Sound Judgment, Not Law, Is Needed Self-Policing Works Trust Motorists To Use Cell Phones With Care.

Should talking on the phone while driving be prohibited? < The use of cell phones while driving a car should not be banned or restricted by government.

Law enforcement resources are already stretched thin; we do not need to add cell phone enforcement to their list of duties.

We do need cell phone users to govern themselves and act responsibly while driving and talking on the phone.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1.6 million crashes a year, 25 percent of all accidents, involve distraction. But statistics are not available on the exact distraction. Drinking coffee, putting on makeup or having a spirited conversation can be just as distracting as setting up a business deal over the phone.

People are busy. Cell phones help them use limited time more efficiently. For some workers, vehicles serve as a mobile office. With cell phones, they can call customers without leaving the freeway. A valuable tool would be lost if cell phone use while driving were to be banned.

Some suggest drivers pull off the road to conduct conversations on cell phones. Is a row of idling cars at roadside any safer?

Many occupations require the use of communication devices while driving. Pilots, police officers and taxi drivers, to name a few, use communication devices while driving. Usually, their calls are short. And they restrict their communications at certain times. Pilots, for instance, aren’t chatting away during such critical times as takeoff or landing. Cellular phone users should use this same care in monitoring themselves.

Cell phone users should not conduct complicated business negotiations or emotional personal conversations while driving. They can limit the length of their conversations. And they can avoid using the phone while contending with hazardous road conditions or heavy traffic.

Hand-held cell phones can be easily converted to hands-free for less than $60. In cities where the use of hand-held cell phones is banned, some allow hands-free cell phone use.

Let’s skip any new legislation on cell phone use while driving. Drivers can monitor themselves and use responsible judgment to govern cell phone use, without the mandate of another law.