MSN's Holiday Guide for Green Products

A Canada Drive Safe Solar Powered Bluetooth Hands-Free Device was featured as one of the top 12 "Green" gifts for 2009
http://green.ca.msn.com/holiday-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=22795475&page=3

BC to Ban Cell Phones while Driving in January 2010

Starting Jan 1/10 Talking on your phone in BC will cost you up to $1000, BC is being more strict with their policy regarding the handsfree ban, other cities and provinces stated as long as you use a bluetooth handsfree device you will be exempt, However BC is adding that the hands-free device must be a voice dial or one touch operation.

Just an FYI for those who think they will not get a ticket

So the law passes on October 26th, however it is a "soft law" as many media places have been telling the public that fines will not be given out until Feb 1/10 however here is a recent piece of new I just came across on CP24:

There will be an "education" period in the first three months where police will show some leniency and, in many cases, simply let drivers off with a warning.
But make no mistake -- drivers should not assume they're "scot-free" until February, said Sgt. Dave Woodford, a spokesman for the Ontario Provincial Police.
Cops still have discretion to lay charges by way of summons under the new law, where the driver would have to go to court to find out how big the fine will be,

So its better to be safe then sorry in this case.

Video Tutorial on the Solar Powered Bluetooth Car Kit

Part 1

PART 2

Solar Powered Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit

This is our newest & most popular device, without
even advertising or videos, we sold over 1000 in just a week of having this
product.

No other car kit in our line up compares to its clarity when in a phone call.
There is NO echo, no extra noise, just crisp clean sound.

Suctions on your windshield for solar charging & an easy view from your car seat.

Clips onto your sun visor for people who prefer it above rather then ahead

Place it on your desk at the office or at home while you cook, makes a perfect speaker phone!

Super bright blue LCM display that is perfectly visible during the day & a pleasure to look at during the night

Dr Phil's little bit on "texting while driving"

This is a great talk piece by Dr Phil, great gob telling the young lady off in a polite way.
You can wait to catch up on the latest gossip when you are NOT driving.

Enjoy this vid
CDS

Horrific Video about the Truth of Texting & Driving

This is a great video that was made showing teens the horrific effects that texting while driving could have, would you want this to happen to you? then stop texting and keep both hands on your wheel and drive. Texting can come later, if you want to chat, just purchase a hands-free device that will allow you to talk without holding your phone. Companies like Canada Drive Safe are here so you can buy a hands-free device and a holder for your vehicle at a deep discounted price compared to most retailers and big box stores where there is a huge retail mark-up.

Its important to "think safety & drive safely"

B.C. organization pushes for total cell phone ban

Canadian businesses may soon be forced to revise their mobile technology policies if a group like the BritishColumbia Safety Council has its way. The organization is pushing the province to ban all cell phone devices,“The impact of an absolute ban on cell phone use while driving would be significant and far-reaching,”according to Carmi Levy, a London, Ont.-based independent IT industry analyst. “In today’s wirelesseconomy, the office exists wherever we can carry our cell phones and smart phones. So a total ban wouldforce a radical change in how we conduct business, where we conduct business and the tools we use to do. Moez Ladha, CEO of Toronto-based Drive Safe Canada, a provider of wireless hands-free car kits, calls the “Using a hands-free device is no different than listening to your favourite tunes on the radio and even singing along,” he adds. “We do not believe a complete ban of cell phone and electronic devices while in the car is aviable solution … Many businesses rely solely on cell phone use in the vehicles: couriers, taxis, trucking, realBryan Lowes, executive of the British Columbia Safety Council, remains unconvinced.“It doesn’t matter much whether it’s hand-held or hands-free. The crash risks are pretty much the same,” heIn response to critics, Lowes says, “We have workplace health and safety regulations. The employer isresponsible for the safety of their employees in the workplace. So if they happen to be driving a car, that istheir workplace, they are still responsible for the safety of that employee, and of course where thatemployee’s actions can affect third parties, members of the public.”In a study released last month, the VirginaTech Transportation Institute found that drivers of light cars talkingand/or listening to cell phones while operating vehicles were 1.3 times more likely than non-distracted driversto be involved in crashes or near-crashes. A 2008 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found thatusing a cell phone while driving is associated with roughly a quadrupling of crash risk.“The research is pretty clear from around the world,” Lowes says. “Cell phones take messages, for goodness’sake … We have responsibilities to the community when we get behind the wheel of a car. It’s time we haveFor managers in the IT industry, a complete cell phone ban could bring to light a lack of acceptable policies“Sadly, many businesses have ignored this important step, which exposes them to huge liabilities if anemployee gets into an accident while making use of mobile technology,” Levy explains. “Against thatbackdrop, the B.C. Safety Council’s call for a total ban should serve as a reminder for Canadian businessesto revisit their policy framework and ensure they invest resources as appropriate to define what employeesmay or may not do with company-issued wireless equipment.”Page 1 of 2While B.C. doesn’t have any laws governing the use of mobile phones in cars, it may only be a matter of timebefore B.C. businesses that rely on mobile technology are forced to re-examine their policies.If the province does pass legislation, it won’t be the first in the country. Presently, Nova Scotia,Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec have laws against cell phone use while driving. Ontario passedlegislation against distracted driving in April with a cell phone ban taking effect in October.“It has not been easy for us to reach this position,” says Lowes. “In fact, as little as three years ago, I wouldhave still been in support of the hands-free (option), but the longer we go on, the more the research is beingdone … I’ve had to change my mind and get a little hard-nosed myself. So we’ll see where it goes.”

