Hands off hands-free cell phones

A big thumbs up to Rocky Anderson for having the temerity to stand up to something bigger than he is, to take on a nationwide network full of hot air and shout out, "No more! No way! Not in my house!"

I'm not talking about Sean Hannity.

I'm talking about the activist mayor of Salt Lake City's executive order issued this week that prohibits cell-phone use by city employees while operating a motor vehicle.

Rocky said he would have prohibited cell-phone use for all the rest of us, too, but his coverage area doesn't go that far.

As the executive order reported, inattention due to cell-phone usage has already contributed to at least three traffic deaths locally, and more are sure to follow.

But not because of city employees.

Who knows, it could be the first step toward a citywide ban, followed by a statewide ban, a nationwide ban and a worldwide ban — which would make it a safer, better planet to drive in.

And while there will be those who claim that this is taking away yet another personal freedom, sometimes we need to be saved from ourselves.

Because, honestly, how many of us are going to do it voluntarily?

And it's easy to argue that in terms of victim rights, a cell-phone prohibition is a more important law, even, than seatbelt laws and helmet laws. Those laws protect us from ourselves, while a cell-phone law protects others from us.

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But Rocky, being Rocky, still managed to go too far.

In addition to hand-held cell phones, his executive order also prohibits the use of hands-free cellular devices.

Banning holding onto a cell phone while driving is one thing, banning talking while driving is another.

It would seem that hands-free cellular devices offer a common-sense alternative to hands-on cell phoning and should be encouraged, instead of outlawed.

A hands-free setup generally requires just one touch to be activated — roughly the same amount of effort as changing the radio station and a lot less than opening a package of Twinkies or applying makeup.

And they can be very productive. Hands-free cell phones can turn cars into rolling offices. A lawyer friend of mine says he routinely talks to clients on his commute to and from the office. At his hourly rate of $325, he estimates that adds up to about $50,000 a year in billable hours.

"I don't know about Rocky," he said, "but to me, that's almost real money."

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.