Wed, Oct 27, 1999 page2

• Moves to promote driver safety to include ban on mobile phone use

  TRAFFIC REGULATIONS People who use mobile phones while driving will be targeted by the government in a move to improve traffic safety. Recent tests have shown that using mobile phones slows drivers' response times, making them less able to react to emergency situations, according to traffic safety officials

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  Following a proposal by the government to raise drunk driving fines to NT$45,000, the government has made another move to hike fines by considering raising fines for the use of mobile phones while driving.

  The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) Monday proposed to include articles related to the use of mobile phones in the "Road Traffic Management and Punishment Law" (1D路交3q?THORN>2z3B罰條例).

  The measure proposes that people caught driving on highways (speed limit 100kph) or inner-city high speed freeways (speed limit 70kph) while using a hand-held mobile phone may face a fine of NT$3,000, and any motorist found driving on any kind of road while using a mobile phone will be subject to a fine of NT$1,000.

  

  The government is moving to outlaw the use of mobile phones while driving, in order to improve road safety.

  PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  The measure, however, does not affect users of portable hands-free or car kit mobile phones.

  The provision will be sent to the Legislative Yuan as a priority measure for deliberation in its next session and is expected to go into effect early next year.

  MOTC Executive Vice Minister George Chen (3砲@|e) said at Monday's ministry-level meeting that banning the use of mobile phones does not mean the government is opposed to technological advances, but driving safety surveys show that drivers are easily distracted when talking and driving at the same time.

  Wang Mu-han (?y曾p衡), a researcher at the Institute of Transportation under the MOTC, echoed Chen's comments.

  According to a survey conducted by Feng Chia University (3{甲?j學) at the request of the institute, drunk driving and driving while using a mobile phone pose similar threats to motorists, Wang said.

  The one-year survey, which polled about 550 people and included tests on 390 individuals in a laboratory environment, showed that motorists are at greatest risk when they answer the phone and when they hang up, because in both situations the motorist tends to look downward, taking his attention from the road.

  "We discovered that it takes an additional 0.43 seconds, or about 100 meters, for motorists to step on the brake when they're dialing the phone, and an additional 0.27 seconds when they're answering the phone," Wang said. "Seconds count when you're driving on highways."

  However, the survey does not indicate whether the use of hand-held mobile phones are necessarily more dangerous than the use of portable hands-free or car kit phones.

  "The reason for us to put more focus on regular mobile phones is because it is easier for law enforcement officers to spot users," Wang said.

  This issue has raised the question of whether talking on a cellphone -- or listening to a caller -- distracts the motorist more than listening to music.

  "It's different," Wang said. "When you're listening to music, you don't need to think much or answer questions. But if you're talking on the phone, it's different."

  While the banning of mobile phones may be bad news for motorists, it may be good news for some phone stores.

  "It's like compelling motorists to wear safety helmets," said Peter Chiu (邱-Z林), assistant manager of the communication chain store business group of the Aurora Corporation (震?|?. "I predict that our sales volume for portable hands-free phones and the car kit, two products that we have been carrying for quite some time, will increase by 10 to 30 percent once the measure goes into effect."

  Chiu added that motorists may ask their car dealers to install a car kit in their cars.

  Prices range between NT$800 and NT$1,500, he said.
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