NC House Debates Radical Measure to Limit North Carolina Car Accidents
In 2008, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released a study that the nearly gave North Carolina car accident experts whiplash: VTTI found that four out of every five crashes involves driver inattention – and about two-thirds of near crashes also involve inattention. Cell phone use contributes hugely to dangerous inattention, according to the VTTI analysts.
Based on this study and other findings, in 2009, North Carolina made it illegal to text message while driving. A House Commerce Committee spent Wednesday debating an even more draconian measure. According to a March 24th story from the AP, the new measure “would make using a cell phone while driving illegal unless the motorist can talk handsfree… fines would be $100 or more, but wouldn’t lead to driver’s license points that could result in higher insurance premiums.”
Representative Garland Pierce, a Democrat from Scotland who championed the 2009 texting while driving ban, argued passionately for the measure: “we’ve got to send a message… it’s about highway safety – your family and my family – getting home safe at night.”
Not all legislators agreed. For instance, Craig Horn, a Republican from Union, voiced concerns about government overreach: “To me holding a hot cup of coffee is a whole lot more distracting because if that thing spills, we are all going to be hurting.”
But Pierce found support from House Speaker, Thom Tillis, a Republican from Mecklenburg, who said: “there is a compelling amount of statistical data that says distracted driving is causing accidents in the state… it’s increasing insurance rates and it’s having other negative outcomes.”
Media figures and auto safety experts who follow North Carolina car accident news believe that the legislature will take additional actions to control the use of cell phones while driving. Even though legislators like Horn may currently be less than convinced that cell phones are a major problem, the zeitgeist seems to be shifting towards regulating cell phone use.
It’s certainly good to be skeptical about how and whether policy solutions like the one proposed will work. But it’s also important to remember that inaction is its own form of “action.”
The ultimate key isn’t proving that legislation is theoretically right or wrong; it’s being able to react adeptly and flexibly to on-the-ground data. Whatever reforms the legislature institutes, it would be nice to see the state report its progress. Clean, scientifically accurate data can help us understand how various policy remedies do or do not change accident rates.
Stepping back from the policy debate for a second… if someone you care about has been hurt in an auto crash involving cell phones, a North Carolina auto accident law firm can give you resources, strategic help and compassionate service to collect benefits and repair your life quickly.
More Web Resources:
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute cell phone study
Debate over new NC cell phone and driving measure
