Pioneer

Issue date: 6/3/10 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Elizabeth Sierra-Arruffatt Last week Scarlet Foster was in a car accident because the driver of the other car was driving and texting. She has learned not to use her phone while driving.

A new state cell phone law has students talking.

Effective June 10, the new law enhances the existing secondary laws which prohibit texting or talking on a phone without a hands-free device while driving.

Prior to the new bill being passed, drivers could not be ticketed for using their mobile device while driving unless they were pulled over for another traffic infraction such as speeding.

"Use of a cell phone has become a safety concern while driving because there's too much divided attention," Officer Charles Porche of the Lakewood Police Dept. said. "When people get engrossed in their conversation they're not paying attention to what they're doing when they drive."

Several officers observe people driving recklessly and assume that they are under the influence.

"When we pull them over or get close enough to see them, they're not under the influence, they're on their phone," he said.

?Instruction permit and intermediate license holders or drivers under the age of 18 are not to use a mobile device whatsoever, including the use of a hands-free device unless it is an emergency.

Student Colin Barney believes this portion of the law is just.

"As someone learning to drive it sounds logical to me," Barney said. "I don't think I could deal with another thing to think about while I'm not fully comfortable behind the wheel."

Running Start student Maureen Pauaraisa disagrees.

"That's surprising," Pauaraisa said. "I think it's unfair. Teens are always written off as reckless drivers but I know adults who are terrible drivers."

Exceptions to the law include those using their phone to report illegal activity, prevent injury to a person or property, or to summon medical or emergency help.

The new law is causing talk among students at Pierce about whether the law is just and if they will comply once the law is set into motion.

The Pioneer conducted a survey of 117 students. Fifty-six percent use their cell phones while driving. Of those, 62 percent do not use a hands-free device.?

"I don't use a Bluetooth when I drive because I can't afford one," student Deirdre Grandy said. "I only talk on the phone on the freeway because rural and city areas are dangerous."?

Some students choose to just say no to the phone when operating a vehicle.

"I don't text and drive," student Manjot Chahal said. "I think driving comes first and texting can wait. No text is that important. It can wait."

Most who use their phone while driving acknowledge the dangers that come along with it.?

"I text and talk while driving," Pauaraisa said. "It's bad, I know."

Grandy shared that while she does use her phone when driving, she tries to limit it to stop lights or straight stretches on the freeway.

"I don't [use my phone] in bad weather or when there is a lot of traffic," she said. "It's too dangerous, it can wait."

And dangerous it is.

Teens in Vermont have put their texting and driving abilities to the test in a golf cart course.

"It's pretty eye opening for the kids," David Teater, senior director of transportation initiatives for the National Safety Council in Itasca, Ill. said to an Associated Press reporter. "They're very unsuccessful at texting and navigating the cones."?

The NSC estimates that 28 percent of crashes - or 1.6 million per year - are caused by cell phone use, either talking or texting.

According to the National Research Council, drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to cause a collision. While drivers who text increase that risk from eight times to 23 times.

Many students just can't seem to put down the phones.

The student survey concluded 13 people "can't live without their phone." Those also think they'll probably get a ticket and are worried about getting caught. Seven students answered that they'll only stop if they get a ticket.

"I feel we are so instantly socially connected it almost feels rude not to respond to someone within minutes," student Mitch Richards said.

Student Hugo Ayala doesn't feel dependent on his phone but uses it when he drives because of another purpose.

"I text and talk while I drive but because I choose to and I feel confident enough to do so," he said.

As for the $124 ticket, 68 percent of students polled do not think that price is fair.

"I think it's bull," Ayala said. "It's too much money for texting."

"I feel like the damage to your driving record is enough," Grandy said. "But maybe the fine will change the offenders' habits."?

"It's people's lives we're talking about so I'd say it's fair," Barney said.

Time can tell if law will be effective.

"Do I think it have a huge impact? Honestly I don't know," Porche said. "It just depends on how much the officers and deputies and troopers enforce it."

?What is certain is that drivers are going to have to put down their phones if they don't want to pay up.

"If you're going to take a call and you have an opportunity to pull over then pull to the side of the road and take your call," Porche said. "Or don't answer it. Let it go to voicemail."

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