|
S.C. Statehouse
Report
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006
VIEW: http://www.statehousereport.com/columns/06.0924.phone.htm
Ausband's passing
leaves hole
S.C. Statehouse Report editor Jerry Ausband passed
away Sept. 16. We're deeply saddened over his loss and miss
his wit, wise counsel and professionalism.
Jerry Cox Ausband, 1937-2006, Rest in Peace.
Taking a look at using cell phones
By
Andy Brack
Publisher
SC Statehouse Report
 SEPT.
24, 2006 - - Cellular telephones are as ubiquitous in modern
American society as hamburgers, apple pie and bad television
shows. Some 200 million Americans have cell phones, according
to studies.
In the next South Carolina legislative session, there's a
good chance state lawmakers will look at ways to restrict
cell phone usage when people are driving, predicts state Sen.
Larry Martin, R-Pickens.
"People are getting more and more aggravated in what
they perceive as inattention to driving" from people
using cell phones on the highway, he said.
But he admitted, cell phone usage while driving is a two-edged
sword: For some, it may serve as a distraction and be a contributing
cause to accidents. But for many, it is a necessary convenience
because it helps people stay in contact better and allows
them to work more efficiently.
So far, the District of Columbia and four states, including
California earlier this month, have banned use of cell phones
in cars unless drivers are using hands-free devices, such
as headsets. Lawmakers in those states curbed use of hand-held
phones in cars generally because of concerns of driver distraction,
inattention and unsafe driving behaviors, such as tail-gating.
A highly-publicized June study highlighted how drivers using
cell phones in traffic posed five times the risk of getting
in an accident. More surprisingly, their driving behavior
was more dangerous than driving drunk, the study said.
"As a society, we have agreed on not tolerating the
risk associated with drunk driving," University of Utah
researcher Frank Drews told HealthDay News. "This study
shows us that somebody who is conversing on a cell phone is
exposing him or herself and others to a similar risk -- cell
phones actually are a higher risk."
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
also says it's risky to talk on the phone while driving: "Research
shows that driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious
cognitive distraction and degrade driver performance,"
according to its Web site. "The data are insufficient
to quantify crashes caused by cell phone use specifically,
but NHTSA estimates that driver distraction from all sources
contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes."
|
FEEDBACK
POLICY
We
encourage your feedback. If you'd like to respond to
something in SC Statehouse Report, please
send us an e-mail. We reserve the right to edit for
length and clarity. One submission allowed per month.
Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint.
Please keep your comment to 250 words or less:
feedback@statehousereport.com
|
It's easy to see how talking on a phone while driving could
pose problems. Instead of paying full attention to driving
conditions, you might be listening to a fine point of somebody's
conversation. Instead of driving defensively, you might be
looking away from the road and dialing.
But it's just as important to keep in mind there are other
distractions drivers face constantly. They might be just as
distracted due to an animated conversation with somebody in
the passenger seat. Or they could be eating. Or they could
spill hot coffee in their lap.
In 2005, some S.C. lawmakers offered three bills to curb
use of cell phones in cars. Two of the bills targeted young
drivers, who reportedly engage in riskier behaviors when talking
on the phone and driving. None of the bills received serious
consideration.
But Martin says he's asking state highway officials for statistics
to see if cell phone use in vehicles can be linked in any
way to more accidents.
Anecdotally, he says he's heard several stories of accidents
caused in part while drivers were on the phone. But before
taking any legislative steps, he wants to see some data.
In fact, there's already a law on the books which allows
police to charge drivers with "distracted driving."
That law, he noted, might be applicable to risky cell phone
use.
Perhaps all that is needed to make state roads safer from
drivers who engage in risky behaviors is to enforce what's
currently the law regardless of whether they're talking on
the phone, yelling at a kid in the backseat or focusing more
on the food they're eating than the highway.
Send your comments to Andy Brack at brack@statehousereport.com.
His book of commentary, Bugging
the Palmettos, is available for
$15.00. Click
here for more.
Recent commentary
9/24: Don't eat
your spinach
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
9/18: Historically
black colleges prepare students
To the editor:
Thank you for the article on SCSU. (Commentary,
8/27) It is and has been a great institution of higher
learning for African American students and has been regarded
as such in the African American community in SC.
Many employers do not feel that black colleges and universities
prepare their students academically (I've actually heard managers
make this statement in one of my previous positions). I hope
this will change this perception and give black colleges and
universities their just dues. Several of my family members
and friends have done well as graduates of a HBCU (historically
black colleges and universities.) HBCUs need more of this
kind of publicity.
-- Doris Starkes, Arlington, Va.
Recent
feedback
 The
best way to get South Carolina news is to augment your morning
paper and TV show with SC Clips, a daily executive
news summary compiled from more than 30 state newspaper and
TV sources. It's delivered every business day and is packed
with news of statewide impact, politics, business and more.
Subscriptions are affordable at $30 per month -- and less
for business subscribers. More: SC
Clips.
How you can subscribe to the full edition
of the report
The above version of S.C. Statehouse Report is the
free edition. Our paid version, which costs about $100 per
month, offer a weekly legislative forecast packed with information
that can keep you and your business on the cutting edge.
Notes veteran lawmaker Sen. Glenn McConnell: "Statehouse
Report gives an inside practical report of weekly problems
with and progress of legislation. It reviews the whole landscape."
In each issue of Statehouse Report, you'll get:
- Hot issue
-- an early peek at weekly commentary on something really
big. Last year, we continually beat other news organizations
in finding major trends in issues, from teacher and budget
cuts to wetlands proposals.
- Agenda -- a weekly forecast of
the coming week's floor agenda
- Radar Screen -- a behind-the-scenes
look at what's really going on in the General Assembly
- McLemore's World -- an early view
of our respected cartoonist Bill McLemore.
- Tally Sheet -- a weekly review
of all of the new bills introduced in the legislature in
everyday language
- Blogroll -- a weekly summary of
the best of South Carolina political blogs.
- Scorecard -- A Thumbs Up and Thumbs
Down of major political/policy events for the week.
- Calendar -- a weekly list of major
meetings for the House, Senate and state agencies.
- Megaphone -- a quote of the week
that you'll find illuminating.
To learn more about subscriptions, contact Andy Brack at:
brack@statehousereport.com
South Carolina Statehouse Report
Publisher: Andy Brack
Editor
Emeritus: Jerry Ausband
Assistant
Editor: Betsy Brack
Phone: 843.670.3996 · Fax: 843.722.9887
Subscription or sponsorship Inquiries: info@statehousereport.com
Have an event for the SC Statehouse Report calendar?
E-mail details to: news@statehousereport.com
or fax to above number.
|
