ROAD WATCH, FEB. 22,
BAN HAND-HELD CELL-PHONE USE FOR DRIVERS
As a longtime critic of yakking on a hand-held cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in traffic, I’m glad to see state Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, isn’t giving up on his efforts to once again introduce legislation banning their use.
On Thursday, House Bill 538 was referred to the state transportation committee. Shapiro introduced legislation Thursday to make Pennsylvania roads safer by banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and would require drivers to use hands-free devices if they want to talk on their cell phones while driving.
A total of 67 bipartisan co-sponsors so far, including Reps. Tom Killion, R-168, of Middletown, Bill Adolph, R-165, of Springfield, and Nick Miccarelli, D-162, of Ridley Park, have signed on to the bill, representing increased support for the measure. When Shapiro first introduced the bill during the 2005-2006 session, it had only 31 co-sponsors. When he introduced the bill during the 2007-2008 session, it had 46 co-sponsors.
“There are more cell phones in use today than there were…” when Shapiro first introduced the proposed ban, Shapiro told the Daily Times Friday. “And there are more statistics to show the dangers of hand-held cell phone use while driving.”
He cited a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study found that cell phones are the top distraction for drivers and distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in a crash.
According to PennDOT, hand-held cell phones contributed to 1,245 crashes on Pennsylvania roadways in 2007. In contrast, there were 56 crashes on the state’s roads attributed to hands-free cell phones during the same year.
Also, Shapiro points out a study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that states that enacted hand-held cell phone bans while driving saw traffic fatalities decrease between 9 and 21 percent after the ban went into effect. With 1,491 traffic fatalities in the state in 2007, Shapiro’s measure could save up to 313 lives on the state’s roads, according to the analysis done by the PPIC.
New Jersey, New York, California, Connecticut, Utah, Washington State and the District of Columbia have already enacted bans.
Under H.B. 538, the use of hand-held cell phones while driving would be prohibited on all public roads in the state. Exceptions would be provided for law enforcement officers, drivers of mass transit vehicles, operators of emergency vehicles when on duty. Also, leeway would be made for drivers fearing for their safety, reporting a traffic accident or making a 911 emergency call.
A violation would be a summary offense and, upon conviction, a fine of $50 would be imposed. No points would be assessed to a driver who violates this law.
“Statistics on auto accidents by the Pennsylvania State Police show that hand-held cell phones are involved in many more auto accidents than non-hand-held cell phones,” Killion said. “I am hopeful that we will be able to move this legislation this session and make our roadways safer for Pennsylvanians.”
Adolph, who was also previously a co-sponsor of the legislation, said, “I think the legislation is long overdue. It’s very similar to the law that is currently in place in New Jersey, you are allowed to use a hands-free cell phone.
“And this way you have your two hands on the wheel and I believe your concentration is much better,” Adolph said. He also said text-messaging and using a hand-held Blackberry while driving should also be outlawed.
Shapiro said his main motivation to get this legislation passed “is to make our roadways safer.”
“Over the course of the campaign to pass this bill, I was hit from behind by a driver who was talking on her hand-held cell phone in 2005,” he added. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously hurt.
It sounds like two very good reasons to me.
The only exception I think should be made is allowing a driver to use his or her hand-held phone while parked in a parking space -- not idling at a red light or stop sign -- with the engine running.The second you take your transmission out of "Park" and put it in "Drive" or "Reverse" -- that would be a violation.
DRPA SPENDING PLANS
After the Delaware River Port Authority Board Wednesday approved $9.5 million in non-transportation projects, the AAA, which serves nearly 4 million members in five nearby states, urged New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to veto the plans.
“Our belief is that DRPA toll money is properly spent on reducing the authority’s massive debt and mitigating increasing operating costs,” AAA Mid-Atlantic Vice President Ronald Kosh wrote.
“None of the approved projects, except improvements to Admiral Wilson Boulevard, in Camden, fall anywhere near those objectives,” he wrote. The cost of the latter project is $1.5 million, among the total of $11 million in projects approved by the board.
“Additionally, AAA fully understands DRPA’s charter, which allows it to spend $35 million on its books for economic development. This does not make it right or proper to do so.
“Our auto club has helped facilitate more than 15,000 e-mails and letters on this issue from motorists,” he stated. “We share their outrage. Again, we urge you to veto these minutes, to stand with toll payers and to do what’s right.”
The projects include: $3.5 million for President Washington’s memorial and slave quarters in Philadelphia, $2.5 million for a restaurant on Franklin Square, $1.5 million for a proposed medical school in Camden, $2 million for demolition of an office building in Camden, in addition to the Admiral Wilson Boulevard improvement project.
The DRPA officials claim the grants “focus on infrastructure improvements at sites on both sides of the Delaware that are designed to boost traffic on DRPA’s bridges as well as PATCO High Speed Line ridership, and increase tourism to the various sites.
AAA and the majority of the toll-payers believe the revenues raised by tolls should only be used for operation and maintenance of the DRPA’s four bridges: Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, Commodore Barry and Walt Whitman.
Traffic Delays
Marple — Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, West Chester Pike (Route 3) – Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation at Franklin Getz Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays starting Wednesday and through March 13.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Springfield – Springfield Road, PECO Energy Co. utility installation between Rose Lane and Norwinden Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through March 5. Work began Feb. 20.
Also, Route 320 (Sproul Road) – PECO utility installation at Kennerly Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through March 11. Work began Feb. 16.
U.S. Route 1 North — PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through April 1. Work began Dec. 22.
U.S. Route 322 West (Conchester Highway) – Upper Chichester, PennDOT bridge repairs, left lane closed between I-95 and Route 452, 24-hour restriction through March 3. Work began Jan. 16.
Radnor – I-476 South (Blue Route), sound wall repairs, right lane closed between Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) and West Chester Pike (Route 3) interchanges 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays starting March 2 and through March 27.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Crosswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays starting March 9 and through Aug. 28.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.