On a five to one vote, the Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee approved a proposal to make it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. Senator Patrick McMath (R-Covington) says distracted driving causes numerous wrecks and the phone is what distracts most drivers.
“And will continue to cause an issue with wrecks, fender benders, serious injuries and fatalities in Louisiana,” said McMath.
McMath’s measure heads to the Senate floor, but similar bills have failed to pass in previous sessions. The legislation has the support of the Department of Insurance. Warren Byrd spoke on behalf of Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon.
“Anytime that we can do anything to reduce or attack distracted driving is something the department will totally support and the commissioner is in favor of,” said Bryd.
McMath says 19 states already have a handheld cell phone ban for drivers and statistics show the number of accidents has decreased in those states.
Richard Brown, the president of a civic group called Citizens for a Better Kenner, testified against the legislation. Brown says the bill does not target the real culprit behind distracted driving.
“All of the science, all of the studies show that holding the phone is not the problem, the distraction is the mental distraction caused by the conversation,” said Brown.