Public Insight Network - KETC and the St. Louis Beacon

KETC and the St. Louis Beacon

Public Insight Network

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Do you text while driving?

In Missouri, a law banning drivers younger than 21 from sending text messages while operating a car went into effect in August 2009. The state's Department of Transportation went even further, by banning employees of any age from texting while operating department vehicles and equipment. The rule also applies to texting while driving a personal vehicle when performing department business.

In Illinois, beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, things are going to be even tougher, when a new law makes it illegal for drivers of any age to use an "electronic communication device" to send an electronic message. The law makes exceptions if the driver is reporting an emergency, has pulled over onto the shoulder or is stuck in traffic with the vehicle in park or neutral.

The St. Louis Beacon and KETC/Channel 9 want to learn how you use cell phones and what these new laws mean to you. Should there be age distinctions? Should there be a distinction between texting and just talking? Should all states have the same laws? Is it time to hang up and drive?

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E-mail *

Phone *

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address

City *

State *

Postal Code *

Country

Do you own or regularly use a cell phone?

Yes
No

Do you ever make or receive calls on a cell phone while you are driving?

Yes
No

Do you ever send or receive text messages while you are driving?

Yes
No

Have you ever been in an accident or had a near miss when you were using a cell phone while driving, whether talking or texting? If you have, please describe the incident. What happened? Was anyone hurt?

If you ever had an accident or near miss while you were using a cell phone and driving, did that cause you to change your behavior? If yes, please describe how.

If you are a parent or guardian, what sort of cell phone rules do you have for your children when they are driving?

Do you drive regularly between Missouri and Illinois? If you do, how will the difference in the states' cell phone laws affect you?

If you work in law enforcement, please tell us about a particular traffic incident where a driver was distracted by using a cell phone. And please tell us in what jurisdiction you work.

What else should we know -- and who else should we talk to -- about cell phone use while driving?

Do we have your permission to use your comments on our Web sites and/or on the air? *

Yes
No

Are you willing to talk more with a reporter, producer or editor about cell phone use and driving?

Yes
No

If you have one, please upload a photo of yourself, or one that illustrates this topic. (No bigger than 2 MB, please.)

Please share some details about this photo (I.E., names, date, location and the story behind it.)

Do we have your permission to use this photo on our Web sites and/or on the air?

Yes
No

Now, please tell us a little more about yourself so that we can better understand your perspective.

In what year were you born?

What is your occupation?

Who is your employer?

If you are a student, what school do you attend?

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who might want to share their insights. Here's a link to share with them: http://tinyurl.com/cellphones1109

We ask for some information about you so we can contact you if we have questions. We will not share your personal information outside the newsrooms.

By filling out this form, you are giving KETC and the St. Louis Beacon permission to contact you only for help with current and future news coverage, and you become part of the KETC and the St. Louis Beacon Public Insight Network. Through our larger partnership with American Public Media, you may have opportunities to also inform national stories on programs such as Marketplace, Marketplace Money, Speaking of Faith, American RadioWorks and Minnesota Public Radio News.

Your answers are confidential. We will not quote you on the air or on the Web without first getting your explicit permission.

If you give us permission to publish your comments, we may edit them before reading them on-air or posting them to KETC, St. Louis Beacon or American Public Media's Web sites. We reserve the right to reuse or republish your submission, or to withhold it from publication.

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