Wesselhoft Moves To Restrict Cell Phone Usage
People need to stop using cell phones and keep both hands on the wheel when driving, says Rep. Paul Wesselhöft. The Moore Republican plans to file legislation to increase punishments for cell-phone-using drivers.
Under Wesselhöft's bill if an automobile accident can be attributed to cell-phone use, the penalty will be a mandatory $1,000 fine and a mandatory 20 days in jail along with any other penalties for other crimes associated with the accident.
"I hope a result of passing a bill like this will be to strongly encourage drivers to pull off the road to a safe area if they must use their cell phones," said Wesselhöft. "This will save people from serious injuries or death. There's no reason for more innocent lives to be lost because a phone call or text 'couldn't wait.'"
Wesselhöft noted that recently in New York a 17-year-old driver slammed head-on to a truck, killing her and four other recent high school graduates. The driver was text messaging friends at the time of the accident.
A research study by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) showed drivers looked at the road less while dialing manually (just 40 percent of the time) than when using hands-free dialing (50 percent). "I hope my bill is taken seriously because I think saving people's lives is a serious issue," said Wesselhöft. "If my bill passes the public will be amazed to see how many accidents can be attributed to cell phone use."
Wesselhöft said his bill would not prohibit the use of cell phones when driving but will have penalties for those who cause accidents due to their lack of paying attention to the road.
Citing the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Wesselhöft said cell phones have been a contributing factor in hundreds of automobile accidents in recent years:1998-98 accidents; 1999-107 accidents; 2000-93 accidents; 2001-134 accidents; 2002-235 accidents; 2003-337 accidents; 2004-567 accidents; 2005-775 accidents; 2006-802 accidents.
The OHSO also reported that in 2006 there were 3 fatalities and 36 individuals incapacitated in accidents where cells phones were a major factor.
Under Wesselhöft's bill if an automobile accident can be attributed to cell-phone use, the penalty will be a mandatory $1,000 fine and a mandatory 20 days in jail along with any other penalties for other crimes associated with the accident.
"I hope a result of passing a bill like this will be to strongly encourage drivers to pull off the road to a safe area if they must use their cell phones," said Wesselhöft. "This will save people from serious injuries or death. There's no reason for more innocent lives to be lost because a phone call or text 'couldn't wait.'"
Wesselhöft noted that recently in New York a 17-year-old driver slammed head-on to a truck, killing her and four other recent high school graduates. The driver was text messaging friends at the time of the accident.
A research study by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) showed drivers looked at the road less while dialing manually (just 40 percent of the time) than when using hands-free dialing (50 percent). "I hope my bill is taken seriously because I think saving people's lives is a serious issue," said Wesselhöft. "If my bill passes the public will be amazed to see how many accidents can be attributed to cell phone use."
Wesselhöft said his bill would not prohibit the use of cell phones when driving but will have penalties for those who cause accidents due to their lack of paying attention to the road.
Citing the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Wesselhöft said cell phones have been a contributing factor in hundreds of automobile accidents in recent years:1998-98 accidents; 1999-107 accidents; 2000-93 accidents; 2001-134 accidents; 2002-235 accidents; 2003-337 accidents; 2004-567 accidents; 2005-775 accidents; 2006-802 accidents.
The OHSO also reported that in 2006 there were 3 fatalities and 36 individuals incapacitated in accidents where cells phones were a major factor.
Labels: Cell Phone Usage, Paul Wesselhoft
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:17 PM
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