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Doug Robinson: Hang up the cell phone and drive

Hang up the phone, put down the eye-liner, read the paper at lunch, put lunch aside. Each activity often, somehow, miraculously, stupidly get priority over driving.

DUI can apply to any of the above activities - the biggest difference is that the "influence" if solely by choice (a mental, not physical inhibition). As such the solution is simple and direct - when driving, DRIVING should always be the #1 priority on your mind! Occasionally you can listen to the radio, talk to a friend, or even down a french fry, but those activities should ALWAYS be CONSCIOULY put as a lower priority for your (and everyone else's) safety.

Talk to any cop and they'll let you know what they think of drivers using cell phones. Many cops I know have TRIED THEIR DARNDEST to get their cities to quit writing ordinances regarding "smoking in parks" and other such nonsense and instead, write ordinances that regulate cell phones. Every time it comes up at city or county mtgs. our elected leaders DO NOTHING about them. (Mostly because they all like to talk on the phone while they drive). How many lives must be lost and how much property damage has to occur until lawmakers HANDLE THE PROBLEM?

Even if lawmakers pass a law in Utah prohibiting cell phone use or texting while driving, it won't make much of a difference. California now has laws against cell phone use while driving but I see plenty of people breaking that law every single day.
I've yet to see someone pulled over by law enforcement for cell phone use. Some drivers are just selfish and self-centered. They tailgate, change lanes w/o signaling, roll through stop signs and/or red lights...especially if turning right, exceed the speed limit, cut off other drivers, and talk or text on cell phones while driving. Such drivers are not likely to change their bad habits until something terrible happens to rock their world.

But then I'm sure you've never seen the cops typing away on their laptops while driving...