(U-WIRE) FULLERTON, Calif. – It is a familiar sight on the California roads.

Cars drift from lane to lane with no signals; a driver erratically turns right, almost hitting pedestrians; or a sloppy U-turn results in a near-miss collision. Inevitably, someone at the helm of these vehicles is insisting on driving while talking into a cell phone.

The hazardous road conditions arising from cell-phone-related issues have made their way to California’s legislation in the form of SB1613.

The bill, which passed in California’s senate May 26 and is currently being debated in the state’s assembly, would make talking into a cell phone while driving a legal infraction that would garner a $20 fine on its first offense and $50 for each one thereafter.

“Cell phones are the No. 1 cause of distracted-driving accidents in California,” said Sen. Joe Simitian, the bills’ author, in an e-mail interview.

Simitian said he hopes to cut down on cell-phone related accidents. The bill would require people who do choose to stay on the phone while driving to at least implement the use of a hands-free device.

“Accidents by drivers using handheld cell phones outnumber those driving hands-free by a ratio of 25 to one,” Simitian said in an e-mail interview. “The difference between hands-free and hand-held is life and death.”

The California Highway Patrol has statistics that support Simitian’s claim with a five-year log of cell-phone related accidents.

Every traffic citation can have driver inattention marked as a contributing factor by the investigating officer. In situations where cell phone use is considered to have been a factor in the crash, handheld units are more likely to be marked than hands-free phones, said CHP representative Fran Clayder.

“I would say that at least 20 to 30 percent of my reports will have a statement about a cell phone being used at the time of an accident,” said Karl Schmider, an Allstate insurance agent. “And that’s not even including people who obviously withhold that information because it’s incriminating.”

Still, the insurance agent is skeptical that distracted driving will be eliminated if the bill is passed.

“You have to keep in mind that there are all sorts of reasons for drivers to become distracted,” Clayder said. “It could be a cute guy walking down the street or your kids in the back seat, but a cell phone is easy to see. Officers can usually tell right away if a driver is on the phone.”

The bigger message is to pay attention regardless of the distraction, said Clayder.

“We would prefer that drivers concentrate or focus on their driving,” she said. “They should pay attention to the road, other drivers, and the traffic around them. If there is something else that needs their attention, then pull off the road, use the phone or read the map.”

Irma Pena, a junior criminal justice major, said that the bill could curb the tendency to indulge in phoning while driving.

“I already have friends now that will put down the phone when they see a cop,” Pena said. “If there was a law like that I don’t see how it could hurt, but I know I’d probably still use my phone when it’s really important.”

Critics of SB1613 say it’s an ineffective remedy to a much bigger problem.

In an article reported by the Monterey Herald, Sen. Kevin Murray openly opposed the bill. He said that holding a phone that isn’t dangerous, but that using one is.

However, Simitian and his camp said SB1613 would be a good start.

“No one would argue that just because we can’t eliminate all the distractions affecting driver safety, we shouldn’t eliminate the ones we can,” said Simitian in an e-mail interview. “We have a readily available technology that costs next to nothing and saves lives, why on earth wouldn’t we use it?”

The Cell Phone Bill Stripped Down Situation

1. CA Senate Bill 1613 banning hand-held cell phone use while driving moved to state Assembly

2. If passes, CA would join states trying to limit driver distraction by regulating cell phone use

3. Bill supported by police, firefighters’ unions, insurance companies, Verizon Wireless

4. Governor hasn’t taken position on legislation

5. Measure opposed by Sprint Nextel, claims talking on cell phone not most common distraction

Significant Points

1. If bill passes, rules effective July 1, 2008

2. Fines of $20 for first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense

3. Emergency calls would be exempt

4. NHTSA estimates driver

Sourced From: Sacramento Bee, via AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, May 26, 2006

Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan via CSTV U-Wire