CAN WE TALK?


Cell phone police are at it again
By Kelvin Wade
May 26, 2011

The California Legislature is trying to save us from ourselves again. The state Senate has passed Senate Bill 28, a bill that would raise the base fine for talking on a handheld cell phone while driving from $20 to $50 for a first offense and from $50 to $100 for a second. With added local fees, that’s around $300 for a first offense and $500 for a second.

Somehow I don’t think these new fees are about distracted driving.

Oh the bill’s author, Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), says it’s all about saving lives. But if it were really about making the roads safer, why wouldn’t they just ban all cell phone use while driving? Studies at the University of Utah show there is no cognitive difference in the distraction caused by a handheld or hands-free device. No difference. The study goes on to say the distraction provided by both devices extends driver reaction time as much as someone who is intoxicated. So if this were about driver safety, any use of cell phones by drivers would be prohibited.

Simitian likes to cite numbers from the California Highway Patrol showing a downward trend in collisions and fatalities. But the trend cannot be solely attributed to the cell phone law. In fact, a 2010 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that other states that have no cell phone laws have seen a downward trend in collisions as well.

So obviously the new law is about revenue. The law would increase fines for texting while driving and make it illegal to talk on a handset while riding a bicycle.

Raising the costs of fines is only effective if there’s a high chance of being caught talking on a handheld phone. There isn’t. Every single time I drive anywhere I’ll spot at least one person on a handheld phone. Usually there are several.

Since it’s about revenue, why doesn’t the state sell permits to use cell phones while driving? A driver would take a written test, pay a fee and be given a sticker on their license and a sticker on their back windshield that allows talking on a handset.

There’s a great moneymaker for the state and local governments. Plus, you could still ticket unlicensed talkers.

There’s a certain segment that is simply used to talking on handheld devices and getting away with it and they’ll continue. There are those who normally use a hands-free device but find themselves taking calls on the handset from time to time. I don’t condone it and I’m no scofflaw.

Currently, I can drive while talking on a hands-free device and sipping a grande skinny Carmel Macchiato. I can set the drink down, change the radio station or slip in a CD, take a bite of a scone, and light up a cigar (if I still smoked cigars). I can pull out my digital camera and take photos while driving. There’s no law against me reviewing the photos I just took while driving, either.

I can even look at my snail mail, which would take me longer to look at than a text on my phone, but reading a text would be unlawful. Does that make sense to you?

Every time I take on this issue people who are aghast at my position assail me. But these same do-gooders aren’t clamoring to lower the freeway speed limit to 55, something that’s been proven to save gas and lives.

It’s crazy. These laws are all about making dollars, not sense. Peace.
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Additional Notes: No, I don't talk on my handset while driving. If I have to make a call, I usually pull over. I have a relative who regularly talks on his handset while driving but I'm not going to identify him. Well, I will just say that he writes for the Daily Republic. But that's it. I don't want to OUT him. Will I read a text at a stoplight? Of course. The fact that one can read snail mail but can't read a text is just absurd. If we're talking about safety sake, we should focus on distracted driving. I have no problem eating and driving. I'm a veteran. Some people might. I've seen people shave and drive or put on lipstick and drive. They're able to do it. Others wouldn't be. If we're going to talk about distractions, then focus on drivers who are distracted no matter what is distracting them.

I know there are those who hate people who talk on cell phones while driving. And you people are pains in the ass. LOL You're like reformed smokers.

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