State Sen. Joe Simitian, who wrote the bill last year requiring that cell phone use be hands free and the law starting Jan. 1 that bans texting while driving, contended to the Free Lance it was necessary in response to many accidents blamed on drivers being distracted while driving.
"The CHP (California Highway Patrol) has collected data that indicates cell phones are the No. 1 cause of distracted driving accidents," Simitian told the Free Lance.
He believes the law is a "life saver," he said.
"It's that simple," said Simitian. "The PPIC (Public policy Institute of California) did a study looking at other places with hands-free laws, and the results of the study results show these laws are a life saver in every jurisdiction they have been implemented."
The state senator noted that the study indicated how cell phone- and texting-related accidents account for between 300 and 900 traffic fatalities annually in the state.
Regarding the texting ban implemented Jan 1, Simitian said texting was not an issue in 2001 when he wrote the cell phone bill, but that the hands-free law took so long that it also became an issue.
"We thought we would wait another year or two, but discovered widespread support for a texting ban," he said. "Unlike the hands-free bill, there was no formal opposition and there was widespread support from insurance companies, law enforcement and community safety groups, so the bill had smooth passage."
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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