Washington poised to ban cellphones while driving

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) today plans to sign bills prohibiting drivers from operating cellphones-including sending text messages-while behind the wheel, her press aide said.
Washington would join New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California and the District of Columbia in outlawing driver use of hand-held phones, while permitting wireless calls via hands-free devices.
The momentum across the country to ban hand-held cellphone use by drivers-particularly among teens and school bus drivers-is growing even though studies conclude hands-free wireless devices do not improve driver performance. State officials and police have found cellphone bans are difficult to enforce and that motorists routinely ignore such laws.
“As hard and long as I’ve worked on this bill, giving up just wasn’t an option,” said Sen. Tracey Eide (D) last month after House passage of the Senate-approved legislation. “Too many people in my district and across the state have contacted me with their support and encouragement. I knew this was important for keeping our roads and our families safe.”
Eide has sponsored the phone ban for the past seven years.
“I don’t know what else we’d need to make the case that the public wants safer roads by putting common-sense limits on the use of cellphones while driving,” Eide said.