Many states either have current bans in place or are working on legislation to completely ban cell phone usage in moving vehicles - or at least make people go hands-free. Colorado is working on legislation (called Erica’s bill) to ban handheld mobile. Last fall 9 year old Erica Forney was riding her bike home from school when an automobile driver, who had just hung up from a cell phone call, was distracted and hit and killed Erica. California has already implemented no hand-held and no texting laws and there are many people who won’t stop until mobile phone use in a moving vehicle is completely banned.
Approximately 22% of states currently have no legislation on the books. That means that about 78% of states (the vast majority) believe that being distracted by cell phone use in one way or another is dangerous.
By now most people have talked on the phone while behind the wheel. We all know that our attention is on the road, at the most, half the time while on the phone. I’ve heard some unbelievable statements from people who don’t want to give up the phone, “I drive better when I’m on the phone”, “It’s better if I hold the phone rather than have an earpiece - I pay more attention”. We need AA for phone users - Gabbers Anonymous. Pandora’s box is open; people won’t stop making phone calls while driving unless a monetary fee is on the line.
Click here to link to the most recent mobile phone laws by state. An interesting thing to note how people with learners permits or kids under 18 are being banned from using their phones at all. My friend Tammy got in an accident (her fault - there were 6 giggling teenagers going to lunch) just hours after she took the river’s test. And that was before the days of prolific mobile use.
I’ve got to go, it’s difficult to type, operate the stick shift and talk to my financial advisor at the same time.
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