The bill was debated last month, but it was not voted on. Since January 2000, police in Michigan have been required to note on traffic reports whether a driver was using a cell phone or otherwise distracted at the time of the crash. Michigan has yet to evaluate the data. But preliminary reports from three of the 12 states that are collecting such data suggest that the threat posed by drivers using cell phones has been overblown, said Michael McDermott, director of state public policy for Verizon Wireless. In 1998, Oklahoma reported 80,376 accidents, but only 98 were linked to wireless phone use, McDermott said.
Police argue the problem is anything that distracts drivers.
At least when you're talking on the cell phone, you're looking straight ahead. Your head isn't turned to the back seat. Opposed by industry For the most part, the wireless industry opposes bans or restrictions such as Patterson's bill, but Verizon would support a cell phone ban under certain circumstances, said McDermott. Many automakers are racing to add onboard computers, navigational systems and other high-tech communication devices in cars and trucks. They also are trying to engineer out much of the distraction the devices pose to drivers, in hopes of blunting efforts to ban cell phone use by drivers.