This is about the time I was going to write about the new state law that, in a little over a month from now, will forbid driving and using a hand-held cell phone at the same time.

That was my plan even before I came within a split second of t-boning a driver a week ago while I was driving my daughter to school. The other driver ran a stop sign and I almost sprained my ankle jamming the brakes hard enough to avoid a collision. My daughter could see that the other driver was on their CELL PHONE! #@!%*#!

I’m still worked up, so I’ll let Craig Groshart, editor of the Bellevue Reporter (a sister publication of this one), fill the rest of this space with what he wrote last week on the new law:

“The countdown has started for hands-free calling in our state. It can’t come soon enough.

“Starting July 1, motorists will have to use a hands-free device when operating a wireless phone while driving.

“While there are few statistics to prove the danger of driving a vehicle while holding a wireless phone, it seems obvious that one hand on the wheel and one hand holding the phone isn’t the best way to maneuver a 3,000-pound vehicle through congested traffic.

Fortunately, consumers have a number of choices available to help them comply with the new law, from universally compatible headsets to phones with built-in speakerphones and voice-activated dialing.

“Verizon Wireless offers some common-sense tips for cell phone use. Before leaving the curb:

• Activate your voicemail service if you haven’t already. You can retrieve your messages later.

• Program important and frequently dialed numbers into your phone to take advantage of speed dialing and voice dialing features.

• Turn your phone to speakerphone or put on your headset. Many phones have speakerphone capability.

“Two other bits of advice that should be obvious: While driving, never take notes or write down phone numbers, or send text or multi-media messages or video downloads.

“Cell phones are a wonderful device as long as we remember that when we’re driving a vehicle, we should be concentrating on the driving.”

Editor Pat Jenkins can be reached at (425) 432-1209 and pjenkins@reporternewspapers.com