June 4th, 2006
Kansas Town Proposes Complete Ban on Cell Phones While Driving
By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
Lawrence, Kansas has proposed a complete cell phone ban while driving … the first of its kind in the country. There have been other laws put into place, but this would be the first one that also bans hands-free devices as well.
The proposal, which goes before the Lawrence’s Traffic Safety Commission on Monday, would ban the use of hand-held cell phones and hands-free cell phone devices by all drivers.
“If you pass a ban that just prohibits the hand-held devices, you’re sending a message that the hands-free devices are safe,” said Paul Atchley, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kansas. “And that is false.” Source: AP via MSNBC
We Say: I use a Bluetooth headset when I drive, and even then, I know I get distracted when I talk on the phone while driving. Sometimes the phone won’t voice dial properly, and I have to pull it off my belt to look at it, or since it’s a PDA phone, sometimes I have to boot it. I’ve even used the contacts list to look up info like my VIN while talking to the DMV. All while driving. So I’ll be the first to admit, I definitely am distracted even with a headset.
Sean Brody says:
While they are at it, they can make laws banning shaving, reading the newspaper, drinking coffee, and eating amongst other distracting things that people do while they drive. This is more of this “technology is evil attitude” that seems to run rampant amongst media and lawmaking establishments. Just like surfing the internet during work time is the same as talking on the phone or whatever else people do during their office time, doing distracting things while you drive is the same wether its a cell phone or a bagel. Furthermore, you cannot make laws to enforce common sense……
June 4th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Justin Gardner says:
I’d rephrase that to be Kansas city. As you know Kansas City is a city on the Missouri side, and we’re completely fine with cell phones.
June 4th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
Michael Santo says:
Good point; the word “town” works better to prevent confusion.
June 4th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Mike says:
GREAT law!!! Now ban them in schools and movie theaters, and I might just move.
Oh, shaving and such should also be illegal, and you will get a ticket if they see you…but cell phones, for some reason, everybody thinks are just fine to use while driving, and the police cant do anything about it.
Mike
Pull over and talk, or let it take a message.
June 5th, 2006 at 2:09 am
Holly says:
Leave it to Lawrence to come up with something stupid like this…first the city wide smoking ban, now this - idiots!
June 5th, 2006 at 4:42 am
Snopesman says:
Ireland doesn’t allow smoking inside anymore, either. Not to mention Massachusetts, New York, California and a few other places. I love it, I can enjoy a trip to the bar or a restaraunt without smelling like cancer stick.
June 5th, 2006 at 5:18 am
MissingFrame says:
Never mind the cerial-eating newspaper readers, they’re perfectly safe drivers, but are they going to pull over everyone that sings to the radio?
June 5th, 2006 at 6:53 am
Stephen says:
Why not ban talking to others riding in the same car? Ever get behind somebody that has to look over their shoulder to talk to someone in the back seat? While we’re at it, how about fining anyone that slows down on an interstate to look at an accident in the opposite lanes? I think those people are even more dangerous than cell phone talkers.
June 5th, 2006 at 7:28 am
Just Cid says:
My all time favorite was the guy I saw driving on the freeway with the styro carton of some kind of Chinese Food balanced between his chest and the wheel…
And, just in case you think that I’m making some sort of racial slur, the driver in this case was caucasian.
Oh, and he was using chopsticks as well.
In Kansas, I guess this would be legal, although using
a headset or hands-free device isn’t.
June 5th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Karl says:
I hate the ever confining nanny-state as much as the next person. But driving while talking on a cell-phone has been proven to be nearly as dangerous as driving while drunk or falling asleep at the wheel. Face it, drivers distracted by cell-phone conversations are virtually oblivious to their external environment. Who hasn’t nearly been plowed into by one (or more)? German auto manufacturers don’t even build cup-holders into their cars. They believe driving requires 100% focus. But I guess as long as we Americans can maintain our lifestyle, we’re OK with 30,000+ auto-related fatalities each year.
