Ban Cell Phone Use by Pa. Drivers?
Lawmakers are talking about prohibiting cell phone use while driving in Pennsylvania
By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — Driving while using a cell phone or other hand-held device could be prohibited in Pennsylvania.
House Appropriations Minority Chairman Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny, announced Thursday that he plans to introduce this proposed ban in the fall.
Barry Ciccocioppo, Markosek’s communications director, said the ban is being introduced to help police enforce the current ban on texting while driving.
“Somebody can have a phone in their hand and say they weren’t texting, they were dialing a number,” he said.
The bill has not yet been circulated for co-sponsorship, but does have support within the Democratic caucus, Ciccocioppo said.
Drivers caught using phones would be fined $50, or $100 if driving in a school zone, work zone or highway safety corridor, said Ciccocioppo, according to current draft legislation.
Exceptions to the ban would include drivers using a GPS device.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which studies the nation’s roads, examined states that ban drivers from using hand-held devices to determine if the ban influences driver behavior. It found that driver hand-held phone use was an estimated 24 percent to 76 percent lower in states with the ban than in states without a ban, like New York and Connecticut.
But it also concludes there’s no evidence to show that banning such behavior reduces crashes.
“It’s not clear why bans are not reducing crashes despite reductions in hand-held phone use and texting while driving,” says IIHS on its website. “Further research is needed in order to fully understand this disparity.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation estimates that 58 people were killed last year in more than 14,000 distracted-driving car crashes.
If the law passes, Pennsylvania would join 10 other states with similar bans, including New Jersey, New York,Delaware and Maryland.
Anna May Miller
7:21 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Banning texting and hand held cell phone use is a no brainer-----how long is it going to take for our legislature to enact a ban?
thewiseone
7:22 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
What about people who smoke while driving? Lighting that cigarette and putting it out is not distracted driving? Or tuning a car radio? Maybe that's why they can't gather evidence that banning cell phone use reduces accidents.
Heather Depew
12:04 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Don't give them any ideas. These bans infringe on our rights. I'm all for requiring hands free talking....but this is ridiculous.
John
9:24 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
One only needs to drive on our highways (rts. 22 and 78) and look at those you pass. You will notice A. they are doing under 10 mph of the speed limit, B. they cannot stay within the lines, C. Are looking down while operating a 2000lb weapon of destruction. If any legislation is ok with that, then we need to make a whole lot MORE legal. Get texters off of our roadways!!!
jet godfrey
9:27 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I challenge you to stand at a corner - Center St & E. North St in Bethlehem for 1 - and watch the idiots trying to use a phone while driving. I cross at this intersection every day, twice a day and it is terrifying to say the least.
Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, even to a pedestrian waiting on the corner for a chance to cross - I see it every day - trying to text or dial while driving nitwits swerve all over the road many coming almost onto the sidewalk.
In those states with cell phone bans, not only is there a fine, but the offenders insurance premiums will go up - it is a charagable violation for most carriers.
I also see "drivers" attempting to drive while reading, eating, smoking - sometimes trying to all of the above at once. Maybe there should be a "stupid" law as well.
Lower Saucon Guy
9:58 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Laws are only effective if they are enforced. There are not enough law enforcement officers to curb this situation. In a case of cell phone restrictions, you will have to rely on common sense and the co operation of the people themselves. This won't happen. We have an entire generation of people who live for the smartphone and couldn't do without it. They carry their brains in their hands these days. Get people addicted to something and then tell them they can't use it. Good Luck with that.
David Delp
10:36 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Yes, cell phone use should not be allowed unless the driver has a hands-free (blue tooth) enabled device. If you really need to dial a number then pull over to the curb or have the person in your contacts so that you can just tell the phone to dial that particular contact. If not, then just wait until you park. What is soooo important that it can't wait 5 or 10 minutes.
Heather Depew
12:06 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
We should ban bad drivers who refuse to get out of the left lane or who keep passing trucks on the right without letting those trucks get over. That causes more accidents than talking on a cell. (Although texting still is worse for everyone). I remember when I was younger I saw a guy reading a book and driving. Can that be banned??? Also I saw a guy playing a recording and he had sheet music on his steering wheel, and this was back in the 90's on the Garden State Parkway. now tell me, what is worse???
juju jetson
12:55 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
None of it is sensible when behind the wheel of a vehicle - any vehicle. But when people get behind the wheel, common sense and brains fly far away. There is nothing, nothing, not one thing THAT important that someone driving absolutely has to make a call or text. If, perchance, it IS an emergency, then pull off the road, safely, make the call or text or whatever. When done, then rejoin the traffic flow. Nothing is worth killing someone because of a cell phone call or text message. And to those who think driving and having breakfast or driving and shaving/putting on makeup, or driving while reading is reasonable and sensible - NO it is definitely not. If you are behind the wheel, concentrate on the road. Get up earlier to give yourself time for breakfast and reading and shaving and putting on makeup. Anyone who does any of the above - cell phone calls/texts, reading, shaving, makeup, breakfast, whatever is quite simply a very selfish, ignorant jerk.
Bruce Davis
11:18 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
We can't even stop crazy aggressive drivers doing over 75 mph from cutting you off and pulling in front of you and slamming on their brakes because that crazy person thinks you didn't get over fast enough for them doing 75 mph on the highway. What makes you think you can stop cell phone abuse as it is everywhere and people are ignoring the law now. How much will the taxpayers spend to hire new cops just to regulate cell phones use.which is abused everywhere. Got money, just throw it in the furnace because the taxes will kill us to regulate this with any real effect. Good Luck with that!
JAG40PA
1:37 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
This law cannot come quick enough. We all see it, every day there is a new story about talking/texting and accidents. We are all way too distracted by other things than just phones. My slogan is "just drive". If you have to make a call, pull over.