Cell Phone Ban Effective Ocober 2009 in Ontario

In October, 2009 Bill 118 – Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009 will be implemented and enforced on the highways, streets and roads of Ontario after a public awareness program is conducted for Ontarionians, concerning the new prohibition on driving while using or viewing electronic hand-held devices (this includes, cell phones, iPhones, smartphones, blackberries, iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, laptop computers, eBook readers, portable games), is conducted.
Similar rules and laws have already been passed in other Provinces. In fact, Ontario followed four (4) other Provinces in passing this legislation. Ontario follows Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Manitoba follows Ontario as the sixth Province implementing similar legislation.
The rules in Ontario for using a hand-held device attract less sanctions then Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Starting in October, 2009:In Ontario, if police witness you using a hand-held device (to: view,talk, listen, emailing (reading or sending or writing) or text messaging (reading or sending or writing) or observing a GPS (global positioning system) unit (not properly affixed to the dashboard) while operating a motor vehicle (you are situated behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and are operating it and have care and control of the motor vehicle) in Ontario, you will receive a ticket worth up to $500.00.
See sections 78 (1) to 78.1 (subsections 1-8 inclusive) of the Highway Traffic Act.
If the police consider your use of such a device as careless driving, you could potentially be charged with careless driving pursurant to section 130 of the Highway Traffic Act. A conviction for this offence, would mean the driver would accumulate six (6) demerit points on your driving record, face a huge fine, up to $2000.00 (and a huge increase in insurance premiums or having insurance cancelled), suspension of one’s driver’s licence and possible incarceration.
In Newfoundland and Labrador: if you are convicted of this offence (which came into effect on April 1, 2003), you will receive a ticket and a fine in a range of $100.00 to $400.00 and will accumulate four (4) demerit points. If the defendant defaults on payment of the fine, they face possible incarceration of 2 – 14 days. See section 176.1 of the Newfoundland and Labrador Highway Traffic Act.
Prince Edward Island prohibits (which began April 1, 2007) newly licensed drivers (Stage 1) from using cellphones (or utilizing headphones) or any hand-held electronic device while operating or having care or control of a motor vehicle. driving. See section 6 of Graduated Driver Licensing Regulations P.E.I Reg. EC225/07 + P.E.I. Reg. EC321/01 ($100.00 fine)), - Enabling Legislation- subsection 69(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988.
In Quebec: if you are convicted of this offence (which began on April 1, 2008), you will receive a fine of $115.00 + and will accumulate three (3) demerit points. Bill 42 (An Act to amend the Highway Safety Code and the Regulation respecting demerit points -see section 26.1) See sections 439.1 and 508.3 of the Highway Safety Code.
In Nova Scotia: See Bill 7 (An Act to Amend Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Motor Vehicle Act).If you are convicted of this offence (which began on April 1, 2008) , you will be fined starting at $135.75 for a first offence, $164.50 and up to $222.00 for repeated subsequent offences (see N.S. Reg.4/2001 – 5A (1) Category A). See section 100D (1) & (2) of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act.
Manitoba: introduced legislation in November that proposed fines of at least $190 for using hand-held cellphones. Bill 5 was given royal assent on June 11, 2009. see Manitoba Highway Traffic Act – s.215.1(1) to 215.1(6).
British Columbia’s Solicitor General, Kash P. Heed, has called for public input by August 7, 2009 on possible restrictions on cellphone use and on the issue of sanctions.
Those who are exempt from this new Ontario law:
Police, Firefighters and Paramedics. Driver’s (who are not police,firefighters or paramedics) requiring emergency services, are exempt from the law if they are calling “911″.
As a driver in Ontario, you are exempt from this law if you are calling “911″ as a result of an emergency or if you are pulled over safely off of the roadway or you are properly parked.
How can a driver, operating a motor vehicle in Ontario, make or accept a phone call without violating this law?
If driver’s, driving in Ontario want to initiate outgoing phone calls or accept incoming phone calls, the law provides for the use of hands-free devices (ie.-headsets, bluetooth technology, OnStar, etc.).
If you want to use your communication (that is not a hands-free device) or entertainment device, in compliance with the law, while you are behind the wheel in a motor vehicle, you must meet these conditions:
the motor vehicle you are operating, is off the roadway or is lawfully parked on the roadway.
the motor vehicle you are operating, is not in motion (this doesn’t include a “traffic light” or “stop sign”)
the motor vehicle you are operating, is not impeding traffic.
This means that while operating your motor vehicle as the driver and if you do not have a headset, bluetooth technology or something similar, you must pull over and use your cell phone or i phone to initiate or accept a phone call. There was a time when driver’s had to stop and exit their motor vehicles and go to a phone booth to make a phone call.

New Honolulu Cell Phone Ban Introduced

No cell phones, no Blackberry’s, no video games, no cameras. A new bill at the
Honolulu City Council would ban drivers from even holding a mobile electronic
device while the engine is running.

Five states and the District of Columbia have already banned using a cell
phone and driving and Hawaii could be the next.

Take a look around and you'll see a lot of multi-tasking, also known as
driving while talking on the phone even though a lot of people agree it is
distracting.

"I seen the other day a lady on her cell phone and she was backing out of her
parking stall and backed right into the car behind her going down the road but
it was all because she was on her phone not watching what she was doing," said
Richard Jones, who favors a ban.

The city council just approved a ban on texting and video gaming while
driving. It stems from a Honolulu city bus driver caught playing games while
behind the wheel.

"The activity he actually did was not illegal and that's profoundly,
profoundly dangerous," said Honolulu Councilmember Charles Djou, Hawaii Kai.
Now Councilmember Rod Tam, who was the only member to vote against Djou’s
texting ban, has now introduced his own version banning the use of all mobile
electronic devices while driving. Basically if you don't have both hands on the
steering wheel you can't use a cell phone.

"People are just not paying attention to their driving, its reckless
driving," said Councilmember Rod Tam, Downtown Honolulu, Liliha.

But Djou asks where do you draw the line? If you ban cell phones why not ban
eating or smoking while driving.

"The problem is the city council and the state legislature has considered it
numerous times before and we've never been able to pass it," said Djou.

But Rod Tam is confident this time will be different. From the sound of it so
does some of the public.

"I think it's difficult to enforce but at least it puts it to the mindset and
the forefront that it’s for safety reasons," said Jan Yamamoto, favors ban.

"I'm for it if there's a law against it. I think it's good," said Richard
Jones, favors ban.

If nothing else the subject is something to talk about just not while you're
driving.

As for the texting and gaming ban already approved, it goes to Mayor Mufi
Hannemann’s desk to sign or veto. His spokesperson says the mayor hasn't made up
his mind what he'll do. However, it could be veto proof since seven members of
the council support the law.
Written by Tim Sakahara

Graphic British safety video about dangers of texting and driving becomes global Internet hit

LONDON - A graphic British public service announcement about the dangers of sending text messages while driving has become an Internet hit and sparked debate around the world.
The Gwent police force in Wales said Wednesday that an excerpt from a video it made for use in schools has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube and other Web sites since it was posted last month.

The 30-minute film shows a bubbly teenager named Cassie - "a nice girl from a nice Gwent Valleys family" - who triggers a pileup that kills four people when she tries to send a text message while driving. The graphic, slow-motion depiction of the crash shows heads going through windshields, bloodied bodies and the lifeless eyes of a baby.
Talking on a hand-held mobile phone and texting while driving are both illegal in Britain.
"The film is hitting home because it has a hard edge and it taps into something that lots of people do but know they shouldn't," said the film's director, Peter Watkins-Hughes.
The film has been discussed on television shows in the United States, where more than a dozen states have banned text messaging while driving and where legislation is before Congress that would forces states to ban drivers from texting or emailing.
Recent studies suggest text messages may be more distracting to drivers than talking on the phone.
Research by British motorists' group the RAC Foundation found that texting slowed young drivers' reaction times by 35 per cent, more than drugs or alcohol. A study of truck drivers released last month by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting increased the risk of collision by 23 times - significantly more than the increase from talking on a cellphone.
Gwent Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said the issues in the film "are as relevant to the people of Tennessee as they are to the residents of Tredegar," the Welsh town where it was shot.
"Texting and driving can have tragic consequences and the more this film is viewed, the better," he said. "Young people think they can text on autopilot because they do it so instinctively - for that reason we need to use strong imagery to get them to sit up and take notice."
Britain has a long tradition of hard-hitting public service ads, shown on television, radio, in movie theatres and more recently on the Internet.
One recent anti-speeding ad showed the bloodied and mangled body of a young girl who has been hit by a car. Another, discouraging binge-drinking, showed a young man in a superhero costume falling to his death.
While most comments posted in response to the Gwent police video praised its impact, some questioned whether such graphic images are necessary, or an effective deterrent.
Watkins-Hughes said he hoped his film would help make text-driving as socially unacceptable as driving while drunk.
"If we can get one person to change their behaviour then it will have been worthwhile," he said.

Age Verification is needed for this YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGE8LzRaySk

iPhone Complete - Troubleshooting Guide

In The News: Mass. Looks To Ban Talking, Texting While Driving

Massachusetts may soon join other states that limit the use of cell phones while driving. A public hearing is scheduled at the State House Thursday morning to review 15 separate bills that would impose varying levels of restrictions.

This issue is now front and center because of last month's crash of two Green Line trolleys. Nearly fifty people were injured when a driver missed a red light and slammed into another trolley stopped at Government Station. The trolley operator said he was texting his girlfriend at the time of the crash.

The T swiftly put rules in place forbidding their drivers from even carrying cell phones while at the controls of a trolley, train or bus.

Supporters of a cell phone ban for auto drivers point to current research: a Harris poll this month fond that one quarter of drivers with cell phones send or receive text messages behind the wheel. A Harvard University study from 2003 showed that cell phone use while driving contributed to 2,600 deaths a year.

