Hands free systems for cell phones?

[Bill]

Reason why I'm looking into this is because California has a mandate as of January,2004 for these devices while driving.
Whether or not they enforce it. Kind of doubt it too much but that's sort of not the point.
After all,I've seen way to many close calls with people yacking away on their cells not paying attention to the surroundings while driving,including myself.

I've tried the el-cheep-o hands free with the cells I've had in the past.
 
So I figured I'd better see what's out there for this new v60i cell.

I've run across these cheap-Os ... one and two or ones like them just about anywhere,including retail stores and swapmeets.

They're not true hands free for driving though.

This one I keep going back and checking out again and again.  
First saw it here but have found it for less else where since.

This one appears to more of a conference type speaker yet I think it could work as a hands free (I guess) while driving.

As you all can tell .... I'm new at this hands free jive.

Been reading that some other states in this country and some other countries already have this hands free law implemented in force.

Wondering if you 'others' are comfortable with the less expensive types.
Do they get by your needs?
OR
Have some of you opted for the more expensive types and why?

[WDL]

Bill:

Not to pee on your parade, but the research in Britain and the U.S. so far has shown that there's virtually no difference in the division of the driver's concentration and ability whether the cell phone is hand-held or hands-free. Both ways interfere with operating a motor vehicle safely, equally.

There's just no substitute to pulling over or off the road, parking and making your call(s).

WDL

[Bill]

No problem "peeing on my parade" WDL.  I should of saw that coming or at the very least mentioned that is actually what I 'try' to do 95% (or so) of the time.

It's the missing 5% (or so) which is what I'm concerned about.

That and the plain hard facts of law being law and it becoming law no matter how the statistics show what is safer.
 
That 5% (or so) are incoming business related calls.
I do have caller ID activated. Sometimes [if not a lot] that is my downfall.
When I see who is calling and know that it is important yet could very easily wait till I pull over,many times I don't because it usually saves me an unwarranted/unnecessary trip.

Yes I know this is wrong but it happens.

Can fix that just by changing my bad habits alone not to mention other methods.
Which in turn naturally would keep my "PAWS" on the wheel and eyes up front/side/back etc.

So back to this upcoming law.

Why bother shelling out XXX amount of money when all it would be needed for is IF the local police pull me over (never happens cus I wear a white hat) or they have a road safety check stop and ask to see it.

Think I might go the low road on cost of one of those boys WDL.

Thanks!

Can smell a pizza that used to have -hands free written all over it-

Fact is .... just talked myself into a pizza. Man .. am I easy.
Off to the local pie shop!

See me. <gr>

[Bruce_F]

IMHO, there are good drivers and poor drivers. With or without cell phones, some people are prone to causing accidents due to inattention.

Cell phones distract any driver, but to someone who is accident prone, it's a disaster in the making.

If you're a person who goes through life without having auto accidents, then I believe that a hands free phone in a car is a good way to go. It allows you to have full control of the vehicle if you need to maneuver to avoid one of those "other" drivers.

[Bill]

Funny thing happened on the way to the pizza joint Bruce F.
Ran into a few chickens. A few friends and I went the barbecue route.
Yep. I'm good driver. <gr>

[WDL]

Bruce:

Hands-free or hand-held the results were equal - conflicts the
concentration required worse than the level of alcohol that
qualifies for "impaired."

The research showed it for all drivers.

Seems we humans aren't too good at multi-tasking.

WDL

[Bill]

Not that it matters any WDL but by chance do you have a link or two on this.?.

[sandbox]

QUOTE

Hands-Free Headset
 
Lightweight and comfortable to wear, the Hands-Free Headset enables you to carry on conversations while freeing your hands. With a one touch button you can answer and end calls, as well as initiate Voice Activated Dialing.

I found the one that came with our Samsung to be more than adequate. Small, light, easy.
It has a button in line, to start your call & hang-up, sound is all there, can't beat the cheapy. It's right up there with your cheapy Moto Bill, $20 bucks and your done.

Talk about your unsafe drivers...... you can always join them Bill

I hear helmets are the craze!!!

[WDL]

Bill:

Have a number of articles - one at hand titled:

"Cellphones seen as worse than alcohol" from the Globe & Mail, Toronto, Saturday, 23 March, 2002.

Unfortunately, just checked their archives and they charge money for reprints.

If you want to give me your address or fax number in a private message I'll mail or fax you a copy.

WDL

[WDL]

Bill:

Just did a check at Google using "Cell phone use while driving"
and a wealth of entries came up. Might want to take a look.

WDL

[Bill]

First thought in my mind after finding out about the new law were those guys SB.
Sort of ... I'll put mine away if you do the same bud.

WDL.
I'm sure you findings are accurate.
I also believe no matter what a distraction is from what you're focusing on is that .. a distraction.
For instance the topic at hand. Driving.
Although whether the distraction is alcohol,drugs of other natures or moving away from induced types,sound as in music,kids shouting their heads off in the back seat,mother-in-laws [nah! better not go there. Whole different can of worms],thinking about whatever instead of focusing etc etc and cell phones are distractions.
Maybe it's me but I find myself cynical,skeptical when reading/hearing about all these statistics.
After all there are only so many factors one can put into ... errr ... surveys.
If you point your attention towards the sources of such statistics and then see who is behind it. Not the money backers,for they govern the budget. In comes (or out goes) xx amount of factors.
Then merit sets in but still skepticism will linger.

Never the less.
Distractions are there. No matter who/where or how.No doubting that fact.

Don't think we need to get into the chew gum and pat your stomach at the same time.

[WDL]

Bill:

For a guy that had to quit chewing gum just so he could go for walks, that tummy rubbing sounds right up there with quantum physics.

I'll leave this now - just a final observation.

Most of the distractions you list most of us choose to tune out to preserve our sanity. So we ignore them and don't really spend any concentration on them.

However, with cell phones, most of us choose to tune in and concentrate on what we're going to say, or what the other person is telling us.

By the way - what's so different about Arkansas? Most studies show we're four times more likely to be in a collision while using a cell phone - in Arkansas it's nine times!

WDL

[swhitset]

I know I was born in the wrong generation     Personally, statistics or not, I generally find myself trying to pay extra attention to the road when I am using the cell phone.  Bill... I often use the el cheapo cord that cam with my v60i.  It just plugs into the phone and your ear (like the iPod headphones).  I will usually have my wife hook it up for me so that I don't need to look away from the road at all.

When did people stop assuming that life had risks?  Please don't bother trying to change my mind with arguments about other people being a danger to others.  Where do you want to draw ther line?

Steve (the antagonist     ).

[sandbox]

Hey Bill, that’s a big 10-4 goodbuddy, is the weight station open on the state line? I'm running a bit heavy and them CHP's are on to me.  

[Bruce_F]

Talk about multi-tasking... Women drivers seem to have a knack for it.

While driving, I am constantly on the alert for what's behind me. The only accidents I have been in were other people who ran into my car from behind. How many were women? Not one...

One morning, driving to work, I was particularly concerned for my well being. I was driving a VW Fox. The two vehicles behind me were those humugous SUV's with women driving each. The one immediately behind me, the lady was eating a bowl of cereal! You don't know how close I was to slamming on the breaks to see what she would do.

The drive behind her was so busy putting on makeup it's a wonder she didn't drive off the road.