What about people eating and driving? they are just as dangerous as cell phone users. And there are probably more of them than cell phone users. I have been hit in the side of my car by a woman eating and not paying attention to her driving.

you can allways tell if someone is on the phone if someone up ahead is driving slow and holding up traffic, when you finally pass them there they are with that far away look in thier faces.

i thought by getting a hands free device i wouldnt be one of those people but i cant devote my full attention to driving and talking either way.

look at what just happend a couple weeks ago up on the elwah reservation where 7 teenagers around 3 am were driving down a gravel road, the driver said she had been drinking and she later showed marijuana in her system she was text messaging someone when she drove off the dead end road into the elwah river where 2 of her passengers drowned. if this doesnt help prompt stiffer laws i dont know what will.

I don't think the prohibiting holding a phone and allowing hands free will solve anything. All it will do is to force people to invest in more equipment. It will not reduce their phone usage while driving and I do not believe that it is the holding of the phone that is the issue. It is attention to the road.

I'm not aware that prohibitions against holding a cheeseburger has ever been considered, but they would be more effective in stopping eating as a distraction than prohibiting holding a phone to eliminate talking.

Much stiffer penalties for causing accidents regardless of why the individual is distracted would be more effective.

I don't know how many times I have seen close calls with people, mainly women, especially teens, who can't stop talking on their cell phone, putting on makeup, and fussing with their hair while driving. Make it a $1000 fine, and you might get results with sufficient enforcement. Not a day goes by without running across some bimbo on the phone inattentively trying to drive.

PEOPLE whO drIvE AROUND with their cell phones hanging out of their ear not paying attention to traffic should be flogged publicly if they cause an accident.......I am constantly giving people talking on cell phones the"pull your head out of your ass" sign............if they don't take responsibility for there actions on the road,the state will force them to....

Hey I agree with the $1000.00 fine. I have used a hands free phone cradle in my car for over 10 years and still have to keep a close eye on my driving. I too find that it is mostly women who get dangerously side tracted while talking on their cell, texting, putting on their makeup, brushing their hair and eating. I think the $1000.00 fine should apply to anyone who is endangering another driver while selfishly indulging themselves in any of the above.

I strongly agree that cell phones are an important part of our lives, but they should not be used while driving. If one receives a call, their is always a place to pull off the highway to talk. I recently noticed an advertisement for cell phones with TV access. What next? If people will drive, talk on their cell phone, brush their teeth, shave, put on makeup, smoke cigarettes, etc, then what is to stop them from watching TV while doing any or all of the above?
Something has to be done to curb the innocent people from the idiots out there.

Just another Law to pass, but how easy will it be to enforce?? I have had more problems with the younger generation, and more men than women!!! It's a never ending problem which will only get worse. bottom line, I'm all for the new law but dont see where it will really make a difference. Only a VERY stiff fine that will actually hurt to pay will do the trick

Tal;king on cell phones is a distraction because people get so engrossed in what they are talking about. Humans can't give driving the attention it needs while talking on the cell about where to go for dinner, who put the cat out,or who's hooking up with who. Multi-tasking is not an option here!!!!!

Cell phone users need to have hands free for safe vehicle control. Besides, cell phones are so much more than a phone- with text messaging, TV, games, camera - none of which are safe to use when driving.The "hands free" law is a good start to limiting cell phone use in the interest of keeping our highways safer.

I get frustrated with the need to legislate Common Sense; but I guess fines produce tax dollars, if nothing else. Doesn't mean you don't restrict certain actions, it just means there are people who will always be stupid and selfish. 'Hands Free' is better than nothing, and yes, it should be extended to eating while driving as well.

There is one distraction which no one has yet addressed - and for which there is no good answer - CHILDREN in the back seat!!! Since the time of the covered wagon, parents have been distracted by their children - talking, laughing, playing, singing, yelling, fighting. Do we outlaw children in the car? (I'm sure there are some frazzled parents who would appreciate this from time to time.) :)

Just turn the stupid things off! All of a sudden everyones life got so important that they cant live for twenty minutes without a cell phone. I dont recall seeing people lined up around the block to use the pay phones.Slow down people and enjoy life

For the record, I've had just as many problems with MEN on cell phones as I have with women. The problem is that everyone thinks that they are excellent drivers and that cell phones do not distract them. But just a few days ago I had 3 drivers cut me off in less than 5 minutes without signals and with barely room to avoid an accident, all driving dangerously, and every single one of them with a cell phone plastered to their ears. I do not use a cell phone while I am driving and I will not carry on a phone conversation with anyone I know is driving.

