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American Morning

New York Looks to Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving

Aired June 25, 2001 - 11:01   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: Studies show that cell phones and driving don't mix. And state leaders in New York have heard the horrors stories and now they're making a move to keep cell phones out of the hands of motorists.

CNN's Jason Carroll has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The movement to ban handheld cell phones in New York began on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. And that's where, back in 1996, Felix Ortiz saw an accident. A woman had just crashed into a pole, a minor local accident that would inspire a major change in state law.

FELIX ORTIZ, N.Y. STATE ASSEMBLY: And I asked, "Are you drunk?" And the person said to me, "I am not drunk. It was because of this cell phone."

CARROLL: The state assemblyman sponsored a bill to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Governor George Pataki has said he would sign the bill, making New York the nation's first state to pass such a law.

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: We hope that people have enough respect for the law that they stop now because it is a danger; it is a distraction.

CARROLL: The April accident involving model Niki Taylor was the most publicized recent example. The driver later said his cell phone had distracted him. Taylor is still hospitalized.

Sharon Arnette (ph) has used her cell phone while commuting to work, but admits the ban is a necessary inconvenience.

SHARON ARNETTE, CELL PHONE USER: I think it's terrible, but I think it's needed.

CARROLL: The cell phone industry has spent millions on ads opposing a ban calling for education, not legislation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INTERNET ASSOCIATION AD)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ask yourself: Is this call necessary?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: This spot promotes hands-free phones, which are acceptable under New York's new law. But they are not acceptable to the AAA.

MANTILL WILLIAMS, AAA SPOKESMAN: So we need to be very clear that going from a handheld device to a hands-free device does not eliminate the danger of talking on a phone while driving.

CARROLL: Sales rep and avid hands-free user Joanne Isaan (ph) explains why.

JOANNE ISAAN, SALES REPRESENTATIVE: It's not going to make that much of a difference.

CARROLL (on camera): It's still a distraction.

JOANNE: Still a distraction. Your cell phone is a distraction in the car no matter what.

CARROLL (voice-over): Even Ortiz would like to see a total ban on cell phone use in cars, but he said that legislation would not have passed. And his bill, at least, heads in the direction.

ORTIZ: It's a public-safety, quality-of-life type of legislation that we must pursue.

CARROLL (on camera): New York's law goes into effect this December. At least two dozen other states are considering similar legislation. And Congress is considering a nationwide ban as well.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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