Cell phone law comes with unintended consequences

October 20, 2011 by Fred Hosier

Posted in: Analysis/Commentary, cell phones and safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety

As someone in charge of workplace safety, you know it’s possible to create a new hazard by eliminating an old one — an unintended consequence. It appears that’s the case in Nevada where a new ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving went into effect this month.

Nevada’s new law outlaws touching a cell phone while driving. That makes it against the law to text or talk while using a hand-held phone, but you can use a hands-free one. (Retailers report sales of hands-free devices have increased substantially.)

The state’s Highway Patrol says it appears that most motorists are complying with the new law. But officers report another hazard has been created: Many drivers are now pulling onto the shoulders of busy highways to use their hand-held phones.

Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen t old the Las Vegas Review Journal that shoulders are meant for emergencies only and pulling onto them could be dangerous for drivers, particularly at night.

That fact was included in a newspaper editorial. We’ll let the Review Journal take it from there:

“Well, duh. If the phone rings and it’s a child who could be in trouble, or your employer is letting you know you’re needed back early from lunch, lawmakers thought we were all going to circle around for 15 minutes, looking for a safe residential side street on which to park before answering?

“Or maybe lawmakers might want to consider all the likely ramifications of their hundred-thousandth new law before racing to chisel it into the Nevada Revised Statutes.”

Does this unintended consequence make banning the use of cell phones while driving a bad idea? Or is it less hazardous to have more drivers parked on highway shoulders compared to having them answer their phones while driving? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Tags: cell phone law, hand-held cell phones, hands-free cell phones, Nevada, unintended consequences

Larry

I think the cellphone ban should include all american’s. The law maker’s who passed this law should also be ban from using cellphone’s and all electrical device’s while they are at work as are CDL truck driver’s are. Most CDL driver’s are paying attention to what they are doing a longer time than most passenger car driver’s. Seem’s to me the more you practice the better you get. To bad the elected official’s that are passing law’s can’t comprehend this concept.
Aïda

Excuse me Gigi, but I used the correct verbs, and I would not define my sentence construction as “terrible”. And the appropriate word for you to have written was “means”, i.e., “…as a means to restrain unsafe behavior…”.

My point is that journalists should use proper grammar and spelling.
Gigi

Aida: so do you…wrong use of verbs and terrible sentence construction.

And Katie, wish you well with your interview. I personally support the new cell phone law as a mean to restrain unsafe behavior but hope someone with more expertise on road safety will contribute to your project.
Aïda

Katie, as a journalism student you should know to check your grammar and spelling before you post something. =;o)
Katie Sonner

My name is Katie Sonner and I’m 23 year-old journalism student at UNR,if any one would like to give me an interview on the topiv of the new cell phone laws, email me at sonnerk@mail.tmcc.edu, and we could do a short phone interview. Anything helps, let me know if your for or against the new law when responding via email. I look forward to hearing from any of you.
sheila

Remember the days when we left home and had no phone for the period we were gone? Why do we now feel we have to be available every waking second to everyone? There is nothing that important that it connot wait until I get home or until I can check my phone for messages. Some times, I don’t take my cell on purpose just so I can have some quiet time to myself.
Get real, your life and the people you put in danger lives are not worth losing because someone wants bread brought home.
Put down your phones and concentrate on driving!
http://www.senderex.com Donna

Texting while driving is just stupid. A lot of phones have voice command calling. I see no difference in whether you are holding a phone to your ear, or a cup of soda to your mouth.
Aïda

Of course, wider shoulders on the road can help prevent someone from running into a car pulled over to the side of the road, and I would hope states begin to widen their shoulders for reasons like this one.

Secondly, it would be helpful to make prior arrangements with someone so that if you are calling for a NON-EMERGENCY that you let it ring a specified number of rings then hang up, i.e., three rings for non-emergency calls. If I am available to answer the phone, I will answer before the third ring. My cell phone will go to voice mail after five.

If it is an emergency, let it go all the way to voicemail if necessary.

I won’t answer the phone while I am driving, but since I have Caller ID, I will return the call at my next opportunity.
Cecilia

As a young teenager driving, before cellphones (shows my age), I was pulled over because the officer suspected a car full of drunk teenagers…we weren’t, but we were tuning the radio and eating Allsups Burritos and Chimis and not paying one bit of attention to the road! The officer actually disposed of our food and told us “the next time we wanted to “jam out”, eat, and talk about boys…that we should do that anywhere except in a moving vehicle!”

So I really don’t see the need for a specific law on banning the use of cellphones during driving…as my true senario demonstrates, there are plenty of things to distract us…common sense and concern for yourself and others should dictate that you do not use your phone unless you can do so safely!

I understand the need to answer your phone if your child is calling…my children think everything is an emergeny (most likely not), but if I didn’t answer their call, they would have an emergency (or at least as a parent, you fear this). I ignore calls and texts if I am driving unless it is from my children and then

All these things said, I see no reason whatsoever, that someone should text and drive!
Gigi

But apparently we can’t…so, hence the law.
Connie

Yakking on a cell phone, yakking with a passenger, eating while driving, listening to a talk show on the radio while driving, etc…they are all distractions! Are the lawmakers going to ban all of this? Have to agree with Pam…it’s all about being responsible for yourself and your surroundings.
Jay

So, drivers that feel like they have to use their cell phones immediately have altered their irresponsible behavior to yet another habit that continues to endanger themselves, their passengers, and other drivers. I think it’s NOT the new law that’s the weak link in this equation.
Pam

If insividuals would be responsible in the first place there would be no need for a law like this. Responsibility is the key….. whether using the cell phone and driving or pulling off the road and using the cell phone we must be responsible with it.
Anthony Salyers

Ryan,

First of all you can plan for an emergency by going to http://www.ready.gov and get your checklist for a kit for your car. Second, there are many aftermarket bluetooth devices that work through your cars existing radio. And thirdly, being connected as much as we are is great for public safety. We have reverse 9-1-1, text alerts for weather and traffic. And don’t forget the school shootings. VT alerts through campus security direct to students about any security and safety concerns.
Ryan

How exactly do you plan for an emergency? Most cars are not equipped with bluetooth. Oftentimes that is a pricey addtion to the cost of a vehicle because you are required to go up one trim level to get it. Some people can only afford the base model. I feel that we need to leave the responsibility up to the drivers to know when there is an acceptable risk and to be aware of his/her surroundings enough to know when and where a safe spot exists to pull over.

On the other hand, if there is an emergency, what are you going to do about it from your car on the side of the road? Keep driving and call when you get to a safer place to return the call. Why create one emergency reacting to another? Think of the confined space deaths you read about so much…emotional reactions that cause sensless loss of life.

In general, we need to get away from this instant gratification we have of communicating instantaneously with the world at any time. If that is not going away, then car makers are going to have to make bluetooth a standard safety feature in ALL vehicles rather than a luxury in expensive ones.
Gigi

One would think common sense should be the answer to the problem instead of another law but sadly again human behavior has proven itself lacking…hate it for the Nevada people but I am sure there must be some statistics supporting this law.
Personally, using cell phones while driving is very distracting and I agree, most calls can wait but if not, I would consider the circumstances and act accordingly -in case of being followed by a creepy guy down my dark country road.
Anthony Salyers

Most vehicles now come with bluetooth technology so current phone can operate through the stock radio. I say use it or lose it. Most calls can wait until you can pull over safely so plan for an emergency call.

Anthony Salyers EMT
Guest

Not to mention that my daughter can’t pull over to call the police when the creepy guys is following her down a road in a remote area of town after the homecoming football game. Keep driving and use your phone responsibly. Ban texting.