Phones and driving don't mix

Inter Lake editorial

There may be plenty of opposition to a bill that would restrict the use of cell phones in cars, simply judging from how widespread the practice is.

But it's precisely because there are so many drivers on phones that the bill should be passed.

Who doesn't have a story of being cut off or nearly colliding with vehicles driven by a person with a hand and a phone to an ear? Who hasn't noticed that people on phones often just aren't paying attention to their driving?

Accident statistics are starting to reveal the obvious - cell phones are increasingly playing a role in crashes.

A cell phone company lobbyist lamely pointed out other forms of "distracted driving," such as drivers talking to backseat passengers or roadside attractions. Those things have always been around, but cell phones are a whole new form of distraction, and almost insidiously pervasive.

But we have to wonder if busy legislators are willing to part with cell phones while driving. Hopefully, they will vote for safety and not convenience. If necessary, perhaps an exception allowing for "hands-free" cell-phone use will make the bill more politically palatable. If that's what it takes, so be it.

How do people in unincorporated areas of a county make their voices heard?

If you live outside one of the Flathead Valley's three cities, your representatives are the county commissioners. That's one commissioner for roughly 30,000 people in this county.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman has a plan to create "village governments' for unincorporated communities. He has proposed legislation that would allow areas such as Evergreen or Bigfork to elect a three- to five-member board to act as liaison between residents and county commissioners.

The board could make recommendations on land-use issues and be able to contract with the county for increased levels of public services such as fire, ambulance and street improvements.

Since the costs of incorporating as a city can be a deterrent, the village plan has merit as a way for people to establish some - but not too much - government.

The draft legislation isn't getting much traction in Helena and in fact can't even get a sponsor.

Maybe it should. The bill is called the Community Self Determination Act. Is there really any good argument against more self-determination in local government?