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Cellphone law necessary for road safety
The Advocate
It’s now official: On Jan. 1, Oregon House Bill 2377 went into effect banning hand-held cell phone use while driving. The law also forbids minors from using any sort of communication device while driving. The minimum penalty for breaking Oregon’s new law is $142.
A cell phone citation in Washington costs offenders $285. California’s cell phone fines are a relative bargain at $20.
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Apparently $20 is not much of a deterrent for some.
Celebrity web site TMZ.com recently photographed and exposed Maria Shriver, wife of California Gov. Schwarzenegger, for multiple hand-held cell infractions while driving her 5,500-pound Cadillac Escalade. When shown photos of his scofflaw sweetheart in action, the governor replied, “Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There’s going to be swift action.”
Officials quickly dispelled fears of “Governator domestic violence” by explaining that by swift action, the governor meant he would ask his wife not to hold the phone while driving.
A recent study conducted by the University of Utah found that reaction times of drivers using hand-held and hands-free cell phones were impaired equally. In fact, drivers using cell phones of any type were impaired as badly as if they had blood alcohol level of .08 percent, the legal definition of DUI.
Evidence is mounting that “driving while distracted” (DWD) is the real issue. DWD is an issue for many, if not most, drivers at one time or another. It doesn’t matter whether DWD is due to a cell phone, a doughnut rolling off the dash or the spilled coffee that has just scalded your genitals beyond recognition. DWD kills people.
We seldom think of cars as being dangerous . . . as long as we are the one behind the wheel. We all seem to have the confidence of Dustin Hoffman’s character in “Rainman” when he said, “I’m an excellent driver, I’m an excellent driver!”
People don’t text while they tame circus lions and they don’t talk to their pals while they work on power lines.
Generally, they like keeping their fingers rather than become a Kentucky-fried electrician.
Consider which you have a better chance of surviving: being struck by a stray bullet from .38 special or struck by a 3800-pound Buick Special. The options really suck but I might be tempted to take a bullet rather than the Buick.
A few years ago, I was driving a full-sized van and stopped on a two-lane road waiting to make a left turn. Suddenly I heard the very loud crash of a car rear-ending me at 35 mph. Even though my brakes were applied, my vehicle was thrown forward at least 10 feet. Something told me to hold still to avoid further injury. After a minute, the other driver came over to my window while in that initial moment when his conscience and concern for others stood taller than impulses for self-preservation and CYA.
He said, “Dude! You all right? I am SO sorry, I was on my cell phone and I didn’t see you.” He was not a bad guy, not a drunk, not a tweaker. He was not trying to evade the police. He was just an ordinary guy who was distracted from a very important task.
After months of physical therapy sessions, rehabilitation consults, multiple trips to every sort of doctor, massage therapist and neurologist, I finally landed where I am now and I found myself on permanent disability. Now I have a very difficult time concentrating for more than a few minutes and I have a memory that works like a steel sieve.
I have never made it back to 100 percent and I said goodbye to a $55,000 income. Now I get by on a disability check that amounts to less than minimum wage.
My father had it right. When my sister and I used to fight like cats and dogs in the back seat of the car, his solution was simple and straightforward. “You guys are a huge distraction. If you don’t knock it off, I am going to pull this car over!”
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