Cellphone use: ban them while driving!

Sadeiki Pitter, Gleaner Intern

Although some 10 states in the United States of America (USA) have already banned the use of cellphones while driving, in Jamaica, the practice seems to be spreading like wildfire. From completely losing focus as they gab away in a line of traffic, to crashing into walls and other vehicles, Jamaican motorists of all sexes and ages are having accidents as a result of the dangerous activity, but as yet there is no law to prohibit the practice.

Over two one-hour periods on two separate days last week, The Gleaner decided to observe motorists driving along the North and East streets intersection. In the first hour, we counted 18 motorists using their cellphones while at the wheel in fast-moving traffic. They drove and conversed on their cellphones with almost no care in the world.

During another one-hour period on the second day, we counted 68 persons using their cellphones to either talk, text, scroll for numbers or dial while driving. And again, this was during fast-moving traffic.

Several studies, particularly in the USA, have been done and have shown that many persons tend to be less focused on the road while using a phone, and this is one of the leading causes of road accidents. This has become a worldwide issue as various government authorities try to find ways to reduce cellphone use while driving. Some countries have even enacted legislation to enforce this rule.

Here in Jamaica, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding proposed such a legislation when he recommended that Government draft a statute to deal with the use of cellphones while manoeuvring a vehicle. To date, nothing has been done. When The Gleaner contacted the National Road Safety Council, the response by Victor Anderson, coordinator for the 'Save 300 Lives Project', was, "It is a part of a comprehensive road traffic act; the draft bill has not yet gone to Parliament and it will probably reach Parliament by September."

However, there is some amount of disagreement over how this legislation should be proposed. Should there be a full ban on the use of cellphones while driving, or should persons be allowed to use the cellphone with a hands-free mode?

Anderson also told The Gleaner that "there is a strong lobby group for the complete ban of cellphone use while driving, a view also strongly supported by Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's traffic division".

Informal surveys of motorists are heavily skewed towards the use of cellphones via a hands-free device as the preferred way to go.

Hand-held cellphone use

Ten states, as well as Washington, DC, Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cellphones while driving. Except for Maryland and West Virginia (until July 2013), all laws are primary enforcement - an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cellphone without any other traffic offence taking place.

All cellphone use

No state bans all cellphone use for all drivers, but many prohibit use by certain subsets:

• Thirty-two states and Washington, DC, ban all cellphone use by novice drivers.
• School bus drivers in 19 states and DC may not use a cellphone when passengers are present.

Text messaging

Thirty-nine states, DC, Guam and the Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. All but four have primary enforcement.

An additional five states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers.

Three states restrict school bus drivers from texting.

Some states, such as Maine, New Hampshire and Utah, treat cellphone use as part of a broader distracted driving issue. In Utah, cellphone use is an offence only if a driver also commits another moving violation (other than speeding).

Source: Convenors Highway Safety Association