The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that in 1999, there were 77 million cell phones in use in the United States and 44 percent of drivers had them in their vehicles, Rep. Miller said. The Yankee Group, which also studied cell phone use by motorists, has estimated that cell phone users spent 60 percent of their cell phone time while driving. Using cell phones while driving is inherently dangerous, Rep. Miller said. It is a distraction that prevents drivers from concentrating their attention on the highway ahead and on other vehicles approaching from the front or rear or passing on the right or left on limited access highways. Using cell phones while driving is especially dangerous on multi-lane highways where some vehicles are moving at speeds of 65 miles per hour or higher.
Distracted drivers using cell phones are fatal accidents looking for places to happen.
Estimates of the number of fatalities relating to using cell phones while driving range from 200 to 300 a year, Rep. Miller said. If this bill is enacted, it will save lives and reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents, Rep. Miller said. It will mean one less distraction that keeps motorists from paying full attention to the road ahead and to other drivers. I for one will feel a lot more comfortable driving on I-95 knowing that the car phones in other vehicles are where they should be on the hook.