NTSB want cell phones banned while driving

[josephga]

I personal would agree I think all handheld cell phone use of any kind should be banned for drivers all together. The NTSB suggestion would not involve mounted gps devices or wireless headphones for talking but would ban all hand held devices while driving. NTSB can only make suggestions not laws but according to the news their opinion does pull allot of weight..

[Steven_Draker]

Siri: do you want me to google Cell Phone Ticket Laws?

 

http://lapd.com/news/headlines/HigherFinesForCellPhoneUseWhileDrivingInCA_SacBee_060310_425.jpg

[Steven_Draker]

I think the National Transportation Safety Board has a vision ...

 

http://www.trollytalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/blonde-on-cell-phone-while-driving-in-car.jpg

[KMEM]

The NTSB wants a lot of things they don't get. That being said, personallly I wish each state would pass a law with some teeth in it generally providing a substantial penalty for DWD (Driving While Distracted) by anything. If you are the driver, pay attention.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Pegasus]

I would be in favor of such a ban. My cousin was hit on his motorcycle when a woman ran a red light while talking on her phone. He barely survived but it was over a year before he could walk again--and his life is forever changed. Seriously, was her cell phone conversation THAT important?

[EZEtoGRU]

I agree that an all out ban is needed. Personally I prefer it be at a federal level, for two reasons:

 

1. It would then cover all states the same. Therefore for people

who cross state lines, they needn't be worried if that particular

state has the law or not.

 

2. Saves us from having some states that would try and weasel out

having the law. My state of Texas, for example, where seemingly

nothing is illegal.

 

I support a national ban.

[bigvalboy]

I think the National Transportation Safety Board has a vision ...[/color]

 

http://www.trollytalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/blonde-on-cell-phone-while-driving-in-car.jpg

 

What I find funny is that when you click 'reply with quote', in the link it says "blonde-on-cell-phone-while-driving-in-car"...not sure where we are going with this one.

but I know a few blondes that just might take a little offense to that..lol

[Lohengrin1979]

I would be in favor of such a ban. My cousin was hit on his motorcycle when a woman ran a red light while talking on her phone. He barely survived but it was over a year before he could walk again--and his life is forever changed. Seriously, was her cell phone conversation THAT important?

 

I am so glad your cousin recovered. What happened to him happens all the time in Los Angeles with more tragic results. People crash into each other, cyclists, construction crews, because they're texting it. I see it at least once a week and see people next to me and behind me tapping away at phones and tablets. Driving is dangerous enough as it is.

[ted]

For all those driving I-95 in mid Atlantic, please note that Steven's link is obsolete. Delaware also banned hand held cell phone use while driving effective 1/1/11. PA has just banned texting effective March 2012, but apparently that bill will overide some local laws-in Philadelphia-banning hand held cell use. In any case not a good idea under any circumstances, although I'm pretty sure the young lady in the lane next to me was texting last evening, either that or something else very interesting was happening in her lap.

[seeker630]

I personal would agree I think all handheld cell phone use of any kind should be banned for drivers all together. The NTSB suggestion would not involve mounted gps devices or wireless headphones for talking but would ban all hand held devices while driving. NTSB can only make suggestions not laws but according to the news their opinion does pull allot of weight..

 

Actually, the recommendation includes hands-free phones and headsets too.

[+ glutes]

How about prohibiting shaving and putting on makeup, both of which I have seen a number of times? The worst offense was someone flossing their teeth (using both hands) driving on the Golden Gate Bridge...

[rvwnsd]

http://lapd.com/news/headlines/HigherFinesForCellPhoneUseWhileDrivingInCA_SacBee_060310_425.jpg

 

Although the State of Illinois does not prohibit talking on a handheld cell phone while driving outside of construction and school zones, the City of Chicago prohibits drivers from using a handheld device while driving. The fine ranges from $50 to $200 per offense.

[+ deej]

Actually, the recommendation includes hands-free phones and headsets too.

 

I wish they could implement it immediately, but of course they can't.

 

Forty years ago, a cousin of mine was killed by a distracted driver who was fumbling on the floor of his car for a cassette tape. The kid was in intensive care for over a week before he died because of a distracted driver.