"We can't legislate commonsense," said Representative Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) who sponsored one of the bills, "but at a certain point government has to step in to stop an action that is so dangerous and yet so common."

The 15 bills in the legislature right now ban cell use to varying degrees. Some just ban texting while driving, others allow for phone calls but only with the use of a headset. Koutoujian's bill bans both texting and talking without a headset.

In The News:: Cell-phone restrictions could be coming to South Dakota

As other states begin passing cell-phone laws, South Dakota lawmakers say they won’t be surprised if legislation to ban or limit the use of cellular phones while driving arises again in the next state legislative session.

“I do feel that there will be somebody that will bring it up again,” said state Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell. “I think that’s a distinct possibility.”

Monday, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law a bill that will make it a crime to send text messages while driving. In addition, anyone younger than 18 is prohibited from using a cellular phone while driving.

In South Dakota, state Sen. Cooper Garnos, RPresho, said he also expects to see some sort of legislation regarding cellular use while driving to appear in next year’s session. Garnos is a former chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, while Vehle is the current chairman.

“It’s not going to go away,” Garnos said.

Both Vehle and Garnos said they have seen various incarnations of bills similar to that signed in Colorado this week.

In 2004, legislators rejected a bill that would have made it illegal for drivers with minor’s permits to operate a motor vehicle while using a cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications devices except to report an emergency. The bill was killed in the Senate Transportation Committee when it was deferred to the 36th legislative day.

Garnos said cell-phone usage can sometimes be a factor in accidents, but he also feels the argument is one of safety and individual

rights.

“To me, it’s common sense (that) if you’re going down the road 75 miles per hour, you probably shouldn’t be texting somebody or … be on the cell phone,” Garnos said. “How far do you go and how far do you legislate common sense?”

Vehle said potential legislation should take into account the differences between rural and urban settings in the state.

“(W)e have long stretches of road on the interstates where it’s uneventful driving, generally, and that’s different than if you’re in six lanes of traffic downtown Sioux Falls and you’re trying to text,” Vehle said. “There’s just a whole lot of difference there and so I think all those things you have to take into consideration.”

Lyndon Overweg, chief of Mitchell’s Department of Public Safety, said drivers using cell phones aren’t a big problem in Mitchell, but his department still wants drivers to exercise caution while using cell phones on the road.

“The best thing is to pull over if you have to do texting or dialing or anything like that,” Overweg said.

Overweg believes legislation to limit or ban cell phones eventually will be passed in South Dakota, and that’s a potential situation that suits him just fine.

“Any time we can enhance the safety of the road and take away distractions, that’s what we’re after,” Overweg said.

Brooke Bohnenkamp, public information officer for the state Department of Public Safety, said cell-phone usage was reported as a contributing factor in 138 South Dakota crashes in 2008. Of those, one was fatal and 57 included some type of injury.

Bohnenkamp said people who take actions that divert their attention away from driving, including text messaging and cell-phone use, can be found in violation of the state’s “careless driving” law.

In The News: Muni Reissues Notice Reminding Its Drivers of Cell Phone Ban

We're not sure exactly what sparked this bulletin -- other than recent crashes around the country involving transit drivers using cell phones -- but Muni sent a reminder to its drivers this morning that they are not only not allowed to use a cell phone while operating a transit vehicle, they cannot even display one. The bulletin is signed by new Chief Safety Officer James Dougherty and Chief Operating Officer Ken McDonald. The rules state:


1. Transit operators are not permitted to display or use a cellular phone, PDA, hand-held or hands-free devices, while operating a transit vehicle.

2. Transit operators are not permitted to read, write or send emails or text messages while operating a transit vehicle.

3. Cell phones, PDA’s or any personal electronic vehicle must be turned off while operating a transit vehicle.

4. If an employee must make an emergency call (911), the transit vehicle must be stopped in a safe location and you must exit the compartment before making the call.

The notice goes on to warn drivers that they face disciplinary action, including termination, if caught using a cell phone.


"The reissued bulletin reflects the importance that we place on our operators and all of our employees to follow the safest procedures possible," said MTA spokesperson Judson True. "We simply cannot tolerate cell phone use by our operators."

True said anyone who spots an operator using a cell phone should call 311 immediately, and their operators will call central control and "get an inspector to the scene as quickly as possible and deal with it." He said seven operators who work on the rail side -- cable cars, streetcars and LRVs -- have been suspended in the past six months for using cell phones. And he was waiting to get numbers on bus drivers, who carry the majority of Muni passengers.


Considering how many times riders have spotted Muni drivers on their cell phones, let's hope this reminder reflects a reinvigorated effort to enforce the policy. We already know California drivers are flouting the state's hand held cell phone law, and while the CHP is issuing some citations, it's generally not being enforced.

Muni operators carry a much greater responsibility, shuttling hundreds of thousands of passengers daily across the city on streets already filled with myriad distractions.

In The News: $67 Fine For Holding Cell Phone While Driving

Starting July 1, Oahu drivers caught holding a cell phone or any other electronic device will be issued a $67 ticket.

“There is no plan to specifically enforce it,” said Maj. Thomas Nitta of HPD’s Traffic Division. “It will be basically what we call an on-view violation. If the officer happens to observe it, then the person will be cited.”

The only way drivers can legally use a cell phone after June 30 is by using a hands-free device, such as a blue tooth.

However the law provides exemptions for 911 calls as well as emergency workers. Drivers using two-way radios for work also have an out. But don't expect much sympathy from police officers if you're caught using the push-to-talk feature on your cell phone.

Maj. Nitta explained officers would not be responsible for determining whether a driver was using the walkie-talkie feature on a cell phone for official work-related business.

"The person will be cited from what we observe,” said Nitta. “Then it's going to be up to you to inform the judge that you were utilizing (it) for business purposes.”

Drivers caught holding a cell phone more than once within a one year period could face an additional fine up to $500. The exact amount would be decided by a judge.

Nitta said the cell phone citation would be listed as a non-moving violation and drivers could not lose their licenses regardless of the number of tickets they receive.

“Use is considered anytime you have something in your hand, which you will do for dialing, texting or things like that,” said Nitta. “So as long as you have the device within your hand it will be considered a violation.”

The new city ordinance was signed last month by Mayor Mufi Hannemann after being passed by the Honolulu City Council. Council members cited safety as the main reason for banning the use of hand-held electronic devices.

However research has shown drivers who utilize hands-free devices are just as likely to become distracted. It’s a phenomenon known as inattentive blindness.

Prof. David Stayer, a psychologist at the University of Utah, used a driving simulator to observe drivers who held a cell phone to their ear and those who used hands-free devices. He found there was no measurable difference in reaction time between the two groups.

“In fact to the thousandth of a second the brake reaction times are the same - so we're not seeing any safety advantage. The research has shown it's not the fact that your hands are not on the wheel, it's that your mind isn't on the road.”

Strayer’s research found drivers who converse with a passenger were at less risk of a crash then those using a cell phone. He said that was likely due to the fact that passengers can alert drivers of obstacles on the road and were likely to break-off a conversation if they saw it was affecting a person’s ability to safely operate the vehicle.

And while holding a cell phone in your car will soon be illegal in Honolulu, drivers cannot be cited for putting on makeup or eating a cheeseburger. Nitta explained Hawaii’s inattention to driving statute can only be used if there’s a crash.

“Inattention for driving is there on the statutes but there's a higher level of proof,” said the police major. Due to certain court rulings, right now in order to cite someone you need a collision.”

Honolulu police will use the weeks leading up to the hand-held cell phone ban to educate drivers about the new law. The department has printed posters and brochures and created a FAQ page on its website at HPD.org/traffic.

“We have officers going to the neighborhood board meetings; we have brochures that we are passing out (and) we have also talked to the car rental agencies,” added Nitta.

