"I absolutely hate cellphones…That’s what makes this story a little bit ironic,"
admitted English teacher Mr. Kurt Hironimus, with a sheepish look plastered on his face.
Mr. Hironimus was referring to the story surrounding a recently issued ticket. A ticket earned after he briefly used a cellphone in a construction zone.
He is not alone, however. There has been a rise in citations distributed amongst Illinoisans across the state for cellphone usage while driving. According to Officer Robert Uliks, Illinois state police have issued 19,540 citations and warnings since the state’s first distracted driving law took effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
The state law declares that drivers under the age of 19 are banned from using any sort of cellphone while driving; this is regardless of whether the phone happens to be hands-free or not. The 19-plus crowd, however, is allowed to use their phones for calls, but is prohibited from text messaging and Internet usage while driving. All drivers, young and old, are prohibited from using cellphones in school and construction zones.
According to Mr. Hironimus, he was driving, or rather sitting, in a highly congested area when he was issued his ticket. Although a sign claimed that the area was a construction zone, Mr. Hironimus said that not a single construction worker was in sight. As Mr. Hironimus waited patiently in the line of traffic that seemed to warp the perception of time and space, his phone buzzed and he picked up. It was his friend, who happened to be sitting in the car behind him.
"Yeah, I get it, don’t be on your cellphone, because you know [construction workers] are putting their lives at risk. If it was a normal construction zone with a lot of traffic and a ton of workers with a tight lane thing, I wouldn’t have done it," said Mr. Hironimus.
Almost immediately after answering, Mr. Hironimus heard the sirens coming up from behind his car. He was asked to pull over. He ended up being issued a ticket that he remembers being around $275.
"You should not be allowed to talk on your cellphone while in a crowded construction zone. Yes, I agree with that. That’s fine," said Mr. Hironimus. "I think if someone is on their cellphone and they get in an accident, they should be held even more accountable...But if you are driving safely and being responsible with it, I don’t think it should be an issue."
There is currently a bill pending in Springfield that seeks the banishment of hand-held cellphone usage while driving in Illinois and calls for hands-free devices only. Comparatively, Chicago has already put this rule into effect. According to Officer Robert Uliks, the fines for improper cellphone usage downtown run from $100-$500.
Three local suburbs, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Evanston, have also hopped on the bandwagon of enacting stricter cellphone policies in the hopes of decreasing driver distraction. Highland Park prohibits handheld cellphone use while driving, as does Deerfield and Evanston. While Highland Park’s enforced fine can run up to $75, Evanston’s fine can go from $50 to $200 and Deerfield’s fine for the violation can rocket from $120 to $500.
"I think it’s good for Chicago because, I mean, there is just so much traffic," claimed senior Eleanor Anderson.
"But here it’s different..." interjected senior Stefan Bulic, who was standing next to Anderson at the time.
Anderson, like most students, also agreed with this notion, saying that she thought, "If you’re at a stop light, it’s okay… as long as you aren’t moving in the vehicle."
"It is really distracting though," Anderson added.
Anderson didn’t know how dead-on she was. According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, drivers talking on cellphones are "18 percent slower to react to brake lights." They also take "17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked."
A poll conducted in early February by Drops of Ink of 135 LHS students revealed that 80 percent of the of those surveyed believe that using a cellphone while driving is dangerous. However, 26 percent of LHS students claim to use their cellphones while driving every day, and another 26 percent say they use their cellphones while driving several times a week.
That means that over half of the students polled frequently use their cellphones while driving despite recognizing the danger in doing this.
"From what I have seen, [people who use cellphones while driving] are definitely distracted from what’s going on. When you’re driving, there is a lot of stuff going on, not just in your car but around you as well," said Officer Uliks.
Some students agree with this notion, attributing age as a factor in the cellphone-usage-while-driving-epidemic.
"It’s a problem more for our generation. We rely too much on technology," added senior Brian Stromayer.
According to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, "Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near-crash events directly related to talking on a cell phone or texting."
Officer Uliks says he is genuinely concerned that people who use their cell phones while driving pose a major threat to both their own well-being and the safety of others.
A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that "people who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash than non-distracted drivers." By contrast, talking on a cell phone had an increase of only "1.3 times that of a non-distracted driver."
"I’ve seen kids using cellphones while in the [driving] simulator and they crash multiple times. I know it’s hard. Especially for [teens]. [Teens have] pretty much grown up with the cell phone. So it just seems kind of natural. But having seen what little distractions cause terrible accidents…." reflected Officer Uliks.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were "3,092 deaths in distraction-related accidents in 2010."
Shockingly enough, when you compare the statistics given for LHS students who use their cellphones while driving, there have only been three citations given out in Libertyville since the distracted driving law was enacted in 2011.
However, this appears to be a common occurrence. The Daily Herald took a look at over 41,000 citations given out in around two dozen North Chicago suburbs in 2011 and found that less than one percent of these tickets were due to violations of the electronic use law. Another 1.4 percent of the tickets were distributed to drivers for using a cellphone while in a school or construction zone. 98 percent of the citations were issued for speeding.
The driver’s education program at LHS is stepping up to address the problem of cellphone use while driving. They have incorporated the AT&T "Texting and Driving-It Can Wait" High School Challenge into the curriculum as a way to inform students of the hazards and risks associated with using a cellphone while driving. This program entails a 10-minute-long documentary revealing the disheartening stories of young drivers who died behind the wheel after being involved in an accident where one of the drivers was using a cellphone while driving. The program also encourages the students to participate in a pledge to not text while driving.
"Our hope as a Driver Education department here at Libertyville High School is that students will use the information we provide them to make intelligent decisions that will be beneficial to themselves as drivers and everyone with whom they share the road," wrote driver’s education teacher Alex Adams in an email.
Students who have gone through the driver’s education also agree that informing students about the dangers associated with cellphone usage while driving is necessary.
"I think that they should definitely cover it," said sophomore Johnny Vernasco, who just recently received his driver’s license. "It can be a big problem because it can cause a lot of harm. If they don’t go over it, not that many people will know about it and realize the dangers [of using a cellphone while driving]. They should spend a good deal of time explaining it."