To the editor:

While cell phone use while driving can be a distraction and young people, cell phones and driving may lead to unnecessary accidents, there are plenty of options available to cell phone users to avoid the loss of concentration while driving.

But the position of the Traffic Safety Commission demonstrates how the city of Lawrence has been run over the past several years. There is no “we” in this decision. “We” did not decide to ban fireworks. “We” did not decide to place ourselves against the Patriot Act. “We” did not ban smoking, and “we'” will not ban cell phone use in motor vehicles.

The city’s policies and practices are run by a few, small, special interest groups, and “we” have been left out of the process. Even when “we” show the city, through petition drives (i.e., fireworks and smoking ban), there is significant opposition to a proposed ordinance, “we” are not given the opportunity to voice our consent or dissent on any of these issues.

So don’t say that “we” have the right to break new ground on issues that impact all of us. There is no “we” in Lawrence city politics or policy decisions. Only loud special interest groups who claim support of community, but never prove that support through a vote.

Placing restrictions on cell phone use while driving may have merits for safety of both drivers and pedestrians, but don’t wrap it in the cloak of “the people of Lawrence want this.” If it’s such a good idea, convince the majority to support it. If you can’t do that, then maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

Ken Meyer,

Lawrence