The Automobile Club of Southern California found that texting while driving is up 126%, despite a ban enacted five years ago. Do you ever text and drive? Then, we'll talk about the Television Critics Association summer tour. What are the best new shows? Later, fast food workers across the U.S. have been striking in demand of higher wages. Will the strikes spur any changes? Then we'll have an analysis of President Obama's news conference. And later, our film critics are here to talk about this week's releases. TGI-Filmweek!
Texting and driving: Despite Calif. ban, it's up 126 percent; do you? (Poll)
California banned texting while driving and drivers from using handheld cell phones 5 years ago. The Automobile Club of Southern California has released new findings looking at how well the bans are working out.
The results might be surprising: texting while driving is apparently up 126 percent, even though handheld mobile use is down 57 percent.
The surveys were conducted starting 2008, before the bans took effect. Distracted driving was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes in 2010, according to the National Highway Safety Administration. Besides California, 10 other states have banned the use of handheld mobile phones and 41 states prohibit drivers from texting.
Filmmaker Werner Herzog was recently commissioned by AT&T to produce a mini-doc as part of a public service announcement urging drivers to put down their phones. The videos will be shown at 40,000 high schools throughout the country:
So what should you do if you see someone texting while driving? Officer Vince Ramirez says you can report that person if you snag their license plate number, but officers can't issue a citation unless they witness the incident.
"There is 1-800-TELL-CHP number where they can leave the vehicle license plate number, time and description," said Ramirez. "The driver gets a letter in the mail telling them that someone reported them. We have to witness the violation to issue a citation."
Have you stopped texting while driving since the ban? Can texting while driving penalties curb the behavior?
KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.
Guests:
Steven Bloch, Ph.D.,Traffic Safety Researcher, Automobile Club of Southern California
Officer Vince Ramirez, Southern Division, California Highway Patrol
Industry and entertainment news from Television Critics Association summer tour
The hardest working summer camp in Beverly Hills just wrapped. The Television critics Association two-week tour featured previews of possibly racist, definitely over-hyped and likely entertaining new programs. There were also insightful industry trends of note.
One surprising thesis: the long-coveted 18-49 demographic is over? What are the most promising new shows? Which audiences are they trying to win? (And will Angelenos get to see any of the CBS fodder?)
Guest:
Tim Molloy, Reporter, TheWrap.com
Should fast food workers be paid a higher wage?
In light of the recent actions over wages for fast food workers, activists and economists are debating the consequences of paying higher wages (what advocates term a "living wage"). On one side, you have economists saying that paying higher wages would be beneficial not just to the workers themselves, but overall because it would ultimately result in less government support and it wouldn’t actually cost consumers all that much. On the other side, you have folks arguing that it’s untenable for businesses, it would cost jobs and hurt working families, and ultimately, it would encourage employers to replace $15-per-hour workers with automated devices that do the same job only cheaper.
Would you pay an extra dollar for your Big Mac if it meant McDonald’s employees could afford to live a better life? Or do you think that capitalism works best when business are unfettered and can pay what they think a job is worth? Should we even be considering fast food worker-type jobs as something that could be a long-term career or is it more realistic to consider them good entry-level positions but little else?
Guests:
John Schmitt, Senior Economist, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute
President Obama addresses government surveillance
President Obama spoke at a Press Conference to address measures to restore the public trust in the government surveillance, and threats to the country. President Obama discussed reforms to the Patriot Act, making sure civil liberties are secure, and a more transparent government regarding these issues.
What did you think of Obama's speech? Do you think the government should be more transparent? What do you think the government should do? What is your view on the federal government's surveillance measures?
Guest:
David Mark, editor in chief, Politix.com
Aaron Blake, national political reporter, Washington Post
Filmweek: Elysium, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, We're the Millers and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC critics Tim Cogshell, Henry Sheehan and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including Elysium, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, We're the Millers and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Elysium
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
We're the Millers
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and criticsagogo.com
Charles Solomon, film critic and animation historian for KPCC, author for amazon.com