Friday, July 7th, 2006
By Shelley Grieshop
Talk about a problem!
Lawmakers looking at tougher driving laws
Why? In Ohio, accident reports do not specifically list "cell phone use" as one of the choices for officers to mark as a crash factor. So when statistics are tallied in Columbus - where all accident reports statewide are recorded - cell phone use frequently isn't counted when it is a factor.
Recent studies show hands-free versions aren't much safer.
Drews added that drunk driving - which also was studied by the university - also isn't recommended while operating a vehicle.

Residents sound off:
Many local residents told The Daily Standard they believe cell phone use should be banned on the open road, even though most admitted to using them for non-emergency calls while behind the wheel.
Jane Heiby of Celina says she seldom uses her cell phone while driving even though it's usually with her at all times.
"I don't think it's a good idea," says the 50-year-old. "I think they're great to keep in the visor or the steering column for emergencies, but we don't need them in our hands when we're driving."
Most area motorists interviewed this week said they know talking on cell phones while driving - especially for long periods of time - isn't smart or safe, but said that hasn't stopped them. Some local drivers became defensive about the issue, pointing fingers of guilt that eventually pitted experienced drivers against rookie ones.
Several states, such as Colorado, Delaware, Maryland and Tennessee, have taken steps to regulate cell phone use for young drivers under 21. Middle-age and older drivers in the Grand Lake area say that's a good idea .
"I think it's a problem that should be stopped," says Lee Billger, a 73-year-old Celina resident. "Young kids get a phone stuck in their ear and they forget what the hell they're doing."
But several 16-year-old Coldwater youths disagreed.
"I think we (young drivers) are more careful because we're newer drivers. It's the older drivers that shouldn't have them," Rachel Huelsman says.
Her friend, Nicole Griesdorn, says she abides by her parents' rule that she can't make calls while driving, "but I can answer it if it rings."
Zach Kaup, who just got his driver's license one week ago, says talking on his cell phone while driving isn't a problem for him or his parents.
"As long as you can do two things at once, it shouldn't matter," he says.
Like Huelsman, he believes adults, "who think they're good drivers," are likely more at risk traveling down the road with a cell phone clutched in their hand.
Local drivers aged 50 and up - who didn't have cell phones dangling from their waist or tucked into a purse - took the issue further and questioned the overall necessity of the new technology.
Billger, who says he'll never own a cell phone, lumped their usefulness in a category with credit cards.
"I went my whole life without either and got along just fine. Neither are necessary," he says.
Additional online stories for this date
Print edition only stories for this date
• Tower troubles
• County bolsters Zuma plan with more money
• Police chief, administrator butt heads over policy
• Newly ordained priest arrives
• Coldwater wins a pair for sectional crown
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