A bill in the state legislature may make it illegal to talk on the phone while driving, but many students believe cell phone use behind the wheel will continue.
Rep. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, introduced legislation that would make it illegal to talk on the phone while driving, and the bill will soon be introduced to the House of Representatives for debate.
On April 13, the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works passed Barrow’s legislation in a 9-to-7 vote.
Barrow was inspired to introduce this bill after she was involved in a car accident.
“I was in an automobile accident with a young lady who admitted that she was on the cell phone and did not see that the light was still red when she actually plowed into the back of my car with me and my children in the back,” Barrow told NBC 33 TV.
David Sobek, political science assistant professor, said the bill will likely pass.
“This is something a lot of people can understand the dangers of and support,” he said.
But Sobek also said the bill may not affect many drivers.
“I imagine a lot of people will continue to talk on the phone, unless [police] are ticketing frequently,” he said.
Psychology sophomore Katherine McConnell agreed, but she said cell phone use isn’t the distraction leading to many car accidents.
“People won’t follow it,” she said about the proposed bill. “Talking on the phone isn’t really the problem. Music can have the same effect as talking on the phone.”
But McConnell did say she has seen negative effects of driving while talking on the phone.
“One of my friends was talking on the phone and rear-ended someone,” she said. “Another one of my friends in the backseat had to see a chiropractor for a year.”
But undeclared freshman Christopher Calkins said the proposed bill may make the roads more dangerous.
“People are going to be trying to hide the fact that they’re talking on the phone now, too,” he said. “It’s just one more thing that will distract them.”
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]