A hands-free phone technology is a cheap and readily available safety feature and many phones even come with headsets included. It is safer and the driver can have two hands on the wheel at all times and avoid talking on the phone too long. In 2001, New York became the first state to ban motorists from using cell phones without hands-free devices. Fines are about $100 and after months of issuing only warnings, police began writing tickets in March 2002. I believe California Highway Patrol or the senate should pass the same law in California to require hands-free receivers when driving. The fines should be at least $100 including traffic school and learn to be a proper driver. If the driver is responsible for an accident they cause because of their cell phone, a massive fine plus a longer accident point on their record, and traffic school. Although, the law can be very discouraging, but it will save lives. Cell phones are a privilege not a right on the road. People may not realize how distracted they are and talking to a passenger seems quite safe, but even something that simple takes away from the road.
The ban of cell phones" arguments is understandable. Some might argue there are far worst distractions than cell phones or that someone might call for many reasons, or they need to call someone while driving. And talking on a cell phone doesn't distract them, but they see more serious distractions to drivers. Such as, people looking at their maps while driving, eating is more dangerous than talking on your phone, or people who have their little dogs on their laps. In a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety use in-car video cameras to record driving habits. They were told the exercise was to see how they handled different road conditions and each was videotaped for a week. The researchers studied three randomly selected hours of the remaining time to see what else drivers do while driving.
