Cell Phone Laws

In case some of you pholks didn’t know it, talking on a non-hands free cell phone while driving will be against the law in California beginning January 1, 2008.

Although similar legislation was first introduced by state lawmakers way back in 1998 but failed, the new law will impose a $20 fine and a $50 penalty for subsequent violations. Well pholks, that’s great news as far as I’m concerned but just how much good it will do will be a real trial.

While many will applaud this action, we all know that all too many will ignore it, cry about freedoms denied and all that stuff.

But how many of you realize that California is way behind in anti-cell-phone-while-driving laws? Did you know that in New Delhi, India, that since July 2001, even hands-free unit use in some locations are enforced with prison sentences? Italian fines are $124 per infraction. Germans can use hands-free phones only when the engine is switched off, otherwise there is a $40 fine.

Ireland doesn’t mess around with non-handheld cell-phone drivers. The fine is $380 and up to a three-month imprisonment on a third offense. Although hands-free kits are allowed, that is subject to review, according to a web site listing of penalties.

Danish drivers can be fined $60 per infraction. In Belgium, phones can be used without a hands-free unit when the car is stationary but not while in traffic, such as at traffic lights. That pholks, makes me think of what probably happens at intersections when some fool is too busy to notice the green light.

Since 2003, French drivers who drive while talking on the cell phone must surrender 40 EURs per infraction.

Norway is not a place where you want to get caught yakking on the cell phone unless you are prepared to shell out $600 per infraction and if that ain’t enough, just try Poland where fines can be as high as $1,000. I don’t know about any of you, but I would have to have something pretty darned important to risk that much of a penalty.

I certainly realize that there are emergencies which can’t be predicted or helped, but telling your honey how much you love her or him or checking to make sure you shop for the right loaf of bread or the correct diet drink or the right tin of caviar can wait a little bit.

It will be interesting to see how Californians handle this new law. I think I will be a lot safer driving with less stupid and inconsiderate drivers sharing the road but I’m not all that confident that will happen. How many drivers will become motorized vigilantes and become so focused on who is breaking the law that they become even more of a hazard than the cell phoner?

There have been tons of studies around the globe on just how dangerous driving while on the phone really is. There seems to be a new story every other week and with more and more gadgets and systems in our vehicles they focus on those studies changes more often than Paris Hilton changes clothes.

Although there are lots of different facts and figures and findings I selected a few to prove my point that driving under the influence of cell usage is hazardous. A study paid for by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said drivers who use cell phones—even hands-free models—are four times as likely to be involved in wrecks involving a serious injury than are drivers who do not use a cell phone. The study was conducted in Perth, Australia, which bans driving while using cellular phones that are not hands-free. The researcher, Anne McCartt, said she wanted to conduct the study in the U.S. but phone companies would not release customer billing records even with a customer’s consent. The study compared 458 crashes with driver cell-phone records and interviewed the crash victims shortly after they were treated in hospital emergency rooms. The researcher said “Our findings indicate that laws that still allow drivers to use hands-free devices will not eliminate the crash risk of phone use.” In fact, she said, “to the extent that drivers perceive that hands-free phone use is safer, in some sense, these laws could have a detrimental effect if drivers increase their hands-free phone use.”

Another study sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, concluded that drivers who don’t pay attention are three times as likely to be involved in a crash as drivers who pay attention to the road and don’t eat breakfast, talk on a cell phone or put on makeup.

And pholks, guess what the number one distraction was? The report labels cell phone use as the most frequent behavior distracting drivers. Dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening, the study showed.

Although we have six months before California catches up with countries such as India, Italy, Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe and South Korea, and a number of America’s states, I’m already training myself to fight the urge to jot down the license numbers of those soon-to-be criminals. There already is enough to watch out for.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com