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Driven To Distraction

By Eddie Farah

By Eddie Farah on July 5, 2008

Washington State has decided that if you talk on the cellphone while driving you can face a $101 fine.

Washington State joins four other states - California, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, that have cellphone restrictions while driving.

Do not expect Florida to jump on this bandwagon anytime soon.

Florida is one of eight states including Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah, that actually prohibits putting a ban on drinking and cellphone talking.

A measure that would have made it against the law to talk on a cellphone or send text messages while driving, was put on hold in the state Senate a year ago when the phone companies argued that putting on mascara or eating breakfast is just as distracting as talking and texting. Not surprisingingly, the bill SB2372, went nowhere.

"We think current driving laws give our law enforcement officers a lot of leeway," to ticket drivers who are being careless, said Doug Mannheimer, a lobbyist for Sprint.

Forget what telephone lobbyists think. Many others believe a ban on using a hand-held cellphone is a good idea. Just ask motorcyclists. They say they're always dodging distracted drivers. And how exactly does one drive and text at the same time? Drive well that is.

Research shows that younger, less experienced drivers are the most likely to be distracted while talking to their friends and driving.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 17 states and the District of Columbia restrict both hand-held and hands-free phone use by young drivers.

Florida's lack of action on this issue is sending a wrong message to young driver and adults alike - that driving while distracted is okay and the state doesnt take the issue seriously.

Remember a ban on a hand-held cellphone does not not necessarily extend to a hands-free model that can be used if one really needs to conduct business on the road.

It's already dangerous enough to get behind a wheel, we don't need distracted drivers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on July 05, 2008 (boomark / email).