In The News
A new threat on the road: texting drivers
LAWRENCE, Kan. — During a break in classes at the University of Kansas, Charles Rombold has his cell phone ready for texting. The 20-year-old junior acknowledges he sometimes even messages friends while driving.
Of course, the 20-year-old junior from Junction City is not alone, with 255 million cell phones nationwide and nearly three-quarters of their owners reporting that they're in use while driving.
Texting while driving has become so common that legislatures in 23 states, including Kansas, have proposals to restrict it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"It's a bad habit," Rombold said. "There are times when I've had a close call and I go back and finish the message. I've never had an accident but I know I shouldn't push my luck."
Yet, if people curse cell-phone distracted drivers and even the people who text while driving know it's bad, only two states — Washington and New Jersey — ban the practice.
"There's a lot of agreement that cell phones are distracting in the car, but no consensus on whether cell phones are distracting enough to warrant legislation," said NCSL transportation analyst Matt Sundeen. "There is genuinely a mixed feeling among the public on restrictions on cell phone use."
Texting continues to grow quickly in popularity. Last year, some 363 billion text messages were sent — more than double the 158 billion sent the year before, according the CTIA-The Wireless Association, the industry's trade group.
"Regardless of what you think about talking on a cell phone while driving, many legislators think that texting while driving goes beyond what is appropriate behind a wheel," Sundeen said.
There's no way to measure how many text messages came from drivers, but clearly it's become a growing concern, and the trade group doesn't oppose such legislation.
"We don't think anyone should be text messaging and driving, period," said CTIA spokesman Joe Farren.
The NCSL counts at least 112 bills under consideration in 30 states dealing with driver distraction such as cell phones and texting.
In 13 states, cell phones can't be used while driving a school bus and another 18 prohibit cell phone use by drivers under age 18 or those with a restricted license.
But only five — Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington state — ban hand-held cell phones by drivers, though California joins the list in July. All allow drivers to use hand-free cell phones and exempt emergency calls.
Like people everywhere, Kansans regularly complain about people who use their cell phones while driving. Yet the issue has never prompted a law for the Sunflower State.
A bill requiring teens to wait longer to drive — Kansans can get a learner's permit at 14 — also would ban anyone under age 18 from using a cell phone while driving. It passed the Senate this year but got stuck in the House Transportation Committee.
And a bill banning texting while driving doesn't have any traction.
"It seemed to be a no-brainer bill but it never got a hearing," Rep. Louis Ruiz, a Kansas City Democrat, said of his texting bill. "To me, when you are driving you should be focused on the road."
Other issues seemed to take priority: abortion, illegal immigration, health care and the fate of two proposed coal-fired power plants in western Kansas. Yet, House Speaker Melvin Neufeld agreed that texting while driving should be addressed.
"Actually I have been amazed at the amount of comments I have been getting from my district about wanting to do something about this issue," said the Ingalls Republican. "They are particularly concerned about teenagers driving around doing this."
A survey by National Mutual Insurance released last year showed 37 percent of those between ages 18-27 admitted to texting or instant messaging while driving. It also showed 73 percent of all ages said they used a cell phone while driving.
Sundeen said 29 states, including Kansas, collect crash data related to cell phone involvement.
In Kansas, cell phones were considered a factor in 1,100 accidents from 2003 through 2006. They included nine with fatalities and 388 with injuries. Sixty-four percent of the accidents involved drivers 29 or younger.
At the University of Kansas, Leah Hoffman, a 20-year-old sophomore and frequent texter from Kansas City, Mo., recalled driving by a traffic accident last summer and hearing that texting was involved.
"It was the final thing," she said. "If I ever wanted to do it, I didn't after seeing that."