Cell phones and driving controversy hits Md legislature, again

With the budget hastily determined in the two week special session last Fall, we are seeing bills in the legislature that seem to show up every year. For example take Senate bill 2 (full text and sponsors) which would ban use of cell phones in moving vehicles except while using a hands free device.

I think we've all seen instances of distracted drivers and some those are due to cell phone use as the sponsor, State Senator Mike Lenett, (Democrat, District 19, Montgomery County) notes in his quote to the Baltimore Sun. However, our day to day anecdotal information probably should no t be used as a basis for legislative initiatives. Personally I've seen everything from reading to writing to cell phone use to finding a kid's toy on Routes 50 and 97. Some more definitive research should be provided as part of the justification. The facts from recent studies support Lenett, however studies also say that using a hands free device is still a distraction.

It seems a more general law regarding distract driving is in order since apparently drivers do thing it's okay to read a magazine while driving in Maryland (from my purely anecdotal observations). A more general distracted driving law is more easily enforced and would immediately become part of driver's education courses.

Ironically AAA doesn't support Lenett's bill but is supporting a more limited bill (HB390) that bans text messaging while driving. I'm not sure how this could be enforced and the approach to reducing distracted driving should be broader, not more narrow to reduce all forms of distracted driving not just one particular type.