If you talk on your cell phone while you drive, you could soon be breaking the law. A new bill says you can keep talking, but only if you use a hands-free device. It's already a law in five states and pending in about 16 others. After hours of debate Monday, the bill passed out of a state House committee.
Drivers would have to pull over to physically dial a number or text someone. Representative Austin Badon of New Orleans is sponsoring the bill. He says it would make everyone on Louisiana roads much safer. "This bill simply says that in order to use your cell phone, you use a hands-free device," he says. So if the bill becomes law, you'd have to switch from holding your phone to plugging in a hands-free device, so you can keep both hands on the wheel. "I think it's the right thing to do," says Karen St. Germain. "We know it's going to be controversial, but I'm willing to sacrifice," says Rep. A.B. Franklin.

Drivers we spoke with say they are willing to make the sacrifice, too, because they admit that even though they are sometimes guilty, holding a phone while driving is distracting. "Too many accidents are caused with cell phones," one man says. "When you take your eye off the wheel to text, that's when it becomes a problem," says one woman. "As a runner and a bicyclist, I have nearly become the victim of an accident numerous times because people are not paying attention, not using both hands on the wheel, not using turn signals, I think it's a small price to pay," says Kathleen Callaghan.

Badon says the cost of a hands-free device is anywhere from $9 to $19. Representative Johnny Guinn of Jennings says that's too much for many people in his district to pay. Kathleen Callaghan disagrees. "If you can afford a cell phone, surely you can afford a hands-free device," she says. Callaghan says if it means saving people like her from getting hit, it's priceless. Johnny Koch represents a cell service provider. He says driving and dialing is NOT that dangerous. In fact, he says it's no more distracting than putting on lipstick, changing the radio, or even standard car windshield wipers. "The cell phone is not that big a deal when we look at every other distraction that is commonly done in the cars today," he says.

Six House members voted against the bill, but a majority passed it on to the House floor for more debate. There are some exceptions in the bill for commercial drivers, like taxi drivers, and for emergencies, like calling 911 or the police. We'll keep you updated on the bill as it moves through the process.

Source: WAFB, Caroline Moses