In a city where seemingly everyone owns a cell phone and a large
proportion of the population spends much of its time stuck in
traffic, an initiative the Los Angeles City Council decided to
study has the potential to have significant impact.
The councilmembers voted unanimously at a meeting Jan 7 to begin
official consideration of a proposal banning the use of hand-held
cell phones while driving.
The council members cited safety as the primary consideration,
according to a spokesman for L.A. City Councilmember Ed
Reyes’ office.
The city council first deliberated the issue when a similar bill
was introduced at the state level ““ one the council decided
to support.
After two years of stagnation of the state bill, the council
proposed creating its own initiative.
The councilmembers sent the initiative to various analysts to
study what would happen if the bill passed, according to the
spokesman.
If passed, the initiative would be the second enacted in a major
city. The first passed in New York City.
Though New York City, like Los Angeles, is well known for its
traffic problems, those residents can utilize forms of
transportation Los Angeles does not have ““ like a developed
subway system.
The bill would force a number of city employees, including UCLA
shuttle drivers, to change the way they drive because these groups
use hand-held cell phones to communicate.
Cell-phone use accounted for an average of over two California
accidents each day in 2001, according to the California Highway
Patrol. In the same period, listening to the radio or a CD
accounted for a slightly lower number of accidents in
California.
Other major causes of car accidents included disciplining
children and eating or drinking, also according to the CHP. The
council has not considered banning any of these other activities,
according to Reyes’ office.
At the heart of the issue is the question whether having two
hands on the wheel is better than one because of the additional
control while driving.
Verizon Wireless, the largest cell phone carrier in the United
States, supports the bill, said Keith Karpe, manager of public
relations at Verizon.
“What’s the first thing you do when you are driving
and you see a kid or an animal run out into the street?”
Karpe said. “You put both hands on the wheel and slam on the
brakes. We just think it’s safer to have two hands on the
wheel.”