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ACR-75 California Wireless Safety Week.(2001-2002)

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ACR75:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 24, 2001

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2001–2002 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 75

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Simitian, Nakano
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Aanestad, Aroner, Bates, Bogh, Calderon, John Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cohn, Correa, Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dutra, Firebaugh, Goldberg, Havice, Hertzberg, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Kelley, Leonard, Leslie, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews, Migden, Nation, Negrete McLeod, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco, Pescetti, Reyes, Richman, Runner, Salinas, Shelley, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Washington, Wayne, Wiggins, Wright, Wyland, Wyman, Zettel)

May 17, 2001

Relative to California Wireless Safety Week.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


ACR 75, as amended, Simitian. California Wireless Safety Week.
This measure would proclaim the week of May 21 through May 27, 2001, California Wireless Safety Week and would encourage Californians to join in promoting the responsible use of wireless telephones by motorists on California’s streets and highways.
Fiscal Committee: NO  
WHEREAS, The week of May 21 through May 27, 2001, is National Wireless Safety Week, which is sponsored by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, an international organization that represents all elements of wireless communications and serves the interests of service providers, manufacturers, and others; and
WHEREAS, Although all types of driver distractions are on the rise, there is increasing concern across the country about the dangers of talking on a wireless telephone while driving. The danger is illustrated by the mounting evidence of accidents, public outrage at wireless telephone misuse, anecdotal evidence, personal experience of accident near-misses, and simple common sense; and
WHEREAS, Over 22 countries around the world have enacted restrictions on wireless telephone use while driving. In addition, over 38 states, including California, and over 300 local governments, including San Francisco, Berkeley, and Santa Monica, have enacted or are considering enacting restrictions on wireless telephone use while driving; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that 12,000 accidents and 1.2 billion dollars in damages per year are attributed to wireless telephone use while driving; and
WHEREAS, The New York Times reported that 600 fatalities or more may occur annually from wireless telephone related automobile accidents; and
WHEREAS, The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association encourages drivers using wireless telephones to do all of the following:
(a) Get to know the telephone and its features, such as speed dial and redial.
(b) When available, use a hands-free device.
(c) Position the telephone within easy reach.
(d) Let the person you are speaking with know that you are driving and, if necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions.
(e) Do not take notes or look up telephone numbers while driving.
(f) Dial sensibly and assess the traffic. If possible, place calls when the vehicle is not moving or before pulling into traffic.
(g) Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may divert your attention from the road.
(h) Dial “911” to report serious emergencies. This service is free from a wireless telephone.
(i) Use the telephone to help others in emergencies.
(j) Call roadside assistance or a special nonemergency wireless number when necessary; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the week of May 21 though May 27, 2001, California Wireless Safety Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature, in recognizing the public safety benefit that wireless telephones provide and acknowledging the public safety risk that improper use of wireless telephones entails, encourages Californians to join in promoting the responsible use of wireless telephones by motorists on California streets and highways.