The Hawaii County Council is currently proposing its own cell phone ban that mirrors the Honolulu law. Members have yet to vote on the measure, which was introduced by Councilman Pete Hoffmann.

Review: iPhone Complete Hands-Free FM Transmitter

The iPhone Complete Hands-Free FM Transmitter is our hottest seller right now here at Canada Drive Safe. In case you don’t know about our product, I’ll give you a little info on it. The stylish gadget does it all for you. It will hold both your iPhone or your iPhone 3G safely in a shiny port. The biggest selling aspect to this hot seller is that The iPhone Complete Hands-Free FM Transmitter allows you to listen to your favorite songs and you're also able to receive calls at the same time without having to touch anything. Some other great features about the product is that it has a bendable neck so you can adjust it as you like while the bright blue LED screen makes it easy to see who is calling in the daylight and the midnight hours.

Here's what a few valued customers had to say about The iPhone Complete Hands Free FM Transmitter…

“I've poured over all the options and weighed the costs of various options to play iPod/iPhone on the CS, and the Canada Drive Safe FM adaptor is by far the best value. I looked at Dension and the Porsche's own FM solution, but thought all those were a on the expensive side. since i'm not an audiophile, and I wanted something portable, i looked at retail options. i've tried almost all the name brand stuff you can buy at the Apple store: Belkin and Griffin were both returned. Got some no-name model from Fry's Electronics, and not only did i get a nasty gash from the stupid clamshell packaging, it was horrible…..”



“….seriously, i've tried many solutions from various sources (Apple Store, Best Buy, Costco, Fry's) and this has so far been the one that i like the most. the adjustable neck is very strong, the little foam piece they added to the plug portion really helps with stability and providing a snug fit into the DC outlet….”



I used to experience constant low-level with the DLO unit, and I'd hit sporadic patches of intense crackling noises -- much more than simple static. That crackling was so bad, I couldn't really hear the music. It would come and go as I drove, but I wanted to listen to my iPod badly enough that I'd simply put up with it.

”….But that's gone with the Canada Drive Safe unit. There is an ever-so-slight bit of background "white noise" -- so faint, I can only hear it when I'm listening to books on "tape", and only then if I turn the volume way up. Heck, that static could actually be coming from the recording, not the unit! The sound is clear and the signal is strong enough not to fad or experience interference while moving. The sporadic crackling is completely gone!.....”



“...It took about a week -- being shipped from Canada -- but it arrived in fine condition…..”


“I have the Canada Drive Safe Complete, its really good, the clarity of the fM transmitter is clean and the handsfree is great….,”

BONUS: By entering the coupon code, you’ll receive $10 off!!

COUPON CODE: HOLIDAY

In The News: London, ONT Teen Dies From Trying to Answer Cell Phone While Driving

A 17-year-old who crashed his car when he went to pick up his ringing cellphone has died of his injuries, according to London, Ont., police.

Police say the teen became distracted when his phone started ringing while he was driving with a friend along Veterans Memorial Parkway late Wednesday afternoon.

He reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone and lost control of his SUV when it veered into the median divider. The vehicle flipped over, critically injuring the young man.

His 16-year-old female passenger suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The deceased teen's family has asked police not to release his name to the media until they are able to notify other family members of his death.

Police say this tragic incident highlights the dangers of driving distracted.

"In our day and age it is almost a conditioned response for the vast majority of people to feel the need to answer the phone, or answer an email, as soon as it pops up on your screen, or rings a bell, or vibrates," said London police Sgt. Tom O'Brien.

"We need to un-condition ourselves. We need to condition ourselves to the fact that driving takes 110 per cent of our attention ... and really force ourselves to ignore, for the moment, that ringing phone."

The Ontario government will impose cellphone restrictions on drivers starting this fall.

Last October, the government tabled legislation that will ban text messaging and emailing while driving. Drivers are also forced to use hands-free devices when talking on their phone.

Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said the teenager's death reinforces the need for legislation.

"I know there are some people who think we're imposing on their rights, when we impose on their right to use a hand-held device, to be talking on the phone (while driving)," Bradley said.

But he said that most people who have used cellphones while driving appreciate the reasons for the coming ban.

"I think they recognize when they're doing it they are distracted, and this is a tragic example of the consequences of that," he said.

In The News: Austin Council May Revisit Cell Phone Ban Issue

Talking on your cell phone without an earpiece or texting while driving within the City of Austin could soon be against the law.

Austin City Council member Mike Martinez wants to revisit a cell phone ban proposal he first introduced last year. He says council decided to hold off on any new measures until after the Legislature adjourned.

Legislators approved a statewide ban on using cell phones without a hands-free device in school zones.

Martinez says his goal is to save lives.

"I don't know if there will be a massive movement that we're trumping people's rights to talk on the phone while driving that's not what we're trying to do. You'll still be able to use your cell phone -- we're just asking you to do it in a safer manner," said Mike Martinez, Austin City Council member.

Martinez says he would like to partner with cell phone companies for an educational and awareness campaign. He hopes to bring his cell phone ordinance before council in the coming months.

In The News: School Zone Cell Phone Ban Just Needs Perry's Signature

Governor Perry could sign off on a bill Thursday that would ban cell phones in schools zones across the state.

If signed, House Bill 55 would go into effect by September 1st.

The act has already been passed by the house and senate and just needs to be signed by the governor. It would require drivers, including bus drivers, to use handfree devices while using their cell phones inside their vehicles.

The only exceptions would be if the driver is making an emergency phone call. The goal is to cut down on distracted drivers and accidents in school zones.

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In The News: Ban on Hand-Held Cell Phone Use by Drivers, Fail!

Picture is a bit fuzz and of poor quality, but I caught a DC cop driving through Georgetown, while chatting away on his cell phone sans hands-free device.

Now while I’ll admit to being occasionally guilty of talking on my cell while driving, shouldn’t our cops be exemplars of the code of law? Granted they’re only human, but come on! The least they can obey common laws while on duty, in uniform and driving a police car!

In DC, I’ve seen specific police traps that target motorists on cell phones. In fact, there’s often one not far from where this picture was taken. Surely, this cop has never been a part of those traps or ticketed anyone for cellphone violation that he himself is guilt of. I mean that would just reek of hypocrisy.

A question that occurs to me is: Could another DC Cop ticket this guy for the violation? Of course that would be a blatant violation of the Brotherhood of the Cop, but feasibly is that possible? Can an on duty officer receive a ticket?

In The News: Missoula City Council Bans Phone Use While Driving

The Missoula City Council has voted 6-5 to ban talking on a cell phone or texting while driving or cycling.

The council set a public hearing for June 22 to take comments on the zoning rewrite. And some opponents say they still want to get a lawyer other than the city attorney to determine whether some changes go too far.

Councilman Dave Strohmaier who proposed the measure says the ban takes effect within 30 days of the mayor's signature.

Officers will be allowed to pull people over if it looks like they are texting. They can't pull motorists over for talking on a cell phone, but they can write that ticket if they pull someone over for something else, like running a stop sign.

The ban notes exceptions for emergencies, such as calls to 911.

In The News: Ritter Signs Text Ban Bill

Drivers will no longer be able to text message, parents will be able to take time off of work to attend their children’s school meetings, and health care benefits will be extended for employees who were laid off — all due to a batch of bills that were signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter yesterday.

Ritter signed 10 bills into law during a whirlwind trip that took him to Greeley and Fort Collins. Ritter has until Friday to take action on bills that came out of the 2009 legislative session.

“The governor’s focus this legislative session has been on creating jobs, helping businesses, creating new businesses and providing assistance and relief to families,” said Ritter spokesman Evan Dryer. “Many of the bills that the governor signed (yesterday) advanced those goals.”

