Cell phone ban is a good idea for drivers

Courier Editorial Board

February 06, 2008 10:36 pm

— The Iowa Legislature is considering a bill that would fine drivers $30 for using a cell phone while driving. The bill would expand a measure introduced in January banning cell phone use by drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license to all drivers, including adults. It also would ban text messaging while driving.
“We are doing it from a public safety point of view,” said state Rep. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion.
Indeed, it is a public safety issue.
Last February we noted a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report that indicated distracted drivers were involved in nearly eight out of 10 collisions or near-crashes.
Cell phone usage is clearly one of those distractions.
We believe many accidents and near-misses could be avoided if drivers were mandated to actually focus on what they have to do while they are in the car. Talking or texting on a cell phone diminishes the driver’s focus from the road.
We’ve heard the arguments before that a cell phone ban would be an infringement upon our personal freedoms.
But as we stated before, consider the following:
• In Illinois, a bicyclist was killed by a driver who had been downloading cell phone ring tones while behind the wheel.
• In California, a 7-year-old boy was struck and killed by an SUV whose driver lost control as he was trying to reach a cell phone and plowed into a family at a bus stop.
• In Washington state, a man driving a pickup who was allegedly using a cell phone crossed a highway median and struck another truck head-on, killing five children.
• In Alabama, a woman lost control of her car while reaching for a ringing cell phone and crashed into a church.
It’s not about personal choice if someone else is the victim of your distraction.
Seat belts are mandated across the country, not because the government wants to infringe upon one’s freedoms, rather it’s designed to save lives.
We know there are other driver distractions besides cell phone use. Smoking, eating, drinking or even adjusting the radio or GPS device are some other distractions.
But this initial cell phone bill is a good start to curbing a serious problem here in the state.
State Rep. Geri Huser, D-Altoona, said it’s unclear if there is enough support for the measure.
Let’s change that and contact our local legislators. Tell them a cell phone ban is a good first step in helping protect Iowans, and let’s focus on what’s important.