Just an hour ago, my wife called me and told me that she has been caught talking on the phone while driving, near M.G. Road, Bangalore. She speaks Kanadda like mother tongue. So, I expected her to escape easily. But the policeman took the driving licence, asked for 400. I told her to collect the challan and get back the license. The police issue challan for driving negligently and driving with cell phone on.
I have two opinions about talking on phone while driving. The law says that you cannot have your mobile phone on while driving any vehicle. Not sure if it covers bicycles, which I ride regularly to my office. To my opinion this law is too strict for any practical enforcement. I also don't really think that talking on phone is really more dangerous than, say, talking to co-passengers or meddling with the music player or ogling at some hot girls. All of these do some distraction. But these things become less risky as the driver gain more experience in driving. In California, Arnold made law to ban cell phone driving for drivers below certain age, 21 if I remember correctly. In India, age cannot be a criteria for driving experience. I would suggest that people use their reasoning whether to take the call or not. Or just switch it off if you are not a sale or marketting person who cannot miss calls.
My next car will surely have Blue&Me from Microsoft. So, I will be free to talk
