Just Say No to Cell Phones

1
Just Say No!!!to Cell Phones

• Presented by
• Jennifer, Jenny, Kelly, Ken, and Leland

2
Current Legislation in Tennessee

• Only drivers holding a learners permit,
  intermediate licensed drivers, and bus drivers
  are prohibited from using cell phones and other
  mobile devices while driving
• This is a Problem!

3
The Facts

• By 2005 studies showed that cell phone use,
  hand-held or hands-free, increased the risk of an
  accident by fourfold.
• 20 of drivers admit to texting while driving
• 66 of drivers ages 18-24 use wireless devices
  for text messaging while driving

4
The Facts Continue

• In a 2005 study, Ford Motor Company found that
  adults and teens have a 3 miss rate in
  identifying potentially dangerous events while
  driving undistracted. With cell phone use, adults
  had a 13 miss rate, while teens rose to more
  than a 50 miss rate.

5
Cell Phone Behavior Compared By Selected
Demographics

•  
• Total 41
• Age
• 18-29 37
• 30-49 52
• 50-64 26
• 65 16
• Gender
• Male 45
• Female 35
•  Use Cell Phone Every Day or Several Times per
  Week While Driving

6
Existing Laws

• New Jersey has a comprehensive cell phone use law
  that makes it illegal to use a phone in a
  vehicle.
• There is an exception for hands-free use as long
  as it does not interfere with vehicle operation.
• Minnesota has a similar law that outlaws all
  digital communication from a vehicle.

7
Cell Phone Law Enforcement

• 17 states with cell phone laws have primary
  enforcement laws, 7 states have secondary
  enforcement laws.
• Primary enforcement means that you can be pulled
  over for using your cell phone.
• Secondary enforcement means that you have to
  commit another offense to be cited for cell phone
  usage.
• Primary enforcement, such as the click it or
  ticket program in Tennessee appears to be the
  most successful model.

8
What About Change?

• 91 of Americans think that driving while texting
  is as dangerous as drunk driving
• 29 states and the District of Columbia have
  passed laws to regulate cell phone use while
  driving

Using a cell phone AND no seat belt!
9
Proposed Policy

• New Jersey Law We propose that the Tennessee
  statute be modeled on the New Jersey Law.
• The use of a wireless telephone or electronic
  communication device by an operator of a moving
  motor vehicle on a public road or highway shall
  be unlawful except when the telephone is a
  hands-free wireless telephone or the electronic
  communication device is used hands-free, provided
  that its placement does not interfere with the
  operation of federally required safety equipment
  and the operator exercises a high degree of
  caution in the operation of the motor vehicle. 
  For the purposes of this section, an "electronic
  communication device" shall not include an
  amateur radio.

10
Action Plan

• Public Surveys to determine public attitudes
  about cell phone restrictions.
• Methods
• Paper surveys
• Internet
• Phone bank
• DMV locations

11
Works Cited

• http//media.ford.com/print_doc.cfm?article_id219
  55
• http//www.gallup.com/poll/2962/Half-All-Americans
  -Own-Cellular-Phone.aspx
• http//www.iihs.org/news/2005/iihs_news_071205.pdf
  
• http//www.ncsl.org/magazine/articles/2008/08SLMay
  08_Driving.htm
• http//www.ncsl.org/programs/transportation/cellph
  oneupdate1203.htm