Practice cell phone safety

January 12, 2009 11:54 pm

— Drivers who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to be in a crash.
More than 100 million people in the United States use a cell phone while driving.
Cell phone use contributes to an estimated 6 percent of all crashes, equaling 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths nationwide each year.
These figures, compiled by the New England Journal of Medicine, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, point to a significant safety issue.
Six states -- California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington -- and the District of Columbia ban the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel. In those states, drivers must use some type of hands-free device so they are not fumbling with the phone while driving. Pennsylvania has no such ban.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia ban all cell use by younger, novice drivers, 17 states and the District of Columbia prohibit school bus drivers from using cell phones when passengers are present and seven states -- Alaska, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington, along with the District of Columbia prohibit text messaging by novice drivers. Pennsylvania has no such ban.
Pennsylvania has no cell phone or text messaging restrictions whatsoever.
This week, the National Safety Council announced that it advocates a total ban on cell phone use -- including hands-free devices -- while driving, saying that the practice is clearly dangerous and leads to highway deaths.
The group's president, Janet Froetscher, said states should ban drivers from using hand-held and hands-free cell phones, and businesses should prohibit employees from using cell phones while driving on the job.
The Snyder County commissioners did just that in October, ordering that all employees be immediately barred from using cell phones or text-messaging while driving on county business.
As the debate on a total cell phone ban moves to the next level, it makes sense for Pennsylvania lawmakers to join those states, jurisdictions and businesses that have restrictions on hand-held phones and text messaging.