Utah Residents Are in Favor of Law Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
According to a poll conducted by the Salt Lake Tribune, 80% of Utahns are in favor of laws banning cell-phone use while driving. Still, many Utah motorists continue to talk on their cell phones while driving. Worse, many motorists text-message while behind the wheel, especially younger drivers. Yet 75% of men and 85% of women say they would support a cell-phone ban. Representative Phil Riesen is perhaps the strongest proponent of a legislative ban, proposing a bill that would ban just about all electronic communications for motorists, including text-messaging, email, and hands-free cell phones. His bill makes exceptions for emergency situations and two-way radios.
Research conducted at the University of Utah supports Rep. Riesen’s claims of the threats of motorist cell phone use. Researchers found that driving while on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. Test subjects were placed into a driving simulator. Those who were talking on the phone performed the same as those with blood-alcohol content of .08%. Furthermore, the same study found that hands-free cell phones are not any safer than handheld cell phones.
Although statistics and research show the dangers of driving while using a cell phone, Riesen’s legislation will likely meet opposition. Some legislatures argue that such a bill infringes on civil liberties, stating that laws already exist that punish distracted driving.
