Driven up a wall by cellphones

Re “Cellphone law may not make roads safer,” March 25

The new cellphone law may be an ineffectual political balm, but there is something each of us can do on a personal level. My husband and I ask people who call from all kinds of cellphones while driving to call us back on a land line. It hasn’t made us popular with multi-tasking family and friends, but it prevents accidents.

But our commitment may become moot as insurance companies increasingly feel the pain associated with cellphone-related accidents.

Eventually their slogan could be, “On a cell and crash? Not with our cash.”

Catherine R. Leach

Sherman Oaks

--

We have always been eating, drinking coffee, reading road maps, changing radio stations, applying makeup, shaving, talking to passengers, disciplining children, groping for dropped gum, staring at sign-twirlers and beating out drum solos on our steering wheels while driving. Yet there are no laws banning these activities.

Why are cellphones suddenly the bad guys?

Requiring drivers to use a Bluetooth-type device will just free up the hands to do something else while talking on the phone.

Whether it’s with a latte to the lips or a cellphone to the ear, we all need to concentrate on driving as safely and defensively as we can.

Lisa Stevenson

Valencia

--

Who has not observed a cellphone-chatting pinhead going 50 miles per hour in the fast lane of an open freeway, completely oblivious to what’s going on?

It’s obvious to responsible commuters that the hands-free law will have very little effect on cellphone-related accidents; the real answer is to ban all cellphone use while driving. But good luck with that, considering the phone lobby and popular opinion.

James Marr

San Dimas

--

Talk about “cognitive capture.” Isn’t that exactly what roadside billboards are designed to do? When is the last time you spotted a billboard with its backside turned toward traffic? Take a spin down any freeway and you will have your cognition captured by cartoons, catchy slogans and scantily clad women.

Let’s give cellphones a break. Cellphone companies have as much right to endanger the public to improve their bottom lines as do the billboard companies.

At least with a cellphone you can call for a wrecker.

Errol Miller

Chino