2008 Woodie Awards
Teens with cell phones - beware
Briana Byrd - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Metro
If you don't have a full license yet, it soon might be a bad idea to pick up your phone next time you're behind the wheel.
A bill recently introduced in the Iowa House would mandate a $30 fine for people with learner's permits or intermediate licenses caught talking or texting on their cell phones or other handheld devices while driving.
State Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, who filed the bill, did so after a crash killed two high-school students in his district who were using their cell phones while driving.
"I have not read the bill, but the intent is to provide public safety for youth," said Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville. "We really do have to address this, because the biggest reason for youth having accidents on the road is their attention spans. We certainly want young people to be learning the safest way to drive a vehicle. It makes it more interesting because McKinley is an under-30 guy himself."
If ticketed, drivers with permits and intermediate licenses would be forced to wait a certain time period before they could obtain a full license. The fine does not apply, however, to drivers who are at a complete stop off the roadway, calling 911, law enforcement, or emergency-response agencies.
"This [bill] gives a little more clarity for people just learning how to drive," Bailey said.
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, in 2000, people between the ages of 15 to 24 had the highest crash percentages, 34 percent - almost twice that of people ages 25 to 34.
"The bill addresses the age-old question of personal freedom versus personal safety," Jacoby said. "It's one thing to have [the cell phone] in your ear, it's another to be looking down and typing away. There's a concern for drivers and passengers while on the road. While young people may have better reaction times, they also tend to make less-safe decisions. Texting while driving takes away from concentrating on the road."
Two Iowa City West High students, Jessica Hansen and Sammy Hladek, agree that the bill is a good idea, but they questioned how well it could be enforced.
"I think it's a good idea - I text and talk - which is not a good thing, but I think it's going to be really hard to enforce because it's such a little thing," said Hladek, who has as full driver's license and would not be affected by the bill. "I don't think it will be followed through very well."
Although Bailey agreed that enforcing the bill would be difficult, he pointed out that numerous other laws are challenging but can still be carried out.
"It wont be easy to enforce, but it won't be any easier or harder to enforce than any other provisions that go along with this graduated license system," he said.
E-mail DI reporter Briana Byrd at:
briana-byrd@uiowa.edu
Wrecked
Crashes from 2000 broken down by age
• 15-24: 31.93 percent
• 25-34: 17.77 percent
• 35-44: 17.59 percent
• 45-54: 13.39 percent
• 55-64: 7.67 percent
• 65-74: 5.05 percent
• 75 and up: 4.24 percent
Source: Iowa Department of Transportation, 2000 Iowa Crash Facts
A bill recently introduced in the Iowa House would mandate a $30 fine for people with learner's permits or intermediate licenses caught talking or texting on their cell phones or other handheld devices while driving.
State Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, who filed the bill, did so after a crash killed two high-school students in his district who were using their cell phones while driving.
"I have not read the bill, but the intent is to provide public safety for youth," said Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville. "We really do have to address this, because the biggest reason for youth having accidents on the road is their attention spans. We certainly want young people to be learning the safest way to drive a vehicle. It makes it more interesting because McKinley is an under-30 guy himself."
If ticketed, drivers with permits and intermediate licenses would be forced to wait a certain time period before they could obtain a full license. The fine does not apply, however, to drivers who are at a complete stop off the roadway, calling 911, law enforcement, or emergency-response agencies.
"This [bill] gives a little more clarity for people just learning how to drive," Bailey said.
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, in 2000, people between the ages of 15 to 24 had the highest crash percentages, 34 percent - almost twice that of people ages 25 to 34.
"The bill addresses the age-old question of personal freedom versus personal safety," Jacoby said. "It's one thing to have [the cell phone] in your ear, it's another to be looking down and typing away. There's a concern for drivers and passengers while on the road. While young people may have better reaction times, they also tend to make less-safe decisions. Texting while driving takes away from concentrating on the road."
Two Iowa City West High students, Jessica Hansen and Sammy Hladek, agree that the bill is a good idea, but they questioned how well it could be enforced.
"I think it's a good idea - I text and talk - which is not a good thing, but I think it's going to be really hard to enforce because it's such a little thing," said Hladek, who has as full driver's license and would not be affected by the bill. "I don't think it will be followed through very well."
Although Bailey agreed that enforcing the bill would be difficult, he pointed out that numerous other laws are challenging but can still be carried out.
"It wont be easy to enforce, but it won't be any easier or harder to enforce than any other provisions that go along with this graduated license system," he said.
E-mail DI reporter Briana Byrd at:
briana-byrd@uiowa.edu
Wrecked
Crashes from 2000 broken down by age
• 15-24: 31.93 percent
• 25-34: 17.77 percent
• 35-44: 17.59 percent
• 45-54: 13.39 percent
• 55-64: 7.67 percent
• 65-74: 5.05 percent
• 75 and up: 4.24 percent
Source: Iowa Department of Transportation, 2000 Iowa Crash Facts
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
SAM
posted 1/28/08 @ 6:57 PM CST
They ought to triple the fine for adults who do the same thing because the kids are following their example. BTW, I'm in my 50's so don't go blaming the young folks for this one. (Continued…)
Megan O
posted 1/28/08 @ 9:29 PM CST
In trying to make the law apply only to adults, they're creating way more work for cops. Instead of just pulling someone over when they're on a cell phone, they'll have to make a judgement on how old the person is. (Continued…)
Jerri
posted 2/08/08 @ 1:17 PM CST
This is a problem, teenagers and adults need to realize driving is not something to be taken for granted. My 15 year daughter died in an accident, there were other factors mainly speed but the girls got some texts messages that distorted their judgments and made some bad choices. (Continued…)
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