If you're going to ban cell phone usage (i.e. picking up a device in your hand while driving with the other) then you've got to ban everything else. Let's outlaw eating large burgers while driving, applying makeup, masturbating, playing a game boy and working on your laptop. All while driving. I've seen people doing all of the above while driving. Most of these things take the eyes off the road far more than picking up a cell phone. Especially when the pickle on your burger falls in your lap and your digging around for it while swerving down the interstate.
I've always had a theory that talking on the phone is not distracting because your one hand isn't free. It's because you're talking. People seem pretty damned distracted when talking, whether these people are actually in the car or on the phone. Obviously a lot of people disagree with me on this one. I just have happened to notice that when other people are in the car with someone driving, the driver often gets distracted. It seems even more dangerous since heads are in the way of blind spots and there is general social excitement happening all within the car.
Ear pieces are a mess. You've got to pay tons of money to find one that doesn't make you sound like you're communicating with a tin can. Not only that but I don't talk on the phone all that much. When someone calls me it's important. When they call me I like to answer if I can. Unfortunately, I can no longer answer the phone in my car now that there is a law and a million cops jumping at the chance to pull you over. I will not be using an ear piece because the only thing I do less than talk on the phone may be drive. I don't do a lot of either on most days, so really it's a rare occasion when I answer the phone in the car. The two rarely line up. That being said I'm not about to get a call while driving, search for my ear piece, turn the bloody thing on and then start talking. Obviously that's a lot more dangerous than picking up the phone, never having to look at it, and answering.
Of course this law was one invented out of the lack of common sense. Much like "DO NOT USE TOASTER OVEN WHILE IN THE BATH TUB," the law of not using a cell phone while driving was born from similar stock. If you're driving like a NASCAR driver down the freeway you should exercise some self control and logically not use the cell phone. If you're taking a casual 95 mph Sunday drive down Mulholland, you may also want to think twice about taking both hands or eyes off the wheel. But of course people didn't do that and here we are today with a law punishing everyone for a bunch of people's misuseage.
I think the lady swerving behind me with her face stuck in her rear view while she delicately applies mascara is who I'm more concerned about. Of course I'm concerned about anybody who is looking anywhere else but where they're going while driving. I'll be very excited to see the outlaw of dining while eating. If I see one more person with a cup of soup on their dashboard and a tuna melt in their lap while driving ...
We discussed this further on The Fabulous D Show this weekend along with an amazing story involving Richard Dawkins, of whom we absolutely adore!
"In Bed With Myself" is a tell-all autobiographical self-help adventure. Throughout the story of becoming known as The Internet's First Super Star, D explains his life and the obstacles gone through to get to the top of the underground Internet fame game from the late 90's to early 00's. 
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