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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > September > 25
Friday, September 25, 2009
Advocates target texting-while-driving at safety summit
Safety advocates made the case for a ban on texting and cell phone use while driving at a safety summit hosted on Friday, Sept. 25, by Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene M. Molitoris.
David Teater, a senior director for the National Safety Council, told the group that his life changed in 2004 when his son Joe, 12, was killed in an accident caused by a driver using her cell phone.
Teater showed a video describing the loss - “Death By Cell Phone: If You Care, We Can Make a Difference.”
Teater said a three- pronged approach is needed - public education, laws banning cell phone use and technology that disables the use of cell phones while driving.
Bill Windsor, associate vice president of Nationwide Insurance, cited a survey the company released in September that showed that a majority of the public supports laws restricting any kind of cell phone use while driving.
Molitoris said any law should allow primary enforcement. This means police could pull over someone suspected of texting or cell phone use. Secondary enforcement would permit law officers to cite someone only if the person had been pulled over for a primary offense such as speeding.
Molitoris declined to say, however, whether she supports just a ban on texting, a ban on all hand-held cell phone use or a ban that even would include hands-free cell phone use.
She said she wants to work with the legislature on a solution. Half a dozen bills have been proposed but no hearings have been held so far.
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State to close another youth prison
The state Department of Youth Services plans to close a second youth prison - a move that the state workers’ union says would be a threat to public safety.
DYS announced Friday, Sept. 25, that it will close Mohican Juvenile Correctional Facility in Perrysville by May 2010.
Opened in 1935, Mohican employs 202 workers and houses 148 male inmates with substance abuse problems.
“This just isn’t feasible at this time, or in a year from now,” said Annie Person of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. “We still have our hands full trying to manage the crisis created by the other changes implemented this year.”
DYS closed its youth prison in Marion in June and an officer was killed on duty at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility earlier this year.
The decision to close Mohican came as the DYS population continues to decline and the state faces budget troubles. The move is expected to save the state $12 million a year.
