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"Phone In One Hand, Ticket In the Other"

Posted by Soulskill on from the doesn't-that-leave-zero-hands-for-the-wheel dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that federal regulators plan a pilot project to test 'high visibility' crackdown efforts to curb cellphone use by drivers in two cities, Hartford and Syracuse, spending $200,000 in each city, while each state would contribute $100,000 more. The Transportation Department says it wants to send the message: 'Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other,' and plans on ramping up enforcement on state bans of hands-free phones by motorists, advertising the campaigns and undertaking studies to see if the efforts curb behavior and attitudes. Safety advocates say that curbing the behavior requires enforcement and education, which they say has been clearly evident in past efforts with seat belts with the 'Click It or Ticket Program' (PDF) that helped increase seat belt use to 83% nationally. 'It's time for drivers to act responsibly, put their hands on the wheel and focus on the road,' says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who last year called distracted driving an 'epidemic.'"

9 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 5, Funny

    >In the UK we drive largely manual gearbox and holding a phone while driving means not changing gear or letting go of the steering wheel while changing gear!

    That's what your knees are for.

    --
    Evil people are out to get you.
  2. This will be even more successful... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...than 2008's "Penis In One Hand, Ticket In the Other" campaign which virtually eliminated the epidemic of vehicular masturbation until the courts stuck it down as sexist.

  3. Re:How do you tell... by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...if a driver is using a hands-free phone? Watch for lip motion?

    Hey I take offence there. Now as a person with a split personality, I feel this is going to discriminate against me while I speak to my other personality. ;)

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  4. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by MrWeelson · · Score: 5, Funny

    The other day I saw a woman applying her lipstick with one hand and on her phone with the other doing 85mph in the middle lane.

    I was so shocked I split my cornflakes.

  5. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by slick7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was so shocked I split my cornflakes.

    I was so shocked, Idropped my crossword puzzle and dictionary

    --
    The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
  6. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by KingOfTheDustBunnies · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was so shocked I split my cornflakes.

    So then you had twice as many cornflakes, yes? Sounds like a good thing.

  7. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by adamofgreyskull · · Score: 4, Funny

    How the hell do you change gear with your knees??!

  8. Re:I say good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thank you for making me Google for "bleeth".

  9. Re:Hasn't worked in the UK by Heian-794 · · Score: 2, Funny

    My wife said that the other day she saw a man attempting to eat cornflakes while driving! She was so surprised that she nearly dropped her lipstick!