A potential ban on texting while driving is set to be discussed by the the Oro Valley Town Council. But even if such a measure passes, it’s likely to be more of a symbolic gesture than a catalyst to increased enforcement.
Last year in Arizona, there were more than 2,500 crashes on state highways attributed to distracted driving. And more than 10 percent of those were due to cellphones being used by the drivers, according to data from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
On Wednesday, Oro Valley’s council is set to discuss an ordinance that would require drivers to put their cellphones down while driving within the town limits.
Council members Lou Waters and Mary Snider have asked that the proposal be on the agenda for discussion.
“It’s something that has been brought forward as a concern by our residents,” Snider said. “We want to hear how the community feels about it.”
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Snider said bringing the issue before the council is an opportunity for residents to share concerns and ideas.
“We don’t want to enact an ordinance right now,” Snider said. “We’re trying to start a discussion.”
Distracted driving is a huge problem, and the town’s police officers lack any ability to keep driver’s from using their cellphones while behind the wheel, said Lt. Kara Riley, of the Oro Valley Police Department.
“I think that we really encourage education and prevention in our community,” Riley said. She noted that the department releases multiple videos outlining the problem of distracted driving.
Tucson already has an ordinance that says drivers cannot text while driving. But for the entire year of 2015, only 28 violations were issued, said Chris Hale, the City Court administrator.
In the state, 4,218 traffic citations were issued for districted driving. However, those can be issued for reasons other than texting while driving, state data shows.
Citations for districted driving are typically given after someone is already pulled over for a traffic violation.
Arizona is one of only two states that doesn’t have a law requiring that drivers put their cellphones down while operating a vehicle.
Efforts to pass a state law have failed.
Sen. Steve Farley, a Tucson Democrat, said he was the first state lawmaker in the country to introduce legislation that would ban using a hand-held digital device to read or write texts while driving.
“Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous practices you can do,” Farley said. “You’re 2,300 percent more likely to get into an accident if you’re texting while driving.”
“I’m glad I made it safe for everyone else in the country,” Farley said, adding that he looks forward to the day Arizona can join other states in seeking to make roads safer.
Christianna Silva is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at starapprentice@tucson.com
