| Thanks to California Senate Bill 1613 (SB1613) | | | | negligence. |
| signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, | | | | How many accidents are really caused by |
| Californians will have to put down their cell phone | | | | distracted cell phone drivers? That depends on |
| while driving and become hands-free by July 1st | | | | who you ask. According to a Harvard study in |
| 2008. | | | | 2002, 5% of all traffic accidents are caused by |
| The bill, brought forward by Sen. Joe Simitian, | | | | distracted cell phone users. California Highway |
| D-Palo Alto, requires motorists to use a | | | | Patrol statistics show that cell-phone use is the |
| hands-free device when using a cell phone while | | | | top cause of accidents triggered by distracted |
| driving. The new law will impose a fine of $20 for | | | | drivers going all the way back to 2001. At the |
| a first-time offense and a $50 fine for each | | | | bill-signing ceremony in Oakland, Governor |
| additional offense. The bill allows exceptions for | | | | Schwarzenegger said; |
| calls to law enforcement agencies for emergency | | | | "The simple fact is, it's dangerous to talk on your |
| purposes, or emergency services personnel while | | | | cell phone while driving," "So getting people's hands |
| operating an authorized emergency vehicle. | | | | off their phones and onto their steering wheels is |
| In addition to these exceptions, commercial truck | | | | going to make a big difference in road safety." |
| drivers, tow truck drivers and operators of | | | | While it's difficult to argue with the Govenator, |
| farming vehicles are also exempt. | | | | Sprint Nextel would beg to differ as the only cell |
| The question for many Californians' will be: How | | | | phone company opposed to sb1613. |
| can I become hands free? | | | | Sprint Nextel |
| Becoming hands free means you are talking on | | | | "SB1613 fails to address the real public issue of |
| your cell phone while driving, yet both of your | | | | inattentive driving and singles out just one |
| hand's are still on the steering wheel. Actually, you | | | | potential distraction, the handheld wireless phone," |
| can have only one hand on the steering wheel, as | | | | said a letter from Sprint Nextel to the governor |
| long as the other hand is not on a cell phone. | | | | asking for his veto. "It ignores many other more |
| Interestingly, you can still eat the cheeseburger | | | | significant causes of inattentive driving, including |
| and fries from your favorite fast food restaurant | | | | drowsiness, smoking, and adjusting the radio/CD |
| with one hand, while you steer with the other | | | | player. And it fails to distinguish between |
| hand without getting a ticket. Same goes for | | | | inexperienced teen drivers, who may be easily |
| putting on makeup, brushing your teeth, trimming | | | | distracted, and experienced adult drivers whose |
| your nose hairs and other single-handed driving | | | | experience and maturity make them completely |
| habits too disgusting to mention...but I digress. | | | | capable of operating an automobile safely while |
| So, how do you become hands free? | | | | speaking on a wireless phone." |
| Well my California friend, there's more than one | | | | Good points on both sides, however, the bill has |
| way to become hands free. | | | | passed and will go live in July of 2008. It will be |
| 1. Abstinence ( don't use your cell phone while | | | | interesting to see how many drivers will actually |
| driving) | | | | be pulled over for cell phone violations. The fact is, |
| 2. Speaker Phone (yell loud when your in your car | | | | today I drive down the streets and highways in |
| alone, and make others believe you're a | | | | California and it seems almost everyone has a |
| schizophrenic) | | | | phone to their ear, frankly, I don't believe there |
| 3. Use a bluetooth wireless device. ( you know, | | | | will be enough law enforcement resources to |
| those things that people stick in their ear's) | | | | ticket all sb1613 violators. |
| 4. Use a "wired" headset. ( most economical, ear | | | | For $20 or $50, some people will likely gamble and |
| buds plugged into your cell phone) | | | | continue to use their cell phone on the road. And |
| 5. Install a "car kit" ( talk loud when your in the | | | | for some of us, we welcome the break in |
| car alone, and make others believe you're a | | | | connectivity for a change. In my world of |
| schizophrenic) | | | | technology, I'm wired to the world all day at |
| While the debate over whether sb1613 will make | | | | work, on the way home with my cell phone and |
| California roads any safer continues, many believe | | | | wired once again from my computer at home, as |
| that even though there are other distractions that | | | | of July of 2008 my drive time is going to |
| cause driver inattentiveness, sb1613 will address | | | | improve. |
| one of the more visible reasons for driver | | | | |