The Navy Region Southwest has preempted the California Assembly by banning cell phone use while driving on all its bases. The measure took effect June 15 and will be strictly enforced at regional installations, such as Naval bases Point Loma, San Diego and Coronado.
All hand-held devices that require visual or manual attention fall under the regulation “” personal digital assistants and walkie-talkie phones included. The only exemptions apply to law enforcement, fire, medical and emergency services personnel.
Point Loma’s commanding officer, Capt. Mark Patton, said the ban will encourage civilians and active duty military on base to establish healthy practices while driving. He said it will also send a clear signal about the Navy’s position on the matter.
“To be quite honest with you, we don’t have a lot of accidents happening on bases due to cell phone use “¦ because the base is a secure environment,” Patton said. “However, the message we’re trying to get across is that distracted driving is dangerous ” the statistics prove that it’s dangerous.”
Patton said that high-ranking Department of Defense officials requested that bases look into the ban, which is already law in states such as New York. Even California has considered such a restriction multiple times, though a bill has yet to be passed.
Last month, Senate Bill 1613 to ban hand-held phones while driving was approved by the state Senate. It is currently being considered by the Assembly Transportation Committee and, if approved, will fine offending drivers on California roads starting July 2008.
Most passed and proposed legislation to date excludes hands-free sets, suggesting that handling the phone, not the talking, is the main distraction. Some question that contention, though there is a lack of research comparing the two types of cellular devices.
On the ban, Patton said the military often beats states to the punch with these sorts of regulations because it can look across a wide demographic and identify problems early. He does not, however, think it will be an intuitive transition for all drivers.
“Everybody is going to have to do some retraining to realize that when they get a cell phone call or need to make a cell phone call they are going to need to pull over to the side of the road.”