Utah Legislature Moves Closer To Creating Laws Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
The ongoing push for a cell phone ban for drivers seems to be coming to resolution. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, a Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would prohibit emailing and text-messaging on a cell phone while driving. The bill was passed Friday, February 6 and will now move to the full Senate for voting. The bill proposes strict violations analogous to charges for driving under the influence. For the first two offenses, drivers will face a class B misdemeanor and class A misdemeanor for the third offense. If a driver is text-messaging and causes a death, he/she will be charged with third-degree felony.
This bill, sponsored by Sen. Lyle Hillyard, does not ban any other use of electronics while driving. Other Utah legislators worry the bill does not go far enough. Rep. Phil Riesen wants a bill that will completely ban wireless devices for drivers except for two-way radios and emergency situations. Rep. Riesen’s bill has not yet had a hearing. Rep. Carol Moss is sponsoring a bill that bans text messaging while drivng and requires hands free devices at all times.
I think Rep. Moss' bill is best. Although some research indicates its the distraction with the brain, not the hands that causes people talking on cell phones and texting on cell phones to drive like a Drunk Driver. I think we should clearly ban texting and emailing while driving, but also require hands free devices. Then lets wait and see if the amount of accidents caused by distracted drivers decreases. California and Washington have already enacted similar laws. However, I think texting and cell phones is only part of the problem. I have seen just as many accidents caused by drivers distracted by IPODS as cell phones and text messaging.
