Aiming for a safer town

The recent ordinance banning all cellphone use while driving in Chapel Hill has received a lot of criticism since its passage, and rightly so.

Questions about its enforceability as a town ordinance make it clear that there are still many issues to address.

On which roads will it apply? How will police enforce it? And will it actually affect behavior?

But in recognizing these challenges, we can also see that the law is well-intentioned: The Town Council’s main motivation is the safety of residents.

If a few more residents think twice about dialing and driving as a result of this ban, then the bill may make Chapel Hill a safer place.

As the ordinance stands, talking on a cellphone while driving on roads under town jurisdiction is banned, but it is only a secondary offense. Police can’t pull you over just for using your phone, but if they catch you talking while speeding, you’ll be fined an additional $25.

There’s a significant enforcement issue: without a warrant, police can only check a cellphone to confirm a violation with the owner’s consent, a hindrance which has stymied enforcement of a state-wide ban against cellphone use by drivers under the age of 18.

And as if that were not enough, there is also a question of legality. Usually, a ban like this would be passed as a state law, not a local ordinance, and some contend that the ordinance would not survive a challenge in state court.

Unsurprisingly, people wonder how big of an impact the law will actually have on drivers. Many see the law as pointless and unenforceable.

These questions deserve a prominent place in the ongoing debate about the new law.

The Town Council has expended time and effort on the ordinance, and plans to spend money on signage and a public education campaign, so taxpayers deserve to get an impact for this investment.

But in the council’s favor, we think the ban can have some impact regardless of the immediate questions of enforceability.

The prominence of this law could deter the use of cellphones while driving, and at least keep the issue of distracted driving at the forefront of our minds.

We’ve seen this happen before. The seat belt law, which requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts at all times, is also difficult to enforce. But it makes people think twice when they get in their car and helps citizens remember the importance of buckling up.

And if the ordinance survives into the longer term, it may have a more gradual effect through new drivers. To receive a driving permit in North Carolina, students must attend driving school, where they learn about state driving laws. The seat belt law — and in the case of Chapel Hill driving schools, the new cellphone ban — become ingrained in students’ minds, and they become more likely to buckle up and turn off their phone.

We should all agree on the spirit behind the ban. Much as making a call might be convenient, few two-minute phone calls made during a drive across town are worth risking someone’s life for.

And with this ordinance, the Town Council is prioritizing safety in Chapel Hill. They have the right mindset in governing our town.

But the real test goes beyond the language — they’ll be judged by impact that this ordinance has, not by its lofty aspirations.