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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –

A bill introduced in Cleveland would ban hand-held devices while behind the wheel.

But are cell phones really the fault behind distracted drivers?

Most people agree — using a cell phone while driving can be distracting but so can fiddling with the radio, eating, or using your GPS.

The question is, has it gotten to the point where we need a law to save us from ourselves?

In a matter of minutes, a 19 Action News photographer standing on a downtown street corner saw at least a half-dozen drivers talking on their cell phones — something that will soon be illegal if Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed gets his way.

“This piece of legislation, if enacted, will save lives,” said Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed.

And the statistics back him up too. According to a survey by Triple A — 94% of drivers consider texting while driving a serious threat. And while 87% favor a ban, more than 33% admit reading a text or email while driving in the past month.

Texting is already illegal in Cleveland but this new legislation would take it a step further, outlawing talking on a hand held device.

Most people we talked to say just like the texting ban, the talking ban will be hard to enforce.

“As a matter of fact, I was driving I-90, looked over and an ambulance driver was texting while he was driving. If you can’t get city employees to comply, how will you get everyone else to comply?”

“I think it can be very dangerous.”

Simone from Cleveland admits talking on a cell while driving is distracting, but thinks at this point an outright ban isn’t necessary.

“If it gets to a point, where it’s severely harming individuals, then perhaps a law will deter it. I don’t think it will. I think it’s one of those things where we have to be a bit more conscious and govern ourselves,” said Simone.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/17961630/councilman-urges-handheld-device-ban-for-drivers

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News