Your driving down the highway on a beautiful warm sunny day. Music blasting from the speakers. Your cell phone starts to ring and itsyour best friend.You answer and tell them how the weather is, when you'll be back home then suddenly red and blue lights are flashing behind you and a police officer is pulling you over.Oregon has recently passed a law that bans the use of your cell phone while driving. Drivers today have gotten into a rotten habit of chatting while driving. Either by talking on the cell phone while on the highway or texting it's class mates right before school. The truth of the matter is, its just not safe!
Cell phones are becoming more popular and kids as young as 13 will already have their own phone. We are teaching the adults of tomorrow that having a phone on you all the time is appropriate behavior and we all know how distracted a teenager can be on their phone. As cell phones become more accessible to the public, people are becoming attached to their phones making it harder for everyone to not use them at a whim.
The new law says that if you are caught talking or texting on a hand held phone you will have a fine to pay. The traffic ticket for this law could cost drivers up to $90. As of Jan. 1 2010 the House Bill 2377 will take effect.
It is very important to remember that the reason why the Senate passed this law is for the safety of the community. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society states that cell phone distractions are responsible for 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries a year. Anyone else want to still talk/text while driving?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the greatest number of people distracted while driving are people under the age of 20. Even though all accidents may not be caused do to cell phone use, it still remains that being distracted while operating a vehicle heightens the risk of being in a fatal crash.
Why doesn't the whole country enforce this law? We could lower accidents considerably nation wide if we all agree that talking or texting on a cell phone is distracting. A study by Virgina Tech Transportation Institute reveals that 80% of car crashes and 65% of near car accidents were caused due to drivers being distracted.
I asked high school student Laura Henry how she felt about talking/texting while driving.
"I just got my drivers licenses so I was excited to get around and still communicate with friends. Now that I can't even text I'm going to have to asking my parents for a bluetooth! I don't like this new law they are enforcing."
Oregon is just six of the sates that are reinforcing the ban on cell phone use while driving. New York, Washington, New Jersey, Connecticut and California all share the same law for 'hands free talking.' Many Oregonians believe that our roads will be safer for everyone. There are a few states however, that have laws about driving and being distracted. Utah's law defines cell phone use as a non-related driving activity and is considered a moving violation.
The government isn't trying to ban us from communicating with one another, it is simply a way for drivers to be more aware of distractions we can easily avoid. Luckily, having a Bluetooth device can help you stay safe and satisfy the need to chit chat or even take important business calls while traveling.
Eventually I think we'll see every driver with a little blinking light in their ear, talking, but with two hands on the wheel. Both safe and futuristic!
It may take a few more years for the rest of the country to become 'hands free' but there are signs that show the movement toward the ban of hand held devices. This should be viewed as a good thing. We should support safe driving because no one should suffer the loss of a loved one due to careless driving.
AT A GLANCE:
WHAT?: Huse Bill 2377 driving w/cell phones
WHEN?: Jan. 1 2010
WHY?: Safer roads for Oregon
WHO?: Drivers in Oregon
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