FOR MORE INFORMATION: CONTACT: LUTHER OLSEN (800) 991-5541

September 4, 2009

NEW BILLS SEEK TO LIMIT CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING

In December 2008, Americans sent 110 billion text messages.  This staggering number is reflective of a tenfold increase in the use of text messaging in the last three years.  The increase has led some people to raise concerns about the safety of texting while driving.  Texting while driving is illegal in fourteen states and other states are currently considering such a ban.  A survey recently released by the AAA Foundation for Public Safety found that 67 percent of respondents talk on their cell phone while driving and 21 percent admit to having texted while driving.  In Wisconsin a few bills have been introduced to improve driving safety by limiting the use of cell phones for some or all drivers.  The legislation includes proposals regarding sending text messages and using cell phones and has been focused on teen drivers in particular.  This column will explain some of the latest research and will outline a few of the new proposals before the legislature. 

A study released in July analyzed the habits of long truck drivers and found that when the drivers texted while driving their risk of hitting something was twenty-three times higher than when they were not texting.  The study was conducted by placing cameras in the cabs of the trucks and found that in the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers spent about five seconds looking at their mobile devises.  Five seconds may not seem like a lot, but it is the amount of time it takes a large truck at highway speeds to cover the length of a football field.  The study was conducted by the Virginia Tech Traffic Institute with funding from the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  Another study using sophisticated simulators showed that college students were eight times more likely to get in a crash when they were texting than not.  This research was done at the University of Utah. 

While the Virginia Tech study was funded by the federal government and actually installed video cameras in the truck cabs, most police agencies around the country do not collect data about cell phone use, texting included, making it difficult to determine when this type of distracted driving causes an accident.   This has been a concern of policy makers across the country and I suspect it be debated if the texting bills come before the legislature. 

There have been a number of bills proposed this session that directly address the question of the use of cell phones either to talk or to text.  One bill would prohibit teen drivers with a probationary license from texting while driving.  This proposal was recently circulated among legislators looking for people who would sign on as co-sponsors, a way to show initial support, or at least interest, in an idea.  I signed on as a co-sponsor of this proposal since the problem with texting or talking on a cell phone is that it distracts the driver, those who are still gaining experience as new drivers need to focus all their attention on driving.  Another bill was introduced in the senate to ban all texting while driving, but was amended to impose the restrictions only on teen drivers. 

There are a number of arguments against this type of legislation.  For one, current law already prohibits inattentive driving and provides a penalty for those whose failure to pay attention while driving causes an accident.  Furthermore, as is the case around the country, police do not keep records in Wisconsin about cell phone use, so we cannot be certain that there is a problem with texting while driving here.  Maybe Wisconsin drivers are better at multi-tasking, or maybe they already know not to use their cell phone while driving.  A final argument against these proposals is that they could be difficult to enforce because police might not be able to tell when someone is sending a text message on their cell phone.

In the end, the problem is inattentive driving and the more gadgets that are invented the more distracted drivers seem to be.  For the youngest, most inexperienced drivers, it makes sense to limit what can distract them.

If you have any questions about any of the information I have included or if you have suggestions on other topics or issues you would like learn more about, you may call my office toll-free at (800) 991-5541; write me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI  53708; or e-mail me at: Sen.Olsen@legis.state.wi.us . You can also sign up for our newsletter at our website: http://www.senatorolsen.com .                                                           

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