Starting Dec. 1, drivers aged 18 and over will not be allowed to text message while driving. Under the new law, people under 18 will not be allowed to use a cell phone at all while driving.

Lawmakers amended the stricter version of HB 1094, which would have banned all use of cell phones for motorists, because it was bound to meet steep opposition in the Senate and was likely not to pass. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill’s sponsor, said she would have preferred a sweeping ban on talking on a hand-held cell phone for all drivers, but added that the amended version of the bill was a step in the right direction.

“It is definitely better to have something than nothing,” she told the Denver Daily News. “It helps to raise the awareness of drivers that using their cell phone for any purpose is a hazard, and even though all we could get through was a ban on text messaging, I think that the debate has raised a lot of awareness about the safety issues associated with using your cell phone while driving.’

In The News: More States Want Cell Phone Ban

Teens. Cars. Cell phones.

The mix is as combustible as gas, fire and oxygen. And the result can be just as deadly.

Clinging to their social life preservers, teens are littering roads with mangled car parts from crashes where a cell phone was a factor.

But dozens of states across the country are starting to do something about the problem.

In Kansas and Missouri, legislatures this year passed laws targeting teen cell phone use. The new laws would:

Ban anyone 21 or younger from sending a text message while driving in Missouri. The law starts Aug. 28. It carries a fine up to $200 and two points would be assessed against a Missouri driver's license.

Prohibit anyone under 16½ in Kansas from using a cell phone while driving with the exception of emergencies. The new law starts Jan. 1. The law is part of Kansas' new graduated driver's license program.

The measures come at a time when cell phones are grabbing headlines, not just in highway crashes but on the country's railways as well.

Last week, a 25-year-old man driving on Interstate 29 apparently was texting when he slammed into the back of a St. Joseph, Mo., patrol car, knocking it into another squad car. Two officers were sent to the hospital with injuries.

A 19-year-old northeast Kansas woman who was killed in a car accident near Manhattan two weekends ago was texting while driving, investigators said. Ashley Umscheid, of Wheaton, was driving her 1995 Ford Ranger on Kansas 18
when she entered the median, overcorrected and flipped the vehicle.

Those wrecks came just weeks after a 24-year-old trolley driver in Boston rear-ended another trolley while texting his girlfriend. The crash sent 49 passengers to the hospital,

"I think it's almost an epidemic in this country that people think it's a good practice to basically be on a typewriter in your car," said state Sen. Ryan McKenna, who backed the texting ban in Missouri.

Texting for novice drivers is already banned in 10 states, and cell phones are banned for young drivers in 21 states and Washington, D.C. Legislatures in 24 states considered an estimated 51 bills this year that would have toughened cell phone laws.

While traffic safety experts generally consider cell phones a driving distraction for anyone, they are viewed as an even deadlier temptation for teens.

Imbued with a sense of invincibility and an over-confidence in their driving skills, teens tend to underestimate the risk that cell phones — and especially texting — pose on the highway, experts say.

"Teens have a distraction problem already. Now you're going to add cell phones into the mix?" said Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Kansas listed driver distraction, especially among teens, as one of the top issues facing American transportation. They noted that a cell phone increases the chances of a young adult wrecking by up to 700 percent.

Missouri and Kansas have been tracking cell phone-related crashes for six or seven years.

Missouri had 451 cell-phone related crashes involving 15- to 19-year-olds last year, the most since 2003. Four were fatal, including a fiery crash in northeast Missouri last September that killed two, records show.

Kansas had 111 teen wrecks where a cell phone contributed. Only one was a fatality. Police said an 18-year-old in Wichita ran into a tree in while texting in snowy conditions.

As significant as the issue may be, experts question whether laws singling out an age group — or just a behavior like sending text messages — will do anything to curb the rising number of crashes involving teens and cell phones.

The insurance institute last year studied a cell phone ban for drivers under 18 in North Carolina. Researchers found that teens leaving high school in the afternoon changed little before and after the ban started.

About 11 percent of teen drivers were seen using phones before the law. It increased to 12 percent after the ban, the study found.

Rader, the insurance institute spokesman, said laws restricting cell phone use don't appear to be effective. He pointed out that most teens interviewed in North Carolina knew about the cell phone ban, but didn't think it was vigorously enforced.

"If drivers don't believe they are likely to be spotted and ticketed, they're unlikely to change their behavior," he said.

Another study of a ban on handheld cell phones for New York drivers turned up similar results. Cell phone use dropped immediately after the ban started, but a year later it had picked up again.

"As soon as the publicity died down, cell phone use went back up to almost where it was before," Rader said.

In The News: Cell Phone Ban - No Brainer for Steven Joyce

Texting while driving is a 'no brainer', Steven Joyce said today.

The Transport Minister wants action this year to ban drivers from using hand-held cellphones.

Mr Joyce said yesterday that he would seek rule changes to ban voice calls and texting, subject to recommendations from officials and Cabinet approval.

He is waiting for a Ministry of Transport report on public consultation about the use of cellphones while driving.

He understood it showed a "broad level of consensus" on banning the use of hand-held cellphones.

However, Mr Joyce said he was still awaiting advice on penalties.

"There are already laws, of course, about driver distraction and people shouldn't be driving their cars and texting and being distracted by cellphones at the same time," he said.

"That doesn't change but I think we've got to go ahead and get this rule in place."

It was likely hands-free cellphone use would be exempted.

Transport officials are busy preparing recommendations for public submissions on road safety actions expected to be taken next year to reduce dangers such as drink-driving and excessive speed.

But Mr Joyce said he was keen for the cellphone issue to be given high priority.

The public consultation followed a proposal by the previous Labour-led Government to fine drivers $50 and impose 25 demerit points for using hand-held phones.

Even cellphone giants Vodafone and Telecom supported bans early last year, after a young drink-driver was convicted of killing an elderly Ashburton couple while texting.

Road safety researchers say using a cellphone while driving increases the risk of crashing by up to nine times.

Using cellphones while driving makes motorists as impaired as drunk drivers, they say.

Cellphone use was blamed for 96 crashes in 2007, but the Automobile Association suspects the true figure is higher, as it believes the police have only recently made a routine practice of searching car wreckages for phones.

Drivers are likely to be allowed to hold conversations on hands-free connections, despite research at a simulator at Waikato University showing these to be little or no safer than using a hand-held phone.

AA spokesman Mike Noon accepted there was little difference, but said the organisation was taking a practical view in considering that a ban on hand-held phones - supported by 76 per cent of surveyed members - would at least deter drivers from looking down to make calls.

"All phone conversations are distracting, but there will be times when you do need to be contactable," he said.

"We've been using cellphones in cars for a long time, so we think it's reasonable to have a hands-free kit in your car.

"But we say calls should be kept to a minimum, and if you're in difficult driving conditions, don't answer the phone."

Mr Noon said discouraging youngsters from answering texts immediately was a particular problem, because of strong peer pressure for them to do so.

He had asked cellphone companies if phones could be programmed to bounce back texts automatically if recipients were driving, but had been told the technology was not readily available.

Mr Noon said parents should refrain from texting their children at night to ask where they were "because what could be more tragic than sending them a text that makes them have an accident?"

Waikato University road safety researcher Sam Charlton, an associate professor of psychology, said cellphone conversations of any kind almost doubled the time it took drivers to react to hazardous situations.

"Most people need about two and a half seconds to react to a hazard, but you can add a couple of seconds to that if you are talking on a cellphone."

An extra two seconds would add 55m to the stopping distance of a driver travelling at 100km/h.

In The News: La. House OKs Hand-Held Cell Ban For Motorists

Using a hand-held cell phone while driving should be illegal in Louisiana, punishable with a $100 fine for a first offense, under a measure approved by the Louisiana House.

