There is a bill currently before the legislature that would make it illegal to use hand-held cell phones while driving in Connecticut. The measure, which has never gotten far in previous attempts at passage, may have picked up the momentum it needs to pass this year when the union representing Connecticut’s state troopers endorsed it last week, calling it “a common sense type of bill.” Perhaps common sense is catching, since State House Speaker Moira Lyons (D-Stamford) now says she supports the bill as well.

It does make sense to put down the phone while driving, but evidently there are still opponents to legislation that would put all “hand-held” phone conversations on hold. The bill’s most significant opponent appears to be Gov John G. Rowland, who reacted to questions about the bill by saying, “My civil libertarian blood boils.” He said he does not believe “government should be dictating everything we do in our lives, whether inside of our houses or inside of our cars.” He also questioned how the new law would be enforced.

There are no definitive statistics linking cell phone use to traffic accidents simply because police usually do not report whether cell phone use was a factor in a crash. But anyone driving on the highway has certainly seen first-hand evidence of how dangerous a distracted driver can be with one hand on the wheel, the other at his ear, and his mind floating somewhere in between.

This is not a civil liberties issue. Connecticut’s constitution does not guarantee everyone the right to talk on a cell phone while driving. It doesn’t even guarantee everyone the right to drive. Driving is a privilege conferred on those persons who can demonstrate safe driving habits to the satisfaction of the state Department of Motor Vehicles. And one of the safe driving habits that driving instructors and motor vehicle department examiners insist on is two hands on the wheel.

As for enforcing the law, Newtown police have been strictly enforcing the seat belt law by looking through the windows of cars. We don’t see how enforcing the hands-free cell phone law would be any more difficult.

Under the proposed legislation, drivers need not be deprived of important phone conversations while on the road. There are inexpensive hands-free phone accessories available in almost every electronics store. This small investment would yield big returns in safety for themselves, their families, and for others on the highway. We hope this is the year that this important piece of highway safety legislation passes. We think the state troopers have it right. It’s simply a matter of common sense.