Cell phones

[Tuckervill]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation.

I'm not talking about a 5-star Zagat's rated place. I'm talking about Western Sizzlin' (happened just the other day).

I turn my phone to silent when I don't want to answer it. If I do want to know who is calling me, I will put it on vibrate. I had a lot of practice remembering that from when my son was in Iraq--no way was I going to miss his call, so I was glued to the cell phone all the time.

Karen

[Zen]

Interesting article (and reader replies) in the New York Times about cell phone usage.

[sundial]

I think it is rude to talk in a restaurant. Most people who do answer their phone in a restaurant raise their voice to be heard, and so other people can not only hear what they are saying, it's sometimes loud enough to drown out other's conversation. Karen

You know what irqs me? Cell phones being used in movie theaters. I'm trying to watch a movie and some ninny is talking over the dialogue. Usually it's a *mature adult* who decides to talk about something trivial--like his tires being rotated. I'd like to rotate something else!

[sundial]

[Blueberry]

As much as I talk on my cell phone, I completely agree regarding the appalling lack of cellular phone etiquette. On the few occasions I've had to take a call and been in a store or restaurant, I generally excuse myself and step outside to talk. Yep - I've been rained on and gotten quite cold, but to do otherwise is just *rude* Most of my conversations are in my car *with my headset.*

We still have someone's cell phone go off in court once in a while - talk about embarrassing!

[onimity]

Statistically you are not safer using a cell phone in a car just because you use a headset. It is the distraction more than the phone that is problematic when driving, and I would kindly ask those of you that do this to concentrate on driving and have your conversations when you arrive at your destination. Distracted drivers make the road a lot more dangerous for all of us.

I am cell-only, have been for 8 years now. I like that I can take my 'home phone' with me when I travel, but I don't feel compelled to answer the phone when it is not convenient for me, or to continue a conversation if I am otherwise occupied. Sorry I'm eating. Checking out at the grocery store, not a good time. Cell use gets a little silly to me, sometimes. Technology can offer us so much flexibility and freedom but we can let it control us and limit us too.

Anne

[Blueberry]

Statistically you are not safer using a cell phone in a car just because you use a headset. It is the distraction more than the phone that is problematic when driving, and I would kindly ask those of you that do this to concentrate on driving and have your conversations when you arrive at your destination.

While this may be true, I would respectfully submit that talking on a headset is no more dangerous than other distractions we're not likely to ban or even ask others to refrain from such as: talking to a passenger, listening to the conversation of other passengers in your vehicle, eating, drinking, smoking, changing the radio station, changing a CD, etc. I supposed ideally (from a distraction perspective) we'd all be driving single occupancy cars with no radios.

FWIW I think the legislatures in lots of states would disagree with you given the plethora of hands free laws that have emerged. I'll continue to use my hands free device since I believe I'm less distracted with it (as opposed to holding my cell phone). But, it's simply not practical for me to completely give up talking in the car. I have a 45 minute each way commute and a 60 hour a week job. Yeah, I'm trying to change that. But it's a lengthy process.

[onimity]

While this may be true, I would respectfully submit that talking on a headset is no more dangerous than other distractions we're not likely to ban or even ask others to refrain from such as: talking to a passenger, listening to the conversation of other passengers in your vehicle, eating, drinking, smoking, changing the radio station, changing a CD, etc. I supposed ideally (from a distraction perspective) we'd all be driving single occupancy cars with no radios.

I agree that there are numerous distractions for drivers. And of course the vast majority of the nation agrees with you as there is tremendous demand for every sort of distracting device, DVD players, etc. Cars are turning into entertainment devices, and there is no incentive for lawmakers to fight that. And unlike a lot of the distractions you mention, phone conversations are often longer, can get emotional and the other party has no indication as to the conditions the driver is facing.

FWIW I think the legislatures in lots of states would disagree with you given the plethora of hands free laws that have emerged.

No doubt about that. But that doesn't mean those legislatures went on any more than what they too believed. And it's not about what *I* believe, I too thought that it would be safer until I read study after study demonstrating otherwise. It turns out that things like voice dialing, the increased errors in dialing on hands-free devices and maintaining the conversation all significantly reduce the response times of drivers. Driving with a cell phone is a lot like having a drink before you get behind the wheel. Yep, it's legal (under the BAC limit, or hands free, or...whatever) but it's not something that encourages the safe operation of a huge, fast moving machine.

I understand the pressures of a time-consuming job and trying to fit a lot of things in; and I think it feels safe to drive with a cell phone because most of the time, especially on freeways and the like, the road is quite predictable.

Anne