[MissoulaGov] cell phones

[Paul Sopko]

Here's an abstract for another peer-reviewed paper from the Journal of Experimental Psychology:

"Drivers talking on cell phones are more distracted and more prone to error than if they were speaking with a friend sitting next to them in the car, a new report finds. A recent study, published in the December 08 issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, involved 41 men and women ranging in age from 18 to 26. Each participant was paired with a friend and asked to navigate a 24-mile multi-lane stretch of highway with "real" highway conditions represented on a simulator. Participants were presented with three scenarios: driver talking on a hands-free cell phone, driver talking with a passenger, and no conversation at all. Half of the drivers talking on cell phones missed a designated exit, while only 3 of 24 drivers missed the exit when talking with another person sitting next to them. 

Talking with a passenger is considerably less hazardous than talking on a cell phone. 

A driver talking on a cell phone is four times more likely to get in a crash than a driver who is not. The risks of talking on hands-free cell phones are the same as those talking on hand-held cell phones. More information is available at http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=621873. "



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Sayer 
  To: echilders at ci.missoula.mt.us ; BJaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us ; Paradigm1 at aol.com 
  Cc: missoulagov at cmslists.com 
  Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:01 AM
  Subject: [MissoulaGov] cell phones


        FYI, I've seen a lot of comments and speculation about the cellphone ban but not as much hard information. Here's a list of data from this website -- http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures.jsp: 


          a.. Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08%. (University of Utah) 
          b.. The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech /NHTSA) 
          c.. Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) 
          d.. 10% of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time. 
          e.. Driving while distracted is a factor in 25% of police reported crashes. 
          f.. Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon) 

        Also, here's a short news summary from cnet on a study from the University of Utah comparing driving with a cell phone and driving drunk:
        http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6090342-7.html

        BTW, there's also a story in today's Independent on Dave Strohmaier and the local debate: http://www.missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=1B1A1542-14D1-1357-9CA97A6558961B35



        --- On Thu, 3/19/09, Paradigm1 at aol.com <Paradigm1 at aol.com> wrote:

          From: Paradigm1 at aol.com <Paradigm1 at aol.com>
          Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 3-18-09
          To: echilders at ci.missoula.mt.us, BJaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us
          Cc: missoulagov at cmslists.com
          Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 9:52 AM


          Hi Bob... These updates are great-- thank you very much! 
          It will be interesting to learn how talking on a CB  or Two way Radio while driving, is less dangerous than talking on a phone ?

          Carl P.

          In a message dated 3/19/2009 9:39:22 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, echilders at ci.missoula.mt.us writes:
            Thanks, Bob. Wonderful job. As I mentioned on the Council floor, I wish John H. would do one.
            The leash conversation is likely to be spirited. Judging from public comments and from my previous experience,  we'll also discuss dogs in-town. And probably leashing cats, before we're done. :)


Ed Childers, City Council, Ward6Bob Jaffe wrote: 
              Greetings,

              We changed things up today and started with Public Works this morning.  We discussed the situation with the right of way vacations on Miller Creek road. Here is a very brief synopsis for folks who are unfamiliar.

              We are doing a project to rebuild the intersection between upper and lower miller creek on down to the Walmart.  The project requires some right of way acquisition. During the process of researching the right of way boundaries it was discovered that over 100 years ago additional right of way was established that no one was aware of.  This additional right of way expanded the public property right through some of the homes on the west side of miller creek road. It goes without saying that the folks affected were not so happy. What was a negotiation to sell us right of way turned into a negotiation to ask us to vacate right of way. The City was not to hot on the idea of vacating right of way that we would have to buy back later the next time the road needed to expand.

              So the engineering folks drafted up what the anticipated future needs would be and we will vacate the balance.



              In Conservation we had interviews and made appointments to the greenhouse gas committee. We had four applicants for one position. We picked one but were so impressed with the other applicants that we want to talk to the committee about expanding their membership so we can also appoint the others. Recently this committee has become much more active and is actually taking on work projects. It seems wrong to turn down such qualified people who want to volunteer.



              In PAZ we did six interviews for three spots on the historic preservation committee.  For the first time since I have been chair of the committee we have an open PAZ schedule. We may actually skip PAZ for a few weeks until the zoning update stuff makes it through planning board. I assume this is indicative of the building slowdown.



              In Public Safety we discussed the driving with cell phone ordinance.  CB and two way radios have been removed from the proposal. Discussion focused on having different rules in Missoula from the rest of the state; Primary or secondary offence; are the reckless driving laws already adequate. We set a public hearing for I believe April 13th.



              Then we had a joint Public Safety and Conservation meeting to discuss the conservation land leash laws.  The press was there for that one. We had TV cameras and Missoulian photographers and a bunch of public comment. We mostly just walked through the history of the subject from the last five or so years. The likely outcome of all this is that there will be work done in the context of our conservation lands management plan to establish a policy.  Then we will modify ordinance as needed to memorialize that policy. A great deal of the public comment received to the council and in conversations I have had with people is in regards to dogs in parks and on the commuter trails. Dogs are required to be on leashes in these places. The current issue before council pertains only to the north hills, mount jumbo, and the kim Williams trail east of the university.



              We finished the day with committee of the whole to discuss the revisions to the ward boundaries and a resolution regarding transportation funding. By law we are required to keep the wards equal to maintain equal rights of the electors. The courts have set the bar at around 10% variance between wards. Based on our best estimates we have a 13% variance with ward two being too large. The best way to fix it is to shift the population clockwise around the map. So part of ward two goes to one, part of one then goes to three, three then to four. Five and six are about right the way they are. 

              So the proposal has all of the northside now part of ward one.  If Mr. Hendrickson is considering another term this is good news for him. The University becomes part of ward three. I plan to run again so this is probably good news for me. Unless I end up running against someone more liberal than me. I believe I have become more conservative during my term. There is something about this experience that pulls you towards the middle. The area southeast of Arthur and Beckwith goes to ward four. I’ll miss Molly but probably not Philip. The Wapikia neighborhood goes to ward five. I don’t think ward six changes.



              The transportation funding resolution came out of TTAC. It outlines the various ways we are being screwed on transportation funding by DOT and the state.  John Hendrickson, Dick, Renee, and Lynn voted against the resolution. Mr. Hendrickson suggested that he would like to put forth a minority report countering the request for more equitable distribution of funds to Missoula. I look forward to seeing this minority report because I am a little baffled by the suggestion. I encourage folks to read the resolution. We are being robbed to support incredibly irresponsible funding priorities and bloated DOT bureaucracy. 

              ftp://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/Packets/Council/2009/2009-03-23/TransportationResolution.pdf



               Thanks for your interest,



              Bob Jaffe

              Missoula City Council, Ward 3





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