Would a law help? I doubt it. The police don't enforce most of the laws already on the books, and are NEVER where you need them when you need them. I don't believe yet another law will help. Education might, but I think that selfish unthinking people will be with us forever and passing yet another unenforced law isn't the answer. However, if anyone causing an accident while talking on a cell phone should be treated like a drunk driver. THAT might get their attention, but still I believe that people will drive with cell phones plastered to their ears regardless of the laws and penalties.

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For the record, I've had just as many problems with MEN on cell phones as I have with women. The problem is that everyone thinks that they are excellent drivers and that cell phones do not distract them. But just a few days ago I had 3 drivers cut me off in less than 5 minutes without signals and with barely room to avoid an accident, all driving dangerously, and every single one of them with a cell phone plastered to their ears. I do not use a cell phone while I am driving and I will not carry on a phone conversation with anyone I know is driving.

Would a law help? I doubt it. The police don't enforce most of the laws already on the books, and are NEVER where you need them when you need them. I don't believe yet another law will help. Education might, but I think that selfish unthinking people will be with us forever and passing yet another unenforced law isn't the answer. However, if anyone causing an accident while talking on a cell phone should be treated like a drunk driver. THAT might get their attention, but still I believe that people will drive with cell phones plastered to their ears regardless of the laws and penalties.
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i do support the act, but how can you really inforce this if the ones (police) are also doing this as they drive? I have seen on countless times the police talking on a cell as they are driving

Big fines, definitely a good thing. No driving while doing other things, that includes doing makeup, talking on the phone, playing a hand held video game (seen it personally while driving on the freeway), putting condoments on your food, reading a book or paper, etc. The driver should have all attention on the road and the task of driving, let the passengers worry about maps and books and phone calls. If you NEED to do something else, pull off the road to a safe place, do what is needed, then rejoin traffic when your mind is clear and you can JUST DRIVE.

Its sad to see that such an technological advanced country like the US hasn't figured this out yet. Many other countries have had laws for years and the fines for using cellphones in your car WITHOUT using a handsfree kit there is as high as it would cost you to install one of these. And the nice thing about these systems there isn't that they look like your 10 dollar Radioshack cheapo. These are systems that can hook into your radio so the conversation broadcasts over the car speakers and the mic is hidden as well. Hey ... plus your phone charges in the cradle as well. I propose a 1000 dollar fine for those using anything other then a handsfree set in their car and give cops an incentive to search and fine abusers.

I saw a Gallager(the melon smashing guy) stand up routine where the idea was proposed that all drivers get "stupid" flag's that stick to cars. So when ever a person witness' stupid drivers, the can throw the flag at the car. When cop see's that a car has so many "stupid" flags, they get pulled over. (it was presented much better by the comidian) Either way I like that idea:)
Point is, the real problem is more difficult to solve; Stupid people. We all have our moments, some just more frequently than others.

one time i got off the freeway at a main arterial and there at the light some lady had her cell stuck between her shoulder and ear then she opend her breif case and had it propped up on her steering wheel blocking her view of the GREEN LIGHT!!
anyway i tapped my horn and she gave me that look like i just interupted her busiess meeting.
maybe there is a bumper sticker in this. they could have thier cell number so you could call them and leave a message about thier crappy driving.

You can't eat or drink, talk on cell phones, etc... while driving on the Autobahn, but that's a little different than I-5, it's still a good idea... Washington, DC, on the other hand has the no cell phone while driving law, and it really isn't enforced that much, people sneak it in, and the police don't really notice. It's still a good idea!

I think that the state should band any use of cell phones while driving, I walk nearly every where I go and I cant even begin to tell you how many times I have nearly gotten run over cause people are paying more attention to the conversations on there cell phones then were they are driving.

~Jamie
Spokane, Washington

Hands-free will not solve the problem - it's the conversation that distracts drivers, not holding a phone!

I drive for a living, Yakima to Seattle just about daily. There are already enough laws about inatentive driving. If you stop the phone then you had better include, eating, drinking(anything), puting on makeup, shaving on and on for ever. If your going to stop the phone then stop on board computors, follow a cop while there on the computer, so much for professional driving.

about 2 weeks ago i saw a delivery van in the fast lane holding up traffic, he was going about 10 mph under the speed limit then when i finally passed him there he was yapping on the phone.

the same day on the way home i was walking out of safeway pushing a shopping cart, the whole front of the store is stripped as a cross walk. coming from my right i saw a car and the driver was looking down he was dialing his phone. he didnt see me until he was passing me, had i not stopped he would have run over me. if you have to make a call "pull over"

Its really not the conversation .. however it does distract a little bit. Drinking and eating are dangerous too ... and so is changing your pants while driving. For cell phone use there is however a proper technological solution ... technology can't fix stupid however (in the case of changing someone changing pants).

