Keeping eyes on the road

Drivers who like to keep their eyes on more than the road could face some stiff penalties under a new law signed by Gov. Sarah Palin on Monday.

House Bill 88 was sponsored by state House Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Wasilla, and makes it illegal for drivers of motor vehicles to watch movies, television or other video programming. It also outlaws installing DVD and video players in a vehicle where they are capable of being viewed while in operation.

Like the repeated explanations on airline flights about the proper way to fasten and unfasten a seat belt or explicit warnings that coffee is served hot, specifically outlawing watching movies while driving seems a little ridiculous. Unfortunately, there are enough unsafe drivers out there who just can’t wait to watch the latest “Ernest” adventure instead of watching out for their own and others’ safety.

A recent drive from the Mat-Su Valley to downtown Anchorage witnessed no fewer than three drivers who had DVD players installed near the driver’s rear-view mirror, flipped down and playing. Cell phone usage while driving was the automotive safety scare of the 1990s, now it seems that the more mobile technology becomes, the more drivers will attempt to use it while navigating the roads.

Gatto’s legislation has merit, if only to serve as more of a deterrent and give local law enforcement the tools it needs when observing vehicles with illegally installed video players.

Alaska made national headlines in October 2002 when the driver of a pickup truck crossed the center line on the Seward Highway and killed two people. That driver, Erwin J. Petterson Jr., was charged with second-degree murder for watching a DVD player while driving, a charge he denied.

Although there are other laws already on the books that make it a crime to operate motor vehicles in an unsafe manner, it seems we need more specific legislation with teeth to drive the point home. Under HB 88, anyone violating the law faces a class A misdemeanor charge, which escalates in proportion to the consequences of an accident. If someone suffers a physical injury related to driving and viewing video, the driver faces a class C felony. That is upgraded to class B if the injury is serious and class A if an accident results in death.

Technology is wonderful, and if used appropriately can make those hours spent driving more pleasurable while maintaining a reasonable level of safety. Many automobiles today come equipped with DVD players in the rear, which is legal under HB 88. Emergency and locator devices like GPS mapping systems are also exempt.

Play your radio, a CD or a book on tape if you simply must be entertained while driving — there’s plenty to watch out the windshield.