Using Mobile Phones While Driving Stopping them being used

After I read the post about people here in the UK ignoring the laws about not using a mobile phone while driving I came up with an idea. Mobile phones can already be tracked by satellites to a distance of about 3 feet. This technology has been used to find criminals and track people. Couldn't we also use this technology to detect them being used while driving?The government has maps of all transport systems, roads, railways etc. If the positions of mobile phones were monitored then we could see how fast they are travelling compared to previous positions. If a mobile phone is moving at over 20mph or something then it should be barred from making or receiving calls until the speed is sufficiently low. Their position could also be compared to maps of rail networks etc, so that people on trains and public transport can still use their phones.I understand that many people would say this is an invasion of privacy, so we could apply it only to people who have been conviced of making a call while driving. This means that only the law breakers would be monitored, and if they didn't want to be tracked then they shouldn't have broken the law, which I think is fair.Do you think this could possibly be put into action? Would you have any concerns about it?

Well I think this is a very good idea if it is technically possible. Yeah maybe it is a little problem of privacy, but a bigger problem is I think with someone driving in a car and not driving or driving with trains and stuff like that. It would be very hard to find out who is acctually driving and is forbidden to call or recieve calls. Because if someone is sitting in a train than there is no real reason for him not to talk with his mother. If that is to be execepted one day somewhere, most of the population is going to have to agree with it and just sacrifice some of their own comfort for the safety of everyone including themselves. But i really like the idea! greetz

Yeah the largest problem with this plan is determining if a passenger in the car is the one making the call or the driver. The phone would be moving over 20mph but who is the caller and who is driving? Besides that, if you knew train and bus routes and such this could be possible but most likely it would be too expensive to actually implement. Good thought though.

Well that is a good idea, I find it rather funny once I thought about it. I can just see it now...

 

..Your driving along and you think. I think I should call my friend Jim, no one is looking. You pick up your phone and dial the number and you hear the ring. Suddenly out of no where, a whole army of cops cars come out of no where and take you down...

 

...However, back to reaility, I don't think that kind of idea would work out very well, because there is no way to tell who is driving like everyone else is saying.

Well that is a good idea, I find it rather funny once I thought about it. I can just see it now...
..Your driving along and you think. I think I should call my friend Jim, no one is looking. You pick up your phone and dial the number and you hear the ring. Suddenly out of no where, a whole army of cops cars come out of no where and take you down...[

Lol Unfortunately, This seems to be ignoring that it may be illegal to drive and talk on a mobile phone, but handsfree kits are allowed. I don't know if any trace is sent in the signal to determine if a handsfree is being used, but A satellite would not be able to find any difference, along with not knowing if it is the driver oin the phone. I like the idea, whether there's some way to trace modern phones and if a handsfree is using, plus if anyone has an idea to decide whether a driver is talking?
Anyhow... good idea
It would kinda be double killing almost everyone, even those who do obey that rule. Just think... you went out to buy a handsfree specially for that rule, and then you get hung up at a polce station afterwards just for obeying the law... whilst there would be those people in there too who have just been talking (half of the people didn't hear about it at all). It would be havoc determining who was in the right and who was in the wrong
Edited June 2, 2006 by Jimmy (see edit history)

It's a neat concept, but it just won't happen. Aside from it being difficult to tell who was the one on the phone , as FFFantics said, the satellite system required to monitor all cell phone positions would be so complicated and expensive, no government or business would consider the lives lost worth the price.

Neat concept. That should be started if at all possible.Here's a little fun fact about cell phones in cars: Driving with a headset is actually more dangerous than holding your phone to your ear.