The 57-41 vote on Wednesday sends Rep. Austin Badon's bill to the Senate, which killed a similar bill last year. The measure would have no effect on the use of hands-free phones.
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House members watered down Badon's measure slightly, by making the use of hand-held cell phones a "secondary offense," meaning a police officer could not pull someone over for that violation alone. Instead, a motorist could face the fine if pulled over for speeding, lane violation or another primary offense.

Badon, D-New Orleans, argued that handling a phone while driving is too much of a distraction for too many drivers. He overcame opposition from lawmakers including Rep. Barbara Norton, who complained that the bill would do nothing to reduce distracted driving caused by motorists eating, applying makeup, adjusting neckties or tuning a radio while driving.

"What is the difference if you're holding a cell phone or a bottle of water, or a cup of coffee?" said Norton, D-Shreveport.

The bill includes numerous exceptions in case of an emergency, so a motorist could call 911, a hospital, doctor's office, fire department or police station while driving.

A second offense would bring a $150, increasing by $50 for further offenses, up to $250. The measure would take effect in January.

In The News: Some Sobering Stats On Texting While Driving

On the one hand, I love texting on my iPhone. My wife and I often send each other text messages when she’s in a meeting at work, or I’m on a conference call at home. We don’t bother each other, but still get the message.

On the other hand, I hate texting, especially when it’s being done by someone behind the wheel of a car (or a Green Line trolley in Boston, but more on that below).

From the urban dictionary: “Text-end: When a text-messaging-distracted driver rear-ends the vehicle in front of [him]….”

True story: About three months ago, I pulled up to a stop sign in Falls Church, Va., near where I live. A young woman in a sporty car pulled up beside me. As she pulled up, I noticed she was texting on a cellphone, barely paying attention to what was happening around her. She continued to text through the stop sign and right up to the next stoplight. My car was still next to hers, so I rolled down my window and motioned to her. She looked puzzled and rolled hers down as well. I told her that she was endangering the life of every single person on the road if she continued to text while driving. Her reply was somewhat expected. She made a rude gesture with a certain digit and roared away when the light turned.

Driving while texting (DWT) is becoming a real problem. A real and dangerous problem. It’s bad enough that people can’t seem to stop themselves from talking on cellphones while driving. (Raise your hand if you’ve almost been hit by someone talking on his or her cellphone while driving. I see, almost everyone.) But at least cellphone talkers could pay some attention to the road. Not so with those DWT.

In a survey released last week by Vlingo Corp., a Cambridge, Mass., company that develops speech-recognition technology for mobile phones (and so, of course with a vested interest in the survey’s outcome, so keep that in mind), more than 26 percent of some 4,800 cellphone users surveyed across the United States admitted they had sent text messages while driving. The worst state was Tennessee, where 42 percent of those surveyed said they had done DWT.

But here is the kicker: While more than 26 percent of those surveyed said they texted while driving, 83 percent said the practice should be illegal. (Currently seven states and the District of Columbia outlaw it.) So if my math is correct, this means that at least 9 percent of those surveyed text even though they think it’s a bad thing.

Ah, humans. The spirit is willing, but the thumbs are twitchy.

It’s likely the 17 percent who said it should not be illegal are between the ages of 18 and 29. According to a Pew Research Center study last year, 74 percent of Americans in this age group use text messaging. A lot. And DWT does seem to be inversely proportional to the age of the driver – the younger you are, the more likely you are to do it. The Vlingo study found that 58 percent of teenagers did it, as did 49 percent of those aged 20 to 29. A little more than 13 percent of those aged 50-59 did so.

But it’s no joke. And the bigger the vehicle your driving, the greater the danger. Just ask the people who were on the Boston Green Line trolley that smashed into the back of another one recently. At the time of the accident, the driver was texting his girlfriend, he admitted. Dozens were injured, the driver lost his job, and the MBTA said it would ban on-the-job cellphone use and fire anyone caught using a cellphone, pager, or similar device during working hours.

But at least no one was killed in that accident. The same is not true of the horrific accident last September in California when, it is speculated, a train operator may have missed a stop signal because he was texting shortly before the accident.

Last year, Mark Melrose of Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, N.J., a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians, told USA Today that most people probably don’t initiate text messages while driving, but find it hard not to respond if they receive one.

“It’s hard to ignore the temptation,” he said. “You think, ‘Tthis might be important, I’d better check.’ You know you shouldn’t be doing it, but you do it anyway.”

It’s time for the other 43 states to act. No texting of any kind, even (sorry Vlingo) speech texting, which still quadruples your chances of having an accident. But making laws isn’t the complete answer. Yes, it might stop older people from doing it. But I also think we need to attack DWT the way we attacked smoking, or drinking and driving. We have to deprive it of its coolness factor for young people.

Making it seem as stupid and dangerous as it really is will save a lot more lives than just saying in an adult voice, “Now kids, don’t you do that!”

In The News: Behind The Wheel

If you spend a large chunk of the day behind the wheel for business, as a teenager taxi service or just for the sheer pleasure of it, eventually your mobile phone becomes a temptation that's difficult to resist, whether it's ringing on the seat next to you or you have remembered an urgent call you need to make.

Of course, talking on a mobile phone while driving is not only dangerous ut against the law, so let's look at some alternatives.

A wired headset is cheap and effective, although often messy, while the loudspeaker mode on mobiles vary depending on the volume and quality of the speaker.

If your mobile supports Bluetooth, the best solution is to make the most of this and go wireless.

Bluetooth is a short-range (roughly 10 metres) wireless technology with built-in security and low power requirements that makes it ideal for mobile-phone activities, such as sending contact details to another handset, beaming photos to a PC, or one of the more popular uses, which is "pairing", or connecting to a hands-free speakerphone car kit.

Bluetooth speakerphone solutions come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from basic plug-and-play models with a simple speaker and microphone that attach to a vehicle's cigarette lighter up to units professionally fitted into the dashboard with a touch-screen display and full integration with the vehicle's sound system.

While the additional features found on some models are useful, the basic function all Bluetooth speakerphones provide is to wirelessly transfer the sound to and from a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, whether it's in your pocket, on the passenger's seat or even in a briefcase in the boot.

Once a secure connection has been made, incoming calls can be answered as well as making calls without having to touch your mobile phone.

Some of the other features Bluetooth speakerphones offer include caller ID, voice dialling and last-number redialling, and transmitting the audio from the phone to a spare FM radio frequency for improved quality, which also means if there's digital music stored on the mobile, this can also be heard through the car's stereo system.

When it comes to performance there are only a few key areas to look at. First and foremost, the product's speaker and microphone determine the sound quality of calls, and with the general noise inside a moving vehicle, the louder and clearer the speaker is, the better.

Another point is how well the built-in technology works that's designed to reduce vehicle noise, background voices and unwanted echo effects (such as hearing your own voice) during calls.

Extra features, form factor and general ease of use are also important to consider when choosing the right Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone to suit your needs.

In The News: Bluetooth Communications Devices That Make Canadian Driving Safer

With the upcoming restrictions on using cell phones and handheld devices for drivers in Ontario, it's time to rethink how you're going to handle your hands-free needs.

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reports that the new legislation, which is expected to come into effect this fall, means you will no longer be able to hold a phone to your head or use handheld devices for entertainment, emailing or texting while driving. GPS systems however can still be used if they're attached to the dashboard.

"It all boils down to common sense," says Marc Choma, director of communications for CWTA. "We're not opposed to hands free. We're looking at making the roads safer and eliminating distractions."

For those that can't live without their communications lifeline on the roads, there's a whole range of Bluetooth wireless, wired, voice activation and speaker phone technologies for safe, hands-free communications - from high-end speaker systems for audio/technophiles, to the more practical offerings for the occasional user.

