Ban Cellphones for Teens while driving?

[sgrizzle]

California is doing it now:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-cellphones28aug28,1,3395599.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

quote:
Bill would ban cellphone use by teen drivers
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All mobile devices, even hands-free ones, are targeted by measure passed by the Assembly.
By Patrick McGreevy and Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
August 28, 2007
SACRAMENTO -- Citing a fistful of studies that show teenagers among the most distracted and dangerous of drivers, the state Assembly on Monday passed a bill that would prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from using a cellphone, pager, text-messaging device or laptop while driving.

The bill passed by a 62-5 vote, with Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City) noting that teenagers make up 6% of licensed drivers but 16% of auto accident fatalities.

"On average we are losing 17 kids a day across the United States due to fatalities in which distraction was involved," Garcia said.

The bill, previously approved by the state Senate, goes back there for expected final approval of amendments before it is placed on the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not decided yet whether he will sign or veto it, officials said.

Opponents of the measure, including Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi), saw it as another effort at creating a "nanny government."

"The parents should have the responsibility, not the state," he said. "There are other things like CDs that are also an issue and it's very difficult to enforce this law."

Opponents also said there already are laws to prevent distracted and unsafe driving.

Assemblyman Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach) said he voted against the bill because he has used a hands-free cellphone in his car for more than a decade and does not think it is a distraction.

"I feel that for a young person who is driving, who is responsible, that wouldn't be a distraction either," Silva said.

The legislation was introduced by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who cited a 2001 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that said 16-year-old drivers have a crash rate five times greater than 18-year-olds and almost 10 times greater than drivers between 30 and 59.

Research by Ford Motor Co. found that teen drivers were four times more distracted than adult drivers when each used a cellphone while driving, he said.

Simitian said the National Transportation Safety Board recently put a cellphone ban for young drivers on its "Most Wanted" list of safety recommendations to states.

"I introduced this bill for one simple reason: It will save lives," said Simitian.

"Year after year, car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers. The young drivers who are using cellphones, pagers and PDAs while driving are putting not only themselves at risk, but all of us as well."

He was optimistic that the governor would sign the legislation, noting that when Schwarzenegger signed a bill last year that will require hands-free cellphones for all drivers by July 1, 2008, "he cited his own experience with his teenage daughter, who he has prohibited from driving while using a cellphone."

SB 33, which would go into effect on July 1, 2008, prohibits drivers under 18 from using cellphones or any mobile service devices -- including hands-free cellphones -- except in an emergency.

Violators would be assessed a $20 fine for the first offense, and a $50 fine for subsequent offenses, but with no violation point on their driving record.

The bill, although outlawing the use of mobile devices, does not specifically address commercial systems such as Onstar, which allow drivers to communicate with operators to gain information on the mechanical condition of the car and its location.

There have been a slew of recent cellphone-related crashes involving teenagers. In Arizona earlier this month, an 18-year-old teen who was text-messaging on her cellphone while driving was involved in an accident in which she and another driver were killed.

In New York last month, a 17-year-old was using her cellphone to talk and text message while driving an SUV. She slammed head-on into a truck. The teen and four passengers, all recent high school graduates, were killed.

The American Automobile Assn. and Seventeen magazine conducted a survey of 16- and 17-year-old drivers in April and found that 61% admitted to risky driving habits.

Of that 61%, 46% said they sent text messages while driving and 51% said they talked on their cellphones while driving.

The legislation sounds like a good idea to Aida Bagdasaryan, a 15-year-old from Glendale.

She explained that although she doesn't drive yet, she has friends who do.

And when those friends use their cellphones while driving, "I don't feel safe," she said.

"It's a huge distraction when you're paying attention to your cellphone and not the road," Aida said, while shopping at the Glendale Galleria.

Katherine Felix, 17, of Whittier, agreed.

"There are so many reckless drivers -- especially teens," Katherine said. "I don't think you absolutely need to talk to someone to tell them how your day is while you are driving."

The La Habra High School junior said a friend of hers is constantly texting while driving, using her knees to steer.

"It's not very safe," she said. "She is a crazy driver."

Katharine's mother, Maria Felix, 45, said she would be relieved to have the proposed bill made law. Maria Felix said she has a rule that her daughter can't place calls while driving unless it is an emergency.

"We've seen the dangers with us and other people,' she said. "I've been on the phone sometimes and I haven't seen things and have had to stop all of a sudden. It's scary."

UCLA student Arian Moreh, 19, who would not be covered by the law, admits he has experienced firsthand how young people can become distracted drivers because of the latest technology.

"Probably I'm one of them," he said. "But I haven't got into an accident. I think I'm OK. You've just got to be good at it. You've got to be talented. I do text while I drive. I think that it's just part of a routine. As long as I'm being safe it doesn't matter."

I think other states have done this in the past. I think it's not a bad idea, anyone else?

[cannon_fodder]

D'oh!  I dont want to sign up for that paper...  care to post the gist of it?

