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New Jersey Makes "DUIC" A PRIMARY OFFENSE
For March 2--------ROAD WATCH
Our good neighbor to the south and east, New Jersey, starting Saturday joined the ranks of a handful of other states that have banned yakking on hand-held cell phones while driving.
Of course, Pennsylvania isn’t on that list yet which includes New York, Connecticut, Washington, California and Utah that have had the guts to target this growing problem.
To top it off, New Jersey is cracking down on talking on a phone without a hands-free device by making it a primary offense – meaning you can be initially stopped for just doing that. It also applies to text-messaging or using other electronic devices.
A weaker cell phone ban in the state in effect since 2004 made driving/talking a secondary offense, so motorists could be ticketed for the latter only if they were stopped for another motor vehicle violation. The previous law apparently didn’t produce enough results.
“Hang Up and Drive” is the slogan New Jersey is promoting.
The Delaware River Port Authority – which owns/operates four bridges including the Commodore Barry -- is also reminding motorists about the new law with variable message signs stating, “Starting March 1 in N.J. Drive and Chat = Ticket” placed at the entrance of the Barry, Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman and Betsy Ross bridges until March 7.
“This is a really important traffic safety issue,” said DRPA Lt. Brian Kelly. He said that he hoped that sending this message “…we will help reduce cell phone usage by motorists, which in turn may decrease the number of accidents.”
For years, I’ve been honking my horn in this column about the proliferation of one-handed motorists yakking incessantly on their cell phones.
I believe cell phones are a major distraction from safe and attentive driving despite a study by the AAA Foundation for Safety/Education which found that using a cell phone while driving is no more distracting than tuning a car radio or changing a CD.
I agree 100 percent with a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents who said you actually get sucked into the phone conversation and its starts to take precedence over the driving task.
Although cell-phone yakker-drivers are one of my biggest peeves, I must admit I have had mixed feelings about making DUIC – driving while under the influence of conversation -- a primary traffic offense.
Let’s face it: our cops and state troopers already have their hands full with catching speeders, drunken drivers, red-light/stop-sign violators and those with expired inspection stickers and registration tags – not to mention car thieves and fleeing criminals.
But then again, putting more teeth into the law may actually help motorists to concentrate on driving – not the person on the other end of the phone.
In Pennsylvania, some of the arguments against such a ban have cited individual freedom and restricting business enterprise.
Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny County, chairman of the state House Transportation Committee, said his committee has scheduled a hearing next week in Pittsburgh on several bills intended to reduce distractions while driving, including hand-held cell phones.
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, introduced a bill last fall that would prohibit using a hand-held cell phone while driving.
PennDOT reported that the latter practice was a dangerous distraction which contributed to 1,241 crashes in 2006 on state roadways. This compared to 60 crashes the same year on state roads attributed to hands-free cell phones.
“We will save lives on our roadways by simply disconnecting distracted drivers from their hand-held cell phones,” Shapiro said then.
Several Delaware County legislators have been saying the same thing for years to no avail to the honchos in Harrisburg.
I-76 BRIDGES
Construction will start March 10 on a 19-month, $24 million project to rehabilitate and repair two bridges that carry over a half-mile of the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) over the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street in Philadelphia.
Construction is scheduled to finish in October 2009.
This rehab of the nine-span, steel-beam bridge carrying I-76 over the Schuylkill River and CSX railroad tracks and the 16-span bridge over Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street consists of structural steel repair and painting; bridge wall replacement, and bridge deck repair and resurfacing.
Motorists on the expressway are advised to allow additional time to travel on this portion of the expressway because lane widths on the bridges will be reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet, and lane closures will occur during overnight hours and selected weekends for construction activities.
BRIDGE REHAB
Construction began Feb. 19 on a 10-month, $15.9 million project to rehabilitate and re-anchor protective barriers on 19 bridges along I-95 and the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) in Philadelphia, PennDOT reports.
No lanes will be restricted. However, motorists are advised to allow additional time to travel on I-95 because backups may occur. The work schedule is weather dependent.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
PHILADELPHIA
Lane restrictions are scheduled on several state roads in Philadelphia this week for bridge inspections.
Wednesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – the southbound right lane on Route 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard Extension) will be closed on the bridge over the Schuylkill River, Kelly Drive and West River Drive.
Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – one lane will be closed on the Spring Garden Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River and West River Drive.
Saturday – the left lane on the Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River will be closed 8-11 a.m.; the right lane will be closed 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Middletown – U.S. Route 1, PECO Energy Co. removal of overhead power line, one 15-minute stoppage between War Admiral Lane and Route 352,10-10:15 a.m. Monday.
Also, North Baltimore Pike (Route 1) – patching between Pennell Road and Granite Farm Estates 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upper Chichester – Chichester Avenue ramp to I-95 North, patching between Llewellyn and Ivy Mills roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
I-476 North/South – Ridley Township, Springfield, Marple and Radnor, litter removal between I-95 and U.S. Route 30, 12-4 a.m. weekdays.
I-95 North/South – Ridley Township, Tinicum and Chester township, litter removal between the Philadelphia county line and Delaware state line 12-4 a.m. weekdays.
Haverford – Ardmore Avenue, bridge wall repairs between Golf View Road and Haverford Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Engle Street, DELCORA utility installation between 12th and 13th streets, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
Chester Township – Concord Road, utility installation between Commerce Drive and McDonald Boulevard 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays until June 4. Work began Feb. 19.
Springfield – West Springfield Road, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation between North State and North Britton roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Work began Feb. 11 and will continue until April 18.
