While this is a national issue, I often find myself checking email on my iPhone while stopped at a light and I think we've all seen people too engrossed on their cellphones, especially on the highway … The truth is many of us love the convenience, but now studies and research is revealing the price of that … Is it time for a law and a national one at that? I'm torn … 

I do not want to be restricted from talking on my phone while in the car. I use the voice activation on my phone and the blue tooth. I prefer not to be restricted due to the idiot texting as they are driving down the expressway weaving in their lane in morning rush hour. (this mornings commute.....actually most morning commutes) If they want to be part of the 3,000 that is fine with me so long and they don't take anyone with them. However I am also tired of losing freedom due to idiots. More and more laws get heaped on many law abiding citizens because today, tomorrow and the next day there will be those who abuse the rule and behave reclessly. Texting is not allowed now but it still happens and will continue to happen.

I understand that the lost of an individual due to the poor judgement of another is wrong, but the fact that many new vehicles come standard with hands free voice activated systems allows me th FREEDOM to safely and properly communicate with someone just like they were sitting in the car or truck with me. Dont allow the Federal government manidate more laws taking away our individual rights becuse of the careless acts of a few. How effective is the law for DUI , when you see in the news of individuals that get two or three and are still out driving on the road daily.

If you are going to restrict talking on the phone in your car then you should restrict listening to the radio. You should restrict putting passengers in your car , especially children and if you restrict children in your car.how are the school bus drivers supposed to get your kids to school. Its all a BIG distraction. Come on people! Have some common sense here!

Using Bluetooth and other hands-free technology still is risky because focusing on conversation decreases our focus on traffic awareness, reduces reaction time and erodes concentration on driving safely.

Multi-tasking isn't a zero-sum equation, no matter how sharp you think you are. Brain activity used to process dialogue + respond = Less brain activity devoted to driving. It's been studied by nerdier folks than us, and it's a stone cold fact,

Let those calls wait or pull over, unless you want to feel and hear an air bag deploy.

FREEDOM

"Using Bluetooth and other hands-free technology still is risky because focusing on conversation decreases our focus on traffic awareness, reduces reaction time and erodes concentration on driving safely."

The same could be said for eating, playing with the radio, checking your hairdo, etc, all of which I regularly see while driving. During my morning commute I've seen a person try to balance a bowl of cereal to eat from while driving!

While I won't argue that there is a level of distraction even with the use of hands-free devices, I think that common sense is what should prevail and that most people adopt use of such devices to help them to more safely use this technology. Having occupants in your vehicle is more distracting than not having them there, as anyone with young children will tell you, yet I think the majority of people would agree that it would ludicrous to suggest that we ban transporting children. While I agree that there are many laws enacted that, while inconvenient, provide safety for the greater good, but in this case I think a reasonable ban of hand-held devices (and certainly a ban on texting) should go far enough. We need to teach new drivers (and remind experienced ones) that distractions of ANY kind can be dangerous and sometimes deadly, but I think we shouldn't let the slippery-slope argument make us go overboard with full banishment of hands-free devices.

All drivers have a different level of skill. Some drive in a dangerous manner even when not distracted. Some can still exhibit a paragon of safety while doing some multi-tasking. So while a ban on electronic devices would shift the entire spectrum towards "safer than before", that spectrum will still consist of unsafe drivers. And that shift will further inconvenience those who are already able to safely operate a vehicle while talking on their hands-free device.

In some ways, I feel the proposal was designed to make a "compromise" more appealing. I can't imagine that hands-free phone usage will actually be banned, but something that is more strict than the status quo will probably be passed. Personally, I do not like when the political game is played that way.

I would not support banning hands-free devices. I think that the cost/benefit analysis of doing so would not be tilted in favor of the ban enough to justify the restriction on our freedoms. That is a very subjective process though, so another reasonable person could easily disagree.

Yes, many great comments here from sensible people. Distracted driving is distracted driving regardless of the source. For some reason there is a movemnet to blame it on cell phones rather than the real source of the problem. Famed drunk and rock and roller Jim Morrison said it best when he said "Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel".

We do not need new laws, and worse, laws disguised as regulations, every time a little girl falls down a well or someone breaks a fingernail. This is all about control and the destruction of liberty and our Constitution. Wake up America, these laws set precedence for more laws.

Do I think seat belts are a good idea???? Of course! Should it be a law? NO!!!!!!!!!! That is just the tip of the iceberg. Stop the madness!

You can not legislate the populace to perfect safety and good behavior. End the attack on liberty with victimless crimes. Outlawing cell phone use in and of itself is philosophically ludicrous. Prosecuting someone for negligent driving after injuring someone else by using a cell phone inappropriately as a component of that negligence is the proper legal route. Though it may be unpopular in our skewed societal perception even drunk or impaired driving should be treated in this same, constitutionally consistent way. There are risks in a free society.

The loss of liberty and empowerment of government is far more frightening than the risks associated with interacting with free citizens. Even the stupid or evil ones...

In the words of Dennis Miller - 'Life is tough, wear a cup"

The independent members of the NTSB are, of course, morons with hidden agendas. Luckily, we can depend on the high-mindedness and integrity of our hard-working members of Congress and state legislatures to protect our God given rights.

I don't think the motivation is to save lives. I think it gives police free and open reason to pull you over and give you a ticket and generate revenue. Just saying.

The last thing we need are more regulations that affect people who are responsible and follow the rules. Haven't we learned over time that such regulation will have little to no effect on those who will fail to be responsible regardless?