It is a common practice in California to chat with friends or family members on a cell phone while speeding down the freeway. As cars and trucks fill the streets drivers are constantly on their cell phones, attempting to drive without colliding with other cars. Without cell phones, what will we do?
According to the Aug. 29 issue of the Long Beach Press-Telegram, cell phones may be banned for use while driving in California, excluding hands-free models and hand-held cell for emergencies. In the article, Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, said, “Cell phones are the No. 1 cause of distracted-driving accidents in California.”
The article also stated that “a study by the California Highway Patrol found cell phones have been the most common cause of distracted-driving accidents each year since 2001.”
Banning cell phones while driving is a good way of decreasing accidents because they could definitely distract drivers. But if the bill is approved, it will not sit well with California drivers because cell phones are a necessity. I definitely think drivers will continue to use their cell phones with hands-free devices or not, regardless of the bill.
Using cell phones while driving has become a daily routine. For most people they are small gadgets used for communication, organization and entertainment, and because of this, we carry them with us everywhere we go. We keep so much important information in our cell phones, such as telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, home addresses and important messages.
Text messaging while driving has also been a bad habit of some drivers. I will have to admit that I text message friends from time to time while driving and I know it is dangerous.
There are those drivers who do not want to talk while driving because of safety reasons. Some of them pull over to the side of road, shut off their cars and then answer the phone. Doing those three things are probably the best actions to take instead of talking on the phone while driving.
With all of these cell phone features, they allow drivers to utilize them wherever they are, even while driving. But that is no excuse and by making a phone call, checking an e-mail account or text messaging someone could cause harm to someone else, including you.
It is going to take some time, probably months, for California residents to get used to the bill if cell phones are banned. In fact, it may even be a little hard for me to get used to it. But because of that, I do not think Californians will adapt to it well and will end up ignoring the bill.
Starr T. Balmer is a senior journalism major and editor in chief for the Daily Forty-Niner.