"Road Watch" appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
Our good neighbor to the south and east, New Jersey, starting Saturday joined the ranks of a handful of other states that have banned yakking on hand-held cell phones while driving.
Of course, Pennsylvania isn’t on that list yet which includes New York, Connecticut, Washington, California and Utah that have had the guts to target this growing problem.
To top it off, New Jersey is cracking down on talking on a phone without a hands-free device by making it a primary offense – meaning you can be initially stopped for just doing that. It also applies to text-messaging or using other electronic devices.
A weaker cell phone ban in the state in effect since 2004 made driving/talking a secondary offense, so motorists could be ticketed for the latter only if they were stopped for another motor vehicle violation. The previous law apparently didn’t produce enough results.
“Hang Up and Drive” is the slogan New Jersey is promoting.
The Delaware River Port Authority – which owns/operates four bridges including the Commodore Barry -- is also reminding motorists about the new law with variable message signs stating, “Starting March 1 in N.J. Drive and Chat = Ticket” placed at the entrance of the Barry, Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman and Betsy Ross bridges until March 7.
“This is a really important traffic safety issue,” said DRPA Lt. Brian Kelly. He said that he hoped that sending this message “…we will help reduce cell phone usage by motorists, which in turn may decrease the number of accidents.”
For years, I’ve been honking my horn in this column about the proliferation of one-handed motorists yakking incessantly on their cell phones.
I believe cell phones are a major distraction from safe and attentive driving despite a study by the AAA Foundation for Safety/Education which found that using a cell phone while driving is no more distracting than tuning a car radio or changing a CD.
I agree 100 percent with a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents who said you actually get sucked into the phone conversation and its starts to take precedence over the driving task.
Although cell-phone yakker-drivers are one of my biggest peeves, I must admit I have had mixed feelings about making DUIC – driving while under the influence of conversation -- a primary traffic offense.
Let’s face it: our cops and state troopers already have their hands full with catching speeders, drunken drivers, red-light/stop-sign violators and those with expired inspection stickers and registration tags – not to mention car thieves and fleeing criminals.
But then again, putting more teeth into the law may actually help motorists to concentrate on driving – not the person on the other end of the phone.
In Pennsylvania, some of the arguments against such a ban have cited individual freedom and restricting business enterprise.
Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny County, chairman of the state House Transportation Committee, said his committee has scheduled a hearing next week in Pittsburgh on several bills intended to reduce distractions while driving, including hand-held cell phones.
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, introduced a bill last fall that would prohibit using a hand-held cell phone while driving.
PennDOT reported that the latter practice was a dangerous distraction which contributed to 1,241 crashes in 2006 on state roadways. This compared to 60 crashes the same year on state roads attributed to hands-free cell phones.
“We will save lives on our roadways by simply disconnecting distracted drivers from their hand-held cell phones,” Shapiro said then.
Several Delaware County legislators have been saying the same thing for years to no avail to the honchos in Harrisburg.
I-76 BRIDGES
Construction will start March 10 on a 19-month, $24 million project to rehabilitate and repair two bridges that carry over a half-mile of the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) over the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street in Philadelphia.
Construction is scheduled to finish in October 2009.
This rehab of the nine-span, steel-beam bridge carrying I-76 over the Schuylkill River and CSX railroad tracks and the 16-span bridge over Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street consists of structural steel repair and painting; bridge wall replacement, and bridge deck repair and resurfacing.
Motorists on the expressway are advised to allow additional time to travel on this portion of the expressway because lane widths on the bridges will be reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet, and lane closures will occur during overnight hours and selected weekends for construction activities.
BRIDGE REHAB
Construction began Feb. 19 on a 10-month, $15.9 million project to rehabilitate and re-anchor protective barriers on 19 bridges along I-95 and the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) in Philadelphia, PennDOT reports.
No lanes will be restricted. However, motorists are advised to allow additional time to travel on I-95 because backups may occur. The work schedule is weather dependent.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
PHILADELPHIA
Lane restrictions are scheduled on several state roads in Philadelphia this week for bridge inspections.
Wednesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – the southbound right lane on Route 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard Extension) will be closed on the bridge over the Schuylkill River, Kelly Drive and West River Drive.
Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – one lane will be closed on the Spring Garden Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River and West River Drive.
Saturday – the left lane on the Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River will be closed 8-11 a.m.; the right lane will be closed 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Middletown – U.S. Route 1, PECO Energy Co. removal of overhead power line, one 15-minute stoppage between War Admiral Lane and Route 352,10-10:15 a.m. Monday.
Also, North Baltimore Pike (Route 1) – patching between Pennell Road and Granite Farm Estates 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upper Chichester – Chichester Avenue ramp to I-95 North, patching between Llewellyn and Ivy Mills roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
I-476 North/South – Ridley Township, Springfield, Marple and Radnor, litter removal between I-95 and U.S. Route 30, 12-4 a.m. weekdays.
I-95 North/South – Ridley Township, Tinicum and Chester township, litter removal between the Philadelphia county line and Delaware state line 12-4 a.m. weekdays.
Haverford – Ardmore Avenue, bridge wall repairs between Golf View Road and Haverford Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Engle Street, DELCORA utility installation between 12th and 13th streets, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
Chester Township – Concord Road, utility installation between Commerce Drive and McDonald Boulevard 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays until June 4. Work began Feb. 19.
Springfield – West Springfield Road, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation between North State and North Britton roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Work began Feb. 11 and will continue until April 18.
"Road Watch" appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
posted by John Roman at
9:52 AM
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