Cell phone ban for drivers, bikers, skateboarders heard by Philadelphia City Council

Drivers in Philadelphia may have to hold off on text messaging, emailing or speaking on a cell phone without a headset. Philadelphia City Council took a step toward banning cell phone use by drivers Tuesday.

Drivers in Philadelphia may have to hold off on text messaging, emailing or speaking on a cell phone without a headset. Philadelphia City Council took a step toward banning cell phone use by drivers Tuesday.

Transcript:
Rebecca Cunningham, 21,  says she’s lucky to be alive. Back in 2007 while she was driving down Kelly Drive she pulled out her cell phone to text a friend, and ended up crashing into a light pole.

Cunningham: “If you do it its only a few seconds. But its only a few seconds to take someone’s life.”

Cunningham urged Council today to approve the bill, which would not only apply to drivers. Bicyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers would also have to use a hands-free device.

Mayor Nutter supports the bill but it could be preempted by state law. Currently Pennsylvania allows the use of cell phones while driving but a bill was recently introduced to ban the practice.