National Conference Of State Legislatures

The tobacco agreement: Implications for farmers (NCSL legisbrief) …

National Conference Of State Legislatures

Cars + Cell Phones = A Deadly Equation

Wireless communication has dramatically improved daily life, but mobile phone technology also has a dramatic downside: the proliferation of cell phone use by drivers has made the roads considerably more dangerous.

Cell Phones are a Leading Cause of Driver Distraction

A joint study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in April 2006 concluded that nearly 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes occur within three seconds of some kind of driver distraction. Dialing a cell phone ranked among the most dangerous distractions, tripling the risk of being involved in an auto accident. Unlike the danger presented by dialing, the study found that talking on a cell phone was less dangerous than drowsiness or reaching for a falling object. However, the prevalence of cell phone use by drivers makes it the one of the most common – and therefore most dangerous – factors in car and truck crashes. According to the NHTSA, there are over 10 million U.S. drivers talking on cellular phones at any given moment, an alarming figure given the link between cell phones and distracted driving.

Cell Phones Bans on the Rise

In response to the increasing evidence linking cellular phone use and auto accidents, a number of states have started to ban their use on the roads. States with legislation restricting cell phone use while driving include New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Connecticut. In 2008, California will join the ranks of states banning hand-held phone use by drivers. In addition, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 14 states have banned mobile phone use by minors as of November 2006.

Hands-Free is No Safety Guarantee

Many drivers have switched to hands-free mobile phone devices in an effort to cut down on their risk of being involved in car accidents. However, recent evidence suggests that even a hands-free cell phone presents a danger on the road. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study conducted in Perth, Australia in 2005, switching from hand-held cell phones to hands-free devices does not reduce the risk of car crashes. Another study conducted by the University of Utah, and published in the summer of 2006, the issue of human factors also concludes that hands-free cellular phones carry the same risk as hand-held phones. Evidence on hands-free phones continue to indicate that talking on the phone is a dangerous distraction, reducing driver alertness and reaction time, regardless of the type of cell phone being used.

In the event that you are involved in a car or truck accident in which a cellular phone has played a part, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney right away. Your auto accident lawyer can help you file a suit, if appropriate, and possibly recover damages to which you may be entitled.

About the Author

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Are the recent anti-illegal immigrant laws sustainable in Georgia?

Georgia’s new immigration law requires anyone applying for state aid to first be verified that they are in the state legally and employers [with state contracts] are being held accountable as well, sanctioning those who do not verify immigration status before employing someone.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Georgia’s new immigration law is the first to make it through a state legislative session this year. Many of Georgia’s immigration statues will not take affect until 2007, giving state agencies time to adjust and prepare. Georgia’s new immigration law will not affect emergency medical care and educational benefits for those in kindergarten through 12th grade, which federal courts have said must be provided regardless of immigration status.”It’s a punitive bill,” said Sara Gonzalez, president and chief executive of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “This is a very complicated issue, and I don’t see any good coming out of this.”

It will go through a court process, hence the long time to wait to go into effect, but it will win out, because the majority of folks want this new law. Those who want illegals to be allowed to stay, and come into America, and Georgia will put up a stinky battle, but it will win! More than likely, though, they may have to emend it to some degree. That’s the way it usually goes.

Bill Gates at the National Conference of State Legislatures (clip 1)

The tobacco agreement: Implications for farmers (NCSL legisbrief) …

Campaign finance reform (NCSL legisbrief) …

Earned income tax credit (NCSL legisbrief) …