What should be done about mobile phones in cars? Almost every stud I've seen, including this one, says that using a phone -- hands-free or not -- while driving increases the risk of an accident by 400% to 500%. That makes talking on the phone while driving as dangerous as driving drunk. As the article indicates, small fines don't do much to reduce the problem.
So what's the solution, or is there one? I have libertarian sympathies, but I'm all in favor of laws that prohibit drunk driving. People should be able to do whatever they want on their own property, but in public space the majority has the right to set the rules. Is the problem that the fines are simply too small, or is the risk of a crash still so small that people can't properly judge it and act appropriately?
For myself, I try very hard to use the phone only rarely while driving. The temptation is great, but I don't want to be one of the people who looks back and regrets making a dumb decision. Plus, I see all the people talking while they drive and it's obvious how divided their attention is.
I categorized this post as science because there must be a technological solution to the problem of making phones safer or reducing their use.
