PA Bill RE: Cell Phone Use While Driving

Honestly I cannot believe that we continue to debate banning (or limiting) cell phone use while driving. A well-known study by the University of Utah concluded that people who talk on the phone--even while using hands-free headsets--are just as impaired as people driving while drunk (you can read more about this study here).

The data is staggeringly against drivers talking on cell phones: countless studies have proved that cell phone users drive slower, cause gridlock and are twice as likely to cause rear end collisions. According to a study by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year.

So why exactly are we still arguing about this? While I favor a complete ban of cell phone use while driving, requiring cell phone use be limited to hands-free would at least be a step in the right direction. And I have yet to hear an argument advocating cell phone use while driving that makes any sense when weighed against the evidence of it causing such a dangerous environment.

Ten years ago few people had cell phones and we all got along just fine without be plugged in 24/7 to our phones. I will grant you that cell phones provide convenience in a busy life: being able to call someone en route when running late or needing directions, for example. And let's be clear: there's nothing stopping anyone from still having your cell phone in your car--just pull off the road and yak to your heart's content, you can still have your cell phone with you in an emergency, etc.

I applaud the state legislators that have authored/sponsored bills limiting the use of cell phones while driving, especially Senator Conti from Bucks County, who's been trying to pass legislation since 1999. If you feel as strongly as I do that legislation needs to be passed limiting cell phone use, contact your local State Representative and Senator. My fear is that if a bill isn't passed and enforced once it becomes the law, accidents and fatalities will increase exponentially. And do we really have to wait until some Hollywood starlet--or your sister, or daughter, or mother, for that matter-- gets killed by a cell phone using driver when legislation is on deck to help prevent tragedies now?