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Safety group pushes for a ban on drivers using cell phones

By
Marva Hinton
@ January 13, 2009 6:54 AM
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A national safety group says talking on a cell phone while driving is a bad as driving drunk, and they're calling for a nationwide ban.

Orlando-area photographer Douglas Nesbitt says he's all for it.

"Most people can't drive anyway, so the fact that you have idiots who can't drive with a cell phone up to the head makes no sense at all," said Nesbitt. "Every day it's a near miss because I'm in my car a lot, and some idiot is going to run through a red light or make a right turn or pull out in front of me. It happens every single day."

The National Safety Council would like to make it illegal to talk on a cell phone and drive. Six states already ban the use of hand-held phones while driving, but the council says that doesn't go far enough. The group also want hands-free units banned as well.

But Melissa Youngman of Altamonte Springs says it would be hard for cops to figure out who's on the phone.

"If their hand is next to their ear, I guess they'd be able to tell, but I think it would be difficult and probably a waste of our resources for cops to do that," said Youngman.

She says she's never had a problem driving while on her phone but has seen others get into trouble.

"I've been behind people who are definitely not paying attention because they're on their cell phone, and you can tell and that's always annoying," said Youngman.

The safety council says it's more than annoying. They argue that talking on a cell phone increases the risk of a crash four times.

Florida doesn't put any restrictions on using a cell phone use while behind the wheel.

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