Cellphones

Chapel Hill Town Council member Penny RICH has proposed restrictions on the use of cellphones while driving. Here is what I sent her this morning....

"Alas, I have not taken the time to read whatever I could find about your idea, as I understand it, of banning the use of cellphones by vehicle drivers on Chapel Hill roads.
For whatever it may be worth to you, here is how I see it…..

1. Anyone who does anything other than pay as close to 100% attention to driving a motor vehicle is endangering at least one person, that driver, and likely many more.

2. Sure, there are emergencies that divert a driver from her/his job momentarily and we never can eliminate all of them.

3. But, we can and should reduce or eliminate any that we can.

4. There is always the possibility of a law to prohibit cellphone use, and there are issues as I am sure you have found, related to jurisdiction, etc. To me, that’s not the place to start.

5. The place to start is with the core idea of my point 1 above.

6. Why not get the Town Council to adopt a resolution - with no force and effect other than that all of the people whom we have elected to lead our town agree – saying that it is the POLICY of Chapel Hill that people driving motor vehicles should refrain at all times from using cellphones of any kind?

If you cannot get to 6, then a law, ordinance, restriction, etc. with legal effect is just not going to happen. With such a policy in place, the options are really positive, e.g., signs around town reinforcing the policy with suggestions that passengers remind drivers of the policy, etc. It could be a real community effort as opposed to a “legislative” fight between and among a few people and groups.
In short, get the policy established first and then build from there with publicity and endorsements by other groups and organizations, our schools (including UNC), and businesses, in the town."