Those who cannot drive without talking on their cell phones might have to give up their habit.
A bill was introduced into the Ohio General Assembly last June that would limit the use of non-hands-free cell phones while driving. It would prohibit the use of any cell phone by a temporary driver's permit holder. Licensed drivers would be allowed to use only hands-free cell phones, except in emergency situations. If passed, the bill would take three years to go into effect to allow drivers to upgrade to hands-free phones.
Tisha Brady, legislative aide for the bill's sponsor, Rep. Catherine Barrett, D-Cincinnati, said the bill has a lot of public support but lacks support within the legislature. The bill is currently in committee.
Lt. Rick Fambro, a spokesman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said of the bill, we support anything that is designed to make our roads safer.
While Fambro said he had heard of only one cell-phone related driving fatality, it is difficult to collect data concerning car accidents caused by cell phone use because it is included under driver inattention.
In 2002, 22 fatalities were caused by driver error for driver inattention, and a total of 10,417 total crashes caused by driver inattention, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Other types of driver inattention could be listening to the radio, taking an eye off the road and putting on makeup, Fambro said.
There are quite a few possibilities that could be grouped as contributed to driver's inattention
he said.
Cell phones are more distracting than other forms of driver inattention, such as listening to the radio, because more action and thought are involved in using a cell phone, said Sgt. Bryan Cooper of the Athens County Sheriff's Office.
When you just listen and drive at the same time that's all you're doing he said.
Many hands-free phones are being manufactured, but a phone conversation remains distracting because it involves interaction, he said.
A lot of cars and phones are going to wireless
so you can have both hands on the wheel
Cooper said. (Wireless) isn't as bad
but when you get into a conversation you lose track of time
and lose concentration on driving.
Cooper also said Athens might have more cell-phone related car accidents because of Ohio University's campus. But even without a college campus, cell phones still pose a problem on the road.
The way society is going
everybody's busy
he said. Most of the time you have to do most of your business while you're running
and that's using a cell phone
including us.
Cooper said patrol officers use hands-free cell phones extensively.
We have cell phones in the majority of the cruisers
