Some call distracted-driving bill age discrimination

I just got a call from the National Youth Rights Association, and it isn't happy about the Senate bill aiming to block cellphone use for drivers under the age of 18 (see earlier posts from Thursday on the issue).

Alex Koroknay-Palicz, executive director of the organization, said he thinks the bill is a form of age discrimination. Texting while driving is dangerous for all people, he said, "and there's no reason to single out one demographic or age group."

He told me about a study done a few years ago by the University of Utah that found a young person talking on a cellphone is just as distracted as a 60-year-old not talking on a cellphone.

The organization missed the hearing yesterday but hopes to be able to testify against the age portion of the bill when another hearing comes up.