More motorists using cell phones while driving - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

More motorists using cell phones while driving

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Albany -- More people than ever are on their cell phones while driving. South Georgia law enforcement says it is a growing danger.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says eight percent of drivers on the road right now are also on cell phones. That is a 100 percent increase in the last four years.

Albany Patrol Officers say they see distracted drivers on phones everyday. Sgt. Tony Moore said "They are running red lights, weaving, and getting into collisions."

There is a Georgia law dealing with distracted drivers including cell phone use, but it is hard to enforce. Plus there is no hard evidence that talking on a cell phone is dangerous. Albany Safe Communities Coordinator Michele DeMott said "There are no studies that have definitely shown that crashes have increased through cell phone use."

One proposed Georgia law would ban drivers under 18 years of age from using a cell phone while driving.

 In New York, a ban on hand held phones has not led to any change in car crash numbers, while the number of drivers using phones increases everyday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration board has called for a ban of those with learner's permits from using cell phones while driving.

posted by jimw@walb.com