Teen driving distractions should be eliminated
Share this pageIt’s time for California’s teen-aged drivers to put down their cell phones, pagers and PDAs, and pay attention to their driving.
Year after year, car crashes are the number one cause of death among teenagers. In fact, the fatality rate for drivers 16-19 years old is four times that of older drivers in the 25-69 year-old age range. Across the country, more than 6,000 teen-aged drivers a year are killed on our nation’s streets and highways.
Among the culprits: cell phones, pagers and PDAs. The young drivers who are using these devices while driving are putting not only themselves at risk, but all of us as well.
That’s why we authored Senate Bill 33, which prohibits new drivers under the age of 18 from driving while using a cell phone or pager, or while text messaging. For ease of administration, the new law would take effect on July 1st, 2008, when other drivers, 18 and older, will be required to drive “hands-free” if they’re using a cell phone.
Full story on San Mateo Daily Journal website