Utah County commissioners acted this week to ensure that they won't - at least for county employees.

As amended Tuesday, the policy commissioners passed re-emphasizes a 1999 ban that bars employees from talking on hand-held cell phones while tooling around in county cars. The lone exception to the stop-to-talk policy is when workers are using hands-free cell phones.

“It's a matter of stressing the importance of paying attention to the road while driving,” Commissioner Larry Ellertson said Wednesday. “It's something we've done in conjunction with our insurance carrier as we've looked at liability and other potential problems.”

In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated 500,000 U.S. motorists talk on hand-held phones each day at any given moment.

A recent University of Utah study concluded drivers talking on cell phones - like drunken drivers - have slower reaction times and are more prone to accidents.

Inattentive driving caused by the ubiquitous use of cell phones on Utah roads is increasingly the talk in many towns.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon issued an executive order in September banning county employees from using cell phones while driving. In 2001, Sandy adopted an ordinance that levies a $300 fine for any activity - cell phones, text messaging, eating, drinking - that leads to an accident or moving violation.

American Fork enacted a similar ordinance with a lower fine - $100 - in 2004. Nearby Highland, however, shelved an inattentive-driving proposal last February. And state lawmakers have nixed five inattentive-driving bills since 2000.

Good for them, says Aussie-turned-Utahn Rob Murphy of Orem. “The politically correct crowd already is trying to control what we say. Now they want to control how and when we can say it.”

But Draper resident Lanea Hoover disagrees.

“My daughter just missed getting struck head-on yesterday by a teen in a pickup who appeared to be talking or text messaging on his cell,” she said.

“Cell phones' convenience does not outweigh their dangers when used improperly. I wish more lawmakers would follow the example set by Sandy, and Salt Lake and Utah counties.”

Associate Public Works Director Don Nay said Utah County has about 230 vehicles.

meddington@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Derek Jensen contributed to this story.