<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611770218405.png" alt="Travis Lowe, a lobbyist representing AAA Kansas, says a proposed bill is another effort to limit distracted driving across the state. State data shows about one in four motor vehicle deaths are the result of inattentive driving. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Travis Lowe, a lobbyist representing AAA Kansas, says a proposed bill is another effort to limit distracted driving across the state. State data shows about one in four motor vehicle deaths are the result of inattentive driving. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/27/kansas-bill-proposes-crackdown-on-cellphone-use-by-drivers-in-school-and-work-zones/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A 
disproportionate amount of motor vehicle accidents in Kansas come as a 
result of distracted driving, but a proposed bill aims to limit mobile 
phone disturbances while operating a motor vehicle.The
 Kansas Department of Transportation cites 15,000 crashes per year — one
 in every four — in Kansas are the result of inattentive driving. From 
2014 to 2019, 75 people lost their lives to distracted driving on Kansas
 roads, including 34 who died while drivers used cellphones.These
 statistics have led to a bill that would prohibit cellphone use in a 
school zone or construction zone, except in specific emergency 
circumstances. It would also totally prohibit the use of cellphones 
while driving for those under 18 years of age.“Distracted
 driving is a pretty large encompassing term, but I think we all might 
agree that using your phone, being distracted with your phone, is 
certainly a large contributor to that effect,” said Travis Lowe, a 
lobbyist representing AAA Kansas. “We believe this legislation will 
improve road safety as well as innocent bystanders near the road.”Proponents
 of the legislation say this bill would help reduce distracted driving 
and educate the public on proper driving habits in work zones. The bill,
 which supporters say has strong support from the public, did not have 
any opponent testimony Wednesday in a hearing before the Senate 
Transportation Committee.According
 to the Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas drivers under the graduated
 driver’s license program have a wireless restriction except in an 
emergency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.org/dovgdl.html" target="_blank">until the age of 17</a>. The bill would extend the age restriction to anyone under 18, even if in possession of a non-restricted driver’s license.Emergency
 exceptions include calling to prevent injury to yourself or others, 
reporting wrongdoing to law enforcement or calling for repair on a 
vehicle.If
 found guilty of violating the law, the distracted driver would face a 
minimum $60 fine in addition to any court costs or additional charges.The
 bill would not impact the current statewide ban on texting while 
driving or any stricter regulations imposed by local government.Sen.
 J.R. Claeys, R-Salina, supported the initiative to impose stricter 
regulations on those under 18 but questioned the need for a law directed
 at adults.“It
 seems to me that adults could be educated on the need to not use their 
phone in a school or construction zone and that it doesn’t require a 
legal remedy here,” Claeys said.Jennifer
 Smith, president of Stop Distractions, a nonprofit dedicated to 
eliminating distracted driving accidents through work with families of 
victims and advocacy, said Claeys’ approach may be wishful thinking.“I
 don’t want to be negative, but the part about educating adults to not 
use our phones in the school zones and work zones — sadly, we’ve been 
doing this for over and decade. … If education were simply enough, I 
would love that,” Smith said.Smith
 said amid the COVID-19 pandemic and with the rise of the social media 
app TikTok, the number of people using their phones while driving is 
increasing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611770274980.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, shared a personal impetus Wednesday for supporting the legislation restricting mobile phone use while driving. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, shared a personal impetus Wednesday for supporting the legislation restricting mobile phone use while driving. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Our
 school zones and work zones, those are our most vulnerable loved ones,”
 Smith said. “Our family members are working in those work zones, and 
our children are walking through the school zones.”She
 noted both states with similar laws and those without show a majority 
of the public support this type of legislation. Earlier testimony placed
 the figure at 87.2% support in states with a hands-free law.For Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, the proposed legislation struck a personal note.“My
 wife’s dad, my father-in-law, was killed by a teenage driver who was 
driving and talking on the phone,” Kloos said. “I will support this 
bill.”Senators
 asked that the legislation be clarified to indicate a driver using a 
phone in a parked vehicle would not violate these laws.

Kan. bill would crack down on phone use by drivers in school, work zones