Multitasking is overrated. Sometimes it's dangerous. That's the case with talking on a cell phone while driving.
And that's why Rep. Mike Doogan has pre-filed a bill to ban jabbering on a cell phone while driving in Alaska. His bill would make exception for emergencies.
Doogan's blanket ban is better than a bill left over from last year that bans the practice for drivers younger than 18. Evidence is clear that young drivers are on average worse at driving than adult drivers. But everyone's driving gets worse when they use a cell phone on the road.
Cell phone distraction is insidious. University of Utah researchers found that driving while using a cell phone was as bad as driving drunk. They also found that most drivers felt using a cell made no difference in their driving. That misperception makes the practice even more dangerous.
Alaska should make it illegal.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Anchorage Daily News.
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