We ghd this ban for years up North. I can't understand what took so long for the South to get on board. As a driver in Georgia, I have been cut off without the other driver signaling and nearly rammed into while I had the right of way, by drivers who can't seem to keep off their cell phones. I hope this passes. I'm tired of driving with these jerks who have their hands on their cells phones instead of the steering wheel and aren't paying attention to the traffic on the road because they're yucking it up with their friends . Save the socializing until you get home or are parked.

"Hands free" needs to be defined as "voice activated". Many people consider hands free to mean they have and ear bud attached to phone but STILL have to dial the phone with their hands, meaning they have to take their eyes off the road and are still dangerous.

I moved to Georgia from a state that banned cell phones while driving....WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Drivers are so careless here because they are too busy chatting on their phones. Passing a "no texting while driving" law was a waste of time for law makers and voters. I see at least 4 or more people texting everytime I'm out.

There is a quote - attributed to Albert Einstein that goes like this:

"Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced."

Do we really want our limited supply of police spending time searching for poor cell-phone behavior?

Do we really want our 911 system tied up with PO'd people calling in to report drivers who will most likely be off of the phone by the time the police catch up to them?

There are already hundreds of laws on the books detailing what is against the law when driving - and every single negative effect of driving while talking on a cell phone is already against the law.

What we have in society is a lack of respect for each other's safety and more laws will not change a thing.

Like anything else in life, when it's abused it makes headlines.. The small percentage of drivers that are not capable of operating a vehicle safely while on the phone creates the issue - for 90% of us that are capable of multitasking on a daily basis without creating road safety issues, I resent the fact a law needs to be created because 10% are too stupid to use common sense and text while the vehicle is in motion, or can't talk without driving into a ditch. How about a law preventing people from putting on makeup while the car is in motion? Or a law forbidding reading a newspaper while sitting in traffic? Or a law against shaving while you are driving your car?

As a cyclist, I have a birds eye view of drivers up close and personal. When I am waiting at a crossing for the light to change I can bet you there are more than 90% of people that go by on their phones. Being a victim of a driver not paying attention and myself ending up in the hospital, I would think they would do something about this before now, I would think they could use the cameras that are already installed to monitor some of the phone use and I suggest putting cops on bicycles at least once a week to monitor the cellphone use.

If you've ever lived or traveled in a state with a 'cell phone ban' you'd know what a difference it makes on the road. Do I want our "limited police resources" tied up monitoring this? No, but if I get rear ended by someone with a phone to her ear I sure want to make certain she can be held accountable for her negligence.

I don't find the case for this compelling, because the distraction is not holding the phone. The primary complaint is always "distracted driving." Hand-held phones are like holding soda. It takes a hand off the wheel. The primary distraction is the conversation, particularly since it is with someone outside the driving environment. The dangerous are those caught up in blathering about something or worse, arguing about it. Worst of all, dropping the phone and chasing after it. But, if we were to really "ban" the distraction, then it's a short leap to no food or drink in the car, no smoking, no using a GPS, no tuning a radio without steering wheel controls, no changing CD's, etc. and the folks won't stand for that, because they want them, so they can't feel self-righteous about denying them to others.

If we ban everything that some "other people" do that creates a danger to others, none of us will be able to legally leave our homes.

Absolutely! And voice activated is what is needed. Hands free has been passed in California where I am from but drivers still dial the number or punch in an address for their phone GPS and text. Not only is it dangerous it kills.

I am against this. Unless we also ban the following in cars:
eating
drinking
listening to radio
talking to people
dogs
children
touching anything not directly related to auto's operation

Also, how about we spend some time enforcing the law about not blocking intersections? Cobb Parkway would be a lot easier to navigate at 5:30/6 if the self-centered jerks turning left from Cumberland Blvd to Cobb Pkwy would stop blocking the intersection.

They are banned here in San Diego and have been for years. I and almost everyone I know still calls and texts in the car but now we are even more distracted trying to dial or text and hiding it. Doesn't help. People do what they do.

This is self explanatory law, In Las Vegas, NV in 1990 they passed a ordinance WOMEN primping their hair, putting on mascara, eating etc were cited and a hefty one back then.

It's more dangerous fumbling for an ear piece than just answering the phone. I think the rule should be voice-activated dialing, but holding the phone in one hand while talking is not a big deal, unless you have a manual, and even I used to do that just fine when I had a manual.