Good news in the New York Times.
Momentum is building for laws to restrict — I hope prohibit — use of phones while driving.
The flurry of state activity — coupled with intensifying action by federal legislators and regulators, and by the cellphone and auto industries — is putting renewed focus on the risks of using phones behind the wheel, according to policy analysts.
They acknowledge that there is no certainty of how many of the bills will become law, and say that the number of bills is running just slightly ahead of last year’s tally.
But they assert the proposals are being met with less resistance than in years past from legislators, and are enjoying newfound industry support. For example, cellphone and auto companies have joined lobbying efforts for legislation to ban texting while driving.
My prediction is that Arkansas will be a laggard on no-talk laws and that, ultimately, federal action tied to highway money will force compliance. Hurry the day. It is a daily, if not hourly occurrence — a car out of sync with traffic, weaving or nearly causing an accident, with a driver engrossed in a phone conversation.