No simple cure for distracted driving

Legislation to ban texting while driving is moving forward, and it seems some form of statewide limit on the irresponsible practice is imminent.

That's understandable. Drivers should refrain from sending text messages while operating a vehicle - it's a dangerous practice that puts their lives, and the lives of others, at risk. We do support enhanced penalties for drivers whose cell phone use of any kind leads to accidents. But we are skeptical that the ban as proposed would be effective or practical.

Recently, the Highway Loss Data Institute released study results showing that statewide bans on using hand-held phones while driving had no resulting reductions in crashes, although those laws did reduce the number of people who used the devices while driving.

Even bill supporters agree that distracted driving is the bigger public safety issue. Legislating against it is difficult. More work is needed to educate drivers and persuade them to stop these unacceptable behaviors.

On Tuesday, the Iowa House voted 65-31 to make it illegal for drivers to write or send text messages or e-mail from a moving vehicle. Violators would be slapped with a $30 fine. Stiffer penalties would apply if their texting or e-mailing leads to an accident causing serious injury or death. In those cases, texting drivers even could have their drivers' licenses suspended.

The Senate now considers the bill.

There is no question texting while driving is a widespread problem - recent surveys show about one in four drivers does it; 50 percent or more teenagers say they do. It's more than common sense that tells us that's a terrible habit.

Last summer, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released research that found long-haul truck drivers were 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision than drivers who were paying attention as they should. Those drivers had their eyes on their devices an average of five seconds before a crash - long enough to drive farther than the length of a football field.

Critics say the House bill won't suffice to curb the dangerous and widespread practice of distracted driving. Iowa Department of Transportation officials have said they don't think HF 2456 goes far enough.

Gov. Chet Culver said this week that he'll issue an executive order banning state employees driving state vehicles from reading, writing or sending text messages from behind the wheel. That's the right example from state leadership - and we need even more.

Stiffer penalties for cell phone use that factors into accidents would be a small step forward in the fight against distracted driving.

But it will take persistence to change our driving culture so that more drivers remember this simple, fundamental rule: Keep your hands on the wheel and your focus on the road.