The Daily Eastern News reported recently that Illinois
Representative John D’Amico, from
Chicago, introduced a new bill that would outlaw the use of cell phones while
driving. Robert Bates, the health studies department chair, teaches
several safety-related classes: Advanced Driving Maneuvers, Accident Prevention
in Schools and Industrial Safety. Bates said texting while
driving overloads the physical and mental aspects of the body. “The
driver must make thousands of decisions in a short period of time. Any errors
can result in harm to one’s self or others,” Bates said in an email. “Research
in driving simulators have indicated significant impairment when texting and
driving.”
It
should be pointed out that revisions to the bill would not pertain to people
using “hands-free or voice-activated mode” while driving, but recent research
conducted by the University of Utah questions whether even those options should
be permitted at all. If the bill passes, Illinois would be the 10th state in the country to implement such a ban.
There
have been discussions by the NHTSA and
others on the national level about a federal ban on cell phone use in vehicles. As I have stated before, I
believe the most effective way to deter this activity would be to stiffen
penalties of those caught texting and
driving. Specifically, increase the penalties on those who cause a car accident
or injuries by texting and driving.
An argument could be made these offences should be treated as a Class A misdemeanor with
the same level of penalties and fines when someone is convicted of drinking and
driving.
If you
or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truckaccident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the
firm website at www.blgchicago.com.