"The Bluetooth space has expanded and now offers lots of options to meet the legislation and can support all price ranges," says Judy Mellett director of devices and accessories for Telus. "Many come with advanced control functions so you don't have to press the keypad to change the volume. Noise cancellation has also improved a lot."

In addition to improved sound quality and noise cancellation, some newer headsets now come with a quick charge feature that allows you to get five hours of talk time after a 15 minute charge.

Mellett says that over the last two years the industry has made it easier for drivers to comply since most handheld devices now come standard with a wired headset. Voice activated dialing is also a big help in keeping your hands on the wheel where they belong.

Those with a bigger budget and hours to log on the road can always opt for an in-car speaker system that connects to your FM radio and speaker system. Richard Lee, country sales manager for Nokia Original Accessories, car kits do cost more and in some cases there is an installation fee involved. "But they're ideal for someone who is in the car a lot."

As technology improves, speaker systems are also gaining popularity for the non-headset crowd. There is range of Bluetooth car kits that offer different mounting options, including a visor clip, suction cup or friction pad for mounting on the dashboard. Of course you can always use the speaker on the phone itself - as long as it's one button.

When selecting your hands-free device of choice, keep in mind your needs when you're out of the car. For example, it's easy to carry on using your Bluetooth headset when you're moving about on foot. Car speaker phones can also be used on the desktop.

Whatever the choice says Julie Smithers, associate director of media relations for Bell Canada, "The quality of speaker phones and wired headsets - and the price points - are constantly improving. The key is picking products that ensure you are keeping focused on the road at all times."

"Everybody's ears, budgets and style choices are different," says Lee. "But when it comes to hands-free options, there is definitely something for everyone."

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You can use this device in your vehicle, truck, office or at home & it offers capabilities to use MSN, Skype and other internet messaging programs (user must have a Bluetooth Dongle ready for their PC.)

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In The News: Go Back to Drawing Board with Bills Restricting Cell Phone use

Texans as a general rule don't like the government telling them what they can and can't do, even if it may be for their own good.

Latest case in point: State lawmakers are trying to push through an assortment of bills banning Texans from talking on their cell phones while they're driving.

For starters, they're targeting teenagers, which may make senses, but equal attention should be focused on adult drivers as well.

Unfortunately, limiting cell phone use by teens appears to be as far as the Texas Legislature is willing to go this session. The scattershot approach to the issue may be part of the problem with getting legislation approved. There are proposals to:

-Prohibit only teens from talking on their cell phones while driving;

- Ban the use of cell phones only in school zones;

- Make it illegal for all people to talk on the phone while driving on any Texas road.

"People seem to forget driving on the roads of the state of Texas is privilege, not a right," said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. "Talking on the cell phone and text messaging while driving are probably two things we shouldn't encourage people to do in the state and it is unfortunate we can't have that debate on the House floor."

His point is well-taken, considering the results of a study conducted by the Center for Risk Studies at Harvard University. It showed 6 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by people driving while using a wireless phone. That's the equivalent of 2,600 deaths and 12,000 injuries a year.

The Harvard study explains why the National Safety Council, which was chartered by Congress, is recommending states ban cell phones while driving - even hand-free phones.

Talking on a cell phone while driving isn't the only serious distraction you can see in Lubbock every day.

Motorists are risking injury to themselves or others by listening to music too loud, applying makeup, eating food, and juggling a cup of hot coffee or a cold soda.

Texting while behind the wheel, however, leads the list of preventable hazards as it demands more concentration than any of the others.

"What are you going to do with other distractions?" asks Joe Pickett Pickett, D-El Paso, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, the 11-member panel assigned to screen such legislation.

It's clear to us state lawmakers need to go back to the drawing board on this matter for more discussion, debate, and resolution - even if it's not during this session, which ends June 1.

There's some good ideas here, but they're scattered in so many different bills it's impossible to predict if their effect would be meaningful if approved.

Something needs to be done to address the problem, not only with teens but with all drivers - whether it's now or when the next session convenes in 2011. We're still a long way from where we need to be in terms of public safety on the highways.

In The News: 60% of Teens Drive While Texting, Despite Knowing Dangers

Another day, another study -- it seems like every time we turn around, there's another body of research revealing that, even though they know it's dangerous, stupid, and should be illegal, teens still text-message while driving.

The latest study paints a slightly rosier picture than the last one we saw (which said that 85-percent of teenage girls and almost 60 percent of boys were guilty of driving-while-texting).The survey -- conducted by research firm Toluna on behalf of voice-recognition company Vlingo -- found that 60-percent of teens admitted to texting at the wheel. It's not just kids that are guilty, though, since 26-percent of all users surveyed said that they do it too.

83-percent of respondents agreed that driving-while-texting (or, DWT, as many people are calling it) should be illegal. Whether it's legal or not, DWT is obviously very dangerous. Sadly, if these studies are any indication, it's clear that people probably wont stop tapping out messages while they're switching lanes. Maybe we'll start taking the train to work.

In The News: Technology to Stop Phone use in Cars Flawed

SALT LAKE CITY - Many parents would love to be able to give their teenagers a cell phone that couldn't be used while driving. Now some inventors say they have come up with ways to make that possible, but they appear to be relying on wishful thinking.

One product to hit the market, $10-a-month software by Dallas-based WQN Inc., can disable a cell phone while its owner is driving. It uses GPS technology, which can tell how fast a person is traveling. But it can't know whether the person is driving — and therefore it can needlessly lock a phone. WQN, which sells cell phone and Internet security software under the name WebSafety, says it signed up about 50 customers for its first month of service.

Aegis Mobility, a Canadian software company, plans to release a similar Global Positioning System-based product this fall, known as DriveAssistT. Aegis is in talks with big U.S. wireless phone carriers, which would have to support the software and charge families a fee of probably $10 to $20 a month, said David Teater, the company's vice president.

In The News: State's Ban on Cell Phones while Driving has meant Thousands of Fines

New Jersey transportation officials say a year-old state law banning cell phone use while driving has resulted in nearly 109,000 summonses issued in the past 11 months.

That's almost double the amount of tickets handed out during the previous five years for the offense.

A state law signed on March 1 last year makes talking on hand-held cell phones while driving a primary offense. That means police are now able to stop motorists just for talking on the phone.

Division of Highway Safety director Pam Fischer said the primary law is making a difference, resulting in about 10,000 tickets a month.

New Jersey is among four states and the District of Columbia that have made using a cell phone while driving a primary offense.

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In The News: Driver Attending to Cell Phone hits Police Car

A man was apparently texting on his cell phone Tuesday when he ran into the back of a stopped St. Joseph police patrol car, knocked it into another squad car and sent two police officers to the hospital, police said.

The accident occurred after police stopped southbound traffic on Interstate 29 to work a one-car accident.

The man sped around stopped semi-trucks and ran into the patrol car, police said. He was arrested on an unrelated warrant. The officers suffered minor injuries.

In The News: Rock Springs Weighs Ban on Phones While Driving

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (AP) - An ordinance that would ban drivers from talking on their cell phones is moving ahead in Rock Springs.

The Rock Springs City Council plans to hold a final reading of the proposed ordinance on Tuesday. The council will act on the proposal after that.

The prohibition would cover talking on cell phones in addition to text messaging, taking photographs and any other use that diverts a driver's attention. The ordinance would not apply to police and operators of emergency vehicles.

Violators of the ordinance could face a fine of up to $750 and up to six months in jail.

In The News: Texting Ban in New York

ELMIRA - If you're a fan of texting while driving, you might have to break that habit.

Some members of the New York State Assembly laid out their plans on Tuesday to officially ban texting while driving.

