Studies also show that driving while talking
on the phone causes the same impairment as someone
who is legally intoxicated....
RGJ.com
By Jaclyn O'Malley
September 26, 2011
While local cops say the upcoming cellphone ban that begins Jan. 1 will save lives and prevent serious injuries caused by distracted driving, they also worry that the state-imposed cramp in many drivers' style could lead to more accidents if they try to sneak calls on their laps or do email checks on handheld phones hidden on passenger seats.
But Sgt. Jim Stegmaier of the Reno police traffic unit said he is hoping the $50 price tag for first offenders, which rises to $250 for the third -- especially in this economy -- will keep motorists from discreetly trying to use their handheld phones.
"Without a doubt, cellphone usage is the No. 1 biggest factor in distracted driving. It's crazy," Stegmaier said. "It's impossible not to see motorists with their phones up to their ears or texting when they're driving down the street.
"We've seen vehicles leave their lane of travel multiple times just driving a block, which is of high concern for us," he said.
"It's going to be a hard habit to break for most people, especially the younger generation who has been texting and talking on their cellphones before they got a driver's license," Allen said. "Law enforcement also has a fear factor that drivers will try to become more stealthy in trying to read their emails or creating texts. They may try to keep their phones out of our sights by keeping them on their laps or on the center console in an effort to sneak a text. This could make the distraction more severe."
Nevada became the 34th state to ban cellphone use while driving because distracted driving deaths across the country were on the rise, said Nevada Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meg Ragonese. Continue Reading
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