The Mobile Phone Drivers License: A Proposal
You know, some people are capable of driving and talking on the phone at the same time. In fact, some people are so good at multi-tasking, they are probably able to drive, talk and cook a full course meal during the afternoon commute.
Others, however, are incapable of driving, even without distraction. It doesn’t matter if they are alone, with a car full of people, talking on the phone or being influenced by a screaming child climbing around in the back seat, they are still going to be a threat to all other motorists around them.
To this end I say, why set a blanket law against talking on the phone while driving that affects everyone? What if we just introduced a special mobile phone driving test? It could be like the standard driving test, but you have to do the entire thing while on the phone. Talk, shift, steer, talk, use the blinker, swerve around crazy drivers, talk, avoid pedestrians, send an SMS message. If you pass by showing that you’re capable of operating a vehicle and phone simultaneously, then you get a special mark on your license that permits you to do so on the open road.
I would love it when the police try to flag me for using my phone while driving to be able to flash my license and say, “It’s OK. I’m a multi-tasker!”
kinzi March 29th, 2008 9:36 am
I would love to see this. Myself, I wouldn’t even bother, I just cannot talk on the phone and drive; all the other stuff (even make sandwiches) I can do well as I am driving.
One thing on my list they would have to pass: driving between the white lines as an appropriate speed w/o weaving. But that seems hard for many to do even w/o a phone.
mo March 29th, 2008 12:14 pm
i dont know if ur familiar with the show mythbusters (discovery channel) but they once did a test where adam and cary both did a driving test without talking on the phone then did it again while talking on phone .. the results were that talking on the phone while driving GREATLY affects your motor skills and concentration
MommaBean March 29th, 2008 2:23 pm
Dave, I was actually just going to say what Mo did. I saw a show where they took 4 people who rated themselves as excellent drivers while doing things like talking on the phone, jotting notes on their pads about sales calls, etc. They found that driving while distracted led them to have something like 80% more accidents. They actually put them on a closed course and had them do their normal usual driving job. One of the guys even hit a mock-up child… So, while I generally like the idea, maybe the better approach is to simply deny licenses to those who can’t drive even without the cell phone.
Jasim March 29th, 2008 4:06 pm
Yeah I want one of those as well.
However, I’d like to add couple of terms to the Multi-Tasking test. How about we add a cup of coffee and a cigarette to it? That would insure whether the test taker is really a multi-tasker.
Nour March 31st, 2008 12:27 am
haha! that would be a real improvement on the new laws! you should seriously suggest that!