question is: why are the police in most Connecticut towns not enforcing the cell phone law?

They should realize that if there is a fatality attributed to someone using a cell phone, they may be included in a lawsuit for failure to enforce a law. If the seatbelt law can be enforced, the ban on cell phones, which affects the safety of others, should also be.

People will continue to ignore this law until such a time as citations are issued. Will it take a serious or fatal accident for this law to be enforced?

RALPH J. ESPOSITO, MERIDEN

[leherissierm]

Personally, I think this law was made to collect money from the fines given out. I saw an article in RJ a few months ago stating how Wlfd police gave out maybe 300 tickets, while Meriden gave out about 50. Those numbers arnt correct, but it was some drastic difference between the two towns.

As some other people have wrote, talking on a cell can be a distraction, but so can many other things. Controlling the kids in the car, changing the radio station (is that going to becaome against the law too?) And I honestly dont think that the Blue Tooth, whatever its called, is any less distracting than a cell phone. You still have to dial a number and carry on a conversation.

I think that this is one of the laws that should apply to new, inexpierenced drivers. But for most people, after you have been driving for years, handling a cell phone isnt any more of a distraction that singing along to your favorite song on the radio.

[Jack357]

Personally, I think this law was made to collect money from the fines given out. I saw an article in RJ a few months ago stating how Wlfd police gave out maybe 300 tickets, while Meriden gave out about 50. Those numbers arnt correct, but it was some drastic difference between the two towns.

As some other people have wrote, talking on a cell can be a distraction, but so can many other things. Controlling the kids in the car, changing the radio station (is that going to becaome against the law too?) And I honestly dont think that the Blue Tooth, whatever its called, is any less distracting than a cell phone. You still have to dial a number and carry on a conversation.

I think that this is one of the laws that should apply to new, inexpierenced drivers. But for most people, after you have been driving for years, handling a cell phone isnt any more of a distraction that singing along to your favorite song on the radio.

As one who rides a motorcycle a majority of the time I make it my business to keep an eye on what you cage drivers are doing around me, because I know you don't care about me.

The other day I had to swerve to avoid getting hit by a truck that was making a right hand turn onto the road that I was traveling in the opposite direction on. The driver was talking on a cell phone and could not keep his vehicle in his own lane. If I had not been watching out for him someone would have been scraping me up off the road. If he had both hands to steer with he may have been able to keep his vehicle in the proper lane.

This only one of many instances where I have had to avoid someone talking on a cell phone.

I just don't get it what is so darn important that you people have to be on the phone all the time. Put the phones down and put your attention driving.

I know what the problem is, NO ONE CARES ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

And we want to consider ourselves Christian saying "One Nation Under GOD."

[RC12L4]

Can we create a law banning women from applying eye liner on I-84 West while traveling at 75mph?

[Snooks]

Along with the cell phone users are, the no signal when turning and not stopping at stop signs. I have noticed that the last two violations are due to the fact that the driver is talking in a cell phone!

[Modica]

Can we create a law banning women from applying eye liner on I-84 West while traveling at 75mph?
She should atleast be stopped for driving 75mph.

[Jim N]

I like it when I stopped at a traffic light and some moron is talking on a cell phone as they make a left turn in front of me. I honk my horn and watch where they end up.

[nsxer]

Mr Esposito is right on target here. Travel around Wallingford on any given day and you will see at least five drivers with hand held cell phones. I have read that this behavior is more dangerous than other types of infractions, I do not know if this is true or not, but I do know that I have been close to being front ended on several occasions and almost had to go off the road to avoid being hit.

What really bothers me is that the Police seem to think this is an annoyance and not imprtant to enforce. One day on I-91 I was passed by a State Trooper going at least 80 and yes you guessed it, talking on a hand held cell phone.

I find it comical that the State has a seat belt enforcement drive but does not enforce cell phone law. But it is not funny, someone not wearing their seat belt is a danger to themselves not me, people distracted by their cell phone is a danger to me.

[alwaysright]

As one who rides a motorcycle a majority of the time I make it my business to keep an eye on what you cage drivers are doing around me, because I know you don't care about me.

The other day I had to swerve to avoid getting hit by a truck that was making a right hand turn onto the road that I was traveling in the opposite direction on. The driver was talking on a cell phone and could not keep his vehicle in his own lane. If I had not been watching out for him someone would have been scraping me up off the road. If he had both hands to steer with he may have been able to keep his vehicle in the proper lane.

This only one of many instances where I have had to avoid someone talking on a cell phone.

I just don't get it what is so darn important that you people have to be on the phone all the time. Put the phones down and put your attention driving.

I know what the problem is, NO ONE CARES ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

And we want to consider ourselves Christian saying "One Nation Under GOD."


I certainly DO NOT consider myself christian. so don't assume because you might, everyone does

[Chriss P]

"I find it comical that the State has a seat belt enforcement drive but does not enforce cell phone law. But it is not funny, someone not wearing their seat belt is a danger to themselves not me, people distracted by their cell phone is a danger to me."

BINGO!!!

And yet our society as hyprocrytical as it is can tell another nation what it can and can not do.

[catnap]

I'm coming to the conclustion that cell phone drivers are a bigger threat then drunk drivers...now get a drunk on a cell phone...holy sh.....
:eek:
just this week - I nearly got hit on three different occasions by a people talking on cell phones - one - while coming to a stop sign - which means STOP THE CAR!!!!....well - she just rolled right thru but that fasinating conversation she was having was ohhh so more important then her or my life...and then TWO - there was then one backing out of a parking space at the grocery store - while talking on her cell-phone - almost hit me - now that would not have been quite as deadly as I was already IN my car and for some reason (angels????) I just happened to look in my rearview as she was about to slam in my rearend...and then three - the one who came flying around the turn onto northbound 15 off rte 5 as I sat comming off northbound 15 on rte 5...she missed me by 5 inches..but I'm sure she didn't miss a word of whatever BS someone was telling her on the cell phone.

I have not almost been killed by a drunk this week - as far as I know.