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I have managed to master eating an entire Chipotle burrito while driving on the freeway. I can also drink my morning coffee, fix my hair, clean the thumbprint spots off my sunglasses, and dip my fries in ketchup and ranch dressing – I can do almost anything while driving in my car. However, there is one exception. Since July 1 of this year, I have been prohibited by law to talk on my cell phone without a hands-free device.

California law now restricts the use of cell phones while driving in the car. Drivers over the age of 18 are required to use a hands-free device, such as a headset, a Bluetooth earpiece, or speakerphone if they wish to talk on their cell phones, a. However, there is no specific law prohibiting text messaging while driving.

Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use their cell phones at all while on the road. They are banned from text messaging and talking on the phone whether if they are using a hands-free device – or not.

However, drivers under 18 can use their phones in an emergency. Despite your age, the only way for you to get away with having your cell phone held to your ear is if you have an emergency.

It makes no sense that I can still get away with eating a meal and text messaging multiple conversations about what I did last night all while driving. I find that to be much more distracting than putting the thing to my head simply holding a cell phone to my ear.

“It seems like it makes sense what they’re trying to do, like , make it safer, but with all the other things that people do in the car it doesn’t really make a difference,” says 18-year-old student Diana Djalili.

The point of this law is to make our roads safer and to prevent accidents and deaths, but technically, we are still engaging in conversation even when using a hands-free device. Talking on the phone while driving is distracting in general. Geology instructor Kathryn Stanton, agrees with the new law. “From what I’ve read, it’s like equivalent to driving after a couple of drinks,” Stanton said. “You know, it’s that level of distraction.”

Despite the controversy, many support the new law if it means fewer accidents on the road. Several City College students even admit that talking on their cell phones while driving almost caused most them to have an accident.

" I think if it keeps people safer and the amount of accidents go down based on the law, then it’s a good law,” said John Cardoza, a 21-year-old City College student.

When it comes down to it, I would rather not have to pay a fine for a ticket that could be avoided, so I follow the law and use an earphone gadget to talk on the phone while driving. I’ll admit, the earphone piece makes driving a little easier, but I could do fine without it.

I can see the good intentions with this hands-free cell phone law, but if I can still apply mascara in the car, then I should still be able to use my phone however I wish. The truth is, people do all kinds of things while driving. Subtracting one from the list is not going to make a significant change.