Teens told to shut up and drive

Starting today, teens in Colorado with new driving licences are banned from using their cell phones while driving [via textually.org.] While I think this is a great first step at making the roads a safer place (I’m for a ban on all cell phone use while driving, everywhere), it’s only a half-step and it’s clear who is behind the fight against bans on in-car cell phone use:

“Most states are looking at limited bans because it is unclear – and a bone of contention with the telecommunications industry – whether cell phone use while driving can be tied to more accidents.”
– Santa Cruz Sentinel

So, it’s the phone companies, who profit from the use of cell phones, who don’t want cell phones banned in cars. Very surprising. Apparently, in-car use of cell phones isn’t dangerous. How do we know? The phone company told us so, that’s how:

“The cell phone industry says studies show cell phone use was a factor in less than 1 percent of all accidents in states that require reporting – California, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.”

Now that all this “cell phones are distracting” nonsense is settled (thank you telecommunications industry!) we can ask why teens are the ones being targeted. Let’s have Matt Sundeen, a policy researcher with the legislatures group, tackle that one:

“States are willing to take “baby steps” with younger drivers because it’s easier to get the legislation passed, Sundeen said. He said many lawmakers oppose stronger laws because they don’t want to anger their constituents.”

Translation: teenagers don’t vote, so screw them.

Well, that may be true today. But if these guys get their way (and they should) all this will change. Then poor mommy and daddy will have to stop their cell phone yakking while in the Suburban too. After that, perhaps we can all ride our bikes on the road in peace.

tagged: [cell_phones] [cars] [youth_culture]