Comments on: Why hands-free cell phone laws are dumb http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb My life as a computer/photo/sound/book/music/movie geek Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:23:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alex Casanova http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-15008 Alex Casanova Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:55:02 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-15008 I meant stupidity, of course. I meant stupidity, of course.

]]> By: Alex Casanova http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-15007 Alex Casanova Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:54:26 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-15007 I just had the same realization yesterday. And I do share your point of view, but the whole studidity of this law makes me think, without sounding like I believe in conspirations,that maybe businesses or other powerful entities are beyond the creation of this frivolous, unnecessary law. I just had the same realization yesterday. And I do share your point of view, but the whole studidity of this law makes me think, without sounding like I believe in conspirations,that maybe businesses or other powerful entities are beyond the creation of this frivolous, unnecessary law.

]]> By: Andrew http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-14964 Andrew Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:09:39 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-14964 Yup, that's what I don't get, they passed a law to solve a problem that doesn't seem to have any supporting evidence. I haven't seen anything that makes me think the problem is large enough to require legislation. I would think a law that requires drivers to maintain a 3 second following distance at all times to be a much more effective at preventing collisions and fatalities. Yup, that’s what I don’t get, they passed a law to solve a problem that doesn’t seem to have any supporting evidence. I haven’t seen anything that makes me think the problem is large enough to require legislation. I would think a law that requires drivers to maintain a 3 second following distance at all times to be a much more effective at preventing collisions and fatalities.

]]> By: nathan118 http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-14962 nathan118 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:24:33 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-14962 The plantronics test was simulator too by the way. What I want to know is, where are the real world stats? The plantronics test was simulator too by the way.

What I want to know is, where are the real world stats?

]]> By: nathan118 http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-14961 nathan118 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:22:42 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-14961 Not sure how impressed I am with the first study. It was all based on simulations, and only 110 subjects. Not to mention this part: "Only hands-free cell phones were used in the study so the researchers could avoid any distracting effects from handling phones, and focus on distracting effects of conversation." So while they found in their very small study that hands-free can still be distracting (duh) it doesn't show if it's any better or worse than an actual phone. Even the old study from '01 says the test was done with a joystick...which isn't driving. Here's a study that shows hands-free are better than cell phones. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/cell_hands_free.html It was commissioned by Plantronics, but they didn't perform the tests. I'm not a big proponent of the law by any means, but the law is going into effect, so it's either headset for me or nothing. I prefer nothing, but sometimes you don't have a lot of choice. Not sure how impressed I am with the first study. It was all based on simulations, and only 110 subjects. Not to mention this part:

“Only hands-free cell phones were used in the study so the researchers could avoid any distracting effects from handling phones, and focus on distracting effects of conversation.”

So while they found in their very small study that hands-free can still be distracting (duh) it doesn’t show if it’s any better or worse than an actual phone. Even the old study from ‘01 says the test was done with a joystick…which isn’t driving.

Here’s a study that shows hands-free are better than cell phones.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/cell_hands_free.html

It was commissioned by Plantronics, but they didn’t perform the tests.

I’m not a big proponent of the law by any means, but the law is going into effect, so it’s either headset for me or nothing. I prefer nothing, but sometimes you don’t have a lot of choice.

]]> By: kurtiigeek http://geekyweekly.com/2008/why-hands-free-cell-phone-laws-are-dumb#comment-14946 kurtiigeek Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:05:25 +0000 http://geekyweekly.com/?p=371#comment-14946 Correction, the stupid politicians must pass a law making manual transmissions illegal. :) Correction, the stupid politicians must pass a law making manual transmissions illegal. :)

]]>