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American Morning

House Subcommittee Debates Cell Phone Safety

Aired May 10, 2001 - 09:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the latest concerns about distracted drivers and cell phones: The industry says that wireless phones are important safety devices that can save lives, but others argue that drivers distracted by their cell phones can also put lives in danger.

We get more now from CNN's Skip Loescher.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Patricia Pena and her 2 1/2-year-old daughter of suburban Philadelphia were driving home in November of 1999 when another car slammed into them.

PATRICIA PENA, CELL PHONE SAFETY ADVOCATE: According to police reports, the driver was using his cellular phone, when he ran a stop sign at 45 miles per hour, broadsiding the passenger side of my vehicle, right where Morgan Lee was sitting in her car seat.

LOESCHER: Morgan Lee died from massive head injuries and her mother wants the government to do something to limit or ban cell phone use while driving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even a momentary distraction can lead to a crash.

LOESCHER: But Shelton told the House subcommittee that it would be premature to ban the use of cell phones while driving.

MARK EDWARDS, AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION: Do they increase the risk of crash involvement? Yes, all distractions cause crashes. But is it a large problem -- not yet.

LOESCHER: While surveys by NHTSA and others show driver distractions in all forms are contributing factors in 20 percent to 30 percent of crashes, a University of North Carolina study shows drivers say cell phone use is only a factor in less than 2 percent of crashes.

But even the cell phone industry says people should limit use of the phones while driving. It suggests drivers answer these questions before making a call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this call necessary? Is this the right time to make this call? LOESCHER: One other piece of advice from the industry: Pull over and park before making a cell phone call.

Skip Loescher, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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