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More New Yorkers Driving with One Hand on Cell Phone
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
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Photo of 1969 car phone user courtesy Ericsson.
A maximum $100 fine doesn't seem to be stemming the rising tide of self-absorbed assholes who drive cars while blathering on their cell phones. Though a state law prohibits the use of a hand-held mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle, the number of violations has jumped fivefold in New York City since 2002, according to amNY. Last year almost 200,000 violations were reported.
An NYPD spokesman claims the increase is not due to increased enforcement by police but rather “increased negligence by drivers.” Cell phone use was a factor in 63 car accidents in the city in 2006, the last year statistics are available, according to amNY. But even legal "hands-free" cell phone use is problematic; last year a study found that hands-free cell phone chatting is favored by incessant multi-taskers who use their free fingers to engage in “grooming, eating, drinking and smoking” while driving. The New York State legislature is moving toward a law banning text-messaging while driving as well.
One New Yorker, Joe Casalino, recently wrote into the LA Times with a good point: Until cell phone violations result in added points to one’s driving record, few will take it seriously. (Starting July 1st, California drivers will have their chance to start blowing off the Golden State’s version of the law.) And according to a recent survey, New Yorkers lead the country in cell phone use while driving, with 70% of city drivers admitting they do it.
Tagged
accident
cell phone
city
driver
driving
hands free
illegal
law
mobile phone
new york
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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