After having attended a legislative hearing on a proposal to ban the use of cell phones while driving, and testifying before the Transportation Committee, I was extremely disappointed to learn the committee defeated the bill, 7-6.

One senator said he voted against it but may end up supporting it when it comes up for a vote in the Senate. Does this make any sense at all?

One representative on this committee, who from the start admitted his constant daily use of a cell phone while driving, obviously wasn’t going to support the bill, no matter what was said.

The newspaper article reported that the panel of lawmakers was nearly unanimous in agreeing that using cell phones while driving is dangerous and has increased accident rates. Then why was this bill defeated by the Transportation Committee, whose main objective should be to provide safe highways for the people they are elected to serve?

My sincere thanks to Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, and Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, for their support in this important matter. I hope more legislators will join them in looking out for all people who travel Maine roads.

David Hayden

Whitefield