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It’s been a tough year for wireless phone users, what with driver distractions and such. So when there’s a bit of positive news, I embrace it. These days, a little good news is like light in the darkness.

Boating deaths are at their lowest level in 40 years, even though there are far more Americans boarding vessels for the summertime pastime. And wireless devices are getting some of the credit. Because more people carry wireless phones, it’s reported that boaters can reach authorities in emergencies and get them to the scene pronto.

Of course, this same fact is at the heart of the benefit brought to the highways of America as well. However, because of the popularity of wireless phone use in cars and a perception of carelessness, legislators are attempting to regulate the use of them nationwide.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve maintained the same position on cell phones and driving. If you are a lousy driver without a cell phone, you probably are just as bad if you use one while driving. Likewise, if you are a safe and cautious driver, you will use the cell phone in such a way as to continue your safe driving record.

To regulate wireless phone use doesn’t address the core problem of driver distractions. It merely singles out one activity in the vehicle and penalizes it over, say, changing CDs, disciplining the kids or wolfing down a Burrito Supreme from Taco Bell.

Interestingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.com) released some revealing information from its survey on wireless phone use by American drivers. In the survey, it found that at any given time only 3% of drivers are actively using their wireless phones.

"If 3% of drivers are using phones, that clearly doesn't reach the threshold for legislation,” said Dee Yankoskie, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (www.wow-com.com) manager for wireless education.

Further Yankoskie pointed out that of all potential driver distractions, a wireless phone is the only one that could possibly save a driver's or someone else's life.

To saddle wireless phone use with legislation doesn’t address the core problem. Educating drivers makes more sense. Make these rules part of drivers education programs and the exams to obtain drivers licenses. But don’t stifle use with needless legislation.

You never know though. This may only be the beginning; legislation could reach beyond automobiles to boats. After all, we all know how distracting it can be to put your life vest on while you are also talking on the phone.

Smart Cell Phone Tips

Cell phones don’t cause accidents. Careless drivers cause accidents. Below are suggestions from CTIA for the intelligent use of wireless phones in vehicles.

1. Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial and redial.

2. When available, use a hands-free device.

3. Position your wireless phone within easy reach. Let voice mail pick up the call if you can't reach your phone easily.

4. Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions.

5. Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.

6. Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.

7. Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may divert your attention from the road.

8. Dial 9-1-1 or other local emergency number to report serious emergencies--it's free from your wireless phone.

9. Use your wireless phone to help others in emergencies.

10. Call roadside assistance or a special non-emergency wireless number when necessary.

Feedback from the Field

from: Michael.A.Rolenz@aero.org

I read your article. There's a fallacy in your argument in the following paragraph.

Over the past 18 years, I've maintained the same position on cell phones and driving. If you are a lousy driver without a cell phone, you probably are just as bad if you use one while driving. Likewise, if you are a safe and cautious driver, you will use the cell phone in such a way as to continue your safe driving record.

1. A bad driver with one more distraction is a WORSE driver since they are paying even less attention to the road. Statistics show they are more likely to cause accidents. (Go to a defensive driving course. It's worth it.)

2. A good driver won't use a cell phone if it causes distractions but since they have not control over when it goes beep beep, you can't argue that it is NOT distraction. Therefore the cell phone does reduce their ability to drive safely.

3. Most states do not allow people to drive wearing headphones or earplugs. Why should cell phones be an exception? The correct answer is they cannot be.

4. The distractions of changing a CD or cassette are not comparable to a lengthy cell phone conversation where one is forced to split one's cognition between several challenging intellectual tasks --driving a car, holding a converstion, and operating a telephone.

Interestingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released some revealing information from its survey on wireless phone use by American drivers. In the survey, it found that at any given time only 3% of drivers are actively using their wireless phones. "If 3% of drivers are using phones, that clearly doesn't reach the threshold for legislation," said Dee Yankoskie, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association manager for wireless education.

Wow! That's a wonderful use of specious statistics. 3% of the drivers are actively using their wireless phones "at any one time." Consider how many drivers are using it over the whole day. 3% at any time -- average call 10 minutes, that means that on the average 18% of the users use their phones an hour. And assume that they only use them 12 hours a day. That's 200% of the users during the day driving with reduced capacity because of cell phones, at some point more likely to cause accidents. Now these are rough calculations only but I give them to show you the fallacy of the arguement and the self-serving comments of Dee Yandoskie.

From:katy.hudnall@ketchum.com

Hi Rhonda, I read your article on cell phone legislation and thought you might be interested in this news nugget -- a recent survey conducted by Cingular Wireless indicates that 34% of wireless phone users rely on hands-free devices while driving. Cingular announced the survey results earlier this month. I've included a link to the announcement below.

www.cingular.com