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Monday, August 31, 2009

Cell phones: Chatter about PHL lot, other topics

Chatter about cell phones -- where you use them around Philadelphia airport and elsewhere, including on airplanes -- is all the rage right now. If you've visited this blog before you know where I stand: Motorists arriving at PHL should not be parking on the entrance ramps to use them; cell phone shouldn't be allowed in voice mode on an airline flight; and perhaps talking on them, and certainly texring on them, should be against the law, period.

I posted a commentary Friday (see it just below) on the effort to get drivers to use PHL's designated cell-phone lot on Bartram Avenue. The Inquirer's story about PennDOT putting up new signs warning motorists not to park on the ramps is here. Drivers have a hard time finding the obscure lot if they're not  familiar with the airport area, and lousy signage for years hasn't helped them. Weighing in on the problem today is AAA Mid-Atlantic, the motor club's regional branch, which has campaigned for five years for better signage and is still disappointed by just telling drivers they'll be ticketed, yet the signage is still poor.

But finding a good place to park while waiting for PHL arriving passengers is only a small part of the bigger debate going on  of how cell phones should be used. A good roundup story on an old topic, should talking on phones on airline flights be allowed, was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today, and you can find that one here. (Don't worry: It's still very unlikely to happen.)

 Also coming, I predict, is a fairly widespread ban on texting while driving and perhaps a ban in some places on all use -- yes, a total prohibition -- on talking and driving. I first reported in January that the National Safety Council wants to see a total ban. The New York Times has a running series on the topic that started earlier this summer. Here's the latest development in that series: Another key safety group endorses a texting-while-driving ban. 

 
Posted by Tom BELDEN @ 1:26 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
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About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
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