So now we have it.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has conducted research and found that talking on a cell phone while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving.

Most of us don’t drive if we’re drunk. However, I’d bet that most of us who own cell phones (which is most of us) talk on them at least occasionally when we drive. Some of us talk on them a lot when we drive. And a few of us talk incessantly when we drive.

Worse, some of us text when we drive. This is akin to watching television while we drive. Or reading a book at 60 mph.

A few months ago, a fascinating spot commercial appeared on local stations. It showed a man driving in a car and exclaiming about a driver in front of him who was weaving. The man was highly critical of drunk drivers. The next shot was of the man ramming a stopped 18-wheeler at highway speed. The punch line was something like: "Don’t talk and drive."

But we all do it, right?

But that doesn’t make it right.

Used to be, none of us wore seat belts. When states began to insist that we do for our own good, some people argued it was a violation of their constitutional rights. Some people even argued that just a few years ago when the General Assembly changed the law and allowed the police to stop you solely for that offense.

I don’t think there is any credible argument these days that seat belts don’t save lives and minimize injuries if you are in a crash. A few years ago, a colleague of mine was hit from behind, while stopped at a traffic light, at 60 mph. Not only that, the perp never took her foot off the gas, and proceeded to bounce back and then come right back and hit her again.

My friend was buckled in and suffered a concussion simply from the impact. However, if she had not been buckled, she almost certainly would have been propelled through the windshield and/or crushed against the steering column. Either of which most likely would have killed her.

The NTSB study, which was never published (some assert was suppressed) argues — to me, authoritatively — that talking on the phone is by far the most distracting thing you can do while driving. The study says there is little difference between holding the phone to your ear or using a "blue-tooth" hands-free device. The point is the mental focus required to talk on the phone.

The study further says this is quantitatively different than talking with someone else in the vehicle. It is quantitatively different than listening to the radio or even eating. Such as (to go to the extreme):

Talking on the phone with your spouse, who says he/she is leaving you for another.

Talking with your boss, who says if you aren’t standing in front of him/her in five minutes (you are 20 minutes away and stuck in traffic), you’re fired.

Or talking with the state police, who are telling you to get to the emergency room ASAP because your child is in critical condition.

But everyone does it, right? Even taxi drivers. They may well be the worst. Do we passengers have a right to tell the driver to shut up and drive? Recently, a New York cabbie ran a light while talking on the phone and hit another car, injuring the passengers in it, and his own as well.

From time to time, we are driving at highway speed and note a driver ahead of us who slows down and then speeds up and then slows down and speeds up. Most often, that driver is talking on the phone. They probably are unaware of their erratic ways.

The worst, of course, are the ones who are steering with their knees, holding a phone in one hand and working out of their briefcase on the right. Do you think they are watching the road? Do you think they know how fast they are going? Answer for yourself.

Do you think the General Assembly should do something about this?

Answer that for yourself, too.

Bill seeks cell phone ban on roads

Scott hopes latest proposal will have more success than last one

Delaware State News

DOVER — Although legislation banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving introduced earlier this year had to be watered down to obtain enough votes to pass, it looks as though a cell-phone ban may still be possible this session.

Rep. Darryl M. Scott, D-Dover, introduced new legislation on Tuesday that would prohibit the use of all cell phones while operating a motor vehicle on the highways of the state.

"I think we all agree it’s important to drive without distractions, and cell phones are a distraction," said Rep. Scott.

House Bill 229 calls for a penalty of at least $50, but no more than $100, for the first offense. For each subsequent offense the violator would be fined at least $100 but not more than $200.

Drivers would not be fined for emergency calls to 911.

In January, Rep. Joseph E. Miro, R-Pike Creek, introduced similar legislation that would ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in Delaware.

The legislation, House Bill 40, received tough criticism from some who said it would disrupt businesses trying to connect with their employees.

Last month, it was brought up on the House floor on two separate occasions with lengthy discussions.

During its first appearance, the legislation ran into myriad problems and its discussion quickly escalated into chaos.

Legislators wanted exemptions for the operators of ham radios, for those who use the walkie-talkie feature on their phone and for those using their phone for work purposes.

Lawmakers began to wonder how police officers would be able to enforce the law.

Amendments — and amendments to amendments — started to come out of the woodwork.

A statement made by Rep. Daniel B. Short, R-Seaford, seemed to sum up the confusion in Tuesday’s debate.

"Your amendment to the amendment does not amend anything in the amendment," he said.

Two days later, it was brought back in a new form — a ban on sending text messages while operating a moving motor vehicle.

The legislation passed 39 to 1 and awaits a committee hearing in the Senate.

Despite the problems faced by its predecessor, Rep. Scott believes his bill can weather the storm.

"I’m hopeful," he said of it passing.

Rep. Miro said he had not read House Bill 229 as of Tuesday evening and was unable to comment on it.

The legislation has been assigned to the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee. It is scheduled for a hearing at 2:30 p.m. today.