Editorial: Hands-free applause

By approving a strong ban on all handheld cell-phone use for drivers in Pennsylvania, the state House last week took a major stride toward safeguarding motorists from death and injury in crashes caused by distracted driving.

On the same day, federal officials took decisive action that should keep the nation's highways safer: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood imposed an immediate nationwide ban on long-haul truckers and bus drivers sending text messages while rolling down the highway.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia police appear to be doing a good job enforcing the state's most far-reaching local ban on driving and using handheld phones. They've stopped almost 50 drivers a day since early December. About 2,500 citations have been issued - each carrying a $75 fine.

The focus in Harrisburg now turns to the Republican-controlled Senate, where House legislation sponsored by Rep. Josh Shapiro (D., Montgomery) should be adopted. Trouble is, there has been a puzzling lack of enthusiasm in the Senate for getting tough enough with distracted drivers.

While senators in July voted on a bill sponsored by Sen. Robert M. "Tommy" Tomlinson (R., Bucks) to ban text messaging by drivers, that measure falls far short. The ban would not apply to talking on a handheld phone, and it even would make it difficult for police to pull over motorists who are texting.

Maybe Senate members need to spend more time behind the wheel, since the daily commute should make anybody a believer on the dangers of distracted driving. At highway speeds, texting drivers can travel the length of a football field while not paying attention to the road.

If such anecdotal eyewitness evidence isn't enough, the senators should consider that nationally, 5,870 people died and 515,000 were injured in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers.

There's no dispute that drivers who talk on cell phones are four times as likely to crash, and some studies even liken the risk to driving while drunk. Texting is even more dangerous, since it means drivers look away from the road while sending a message.

After LaHood's federal announcement on texting, several U.S. senators, including Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), renewed their push for congressional action to compel states to ban texting and driving or forfeit federal highway funds.

While a new insurance industry study found that limits on handheld devices have yet to stem crashes, these laws - and their enforcement - still represent the best available weapon against distracted driving. Pennsylvania officials should follow the lead of progressive states - notably, New Jersey - in banning the use of handhelds by drivers.