I just returned from a week's vacation in southern California, and I was amazed that during my many trips on I-5 and I-405 that I did not see one person holding a cell phone while driving. Effective July 1, 2008, California law forbids holding a cell phone while driving, and they enforce it.

Also, I did not see cars wandering from one lane to another, cars going to slow on the interstate, and no accidents. Surprisingly, California drivers were attentive (even though they drive very fast) to what other cars were doing around them. Hopefully, the legislation that the ligislature is now discussing to ban holding cell phones ("Senate gives 1st approval to ban on holding cell phones while driving," March 24), will reduce traffic accidents and improve the driving skills in Maryland.

Ron Wirsing, Havre de Grace