let's give the government another reason to pull us over take our money and leave us w/ no recourse.we have a law already called obeying the freaking speed limit.we have a law NOT rear ending people we have a law not to drive recklessly WE DONT NEED MORE LAWS enforce the others. if you can't drive while talking on the phone you're a moron, if you think that someone talking to you is more important than pulling out infront of a semi GOOD we don't need you here. but we sure as hell don't need tickets and harrasment officers messing w/ us because we need to call for directions...yea yea yea I know I could pull over.. well if thats your stance I beter see you pull over to change stations or cd's. and you better be boycotting and pickiting every freaking drivethrough in america because thier has been way more accidents caused by people eating than talking. well hell if you can't talk on the phone and drive how can you talk to a passenger? I better not see you w/ anypassengers in your car either. call GM and Ford tell them to start making 1 seater cars w/ satalite and airwave frequencies blocked and no windows so you can't stick your head out and call someone... and since we're all about wasting taxpayers time and money we should set up patrol stops of national gaurd to search cars for cell phones,passengers (especially illegal immigrants) , mcdonalds wrappers what ever else common sense things you think people should go with out.

Edited June 2, 2006 by Zabb (see edit history)

It is no good saying that we don't need more laws, as this is already law! Regardless of the fact that you may be able to drive while using the phone there are millions of people who can't and have serious crashes becuase they try to use their phone, apply makeup and eat a sandwich while doing 90mph around the M25. Personally, I think that some of the drivers on the road are over confident and think that they are the only people in existence and own the road, and their flimsy metal box will protect them in the eventuality that they crash at motorway speeds.

...and since we're all about wasting taxpayers time and money...

Well, this technology already exists and the government wastes enough money as it is, so they can't do a worse job. Plus it would actually save money in the billions spent each year on court fees and jails.

common sense things you think people should go with out.

I am not saying people should go without mobile phones. They are a brilliant and useful invention, but no call is so important that you need to make it while you are driving? If it was that important you would stop at a service station or something. I only came up with this idea after seeing so many people like yourself who think this is a stupid law who are talking on their phones or texting people, and then having to take evasive action or something and causing more danger.
To answer the other sensible points about making sure it is the driver who is making the call, you could apply the system to only the telephone numbers of people who have been convicted of driving while using their mobile. Therefore people who are passengers would not be stopped, unless they are stupid enough to break the law while driving and then become a passenger.

Here's a little fun fact about cell phones in cars: Driving with a headset is actually more dangerous than holding your phone to your ear.

I don't think so, I actually have seen no differnce. Either way the driver is not paying attention as much as he or she should and there are both equally going off the road as much.

That is a very nice idea. But that suggestion would not fit here in The Philippines, where people are more on text messaging than calling using their mobile phones. Which is actually worse! It is better to call with your mobile phone using the speaker option, a lot of people here has been driving while texting which is very, very dangerous. at least at making calls you can still pay attention so the road while driving, while when text messaging you are focused to your mobile phone's screen. Fortunately, most roads are traffic.

OMG I hate people who use their phones while driving, in the fast lane, going too slow for it, and then change lanes when I do to pass them. Just irritates the living snot out of me. Except I do use my phone while driving, but that is only because I do not cause traffic, or accidents. I am a better driver than they are, obviously

Yes, driving with a mobile is extremely dangerous, especially since you mind is not on the road, not to mention the lack of one arm, if you absolutely have to talk while driving, use one of those hands free sets, or better yet, not at all

Yes, there might be problems with the privacy, but overall I think your idea is great. But, IMO, i think the government is more interested in making money than wasting it to catch people who are using cell phones out on the road.

Edited June 13, 2006 by Juhae (see edit history)

i think banning mobile phones in the car is absolutely ridiculous. mobile phones isn't the problem. the problem is stupid drivers. how hard is it to drive and talk on the phone at the same time?Besides, it has already been proven that it is not talking on the cell phone that causes the accident... it is the loss in concentration while talking on the phone that causes accidents. Now, if we ban mobile phones while driving but allow hands free phones, the problem is not solved! So how is this law going to help? Absolutely stupid law. If you are going to ban mobile phones, you have to ban everything that can cause a loss in concentration. No more coffee in the car, no more music, no radio... In fact, you aren't allowed to have passengers... what would the difference be if you are talking to a passanger compared to talking to that same passanger on the phone?While I'm at it, we should also ban small children because they cause major distractions in the car.So, how is the cell phone any worse? Why suddenly everyone is so worried about the cell phone?