2008 Woodie Awards
Cell phone hoax leads to lingering questions
By Amy Kelly
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
A cell phone ban led to many concerns with students at Slippery Rock University before learning it was all a hoax.
An e-mail written by an unidentified source was spread statewide stating that effective Nov. 10, motorists in the state of Pennsylvania will be prohibited from using handheld mobile telephones while operating a vehicle.
Further in the e-mail, it describes that the bill states, "No driver shall operate any moving vehicle on a highway of this Commonwealth, which shall include Federal, state, and municipal highways, while using a handheld mobile telephone."
However, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has not yet voted on the bill.
"Even if the bill would pass, it still wouldn't stop people from talking on their cell phones," said Brittany Black, a 19-year old sophomore biology major.
Black said that students would still talk on their phones because people will talk when and where they want.
"I sometimes talk on my cell phone while driving, but I try not to," she said. "People shouldn't if they want to live a long and prosperous life."
If the use of cell phones while driving is banned, some students think such a measure would encourage more texting while driving.
Texting is a brief electronic message sent via wireless networks.
Tony Horniacek, a 21-year old senior finance major, said, "It would be easier for people who don't want to hold their phones up to text below the dash."
Horniacek also thinks a cell phone ban for drivers in Pennsylvania would lead to increased sales of hands-free devices.
"There are so many businessmen and women who need to be on their phones," Horniacek said. "That's why if there was a ban, people would buy hands-free devices to use instead, so there would never be a complete ban on using cell phones while driving."
Amanda McKenna, a 20-year old sophomore biology major, said she thinks a ban may be the only way to rein in those who can't seem to put down the phone while behind the wheel.
"Hopefully a ban would wise people up," she said. "Maybe people would think that it's dumb to endanger people while driving and talking."
Currently California, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey all have state laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. The District of Columbia does as well.
Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania allow individual localities to ban cell phone use.
Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma and Oregon prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
"It would be a good idea to ban cell phones while driving at a university," said Horniacek. "There are so many people in the parking lots at one time that it could be dangerous if people aren't paying attention while driving."
An e-mail written by an unidentified source was spread statewide stating that effective Nov. 10, motorists in the state of Pennsylvania will be prohibited from using handheld mobile telephones while operating a vehicle.
Further in the e-mail, it describes that the bill states, "No driver shall operate any moving vehicle on a highway of this Commonwealth, which shall include Federal, state, and municipal highways, while using a handheld mobile telephone."
However, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has not yet voted on the bill.
"Even if the bill would pass, it still wouldn't stop people from talking on their cell phones," said Brittany Black, a 19-year old sophomore biology major.
Black said that students would still talk on their phones because people will talk when and where they want.
"I sometimes talk on my cell phone while driving, but I try not to," she said. "People shouldn't if they want to live a long and prosperous life."
If the use of cell phones while driving is banned, some students think such a measure would encourage more texting while driving.
Texting is a brief electronic message sent via wireless networks.
Tony Horniacek, a 21-year old senior finance major, said, "It would be easier for people who don't want to hold their phones up to text below the dash."
Horniacek also thinks a cell phone ban for drivers in Pennsylvania would lead to increased sales of hands-free devices.
"There are so many businessmen and women who need to be on their phones," Horniacek said. "That's why if there was a ban, people would buy hands-free devices to use instead, so there would never be a complete ban on using cell phones while driving."
Amanda McKenna, a 20-year old sophomore biology major, said she thinks a ban may be the only way to rein in those who can't seem to put down the phone while behind the wheel.
"Hopefully a ban would wise people up," she said. "Maybe people would think that it's dumb to endanger people while driving and talking."
Currently California, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey all have state laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. The District of Columbia does as well.
Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania allow individual localities to ban cell phone use.
Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma and Oregon prohibit localities from banning cell phone use.
"It would be a good idea to ban cell phones while driving at a university," said Horniacek. "There are so many people in the parking lots at one time that it could be dangerous if people aren't paying attention while driving."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Art Politano
posted 11/09/07 @ 11:40 AM EST
I am so "amazed" at the comments made by some SRU students, concerning a ban on hand-held phone devices. It is obvious that not one of them who have made these comments, ever considers safety while driving a vehicle. (Continued…)
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