Rockhills, I want those signs too. I also want stickers that say "This is NOT a compact car" that I can put on the giant trucks and SUVs parked in compact spaces. Arrrrggh! sorry, off topic. :)

@rockhills: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/car/afe6/

how about HONKING YOUR HORN INCESSANTLY to disrupt their conversation??

Two things I have been dreaming about lately:
1) A flashing neon sign saying, "Hang up your !@$%&#@ Phone!"
2) A flashing neon sign saying, "Keep right except to pass!"

Gotta agree with Lindsey. Unfortunately there are times when I have to be responsive to a work cell phone while driving. I have been issued a bluetooth headset just for this purpose. I find that unlike talking with a passenger in the car, the phone does take more of my attention. Not sure why that is, just seems like I focus on the conversation in a different way when talking on the phone versus talking to a person next to me. And that change of focus is enough to be a distraction to my driving. After one scary incident (missed someone signalling to change lanes on the freeway and almost got clipped), I am now in the habit of cutting these calls short by letting callers know I am driving and will get back to them. Even the 15 seconds this takes worries me, a lot can happen in 15 seconds if you are distracted. I am thankful this is a rare occurence.
I would take this to a primary offense and ban even hands free devices based on personal experience.

Not bluetooth, but there's a long running program that provides free head sets.

https://www.freeheadset.org/

Very low cost ($7.00) bluetooth options, also.

That's a great idea, JenV, but studies have shown that drivers are just as distracted using a headset.

http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffic-and-safety-guideline/cell-phones-and-driving-a-prescription-for-disaster.html

It's inconvenient, but there's no safe way to use a cell phone while driving.

I agree that it should be a primary offense, and pressuring our representatives is the best way to do that. Thanks for the link!

This problems goes along with people placing children in front seats, sometimes without a seatbeat, carseat or harness.

I would call the police anyway. Regardless of the fact that the driver was on a cell phone, the woman was driving recklessly. Call the nonemergency number and give them identifying information about the car and driver. It gets recorded, kept and used.

what would be helpful is if people got a discount coupon for a bluetooth headset (similar to what they did for the cable tv conversion, I guess) It won't help for the idiots who insist on texting or playing with their iPhones while they drive, but it might encourage a few people to put down the damn phone and pay attention to the road.

I just wrote to one about this. :)

To find your legislator:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

The problem with enforcement, as Aim pointed out, is that cellphone use while driving is a secondary offense. That means the police have to see you breaking some other law before they can stop you. Which is why I suggested contacting your legislators to encourage them to change the law.

I think I might complain to one of the state legislators. I think it should be enforced more now, before even more people get hurt from it.

This has happened to many times to us too! Just last month some guywas driving the wrong way onto 4th Avenue & Spring all the while our daughter, myself and 2 other peds. were walking in the crosswalk. He came within feet of mowing us all down. Needless to say he never stopped talking on his phone and never apologized for nearly killing us he just turned the car around and drove off.

Here is what I found about our driving laws online:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/7470007.html

http://www.drivinglaws.org/washington.php

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

You could complain to your state legislators and tell them you think it should become a primary offense, so that the police could enforce it more effectively.

That's what I'm doing now. Isn't there anyone I could complain to about this though ? I'm pretty sure there is a handheld ban.

Absolutely nothing as it's not a primary offense, meaning you can't be pulled over for it -- which is why idiots continue to do it. Unless the person is also doing something illegal (like almost running you over in a crosswalk) and a cop sees it, there's really nothing they will do about it.

I hear your frustration, and wish it would get bumped up to a primary offense.

In the meantime, be a defensive pedestrian just as you'd be a defensive driver. Don't expect anyone to do what they are signalling, and don't expect them to be predictable. It's unfortunate that bad and inattentive driving is so common, but it is.

Today, I took my son for a walk and we were nearly hit int he crosswalk by a woman who wasn't paying attention talking on her cell phone. This is not the first time it has happened. I barely feel safe going out for a walk because I'm afraid I'm going to get hit by a car ! Is there anything I can do about this ? I don't even know who I would complain to about this.