June 5th, 2006 at 8:27 am
Gmo says:
Alright I can live with folks driving and talking, but what about the law being considered to allow cell phones on planes. Now that would drive anyone crazy, things are already bad enough with those tight seats (no I don’t cruise first class)
June 5th, 2006 at 10:31 am
MissingFrame says:
Karl, it’s doubtful those 30,000+ auto-related fatalities are all caused by cell phones. I was run off the road by a SUV when the driver was busy with her kids, so I think we should outlaw kids.
June 6th, 2006 at 6:21 am
Ben Oddo says:
Good law. It’s a start. Now enforce it. There are far too many drivers out there breaking driving laws and far too few of them are ever even pulled over. I mean tailgating, improper lane changing, failing to use a turn signal to mention a few. My township has had a ban on hand held cell phones for at least two years yet you can’t go anywhere in my town without seeing someone holding a cell phone to their ear while behind the wheel. All of these infractions sound minor. But they are not minor if someone crashes into your car. So don’t be so self-centered in thinking that you are being inconvenienced by a cell phone ban. Think of it as a law to protect you from some bimbo that can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, from wrecking your favorite ride.
June 6th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Keith says:
Karl,
Your post is just plain wrong. I challenge you to cite your source related to cell phone use = DUI. FALSE! Here’s a ref:
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/
This is a summary of studies by an insurance association (I’d figure they know their stuff, after all it is their money on the line).
One recent study:
Most accidents involve a distraction.
Cell phones are high on the list as one of the distractions but
drinking a beverage and other distractions is something like 6x more dangerous than cell phone use.
Another recent study:
Cell phones are much less dangerous than other distractions while driving.
Other studies on this page say cell phone slow braking and speed recovery (both dangerous).
What’s relevant here in terms of legislation:
lots of other stuff people do (that may or may not be illegal but is rarely enforced…I’ve certainly never heard of a beverage ban) while driving is way more dangerous.
NONE says cell phones = DUI.
Source it Karl.
Keith
June 7th, 2006 at 6:31 am
Glenn says:
You can’t legislate a driver to pay attention to the road any more than you can legislate morality. You’re either smart enough to value your own life and property–as well as that of others–or you’re not. Idiots will always find a way. However, for safety’s sake I’d certainly like to have a law which mandates that a driver reserve both hands for driving and not holding a cell phone, or anything else. You ain’t at home in your family room, folks.
June 7th, 2006 at 8:46 am
allearsfor theheartattack says:
i think this law is great but i still think ppl should be able to use them in emergancies
June 30th, 2006 at 5:26 am
» Anti-’Cell Phone While Driving Lawmaker’ Crashes … While Reaching for Phone » Blog Archive Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech says:
[…] I’ve written previously about cities or states proposing headset laws, or even complete bans of cell phones while driving. This is a case of “do as I say, not as I do” as a California State Senator who had previously voted on SB1613, which requires headsets in California starting in 2008, crashed while reaching for her phone while driving. State Sen. Carole Migden rear-ended a car on Highway 12 near Fairfield Friday that left one person with minor injuries, the California Highway Patrol said. […]
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
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June 21st, 2007 at 5:27 am
hellokitty says:
I am glad to hear that Kansas City is proposing to completely ban cell phone use while driving, even with hands-free devices. Contrary to critics claim that hands-free devices should be excluded, a study conducted by the University of Utah in 2001 showed that people engaging in conversations using either hand-held or hands-free devices were twice as likely to miss simulated traffic signals. Opponents may refute that these are only simulated traffic signals and drivers are likely to act otherwise in real life situations. In the study, participants expected something to happen already; therefore, they were more prepared. Yet, drivers on the road will not have this sense of expectation, which may increase the probability of drivers missing such warnings when one is actually on the road. Also, this complete ban against cell phone usage while driving is likely to limit the presence of cell phones within cars. A study mentioned in “Cellular Phones and Fatal Traffic Collisions” by John M. Violanti shows that the presence of cell phones in cars leads to a two-fold increased risk of fatality. Furthermore, cell phone usage while driving can lead to a nine-fold increased risk of fatality. Therefore, with this new legislation, driving along the roads of Kansas City will be much safer.
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