NTSB Recommends States Ban the Use of Cell Phones & Hands-Free Devices While Driving

[dgstorm]

The National Transportation Safety Board just made an official recommendation for all U.S. States to ban the use of cell phones, both texting or talking. They went a step further, though, and also recommended the banning of "all" hands-free devices as well. NTSB chairman Deborah Hersan said, “It’s going to be very unpopular with some people,” she said. “We’re not here to win a popularity contest. We’re here to do the right thing. This is a difficult recommendation, but it’s the right recommendation and it’s time.” Hersan added, “No call, no text, no update is worth a human life."

Their recommendation to outright ban all devices is surprising, since it is the first suggestion of its kind, rather than just a partial ban to allow hands-free talking. States are not required to follow the recommendations of the NTSB, and can choose to implement parts of their recommendations or ignore them. In fact, the issue has been called a "political non-starter" by State Senator Joe Simitian of California. Interestingly, he was actually instrumental in getting the first law passed in 2006 that bans drivers in California from talking on a hand-held phone while driving. Yet, he added that he would not attempt to propose a total ban on drivers using their devices.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, nine states currently ban the use of hand-held phones, and 35 states ban texting while driving. There are additional concerns regarding an outright ban within the automotive industry. Several car companies are already implementing hands-free communications systems directly into their future automobiles. Here's a quote from the NYTimes Article with more details,

A complete ban on phone use by drivers would have enormous impact on many car makers that are offering integrated hands-free, voice-activated systems that allow drivers to talk and do other tasks, like calling up their phone directory.

The Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group for the industry, said in a statement that it was reviewing the N.T.S.B. recommendations. But it also defended the integrated systems, saying they allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while they remain connected.

“What we do know is that digital technology has created a connected culture in the United States and it’s forever changed our society: consumers always expect to have access to technology; so managing technology is the solution,” the alliance said in a statement.

The NTSB chairwoman, Ms. Hersman, pointed out that the safety concerns were not just about keeping drivers hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, but should also make sure that people focus on the act of driving. She said, “It’s about cognitive distraction. It’s about not being engaged at the task at hand. Lives are being lost in the blink of an eye. You can’t take it back, you can’t have a do over, and you can’t rewind.”

Weigh in your perspective on this complex issue.

Source: NYTimes

 

[Narsil]

LOLZ...Any politician proposing/voting for that knows he can kiss his/her reelection goodbye. There won't even be a need to run. He/she'd be able to count the votes for themselves with their appendages. :r_c:

 

[rowdyguy124]

If that's the case then we need to ban all radios, GPS devices, passenger chatter. And drive thru windows to limit eating while driving while we are at it. I agree people need to focus more on the road, but this is going too far.

 

[NeoPhoenixTE]

Calling this a "political non-starter" is a very apt term in this case.

This won't go very far. I guarantee.

 

[ntrddragn]

they should of just say " you are dumb, we know better". ban people driving all together.

 

[tjk629]

Hands-free is great. I don't get why so many people are against it.

 

[cobravnm13]

they should of just say " you are dumb, we know better". ban people driving all together.

Exactly. +9000

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

 

[azules9780]

I like hands free too and as a Firefighter, I see all too often firsthand the effects of inattentive drivers. I wish everyone would pay more attention but the positive side is this, stupid people will always keep me employed.:biggrin:

 

[azules9780]

I like hands free too and as a Firefighter, I see all too often firsthand the effects of inattentive drivers. I wish everyone would pay more attention but the positive side is this, stupid people will always keep me employed.<img src="http://cdn.droidblog.net/forum/images/smilies/smile2/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Biggrin" smilieid="17" class="inlineimg">

Oh, and the really funny part about this is I guarantee the same people who are banning the use of cell phones while in a car will probably use them tomorrow while they drive to work.

 

[johnomaz]

I'm cool with it. I nearly got in a nasty accident because some guy was looking at his cell phone...with BOTH hands...and ran a stop light. I'm lucky I saw him because if not, it'd be GG for me. My phone stays in my pocket in the car. call, text, doesn't matter. It can wait as it has for many many years until I get home. No, I'm not 60, I'm 30 and have seen cell phones for over half my life, though in the beginning, they were very large. People aren't as important as they think they are and there is no reason you can't wait to talk or text.

 

[soulpatch]

I wish they would enforce handsfree a bit more as that would suffice for me. Though I have other items higher on the list that should be addressed.

Why not force people to be retested every so many years? Too many elderly on the roads who can no longer drive.
Why not enforce more of a teired license scale like in Europe? Keep kids driving scaled back as they learn.
Why not ban children from cars? (ok a joke but as a motorcyclist every time I have been nearly hit it has been an old person or a mom turned around to deal with their kids)


They should invest more effort into building cars that can be put into autopilot on the highway or such so that I can play my aps while going to work or get that extra few minutes of sleep...

 

[combatmedic870]

Im reading this on my cell phone while im driving. :blink:

 

[1694kyle]

too bad

I'm a traffic engineer and we use bluetooth for trip time calculations and traffic flow scenarios. We use bluetooth receivers that read the ID of a phone, car, or handsfree device as it enters and exits certain contact points along a route. This legislation would have serious impacts on the infrastructure in place. Nobody using bluetooth means no data. These methods save people a LOT of money and are much more accurate.

 

[xeene]

i can see the banning of phones while driving passing, but hands free won't go as a lot of cars come equipped with it from factory. just like someone mentioned it earlier, might as well ban gps, radios and passengers.

better idea would be to implement radars in cars that would prevent accidents from happening in the first place, so even if driver did get distracted then car itself could avoid the collision.

 

[FunN4Lo]

Drivers distracted by phone calls. Drivers distracted by texting. Drivers distracted by eating. Drivers distracted by putting on make up. Drivers distracted by video games. Drivers distracted by all of the above at the same time.

The real culprit is the DRIVER. We should ban all drivers and require Google drive us everywhere. Then we can do all that fun stuff without dying. I am running for President and appreciate your vote.