Cell phones have become commonplace in society, so much so that they are ubiquitous. However, people should be restricted from using them on public transportation because of the many negative factors involved. When taking public transportation, people are entitled to travel in a quiet and peaceful environment. This is just impossible, however, when there are numerous people chatting on their cell phones. I take the bus to school every day, and I have lost track of the number of times I have had to listen to people practically yelling in their cell phones. I usually read or study on the bus, but I cannot concentrate on anything when someone nearby is bust loudly talking on his phone. There are too many of these rude people, and their actions should not be permitted on public transportation. Using cell phones at the improper time while on public transportation can also lead to trouble. In some cases, the callers may actually constitute a legitimate threat to the vehicle, crew, and passengers. For instance, cell phones are not allowed to be used on airplanes because they interfere with plane's communication and navigation systems. Even though flight attendants make announcements about this, there are still inconsiderate people who insist upon using their phones. Only a disaster directly caused by a cell phone may alert those people as to the dangers of using cell phones on airplanes. While in public, people need to be more aware of their situations so that they will not hurt themselves. By using their phones on buses or subways, people may sometimes put themselves in danger. Just the other day I saw a man have and accident while getting off the bus. He was busy talking on his phone when he slipped and fell on the ground. I heard that he broke his leg. I am sure that he now regrets using his cell phone while taking public transportation. In summary, I believe cell phones should be banned on all public transportation because they not only disturb people's rights to quiet and peaceful rides, but they can also endanger the safety of others and the person actually using the phone. People should have to wait to use their phones until they are no longer using public transportation. It is true that some people can greatly disturb others while chatting on their cell phones. However, banning cell phones on public transportation is a policy that should not be enacted. There are simply too many reasons why cell phones are necessary. For one, people have the right to express themselves, which should not be denied if they are anywhere in public. Using a cell phone in a public place is in no way a violation of any kind of law. Telling people where they can and cannot speak is the first step towards an authoritarian government. Some countries have tried to restrict speech, but this has always backfired on them. Besides, if a person is speaking too loudly, someone should just ask that person to be quieter. Cell phones have become integral tools for most businesspeople. Since many businesspeople are often out of the office, they need to be able to get in touch with people wherever they are. My uncle is a salesman, and he has to answer his phone every time it rings. If he could not answer his phone on public transportation, which he takes a lot, he would lose a lot of business opportunities. No one has the right to prevent another person from making a living. Cell phones have also helped save people's lives, so to would be irresponsible to ban their use somewhere. People should be able to use their phones on public transportation because there always arises the chance of a family, personal, or medical emergency. I read about a man who had a heart attack while taking the subway. Another passenger called Medical Emergency Center, and medical personnel were able to arrive quickly and therefore save his life. Human safety must always take precedence over anything else. It would be wrong to ban cell phones on public transportation because people have the right to express themselves, cell phones are necessary for business, and they can actually help save people's lives. In the end, weren't cell phones invented for people to use anywhere and anytime?