With the National Transportation Safety Board saying that all cellphone use should be banned while driving an automobile, the issue has been brought to the forefront.  Of course, here at The Western Word I like to comment about things like this – so here goes…

Some cities have already taken up the cause and banned cellphone use while driving, and I like to call those cities wrong.

Yes, people have been killed or injured by someone using a cellphone while driving, but maybe they should ban hamburger and French fry eating, along with drinking coffee in automobiles, too.

An editorial in Investor’s Business Daily tells us:

“…a 2009 NHTSA study found that 80% of all car wrecks are caused by drivers eating or drinking — not cellphone use — with coffee-guzzling the top offender.”

The person who invented the cup holder for vehicles may soon be going to jail!

Hold on a minute – maybe the real culprit is the radio!  Back in the 1930s the first radio was installed in an automobile.  That without a doubt started distracted driving.  I bet (I have no proof of this) that there have been more automobile accidents since the radio was installed.

Unquestionably a cellphone ban would be a slippery slope and soon the big bad Federal Government (that’s “Gub-a-mint” to my friends in Arkansas) will tell us that children won’t be able to ride in cars because they are a distraction.

For example, I know you’ve told your children (who are fighting with each other in the back seat), “Don’t make me come back there” while you glare at them in the rearview mirror for five minutes.

And for another example, I also know you’ve driven 80 miles per hour on the Interstate (during rush hour) and also found time to reach for their sippy cup which happens to be rolling around on the back floorboard.

Seriously though, I think law enforcement personnel, county prosecutors, and judges should spend their time combating drunk driving and putting repeat offenders in jail.  They haven’t solved that problem yet.

For example, a few weeks ago in Cascade County, Montana, a man who had been convicted of four misdemeanor DUI offenses was the driver in a fatal crash that killed a young man.  Now he has a fifth DUI conviction.

He is also a murderer.

What did he get for his fifth DUI and murder?  The County Attorney made a plea deal and the judge accepted it.  The five-time DUI offender received 30 years in prison for murder.

30 years for murder…and we hear about soft sentences like this for repeat DUI offenders all across the nation.  Note to elected judges and county prosecutors:  Please don’t run for re-election and tell me you’ve been “tough on crime.”

I just don’t think officials can control cellphone usage in vehicles any more than they have controlled drunk driving – but if you are caught at least you may get off easy for repeat convictions.

And finally, (although it may look like it) I did not write this column while driving down the Interstate…

Follow Jack on Twitter @TheWesternWord – he just might be Tweeting from his vehicle…