CO bans use of hand-held phones while driving by teens; makes texting while driving illegal for all

June 12, 9:15 AMDenver Children's Health ExaminerRebecca Kessler

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"I never thought this could happen to me..."

No doubt those words have been uttered many times by those involved in a car accident.  And safety experts say it's that kind of attitude that can cause people to ignore the risks associated with inattentive driving habits, such as texting or chatting on cell phones while driving.

A landmark 2006 NTSA and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some form of driver inattention within 3 seconds before the crash.

Concerns over the use of cell phones and texting while driving have prompted many state legislatures – including Colorado – to restrict the practice.

On June 1, 2009, Governor Bill Ritter signed into law a bill that prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers under the age of 18, and makes texting while driving illegal for all Colorado drivers. The law takes effect in December.

Colorado joins thirteen states and the District of Columbia in banning texting by all drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Several states have banned the use of hand-held phone devices for all drivers; however Colorado was unable to pass an earlier version of the bill to that affect.  You can take a closer look at cell phone driving laws by state, including enforcement measures, on the GHSA website.

Concern for teens
Why the hand-held cell phone ban for Colorado teen drivers? The National Safety Council says teens bring to the road a unique mix of inexperience, distraction, peer pressure and a tendency to underestimate a risk. In fact, crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in Colorado and the United States. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, over 1,300 teens (ages 15-19) died in motor vehicle crashes between 1999 and 2005.

It’s no surprise that cell phone use and texting top the list of teen driver distractions. In a recent AAA Colorado Teen Driver Survey, 51percent of Colorado teenagers admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving; and 66 percent admitted to talking on their cell phone while driving. Those percentages are higher than the national average.

Safety experts say parents should talk to their teens about safe driving habits and listen to their concerns and questions. Pam Hutton, CDOT Governor’s representative has recommended a parent-teen driving agreement. With information about the law and knowledge of risks, family rules and consequences are written and agreed upon by parents and teens. With an agreement, young drivers are less likely to be involved in risky situations.

All drivers should focus on the road

As states continue to collect more data on the role of cell phones in accidents, more legislative action may follow. The Governors Highway Safety Association, while not supporting a legislative ban on all cell phone use for all drivers, says it continues to support a “no-use” message when it comes to cell phones and driving.

Certainly inattentiveness played a role in the death of a 9-year-old Fort Collins girl who was riding her bike when struck by a car. The 36-year-old driver had been on her cell phone. The driver shares her story and advocates for safe driving in the Denver Post: Michelle Smith’s letter apologizing for Erica Forney’s death.

No messaging or talking on hand-held cell phones while driving should be common sense – especially because these distractions involve extended periods of time.  Laws don’t necessarily save lives. They act as a deterrent. It comes down to more people understanding the risks and driving responsibly.  The message to all drivers is simple: focus your attention on the road. If you need to make a phone call or send a text message, pull over and stop in a safe place.