Today is a landmark day in the history of Amarillo, Texas. It’s the day the city began enforcing a no-talk-on-handheld-cellphone ordinance.

Amarillo city commissioners did something in 2012 that took them out of their comfort zone. They enacted the ordinance all by themselves. They didn’t refer it to voters for their permission, as they have done twice with no-smoking bans. Nope. They acted like leaders.

Effective today, the police department has begun citing motorists they catch dialing up their friends and kinfolk on handheld cellphones while driving their cars. No can do, say the cops.

Texas transportation officials reported more than 400 traffic deaths in 2011 because of “distracted driving.” That includes the morons who think they can operate a motor vehicle and dial a cellphone at the same time. They’re talking multi-tasking to a dangerous new level. Of course, so do the idiots who apply makeup, fumble for a cigarette, read a book or unwrap a cheeseburger while driving.

But it’s clear, to me at least, that cellphone use has become the No. 1 cause of distracted driving. And don’t get me started on the brain-dead motorists I see texting while driving.

I’ll admit to being on both sides of the fence on this one. I settled finally on the side of those who want the city put its foot down on motorists who don’t understand – or ignore – the consequences of driving while taking one’s eyes and minds off the road.

Will the cellphone use ban reduce the roadway carnage? Not immediately. Police and transportation authorities believe that over time the levels of highway accidents caused by this activity to decrease. The ordinance won’t end it completely … any more than laws against murder have stopped that crime from occurring.

The city deserves high praise, though, for taking the lead on trying to solve this problem. And take my word for it, it is a problem in Amarillo.

Stand along any busy thoroughfare in the city and take note of all the drivers you see with a phone stuck to the side of their head.