Utah state representative Ralph Becker said he has withdrawn his bid to ban drivers from using
wireless phones.
“After careful consideration, I have decided not to introduce legislation limiting the use of
cellular phones while driving,” Becker told RCR. “Rather, I have decided to establish a task force that will
look into the overall problem of inattentive driving.”
Becker said the task force will be set up through Utah’s
State Department of Public Safety and will include participation from law enforcement, the wireless industry and the
research and education communities among others.
“Hopefully we’ll come up with some constructive
approaches,” said Becker.
Other state legislatures, however, are proceeding with measures to limit or ban the
use of wireless phones while driving.
“It seems to be a fairly hot topic among the states,” said Matt
Sundeen, a policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures based in Denver. “There has been a
lot of reaction to the issue this year.
“As we see more cellular phone users, the number of states considering
this kind of legislation will increase,” said Sundeen.
In a forthcoming report on measures dealing with cellular
phone use while driving, Sundeen notes that while all states make reckless and careless driving illegal, very few states
regulate cellular phone use in automobiles.
California requires rental car companies to include written operating
instructions for safe use of cellular phone equipment installed in their vehicles; Florida legislation specifies that cellular
phone use is permitted in automobiles as long as surrounding sounds can be heard by one ear; and Massachusetts
requires that cellular phone use not interfere with vehicle operations and drivers keep one hand on the steering wheel at
all times.
Oklahoma and Minnesota each require police to include information about cellular telephones in accident
reports, according to NCSL. No state has successfully passed legislation banning wireless phones in
automobiles.
“What we are seeing now in legislation is that it varies in severity from proposing an outright
ban on cellular phone use to other limitations such as restricting wireless use to hands-free devices, limiting the amount
of time of calls or requiring drivers to pull off the road when using their wireless phone,” said Sundeen.
Since
1995, at least 20 states have proposed bills concerning cellular telephone use in automobiles. This session alone, at
least eight states are considering such legislation, including Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New
York, Texas and Virginia, according to NCSL.
Some of the legislation, such as in Maryland, Connecticut, New
Jersey and Texas, would place an outright ban on cellular phone use in automobiles. New York would prohibit cellular
phone use in vehicles except when the operator is in danger or is calling 911. Georgia’s legislation would require
drivers to exercise due care when using radios and mobile telephones while driving.
NCLS said the federal
government has not acted to limit cellular phone use in automobiles, although at least seven other countries have
restricted or prohibited the use of cellular phones in automobiles.
