IP: N.Y. cell phone ban no solution to driver stupidity:: Good Morning Silicon Valley Tue Jun 26 12:00:26 EDT 2001

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> N.Y. cell phone ban no solution to driver stupidity: Joining ranks with an 
> ever-expanding national movement that believes wireless communication to 
> be largely responsible for bad driving, the New York State Assembly on 
> Monday approved a measure that would make 
> <http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,44810,00.html>New York the 
> first state to ban drivers from using handheld cell phones. A spokesman 
> said Gov. George Pataki is expected to sign the bill into law this week. 
> Failing to note that there is little empirical evidence linking cell 
> phones to accidents, Assemblyman Steve Levy proclaimed that "the benefit 
> [of this measure] is quite large in the number of deaths that we will 
> avoid." Opponents of the measure say it will be unenforceable and suggest 
> that the assembly would be better of pursuing a broader driver distraction 
> bill. "To think that we're going to do this when at the same time I can 
> still use my laptop, I still can read a paper, I can still change my pants 
> while driving 65 mph, I think there's just something wrong," Assemblyman 
> Patrick Manning said. Assemblyman Brian Kolb echoed Manning's assertion. 
> "We seem to be reacting to polls more than relying on scientific 
> evidence," Kolb said. "We can't eliminate stupidity."



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