Nevada considering banning driving while holding cell phone
By Martha Bellisle, Reno Gazette-Journal
At least four people in Washoe County were injured in car crashes in the past five years because the driver was busy putting on lipstick or mascara.
Dozens of others were hurt when the driver lost control while messing with the CD player or radio.
Eleven more were injured because a driver was reading. Yes, you read that right.
But the single activity responsible for causing an increasing number automobile crashes in Washoe County since 2005 involves cell phones and texting, according to data collected from law enforcement officers who worked the scene.
For that reason, a group of legislators in the state Assembly, one state senator and the Nevada Office of Public Safety have all submitted requests to change state law to place drivers’ hands back on the wheel, and their minds back on the road.
Yes, PLEASE require drivers to put cell phones away and out of reach while driving! Nevada’s lawmakers are a little slow in “getting it”, but better late than never.
I’ve just missed being hit by two drivers who were looking at their cell phones — one who was running a red light. They are as dangerous as drunk drivers.
some studies indicate that trying to hide cell phone use while talking or texting causes more accidents than when the user isn’t trying to hide it. It’s the driver not the device in most cases.
Lou, hiding the phone or not hiding the phone is irrelevant. Get off the damned phone and drive the car. What did we ever do before cell phones?! The horror of being out of contact with the rest of the world for half an hour is unimaginable now! Sometimes I count cell phone users as I drive. Invariably it’s at least 1/3. That’s nuts! Nothing is THAT important that you have to talk about it NOW!
Sometimes I wish our town was bigger so that I would spend enough time in my car driving and would be able to use my bluetooth headset more often. It’s not worth putting on when you are only traveling 1 mile to work.
Instead I find myself just ignoring my cell phone while I’m driving and checking messages after I arrive at my destination.
I agree with Lou, it’s the person using the phone rather than the phone itself. There are plenty of idiots driving around, and even when they’re not using their phones we’re in danger of crossing their path. Either way we’re going to get stuck with more and more nanny state rules “for our own good” yeah, right.
It’s true that it is the person, not the phone, causing the problems. But then it’s also the person trying to put a new CD into the player, the person trying to figure out why their kids are crying in the back seat, the person looking at the store windows…need I go on. PAY ATTENTION!!! Driving should be given the utmost attention, especially when adverse conditions are in effect. Snow, rain, heavy traffic, accidents all cause a lapse in concentration. A car is a 3000 pound projectile and can cause a great deal of damage if not handled properly.
As a motorcycle rider you fear this the most. Left hand turn someone on the phone, putting on make up, shaving whatever, not paying attention.
dogwoman, It’s not irrevelent in relationship to peoples behaivor. You could need the phone to report a crime in progress, but if you want to ban them you could put a cop in every car or move to North Korea.
Amanda Adams makes a good point about our town being so small. When I ride the bus, I get all the time I want or need to read LT News or check emails on my phone. Once I get to work I am already ahead of everyone else on getting the day started. No stress, no insurance and no fuel. When we became a one-car family, our lives became richer. Try it and text all you want.
Oh PUHLEEZE, Lou. We’re not talking about making 911 emergency calls here. We’re talking about oblivious people yapping away on their phones about nothing when they should be paying attention to their driving instead. You know that!
dogwoman People get in accidents when they are paying attention. Some people never get in accidents without paying attention. The law is clear on cell phone use when driving, in ca., but the law isn’t changing peoples behavior. So whats the solution, make the penalty more or pay for more police? You could make cars that would not allow cell phone use in cars but then 911 calls would not be possible. So whats your solution?
Burglary is illegal, but people still do it. Murder is illegal, but people still do it. So, should those two things be made legal, just because people do it? Are we increasing police presence because people do it?
Come on, folks, just put the phone down and drive the car. The call can wait. Really.
I have found that many good drivers lose their concentration levels when on the phone, hand held or hands free. The mind is occupied on what is going on in the phone, not in the road in front of you, no matter how excellent a driver you are.
We are all in a hurry, each and every day, so it’s hard to disconnect while driving, but the overall safety of all around you, and in your car, depends on it…not easy, I know, as I was guilty of talking on the phone while driving. I’ve tried putting it in the back seat so I can’t answer calls (or make them) and it works!
dogwoman, waiting for your solutions, not your demands