A decade after cellphones became the rage in Barbados their widespread use and abuse are threatening public safety. That’s particularly true of motorists who engage in endless chatter at the wheel.Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce’s warning rang loudly last week when he said: “Regrettably, our records show that inappropriate use of this instrument while driving has contributed to our traffic accidents.” And in an attempt to curb the use of phones while driving, he announced: “To correct the situation we are proposing to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones on the highway unless a hands-free device is in use.”Although it’s a sensible move, the Government shouldn’t be under any illusion that it is foolproof. If the administration goes ahead with its plan, it would put Barbados on a list of at least 50 nations worldwide that have instituted such a ban. Penalties range from US$22 in Austria for the first offence to 2 000 euros and a jail sentence of two weeks behind bars in The Netherlands.There is little doubt, as borne out by scientific studies, that cellphone use, except in cases of hands-free while driving, causes accidents, and is a danger not simply to the offender but to other motorists and to pedestrians. A key factor is the distraction it causes, reducing the driver’s awareness of what’s happening on the road. The proliferation of cellphone use in Barbados is a fact of life, a reflection of the modernity that has gripped the world. According to World Bank statistics, the number of mobile telephone subscribers in Barbados went from 107 for every 1 000 Bajans in 2000 to 765 for every 1 000 by 2005. In the four to five years since then, it would not be unreasonable to estimate that there’s a cellphone for every person in the island, just as in Britain.Some scientists who studied the problem have gone so far as to equate the dangers of cellphone abuse behind the wheel with driving while intoxicated. And they advise that in much the same way we encourage people to have designated drivers, persons who don’t drink, then we should take away the mobile phone from those who engage in “long-talk 24/7”. After all, vehicles in motion can be dangerous weapons and are treated as such in several jurisdictions.It’s almost routine these days to be cut off on our streets by drivers so intent on talking on their cellphones that they don’t signal their intentions. And there are times when we have looked in the rear-view mirror and watched with horror as the driver behind didn’t notice we had stopped, all because he or she is on the cellphone.But there is another side to this story. Other studies have failed to show any substantial benefits from the imposition of legal bans in the United States.Still, we believe that the risks are great enough to merit action. If changing the law can save a life, or prevent serious injury then it is worth it.The challenge for the police will be enforcement. Cops will have to be constantly on the lookout for those who flout the law and they can only take action if they are mobile. Giving drivers a citation and hauling them into court isn’t an easy task. Other countries have found that to be true.Clearly, for any ban to be effective there must be enforcement and that would necessitate a stiff penalty that would deter would-be abusers. Just as important is an information and education campaign that underscores the need for common sense behind the wheel. After all, the next life you save may be your own.