By and large, I'm against taking things away from teenagers.  First, I want them to learn to be responsible.  With a cell phone, its mostly an annoyance thing... so why not try to teach them to be polite at that stage?  Second, if a kid has an after school job and wants to spend it on a phone - so what?  

and Third, and most importantly, when my son starts to drive I will get him a cell phone for three reasons:
1) Reward System:  it gives me something to take away while showing him that I care enough to get him a phone
2) Safety, or at least the possibility of safety.  He can call if his car breaks down or if he is ever in a situation he is uncomfortable with.
and 3) Its a leash.  He will think I'm being nice, I'm really keeping track of him.

So no, I do not think its a good idea.  Unless the article has some caveats in it.

[Conan71]

I have a 17 year-old and 14 year-old daughter.  I'm also divorced from their mother.  I like that I have a direct line to either of them so we can talk at anytime or just send them a random text to let them know, one more time, how much I love them.  

The 17 Y/O now lives with me and she's very good about calling and telling me if she's going somewhere after school or rowing practice, or to call and let me know that she's made it somewhere safely.

Probably a luxury for a 14 y/o to have a cell phone, but if your teen is driving, it's a necessity, IMO.

[restored2x]

I haven't read the article - but:

My 10-year-old daughter has a cell phone. It is a small investment to teach responsibility. She has done amazingly well not running up text-messaging bills (I didn't turn it off because that would defeat the purpose of teaching responsibility and accountability).

It is comforting to know that in an emergency she can contact me, her mom, or police, etc. She understands it is a privilege that can be revoked. When I gave her the phone, she cried. It was a statement to her, "You're a big girl and I expect you to behave responsibly as a big girl."

She is who she is, and is "mature" for her age - if I had another pre-teen or teen who couldn't handle a cell, they wouldn't get one. So far, so good - knock on wood with fingers and toes crossed.

The city, state, etc. banning cell phones for teens sounds VERY extreme to me. It's not alcohol, tobacco or plutonium. Also - for many kids today, there is no such thing as an afternoon malt shop. Kids "hang out" electronically - that's where they meet and socialize. Whether by cell or by teh internets. Taking away an important part of socialization when those skills are being developed cannot help.

If we parent our kids correctly, that should also translate into how and when they use their cell phones.

Don't know if any of what I said makes sense to anyone else, but that's my 2 cents.

[Conan71]

You know what's amazing R2X?

Seems like kids with responsible parents seem to learn responsibility a whole lot better. []

[Noodlez]

if you don't wish to make an account you might want to check out BugMeNot for some login info.  It's also in the form of a uber handy firefox extension

Anyway unless you have some kind of mark on your car like a rookie in nascar how are they to know you are 18 or under. This could cause young looking 20 somethings to get pulled over for no reason.

[sgrizzle]

I posted the story. It's banning them for teens while driving, not altogether.

[Ibanez]

How about banning them for Tulsa Police while they are driving? In the last month I have been nearly hit 3 times by a Tulsa cop who was yakking away on a cell phone.

[Conan71]

Plenty of weaving adults who can't multi-task ought to be banned from talking while they are driving as well.

[restored2x]

I've already posted my rant about celling while driving in a different thread - Basically - Drive, or talk. That goes for all drivers - not just teens.

[sgrizzle]

I think the teen rule would be a good start at addressing the issues. I would support something like this:

No cells or PDA for the driver while in a non-parked vehicle for all drivers 18 and under.

For those ever 18, cell phones can be used via a handsfree or speakerphone only. No email or text messaging in non-parked vehicles.

[T Badd]

I have a lot more problems with the soccer moms in their monster SUVs, completely involved and distracted by their conversations on the cell phones smashed against their heads.

I've been in two separate auto incidents since I moved back to Tulsa in '02. Both were caused by yuppie females (not being sexist...it's just that they were both women) talking on the phone while "driving", and simply not paying attention to the world around them. My son's elementary school in Broken Arrow is more dangerous than the Autobahn, IMO.

[Who Cares]

I don't think you should single out teens, because not all are as careless as everybody says. I've been almost hit or run off the road four times by drivers talking on their cellphones, and they wern't teens. They were all adults.

[cannon_fodder]

In that instance I will give my standard reply:

The conversation is the distraction, not the phone.  Clearly dialing and texting is more of an issue, but having the phone held to your ear is not the distracting part of talking on a cell phone.  Unless we are willing to ban cell phones, CB's, and conversation with passengers in the car - the law is just a placebo.

Not to mention, as pointed out in previous threads, the percent of people on the cell phone that get in an accident corresponds closely with the % of people on a cell phone at any given time.  In other words, it has no statistical effect.

[Conan71]

I guess it would be about as easy to enforce as seatbelt laws, but would more likely be a "dog-pile" citation in the event the teen is stopped for another violation and the cop sees them on the phone or is in an accident whilst chatting away.