Ready or Not California, Hands-free Cell Phone Usage Will Be the Law

It's not a suprise to anyone. Drivers all over the State of California have been told for over a year now the days with a cellphone plastered to their ears while driving are numbered.

Coming this JUL 01, 2008 all users of cell phones must use a hands-free device while driving anywhere in the state, as in on any public road, highway, freeway or interstate. Wired, speaker/mic, Bluetooth... it doesn't matter so long as you can keep both hands on the wheel without being encumbered by holding the phone itself up to your head. I like engadget's take on the issue.

Now if anyone thinks that this will put a definative deterrent on people driving like Highway A-Holes, they are terribly wrong. I see more A-Holes showing up on the highways and byways of this state. I blame the "new cool" factor for the potential upsweep.

But there's another issue.

The experts (whoever they are) say that it's not the action of holding the phone up ot the ear that's been the contributing factor to being unsafe while driving, but rather the actual mental activity of focusing on a caller's voice and responding that really causes the problems associated with driving and cellphone suage. It appears that a driver cannot fully fuction safely while driving and talking on the phone in any way - hand's free or not.

So let's review;

- Driving with a cellphone up to your head while driving is not safe.
- Drivers utilizing a handsfree device to use a cellphone when driving is also not safe.
- The State of California says drivers have to use a handsfree device when using a cellphone.

It's all coming clear now, isn't it?