Accessories curb As the Honolulu City Council wrestles with a bill to ban wireless phone use while driving, some users are voluntarily turning to hands-free accessories designed to limit driver distractions.
driver distraction
in cell-phone use
A Council bill could prohibit
drivers from using wireless phonesBy Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@starbulletin.com"It just allows me to be safer," Terri Chadwick said about the headset she attaches to her wireless phone while driving. "I can hear better."
In May, City Councilman John Henry Felix introduced a bill that would prohibit wireless phone use while driving unless the phone is in a cradle, being used to call 911 or by emergency personnel.
Even though Chadwick uses a headset, she opposes legislation that would mandate that she have it.
The bill met similar opposition on the City Council's Transportation Committee, where it currently sits. But, said Felix, "There are other distractions ... like reading (and) disciplining children in the back seat ... but a cell phone is a major distraction."
Currently, wireless phone use while driving is banned in 28 countries but in only one U.S. state, New York. This year alone, 74 bills were presented in state Legislatures that relate to wireless phone use in cars. More than half are still pending, said Sheryl Wright, director of state government affairs for Sprint PCS.
Most wireless phone companies prefer education -- at high schools and phone retailers -- over legislation.
"We would oppose any legislation that would just single out wireless phones," Wright said.
Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Sherrie Coronas said the company backs laws banning wireless phone use while driving if they allow for hands-free devices and a three-year phase-in period.
Customers are encouraged to use hands-free devices while driving when they purchase a wireless phone, said Sprint PCS spokeswoman Caroline Semerdjian. And both Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless, as well as other wireless phone providers, offer rebates on hands-free devices with the purchase of a wireless phone.
"We encourage using common sense," Semerdjian said.
Hands-free devices vary widely -- ranging from $10 to $200 -- depending on brand and quality, and are available at most wireless phone stores, Semerdjian said.
Billing analyst Mae Kalilikane uses an earpiece, or "earbud," while driving.
Earbuds, or receivers that fit into the ear and dangle a microphone (and cost from $10 to $80), are becoming increasing popular, according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, an alliance of wireless companies and providers.
Wireless cradles, which require microphone installation in the user's car, are also popular despite their higher price tags (from $20 to $200 depending on make and model), Coronas said.
But even with an earbud, "a call on the road (is) a quick call," Kalilikane said.
And hands-free devices, like headsets, earbuds and wireless cradles, do not alleviate the dilemma of dialing while driving.
In response, wireless phone companies have debuted programmable voice recognition systems, which store names and numbers. With the programs, wireless phone users can say, "Dad at work" or "Dad at home" while driving, and the phone will recognize the command and dial the respective number.
Voice recognition helps, said conference coordinator Stephanie Suza.
But "people (still) drive slow when they're on the phone."
City & County of Honolulu