Sedgwick County employees driving on county business will have to pull over or ignore calls to their mobile phones under a new policy approved Wednesday.
First responders such as sheriff’s officers, emergency medical services and firefighters are the only exceptions.
The move is part of an overhaul to a decade-old driving policy, and it comes as more government agencies ban their employees from taking calls while driving.
Sedgwick County’s ban includes cell phones — including hands-free devices — headphones and computers.
It applies to employees driving county-owned and personal vehicles on county business.
Commissioner Tim Norton questioned whether elected officials were always on the job, and how the policy might affect calls they take on their personal time.
“I think it’s problematic for our lifestyle,” he said. “We want to stay connected at all times.”
County officials said the policy would mostly affect normal working hours for elected and salaried workers, but nuances would be debated as problems arise.
No county employee accidents have been blamed on cell phone use, officials said.
Mick McBride, the county risk management officer, said the new rules stem from a National Safety Council report that showed cell phone use contributes to about 636,000 wrecks, 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths a year.
Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said listening to a radio or talking to a passenger could also be a distraction.
A University of Utah study showed talking to a passenger in a car is much safer.
Commissioners unanimously approved the new rules.
Sedgwick County is just one of many agencies with cell phone bans.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates transit wrecks, recently banned its 400 employees from talking or texting while on government business.
16 Comments
So who do we report to of those that do not comply?
Does this include police officers? I see them on their cellphones more than anyone else. It might cut down the response time if they were listening to the police radio instead of the person they are talking to.
It will fall on deaf ears anyway- so no need to report infractions of this policy…
Well, bust my buttons. Something positive came from within the wall of the County Courthouse. Now let’s all be observant and see how many county employee’s we can spot ratchet-jawing while driving disregarding the new policy.
This doesn’t apply to cops. The article mentions that in the second sentence. I rode with a cop one night and most of his phone calls were for official business or for engaging in a conversation about a call with his supervisor.
Until they put a ban on eating big drippy sandwiches and jelly-filled donuts while driving accidents will continue to happen.
You are right allupinya. My best friend is a sgt on the WPD and I ride with him at least once every six-months and the calls he recieves are mostly business calls.
That being said, this is just another stupid Nanny PC in-house-law. This warm and fuzzy ban will last about a week and then it will be business as usual.
Nanny local government in action. Next, no food, or drinks or chewing gum.
Oh! I forgot, take this job and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said listening to a radio or talking to a passenger could also be a distraction.”
In other news, the vast majority of smart Sedgwick County citizens have known for some time that listening to Commissioner Gwen Welshimer has been proven to be a distraction.
Glad to see they we are fixing a problem before it occurs. Why don’t we also ban riding together in cars because I am sure that is a distraction. Golly gee, while we are at it…why do these people need to drive anyways. Let’s just ban motor vehicles also. Certainly that will prevent accidents.
In a related story, all 5 Commissioners agreed on something!!! That, in itself, is the real tragedy/story here.
Maybe if people would read up on the facts of cell phone use while driving they might change their minds, but with the vast majority thinking that they just have to be connected for that phone call I kind of doubt it. Now if we can get it applied to everybody while driving it will help reduce these idiots that are poking along trying to talk on their cell phone and then realize tht they need to mke that right turn, from the left lane.
Why are all these people riding around with cops?
The County Commission has authority over non-elected personnel. They have no authority over elected officials or employees of elected officials. Elected officials need to muster up the intestinal fortitude to state this. Then, they need to individually adopt the same standards for their own offices.
How do you monitor it?
Why not require handsfree?
More government intervention to save people from themselves.
The Commission has no authority over Sheriff, District Attorney or Register of Deeds employees? That doesn’t seem right or true.