This was written by Bruce Kimmel:

“Well, dear readers, it is time for the government to outlaw the use of cell phones in cars – period, no exceptions except emergency use.

What am I, a public service announcement all of a sudden?

Here in LA this coming June, it will be illegal to drive while holding your cell phones, and people who are caught will be ticketed and fined. That’s all fine and dandy and also dandy and fine, but it doesn’t alleviate the problem of hands free use. While I admit that the people who hold their cells are more dangerous than people who use a speakerphone or an earpiece, that doesn’t alleviate the problem – the problem is where the driver’s concentration is.

Here in LA, even before cell phones, driver’s minds are often in the clouds, especially if they’re in show business. Add to that a cell phone and you have disaster in the making. My guess is that accidents in LA and environs must be up several hundred percent.

The reason I am going on about it is this very day I had about twelve close encounters of the cell phone driver kind. First, it was the lunatic swerving into my lane at regular intervals because she was so involved in her conversation and also trying to steer her humungous SUV with one hand. The second time it happened I honked relentlessly – she paid no attention, nor was she even aware that someone was honking.

A short time later I was stuck behind someone doing twelve miles an hour on a one lane street in North Hollywood. Why? Guess. I honked to no avail. I finally passed him and as I did so I gave him a quite nasty look. He saw it (and me passing him) and he looked at me as if I were the one at fault (a typical cell phoner’s reaction). And on it went.

I happen to be a very good and VERY defensive driver, otherwise I would have been creamed by one of these cretins long ago. These selfish, loathsome individuals seemingly cannot step out of their houses without calling someone. They NEED to talk every minute. They can’t just drive – the have to call everyone they know and have useless, pointless conversations. And they drive along and suddenly realize they’re supposed to be turning right but are in the left lane, and without so much as a signal, they’ll just cut in front of everyone to get over there.

I really care not what happens to these insensitive peckerwoods, but they are potential murderers and are putting too many people in harm’s way and something needs to be done about it. I mean, if you HAVE to make a call, PULL OVER and make it. Then drive. Or, heaven forbid, actually keep your mind on the task at hand, which is driving your vehicle safely. I gotta tell you. Sorry, but I had to get that off my chest. Have you ever gotten that off your chest? That has been gaining weight and it’s now not so easy to get that off your chest. In any case, I have ranted and I feel better for having done so.”