Laws prohibiting people from doing things society deems harmful are all well and good, but if people don’t believe and comply with them, they’re useless. Case in point: Maria Shriver getting caught talking on her cell phone while driving. In California, you’re required to use a hands-free device if you want to talk on a cell phone when behind the wheel. 

The Province of B.C. is contemplating a similar ban on using cell phones while driving. But as the Governatress (sorry, California’s First Lady) example illustrates, it may be illegal to talk on the phone while driving in California, but it’s not a big deal. In fact, although Shriver has apologized for breaking the law, she hasn’t said she’ll use the hands-free device in the future. Since the incident, instead of being an example and driving without a cell in hand, it seems she’s opted to have a chauffer take the wheel, suggesting that she’d rather keep talking on her cell than drive. To boot, the Kindergarten cop (sorry, the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger) has said little about the incident besides oblique statements like, "It's been dealt with," and joking quips like, "I'm in big trouble."

Obviously, our attitudes towards cell phone use in vehicles haven’t changed. We know that using them while driving can be dangerous or deadly, but we’re not ready to put down the phone in the car just yet. As this video of Jeff Dolan of the B.C. Coroner's Service explains, roughly 17% of reported deaths in 2007 could have been prevented if different decisions were made. We have the numbers, and we know how celebrity politicians feel about it. So, what will it take for you to let go of your phone in the car?

Tags: On The Road, Driving Safety, Pedestrian Safety, Preventable Injuries, Texting, Cell Phones, Maria Shriver, the Governatress, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governator, Hands-free

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