A bill that would ban the use of cell phones by teen drivers passed the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday on a 13-0 vote with one abstention (Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk)). The bill was incorporated into SB 966 , which also makes certain penalties primary ones, meaning a police officer can stop a teen for, say, driving with too many underage occupants, instead of needing a primary cause, such as speeding, before issuing citations.
But the cell phone ban advocate, Sen. Bill Mims (R-Loudoun) makes some assertions I’d like to see proof for.
Youngsters have not developed the ability to multitask, Sen. Bill Mims, R-Leesburg, said while defending his bill that bans drivers younger than 18 from using a cell phone – even one equipped with a hands-free set or speaker phone – while driving.
“Their attention is on that phone call even if it’s a hands-free device,” he said, which could distract them for the two or three seconds it takes to avoid an accident. “That amount of time is sufficient for a dangerous accident.”
Adults, he said, have developed the multitasking ability and can refocus their attention almost immediately from the phone conversation to the dangerous situation.
Qualifying as an adult (with somewhat arrested development), I think adults aren’t much better at multi-tasking, at least with cell phones while driving. I do it and wish I didn’t. I clearly know my attention is diverted. It’s not the act of holding a phone, although with a manual transmission I literally can’t drive, hold the phone and change gears. My reaction times to certain events is definitely hampered by the phones. I don’t suffer from ADD. … (What was I talking about?) … And I don’t think I’m alone on this issue. Still, with three teenage drivers in my house, I welcome the bill. (Donations to my automobile insurance relief fund can be sent directly to my insurer.)