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Main StoragePatrick Wolf
June 13, 2001
(This is a critique based upon an article about proposed cell phone legislation)
Two Democrat Congressmen from the Northeast, Representative Gary Ackerman of New York and Senator Jon Corzine of New Jersey are backing a bill that would regulate how citizens use their cell phones within the confines of their automobile. The bill is known as the CRASH Act, which stands for Call Responsibly and Stay Healthy. The CRASH Act would mandate that states implement restrictions on cell phone users when they are on the road. If the states do no comply, they will be at risk of not receiving any federal funding from the government to improve their highways.
On the other side of the issue is a study put out by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. This particular group looked at over 32,000 traffic accidents, that were reported to have been caused by distractions, in order to examine what all the different causes were for these accidents. Almost 30% of these accidents were caused by outside objects, persons or events. I would take this to mean weather, animals, or people pulling out in front of you. People adjusting their radio caused 11% of the accidents, while another 10% of these accidents were brought on by other passengers in the car distracting the driver. At the bottom end of the spectrum is cell phone use, which ranks at 1.5%, and is only .06 points above smoking in the car.
The technology sector, particular those in the wireless community, is now beginning to help solve this issue, ironically one in which it created. There has been the implementation of hands-free devices, voice-activated calling, and onboard navigation systems. All of these innovations allow the driver to communicate with ease and keeps their attention on the road.
Opinion
This particular piece of legislation reminds me of the recent bill signed into law by Missouri’s Governor Bob Holden, that lowers the blood-alcohol limit down to .08% in order to be considered legally drunk. Both bills essentially dictate that if a state does not comply with a certain law from the federal government, they will be not be receiving any tax payer money to fund local projects. However if the state hastily complies, they are then considered to be on the right track, thus receiving their early Christmas present in the form of millions of dollars. Sounds like blackmail on the federal level. What business is it of government to regulate how people spend their time inside their vehicle. If they are driving in a responsible manner, receive a call on their cell phone, and proceed to still drive in a responsible manner, why should that person be penalized? While the person arguing with a family member is made to appear as not much of a threat, even though they are 7.5 times more likely to be involved in an accident. What’s next? Ban smoking in cars? That one is probably next.
Due to this CRASH Act, and the mandatory need for drivers to purchase hands free items such as headsets, earphones, or car radio hookups, this will no doubt be a nice shot in the arm for telecommunication companies. Most of who, are more than willing to sell various wireless devices at a reasonable cost to these newly dubbed criminals who use cell phones. If there is a new bill signed into law, that requires a product be purchased, then I do not see much incentive for a company such as Cingular, Verizon, or Sprint, to lower the prices on these necessary items. In all honesty, I think the opposite would take place concerning their price structure. In a period where these items are luxuries and not necessities, there is more room for competition among the companies.
Perhaps all cell phone users should just pull off to the side of the road when their phone rings and clutter up the freeway. According to the article, one of Congressman Acker’s own constituents did pull over to the side of the road, only to be hit by a delivery truck and killed. I wonder if the driver of the delivery truck was doing anything high-risk such as listening to the radio or eating a hamburger?
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