I am disappointed and somewhat angered at the defeat of HB64, which gave hope to control the use of cellphones while driving. In the face of all the research establishing the dangers of distracted driving, the House Transportation Committee opted to kill the bill, citing personal liberty and difficulty of enforcement.

First, we know that driving is a privilege and not a right as defined by law. It is not a personal liberty to inflict injury or death on other motorists by exercising the use of a cellphone while driving. Second, I fail to see the difficulty of citing violators because, as I proceed along the roadways as an average driver, I see a number of people texting and using cellphones at stop lights and other close-proximity traffic situations. I would suspect that for those who opposed the bill, it was a personal decision that affected their own convenience.

The present law that allows citations only when there is another violation has proved to be unworkable and needs correction to a primary offense to be effective as it is in other states where laws are more workable.

Harry W. Patrick, Salt Lake City