As noted by CBS News recently, town officials in Chapel Hill, North Carolina voted to ban all mobile phone use while operating a vehicle. This includes a ban on hands-free use within an automobile as well as using a smartphone to access the Internet while driving. Texting while driving was already prohibited by North Carolina state law. Beginning at the start of June 2012, anyone caught using a cell phone while driving will be issued a $25 fine. However, police will not actively pursue a driver that ‘s seen talking on a cell phone while driving. If the driver is speeding or commits another violation while talking on a mobile phone, a ticket will be issued for the offense.
Chapel Hill drivers can use a phone while driving to call emergency services such as the police, the fire department or an ambulance. Drivers are also exempt from a ticket if they can prove they were calling a “parent, child, legal guardian or spouse.” The ordinance will be enforced on all streets across Chapel Hill including state-owned roads. Chapel Hill has nearly 60,000 residents and is home to a popular college, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The National Safety Council issued a statement earlier today praising the actions of the town council in Chapel Hill. President and CEO Janet Froetscher stated “In passing a total ban, Chapel Hill has taken a significant step toward making their roads safer. Research shows hand-free devices offer drivers no safety benefit. Passing total cell phone bans — that include handheld and hands-free use — makes our roads safer. We praise Chapel Hill for this action. It will save lives.“ Last year, a study conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association last year found that hands-free cell phone usage was just as dangerous as holding the cell phone up to the ear while driving.
Leave it to the south to pave the way back to the 19th century.
Okay let’s try this a 2nd time: It’s okay to call your spouse, parent or children. I would guess that is who a lot of people are talking to, when on their cell while driving. I would also guess that a lot of frustration often builds during conversations with these people, more so than with friends. It should be emergency calls only, period. Meaning, 911, Fire, Police, Sheriff, FBI, CIA; those sorts of places. I also would bet that talking in the car to passengers and listening to the radio often contributes to many accidents. I just bought a new car recently, it has blue tooth etc.. There are over 90 pages in the owners manual dedicated to operating the Entertainment System(s)! It’s transportation, not an entertainment system . . . . we are really messed up in this society : ( anyway, I hope the highest court puts a stop top this ridiculous law. Blue tooth / hands free phone should be allowed or radios, MP3, iPods, oh yeah, GPS should be banned too. You watching the road or reading maps?!
Chapel Hill is undoubtedly one of the strongest bastions for government control of citizens’ lives in the United States. Absurdity such as this law is typical for such academic-centered towns. College academicians in general, but especially in Chapel Hill, NC, tend to loath the freedoms that their ancestors once had in this country. They live in a world of non-reality where productivity and free markets are considered their enemy and government intervention prized. They know what is best for us, and they are happy to cram it down their citizens throats whether they want it or not. Definitely one of the most shameful examples of municipal government in the country.
Do you know what is the in-car connectivity by voice? It is a new SYNC application that retrieves messages from mobile phones using simple voice commands … Nearly half of European drivers read text messages while driving…Follow us in Facebook!
That parent/child/guardian exception makes no sense to me outside of emergency situations. So it’s okay to distract yourself and risk an accident while driving as long as you are talking to your husband or daughter?
This just screams PR move, they are okay with police not bothering to enforce this and slap on some incredibly loose exceptions as well. Sounds good.