Researchers at the University of Utah examined the simulated driving patterns of 41 adults and their passenger friends, concluding that “the difference between a cell phone conversation and passenger conversation is due to the fact that the passenger is in the vehicle and knows what the traffic conditions are like, and they help the driver.” Most of the study subjects were young adults. (continued)

Graduate students demonstrate the driving simulator used at the University of Utah

“Friends don’t talk to their driving friends on cell phones,” researcher Frank Drews says.

Drivers using mobile phones drove much worse than motorists talking with passengers. The cell-phone users were more likely to drift in their lane, and kept a greater distance between their car and the car in front, signaling a lack of attention. They were four times more likely to miss pulling off the highway at a rest area specified by researchers.

Passenger conversation seemed not to affect performance.

The university has been active in research on cell phone use by drivers; its work includes the famous 1996 study that concluded motorists using cell phones are as bad at driving as drunks. The researchers maintain that both handheld cell phones and those with the hands-free devices are a hazard. They also concluded in another study that young adults using mobile phones exhibit reaction times as slow as those of seniors.

The new study also found that drivers tended to talk more when using the cell phone. This could be due to the drivers trying to control the conversation to mask the fact that they were distracted inattentive to the person on the other end of the line.

The Utah researchers did not address the affects of text messaging, a major national concern in recent months.

The Utah cell phone study first appeared in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, dated Dec. 15.

A plan to prohibit Ontario motorists from using cell phones without hands-free devices was shot down in October 2008.

The market research company Angus Reid says 88 percent of Canadians surveyed were supportive of a ban on use of hand-held cell phones by drivers. 77 percent said this prohibition would make the country’s roads and highways much safer.

Respondents in Atlantic Canada (94%) and Quebec (90%) hold the highest level of support for the cell phone ban, along with women (89%), Canadians over the age of 55 (92%) and university graduates (89%), Angus Reid said.

The Ontario Medical Association recently pushed for a ban on cell phone use in Canada while operating a vehicle, saying it is clear that any activity such as dialing, typing or reading a text message is unsafe for drivers and those around them.

Pending legislation:
None.

Colorado cell phone legislation notes:
State Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, says she’ll sponsor a cell phone and text messaging bill for the upcoming legislative session. “What part of you is focused on the task of driving when you’re reading, entering text and thinking about what you’re composing?” she asked. “I can’t imagine how that’s safe.”

In 2007, the state House transportation committee killed a bill by Rep. Paul Weissman, D-Lousiville, that would have doubled penalties and fines against “distracted drivers” — including those on cell phones. HB 1006 was seen as a way to do something about distracted drivers without criminalizing their behavior, according to news reports. (Weissman did not file a similar bill in 2008.)

The law banning instruction permit holders from using cell phones and PDAs was approved by the Assembly in April 2005.

Cell phone use by drivers is prohibited on the state’s major military bases, including Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy.

The Colorado Springs Gazette editorial page has urged that, “Before banning cell phones on Colorado’s roadways, other driver distractions should also be considered.”

Colorado state troopers have been reporting cell phone involvement in accidents since Jan. 1, 2007, with study results expected in 2008.

Pending legislation:

S3195 and A7299: Would add text messaging to current ban on drivers’ use of hand-held cell phones. Would create a “cell phone safety” component to driver education courses. The Senate approved the measure May 27, 2008. The legislation was last reported in the state Assembly transportation committee.

S8332: Would prohibit teens under 18 from the use of any hand-held electronic device while driving. GPS navigation systems are included in the ban. Sponsored by Sen. Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn. Last reported in in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

A05322: Would prohibit drivers with learner’s permits or restricted licenses from using cell phones, with or without a hands-free device. Extends to all drivers under the age of 20 and all drivers in the first two years of holding driver licenses.

A05772: Drivers who cause injuries or deaths while distracted by a cell phone would be treated the same as drunken drivers. Two points against drivers convicted of being in violation of cell phone laws.

Legislation notes:
New York was a leader in cell-phone restrictions on drivers, passing its widely copied hands-free law in 2001.

The text-messaging legislation, expected to become law, gained momentum after an upstate crash killed five teens. The driver’s cell phone was used to send and receive text messages just before the deadly accident.

“Text messaging is the ultimate distraction,” Senate sponsor Carl Marcellino, D-Long Island, told the Daily News. (Washington’s text-messaging ban took effect in July.)

The Westchester County Board passed a text-messaging ban for drivers in September 2008. “We have an obligation to legislate on this issue,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto. The county-wide ban on text messaging eliminates the need for municipal actions, the board said.

Assembly Transportation Committee chairman David Gantt has been under fire for stalling driving-related legislation. A father whose teen daughter died in a drag-racing crash says, “We need to let people know who is standing in the way, like Gantt.” The New York Times called for his replacement over opposition to red-light cameras.

A Onedia County plan to ban text messaging died in late November as a key committee split on the measure. Sponsor Edward P. Welsh, R-21, Utica, did not attend the hearing.

Pending legislation:
HB 19: Would create distracted driving penalties for motorists who were using cell phones at the time of an accident, with or without hands-free devices. One-point penalty and up to $500 fine upon conviction.

HB 21: Would ban drivers with learning permits (instructional or provisional) from using cell phone, with or without hands-free devices. One-point penalty upon conviction.

HB 23: Would prohibit drivers under 18 from using wireless devices such as cell phones and texting units.

Georgia cell phone/texting legislation notes:
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, has been a driver of cell phone driver legislation in Georgia. She prefiled the bills HB 19 and 21 for the 2009 legislative session. Her HB 174, banning use of cell phones by teen drivers, failed to become law in 2007.

