I am disappointed and somewhat angered at the defeat of HB64, which gave hope to control the use of cell phones while driving. In the face of all the research establishing the dangers of distracted driving, the House Transportation Committee opted to kill the bill, citing personal liberty and difficulty of enforcement.
First, we know that driving is a privilege and not a right as defined by law. It is not a personal liberty to inflict injury or death on other motorists by exercising the use of a cell phone while driving. Secondly, I fail to see the difficulty of citing violators because, as I proceed along the roadways as an average driver, I see a number of people texting and using cell phones at stop lights and other close proximity traffic situations.