To the editor:
And all this time I was concerned that the federal government was the big brother I needed to be on guard against. After reading the Journal-World article of Oct. 4 regarding cell phone usage while driving, now I am worried that big brother is downtown here in Lawrence.
If I understand the city's Traffic Safety Commission and David Woosley, city traffic engineer, correctly, they are requesting the legal department of Lawrence to draft an ordinance to ban drivers from using a cell phone in Lawrence. I am making the assumption that they have documented proof that cell phone usage is the cause of a percentage of the accidents in Lawrence. They surely have traffic studies, accident reports or some other scientific proof to support their request for this ordinance. Something else to consider in this ban: eating while driving, having children in the car, navigational equipment, listening to the radio and just talking with a passenger in the vehicle.
The statement attributed to Caleb Morse, traffic commissioner, "I think Lawrence has a perfect right to break ground where we think we need to break ground." He is absolutely correct. However, be assured that I (and I am sure thousands) will attempt to displace all those attempting to pass such a stupid ban in Lawrence.
City commissioners should heed this impact upon drivers using cell phones. This is unenforceable and a waste of good money taxpayers are paying to have our city considered the best ... and not a laughingstock of the country. The taxpayers of Lawrence have seen enough waste of our tax dollars from the T bus system, golf course, smoking ban, roundabouts and traffic lights.
Ed White,
Lawrence
Comments
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Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
I'm at a loss as to how this proposed measure would make Lawrence "a laughingstock of the country" when so many localities and even whole states in the country already have such measures.
The waste of tax dollars is with personnel to respond to and document accidents caused by such unique (and unnecessary) distractions, which BTW, are well documented.
I'm not certain how I feel about the proposed ordinance but this author's arguments against are quite poor and unconvincing.
Skeptic (anonymous) says…
"arguments against are quite poor and unconvincing"
It's really sad that we have to find excuses to NOT ban something.
I can only guess the TSC has some latent hatred of cell phones, because this can't be a priority safety issue in the city.
Either that or the think they need to do something like this to justify their existence.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Actually many states do have restrictions and most industrialized countries do not allow such use of cell phones.
http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/