Oct/Nov 2006

California could be about to join the handful of American states that have so far banned the use of handheld mobile phones by drivers. A bill to this effect has been on the books for some years, but there are now reports that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has thrown his weight behind it - increasing the likelihood that it will now be passed, and possibly prompting similar moves in other states.

The so-called Simitian bill (SB-1613), originally tabled by senator Joe Simitian, would outlaw use of handheld mobiles by drivers in California from mid-2008. Up to now, only a few mainly eastern states such as New Jersey, New York and Washington DC have imposed such a ban, which has been resisted to some extend by the mobile industry. Palm claims it is the only major mobile phone manufacturer to support the proposal, though the US networks generally advise customers to use hands-free equipment.

Ironically, although use of handheld mobiles by drivers is already illegal in the UK, subjective evidence suggests that the rule is now widely and openly disregarded by a significant proportion of drivers. A survey conducted as a school project earlier this year noted that people in four-wheel drive vehicles were up to three times more likely to break the law than other drivers.