QotD: Drivin' & Talkin'

Should driving while talking on a cell phone be outlawed? 
Submitted by Soup.  

I'm a bit conflicted about this one. First up, perspective. I live in New York, so I'm in one of those states that does actually
ban cell phone use while driving without the use of a handsfree device. Occasionally I do answer my phone while driving, but I'm never talking very long.

On one hand, I've seen plenty of moronic cell phone toting drivers not paying attention to the road. But, then again I've also see plenty of moronic non-cell phone carrying drivers who weren't paying attention to the road either. I understand that it can be distracting, but I'm also a little worried about what else the government might decided to make a law against. Changing the radio station is distracting. Talking to a passenger…also distracting. Reading roadside advertisements…distracting. Where does one draw the line on what's too distracting and what isn't? Most states, I'd assume, even already have laws that say the police can pull you over anyway if you're doing something stupid, like putting on makeup or reading the newspaper while trying to drive.

But, then again, it's a public safety thing for the protection of other people on the road which I can't really complain about. So I'm not totally against it. I'm just a little concerned about where the line of what's banned and what isn't is going to move in the future. I also think the government has more important things to do with it's time…

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