The American Spectator

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1.9.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 4)

Before mocking the study, Mr. Peters's credibility would be well-served not to have two major errors in the first two paragraphs of his column. He also should recognize that "what ought to be obvious" isn't always correct, and that scientific research is necessary to provide solid information upon which to base legislation or other action.
-- Lee Siegel, science news specialist
University of Utah Public Relations

Mr. Peters does tend to exaggerate. What does he want to ban next: eating, drink (sodas), putting on makeup and reading. I mean, these are no better than talking on the cell phone. By the way, to play devil's advocate, being impaired is not the same as distracted.
-- Joseph D'Ambrosia

Eric, you said it!

I note you make no distinction between talking on a hand-held phone and using a hands-free device. I would bet that if someone studied this, they would find very little difference in the level of distraction in these two approaches to gabbing while driving.
-- Jeff Webb
Madison, New Jersey

I don't understand why some states say it is okay to talk "hands free." It is NOT the holding of the cell phone that is unsafe, but the talking itself. If your brain is tied up thinking about what you are going to say next it is hard to be thinking about the red light ahead, or the school zone sign. Now to make matters worse there are GPS gadgets to look at.

Some company better come out quick with cars that drive themselves, so the idiot drivers can kick back and think they are at home in the recliner.
-- Elaine Kyle

In this article the author says that the legal system will throw everything it has against a drunk driver. Not true! In September of 1998, my parents were hit and killed by an eighty-six year old man who chose to drink and drive. This man had a blood alcohol level of .08 two hours after the accident. At the time, BAC of .10 was the legal limit in Texas. Due to sloppy police work and a lazy D.A., this case never went to trial.

Also the author says that drinking and driving have become politically incorrect; again not true! Every night in restaurants and bars across the country people have too much to drink and happily drive themselves home.

I have believed, since I lost my parents, that drinking and driving should be raised from Intoxicated Manslaughter to Murder One. One does not purposely choose a victim, but one knowingly goes to a bar and drinks knowing that all physical and mental capabilities are diminished with each drink. At some point this person chooses to drive. The situation is now analogous to taking a loaded weapon to a crowded mall and randomly shooting. Someone might get shot, they might not, someone might get killed, and they might not. If that kid in Omaha this past Christmas hadn't shot himself, he would have been charged with several counts of murder and attempted murder. Drunk drivers should be charged the same way.
-- Randall Allison
Abilene, Texas

Can't the nannies in lab coats ever mind their own business? Even for five minutes? Just because they can't talk and drive at the same time doesn't mean nobody can.

How is talking on a phone more distracting than, oh, changing a CD, or programming a GPS destination, or quashing a fight between two toddlers thrashing around in their nanny-mandated safety seats? Answer: it's not. All this amounts to is crotchety old whippersnapper-haters finding yet another use of cell phones to complain about.

The cell phone is here. It is everywhere. It will be around until it is replaced by the implanted phone. Get used to it.
-- Doug Welty
Arlington, Virginia

I wear a hands free device and talk on my cell phone while driving.

I find it less distracting than when my three small children were squabbling while I drove. I find it less distracting than talk radio. I find it less distracting than talking to a front seat passenger who is an interesting conversationalist. I find it less distracting than drinking a soda while I drive.
-- Yaakov "Jim" Watkins

PARTYING WITH REAGAN
Re: Jeffrey Lord's Why I Am a Reaganite:

Letter to the Editor

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