The bill would prevent drivers from writing, sending, or reading text messages on a cell phone. It also creates a plan to educate new drivers on the dangers of driving and texting.

Some people we spoke with say it makes sense, especially since it's already against the law to talk on your cell phone and drive.

“People aren't supposed to be talking on cell phones, but you see it all the time, even with police around. No I don't think it will be a deterrent, but it will be a good attempt at hopefully stopping it,” says Roxanne Whiting from Elmira.

“It's dangerous just to be able to talk on the phone and drive. Why should you be able to text? You have to concentrate on putting the letters in and everything. It doesn't make sense,” says Kenneth Groves from Elmira.

There are 62 counties in New York that have already banned texting while driving, including Schuyler County. But the Assembly Members want to make things uniform across New York.

A similar bill passed in the State Senate last year, but never came up for a vote in the Assembly.

Right Up: Still Talking, With Hands at 10 and 2

INCREASINGLY, it is the law of the land. But it is also just common sense: Driving while holding a cellphone is a lousy idea.

Six states, including New York and New Jersey, as well as the District of Columbia, have banned holding a cellphone while driving and, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 23 more state governments are considering similar bans.

Such laws do not prohibit talking on a cellphone — only that you use a hands-free device (usually an earpiece or a speakerphone accessory) so that both hands stay on the wheel. Of course, some studies suggest that banning hand held cellphones while driving does not go far enough — that maintaining any phone conversation is too distracting for the driver.

But if the proliferation of people randomly bursting into monologues on city streets is any indication, many people prefer hands-free communication even when they’re on foot. Some of that growth is linked to legislation, some to lower prices, but another factor is the evolution of hands-free technology that has yielded better sound quality and stronger privacy measures.

Hands-free devices are generally split into two categories: earpieces and speakerphone units. Because they can be used behind the wheel or while walking (or cooking, or gardening), earpieces have been far more popular.

Early Bluetooth accessories suffered from a dreaded malady known as “pairing syndrome.” In order to establish a wireless connection to your handset, an earpiece or speakerphone would trade codes over the air. This often led to repeated code inputs on the part of the owner, as the pairing process was about as unreliable as could be. Common side effects included high-decibel profanity, increased blood pressure and hurling the device across the room.

Fortunately, most new Bluetooth accessories “auto pair.” You may need to enter the code the first time, but you do it just once. After that, the device will remember the secret handshake and pair up with your handset automatically.

Bluetooth earpieces have also improved in sound quality. Earpieces like the Aliph Jawbone Prime ($130), the BlueAnt Q1 ($130) and the Jabra BT530 ($80) all use multiple microphones. While their specific technologies differ, the principle is the same: One microphone sits by your mouth to pick up your voice while another sits higher on the earpiece to pick up ambient audio. Using some fancy software, the earpiece determines which sound is your voice and then filters out the background noise.

The Sound ID 300 ($120) has three settings, each increasing the frequency range in which people most commonly lose their hearing as they age. It also will automatically adjust the volume when the environmental noise changes.

The Q1 takes a short list of voice commands, so it will announce the number calling and users can just say “answer” to take the call. The only hitch is that users must memorize the precise phrases required for it to act on the commands.

But in spite of the capabilities of earpieces, some people just do not want them. For them, speakerphone accessories provide a true hands- (and body-) free option. These devices can clip to a car’s sun visor or protrude from the cigarette lighter plug. Usually called “car kits,” these sets don’t do as well sorting out voice from noise, but because of the larger size, they can incorporate features not often found in headsets.

The Motorola T505 Motorokr, which costs $140, does its best to provide many of the same features found in factory-installed systems in new cars. Using an onboard FM transmitter, it will play incoming calls over a car’s speakers, and it can play music files from a phone with stereo Bluetooth. If you don’t need the music-playing features, consider Motorola’s other speakerphone, the T305, which costs $70.

Some Bluetooth kits offer text-to-speech and voice command, like the BlueAnt Supertooth 3, which costs $100. The Supertooth loads contacts from your phone when it links. When a known contact calls, the Supertooth speaks the name aloud (albeit in a somewhat robotic voice). If the caller is unknown, it speaks the phone number. Through the limited voice commands available, “yes” accepts the call, or “ignore” sends it to voice mail. The device can also redial the last number called on command.

Of course, if you are buying a new car, the choice of a hands-free device may have been made for you. Various makers have their own factory-installed systems, which tend to have the most advanced features. Ford autos (including Lincolns and Mercurys) use the Sync system, a collaboration with Microsoft. Sync links to a cellphone and adds voice recognition software to control the handset through verbal commands. It also uses a synthesized voice to read incoming e-mail messages aloud. All of the sound comes through the stereo system, which mutes music when there is an incoming call.

“Anyone who has used an integrated system in a new car would say that is their favorite and highest quality,” said Mike Foley, the executive director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which sets engineering standards for Bluetooth devices.

Some — even most — of these features are available in aftermarket Bluetooth hands-free devices. The features can even be integrated into a car’s existing sound system, but the aftermarket parts are expensive and installation frequently runs an additional several hundred dollars. By comparison, when Ford’s Sync system is bought as an option, it’s $400.

If legislation doesn’t compel you to go hands-free now, you might want to wait. This month the engineering group that controls Bluetooth is setting a new standard that will improve handsets’ sound and reliability. But to take advantage of the new standard, you’ll need new gear — and that gear is not expected to hit stores until the end of the year.

In The News: How to stop the gabbing driver?

CORPUS CHRISTI — Persuading Corpus Christi residents to hang up and drive could be harder than anticipated for a committee considering a cell phone ban for drivers.

Just ask them. They tried to stop talking while driving, with mixed results.

Only two of six members of the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee said they were able to break their own talking-while-driving habit a month after they first discussed banning cell phone use while driving.

So even though most of the committee members said they think cell phone use while driving is dangerous, they’re not sure what they can do.

“It’s a hard habit to break,” committee member Glenn Jones said. “Even those calls I took could have waited. But I don’t know if the political will is there. I don’t know if we can get support.”

Instead of forwarding a recommendation on the rule to the City Council, the committee will evaluate other ways to regulate cell phone use in cars,

The city could set a policy for its own employees that prohibits cell phone use and the city may ask other companies to set up similar policies, There is also an idea to increase traffic violation fines if the driver was seen using a cell phone while committing an offense. Cell phone use was listed as a contributing factor in 30 of the 12,024 car accidents in the city from January 2008 until last month, or less than 1 percent of accidents. Cell phone use is self-reported, so if drivers tells an accident investigator that they weren’t on the phone, it won’t be listed as a factor.

Of the 27 accidents in that time that resulted in a death, three were because of cell phone use, about 11 percent of the cases.

Progress on the rule could be slow. Committee Chairman Bill Green said he wanted to make sure the city studied how any rule could be enforced to effectively curb the habit.

“If we step too far out on this too early, we may undermine our efforts,” he said. “We can find some form of remedy that improves the situation. We are just trying to catch up with technology.”

But some committee members doubted if cell phone use distracted drivers any more than other activities, such as eating, applying makeup or disciplining unruly children.

“I can think of numerous distractions we could nitpick on,” committee member Curtis Rock said. “Prohibiting cell phones now. What’s next? I think that I’ve been able to use a cell phone in the car just fine. We can sit here and think of every single distraction imaginable.”

There is a potential for statewide regulation of cell phone use in cars. The Legislature is considering several bills addressing use of cell phones while driving, including limiting use to hands-free devices, restricting use in school zones or doubling fines for traffic offenses if a cell phone also is in use. Another bill, filed by state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr., D- Corpus Christi, would prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using cell phones while driving. Ortiz’s bill passed in the state House and is now before the state Senate.