HB 23 has been prefiled for 2009 by Reps. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City, Edward Lindsey of Atlanta and Tom Rice of Norcross (all Republicans).

Georiga’s law preventing school bus drivers from using cell phone while on the road was enacted in August 2007.

Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cell phones or text messaging.

School bus drivers are prohibited from using cell phones or text messaging

Pending legislation:

HB 1615 — Delegate Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, has prefiled legislation to the 2009 General Assembly that would ban text messaging while driving.

Delegate Bobby Mathieson, D-Virginia Beach, returns with a new version of his cell phone legislation of 2008 (HB 904) that would outlaw motorists’ use of handheld phones.

Virginia cell phone, texting legislation notes:

The 2009 Regular Session will convene Jan. 14, 2009.

The younger driver prohibitions went into effect in 2007. The prohibitions on school bus drivers became effective July 1, 2008.

“I believe this is a common-sense restriction on those new drivers who may be tempted to pay more attention to phone calls and text messages than the road, endangering themselves and other drivers,” Gov. Tim Kaine said of the 2007 law.

Virginia’s school bus cell phone/ texting law results in a primary offense; the teen driver law is a secondary offense.

The local AAA backed the 2007 legislation; some conservatives opposed the teen driving plan, saying parents should make the rules for their kids.

Pending legislation:
(The 2009 legislative session begins Jan. 12.)

Recent cell phone/texting legislation
HB 2706: Would have required that “no person while driving a motor vehicle shall be so distracted as to interfere with the safe operation of such motor vehicle. Activities include using personal communication technologies.” Last seen in committee.

HB 2705: Would have prohibited text messaging while driving. Last seen in committee.

HB 2118 would have required hands-free devices for drivers (2007). Died in committee in May 2008.

Kansas cell phone/texting legislation notes:
In Kansas, cell phone-related accidents killed seven people and injured 161 in 2007, according to the state Department of Transportation.

A Kansas University professor reports that 72 percent of the 321 KU students surveyed said they texted while driving.

Lawrence, Kan., received national attention in 2006 for a proposed ban on use of cell phones by drivers. The plan died in committee.

Drivers are prohibited from holding cell phones and other wireless communications devices to their ears.

Drivers are prohibited from text messaging.

Pending legislation:
None.

Washinton cell phone/texting legislation notes:
The text-messaging ban went into effect Jan. 1, 2008. The hands-free law became effective July 1, 2008, the same day as California’s heavily publicized cell phone driving law.

The fine for using a cell phone without a hands-free device is $124, but drivers must have committed another infraction to get that ticket.

Washington state drivers’ attitudes about the cell phone driving law are being tracked by the insurance company PEMCO. In February 2008, before the law went into effect, a poll of drivers found that 60 percent of them believed motorists’ use of a handheld cell phone should be a primary offense. Three months after the law took effect, 50 percent replied that should be a primary offense.

“Perhaps not surprising, younger drivers are significantly more likely than their older counterparts to prefer that the law remains a secondary offense,” the PEMCO pollsters reported. “For their part, younger drivers are also more likely to admit that they talk on the phone only if they don’t see a law enforcement person nearby (19 percent versus 4 percent).”

Texting law leader: Washington is one of six states to outlaw text messaging while driving.

The prohibition of using hands for cell phone use while driving was signed by the governor in May 2007.

Pending legislation:
Numerous bills were filed for the 2008 legislative session that would limit use of cell phones.

They included:

HB 2462, HB 3323: Would require use of hands-free devices by drivers. Not heard in committee.

SB 3120, HB 3198, HB 1987: Would prohibit use of cell phones and other electronic devices by drivers under the age of 18, including those driving with a provisional license.

Legislation notes:
In Honolulu, a plan to ban text messaging while driving was advanced by the city’s transportation committee on Nov. 20. The bill’s author, Councilman Charles Djou, said: “I think it’s needed and I think the community recognizes that text messaging and video game playing while driving is unacceptable.” City police stated that enforcement would be difficult, but remained neutral on the plan. Police lobbied against state cell phone legislation.

All state attempts to prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while driving have failed.

Rep. Joe Souki has led efforts to restrict use of cell phones in Hawaii. His hands-free legislation of 2005 passed in the House but was killed in the Senate.

MADD-Hawaii testified in favor of HB 1987 in January 2008: “Young drivers continue to be over-involved in highway crashes in Hawaii and across the
country. Studies have shown that novice drivers tend to be more easily impaired by distractions such as multiple passengers in the vehicle than are more experienced drivers. With more teens using cell phones, there is an increasing risk of young drivers causing
crashes as a result of the distraction of having a cell phone conversation while operating a
vehicle.”

Captain Evan Ching of the Traffic Division of the Honolulu Police Department testified on HB 1987 that “it would be difficult to enforce” and “problematic.” The HPD officially opposed the bill.

Pending legislation:
None.

Wisconsin cell phone legislation notes:
State Sen. Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, said in November 2008 that he plans to reintroduce legislation that will prohibit the use of a text messaging devices by anyone who is operating a motor vehicle in Wisconsin. A similar bill on driving while text messaging — SB 355 — passed the Senate but ultimately failed last year.

“It does not take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that text messaging is one of the most dangerous things that one can do while driving,” Lasee has said. “This is no different than writing out Christmas cards to your family while driving down the road, and it is an accident waiting to happen.” (View video)

State Rep. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon, has three times proposed bans on teenage drivers using cell phones and text-messaging devices.

Here’s a scary one: Two teenage girls in the Town of Rietbrock were both cited for driving while drinking and text messaging. They crashed their car and it rolled over. Apparently the passenger was steering while the driver text messaged.

The city of Kenosha has banned text messaging and driving. Waupaca County has banned handheld cell phone use by drivers and text messaging.