Its really not the conversation .. however it does distract a little bit. Drinking and eating are dangerous too ... and so is changing your pants while driving. For cell phone use there is however a proper technological solution ... technology can't fix stupid however (in the case of changing someone changing pants).

I am all for outlawing cell phone use while driving juat as soon as they outlaw eating and drinking(coffee, soda, etc.) as well as playing the radio or CD. It the powers to be were really concerned they would outlaw cupholders. Maybe we can even outlaws conservation with passagers. We require that cameras be installed to watch the driver to make sure they stay in compliance.

well JR if you want to get off the beaten path here why dont we pass a law making it illegal for a wife to nag at ya while you are driving? the lesser evil to that one is to crank the stereo up to drown it out. you might not be able to hear the train coming but the bleeding ear drums are worth the little peice of minde you get going from point A to point B!

BAD drivers are BAD drivers. Period. No matter if it's a cell phone, burger, wife, or music. People in WA don't know how to use a turn signal or show any road courtesy. Once you develop a bad habit, you are not going to change the way you drive, no matter what the fine is. The police will have no real success combating the problem. What the state should do instead of making another useless law is require all drivers to pass the written and/or driving exam every 5-10 years. More often if your driving record requires it.

Yes, bad drivers are bad drivers, but there has to be a limit. There has to be a time when enough is enough. True, multitasking can be accomplished by some safely but the truth is that not everyone is good at it. There are always a few that ruin it for everyone. Those few are becoming more and more. Everybody has been affected by these drivers. Make them responsible for their actions. Don't let them say, " I was distracted by this or that " and then let get away with killing and/or maiming someone.

Meno is right, the best way to combat this problem is to require more written AND driving exams. it is far too easy to obtain a drivers liscense and there are far too many people with minimal driving ability on the road. Just this afternoon, I was walking into Safeway and a woman was backing out of her parking space, naturally while talking on the phone, and she needed to make a 7 POINT TURN, just to back out because she couldn't talk and drive at the same time (there were also no other pedestrians nor cars for her to be concerned with). Banning cell phones, food, drink, etc, etc is just a Band-Aid as it only deals with an effect of the problem, NOT the problem. The PROBLEM is that people have increasingly worse skill at driving and do not pay enough attention to what is going on. You can ban everything except driving in a car and it won't change the fact that too many people just don't pay attention. The only way I have been able to combat this problem is to watch out for EVERYONE while driving. Shouldn't have to be that way, but what are you gonna do?

the seattle times this morning had an article about this. one of the problems is ticketing someone. well most cities now have photo radar stations where they just take a picture of you speeding and mail you the ticket or they have cameras that take pictures of red light runners. maybe they can put all this together and you can get a tri fecta ticket in the mail!! running a red light while speeding and talking on the phone.
maybe your excuse could be your wife called and was nagging at you and.......

$1000 fine for cell phone use while driving. Yes.

Also legalize cell phone zappers so you just zap the caller anytime you see drivers on the cell.

My question is, who is going to enforce the law for cops that talk on their cell phones and drive? Not just with cell phone use, but with any other traffic violation that cops think they don't have to obey. I once paced a cop at 55 mph in a 30 mph construction zone. The cops destination, Starbucks.

Dennis ... if cops jump of a bridge .. do you as well ? If they shoot a suspect ... will you follow them with your gun and shoot them too ? Cops will be in violation now too if they talk on the phone so I think you're point is useless. Cops have video camera on board where they can tape you while driving ... next step is to allow cops to pull you over when you are talking on your phone and I'll be one happy camper ...

i have a hunch the police cruisers will be fit with hands free devices, the state does have a surplus of cash.

C, it depends on the situation. As far as cell phone use. My point is useless because I agree with es' hunch that police cruiser's will more than likely have hand's free devices installed.

Yep .. most likely they will be the first ones installing these kits.

Just more typical feel good legislation being passed... What about crying children in cars, studies show they cause drivers to lose focus. What about Rain or Snow, should we ban driving under these conditions because they cause more accidents??? Maybe people need to take individual responsibility and realize they are at risk when talking on the phone but leave it up to the individual.. By the way HARD to pass a police officer who is not on their phone.....

I do believe there should be a law banning public whining ...

there should be a large scale natural disaster. then there would be no need for new laws....let mother nature weed out the stupid and weak.......at least if they make it they would have a valid reason for being on the phone while driving, if capable......