CAT Tracks for January 6, 2012
CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING IN IL

Stupid:

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

One question and two suggestions to Senator Cullerton:

  • Show me the damn study/statistics that prove that talking to someone not in the car with you is more dangerous than talking to someone in the car with you. Lacking that...

  • Don't stop at banning talking on the cell phone while driving...ban any talking by drivers of any vehicles.

  • To help law enforcement officials who will have a helluva time trying to prove that the driver was talking...pass a law requiring all drivers of all motorized vehicles to wear a sound-proof helmet. Make the penalty for disabling the device $10,000 and loss of driver's license. (While you're at it, make ALL occupants of motorized vehicles wear said helmets...SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!!! I bet that statistics show that even with seat belts buckled, the leading cause of permanent injury and death in vehicular accidents is head trauma. Senator Cullerton: "Go for it...and go large!)

Hmmm...

Guess my sleep hangover is wearing off!


From the WSIL TV Channel 3...

Link to Original Story


Cell Phones May Be Banned for Drivers

By Sam Smith

CARBONDALE - Driving while talking on the phone is currently illegal in nine states. According to one lawmaker, Illinois may join that list. Illinois Senate President, John Cullerton, says a cell phone ban could be on the way.

Currently, cellphone use while driving is banned in construction and school zones, and for drivers under the age of 19. If Senate President John Cullerton's prediction is correct, all drivers everywhere will have to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

"With the increase in technology the use of cells while people are driving is a real diversion and it's something I don't think it'll pass yet, but with more and more data, it could be something down the line, " says Cullerton.

That data is gathered by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB and state lawmakers want to make the roads safer, but it will be a while before the law will be passed.

"The NTSB proposed this. There's no question it's a distraction while driving. I don't think there's the political support yet to pass that, but I think it's something that might be inevitable," says Cullerton.

If cell phone use is banned in cars, drivers will be forced to use hands free devices. Marion resident Jeff Jenkins will make the switch, and is tired of seeing people breaking the current laws now.

"I witnessed an accident a month ago, that both women involved were both looking down and on the phone, and I got out of the way because I saw the accident about to happen," says Jenkins.

Cullerton wants to avoid those types of accidents and he is even suggesting to take the ban further, to ban any use of cell phones, including hands free devices.

"There's not a big difference between when you're holding a phone or not, it's the distraction in talking to someone who's not in the car with you," says Cullerton.

If Cullerton's suggestion becomes law, Illinois would be the first state to ban hands free devices.

The General Assembly is scheduled to begin their spring session on January 31st.