 

Local news in LA has people all up in arms over this. "How will we tell people we'll be late for a meeting???" Well, you'll arrive late. Telling them you're going to be late doesn't give them anything new. If you want to be on time, perhaps you can leave early enough to be on time. No phone call is going to change the fact that you don't have your shit together.

[justaguy]

It used to be that if a car was moving too slowly or in an erratic fashion, I’d think the driver was drunk. These days I think they’re on their cell. Dimes to doughnuts that’s what it is. IMO, the ban needs to be put in place and enforced

[wayout]

Actually, the recommendation includes hands-free phones and headsets too.

 

I am in favor of the ban for hand held but on the fence about hands-free phones and headsets.

 

I read a report that said the ban "...would apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices, but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said."

 

I am not quite sure I understand how the NTSB is recommending it is ok for factory installed but not for headsets or other hands free types.

[gallahadesquire]

I wish they could implement it immediately, but of course they can't.

 

Forty years ago, a cousin of mine was killed by a distracted driver who was fumbling on the floor of his car for a cassette tape. The kid was in intensive care for over a week before he died because of a distracted driver.

 

Local news in LA has people all up in arms over this. "How will we tell people we'll be late for a meeting???" Well, you'll arrive late. Telling them you're going to be late doesn't give them anything new. If you want to be on time, perhaps you can leave early enough to be on time. No phone call is going to change the fact that you don't have your shit together.

 

OR, Since you're late anyway, pull over and make the call.

[Samai139]

I support a nation-wide ban on using cell phones and tablets, pads, etc. while driving. Not sure a Federal Law banning such use would ever pass both houses of Congress and if it did how effectively it would be enforced. Is there not another approach which might solve the problem? Americans are particularly prickly about being told what they should or shouldn't do by government. Perhaps if some kind of technology could be developed which would render cell phones, iPads, etc. useless while a vehicle is running, we would not have a choice, it would be a fait accompli. Emergency vehicles, police vehicles, etc. would be exempted or produced without the interference. I realise it is a Big Brother solution but lives are at risk and as children who have grown up with the new technology reach driving age, it is going to get worse.

It seems to me that if the technology to communicate whenever, wherever is feasible, then somehow we can also limit it or build cars which will react when we swerve out of our lane, do not have our eyes forward for more than 5 seconds or something 21st century.

[adriano46]

Definately in favor of the ban on hand-held devices -- as well as seeing people munching on greasy hamburgers and sandwiches and cradeling an enormous litre of something o drink while driving! Ugh. I spend more time checking my back and side mirrors (as well as in front of me) for fear of bring hit by one of this oblivions who could care less about rear-ending me or side-swiping me. They are all self-centered pricks and deserve to have their precious licenses revoked. Ugh -- now off to navigate my way to my office again fighting these people.

 

Oh -- not too sure about the ban on hand's free devices... I am afraid our culture has already passed beyond the point of no return on being able to call or receive calls whenever we want and politicans are not about to ban their own personal use of the phone...

[seeker630]

I am in favor of the ban for hand held but on the fence about hands-free phones and headsets.

 

I read a report that said the ban "...would apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices, but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said."

 

I am not quite sure I understand how the NTSB is recommending it is ok for factory installed but not for headsets or other hands free types.

 

The commentator i saw on TV yesterday said they needed to study the issue of built-in systems more. She kept stressing that it was 'portable' eelctronic devices they were addressing.

[seeker630]

... Perhaps if some kind of technology could be developed which would render cell phones, iPads, etc. useless while a vehicle is running, we would not have a choice, it would be a fait accompli. Emergency vehicles, police vehicles, etc. would be exempted or produced without the interference.

 

In the discussions I saw yesterday, the issue of a technological solution was raised, but one of the problems would be how to jam or inactivate only the DRIVER's phone and not those of passengers.

[wayout]

The commentator i saw on TV yesterday said they needed to study the issue of built-in systems more. She kept stressing that it was 'portable' eelctronic devices they were addressing.

 

Not sure why hands free or built-in systems should be an issue really. If it is distracting to be talking on the hands free phone for some reason while driving then I guess we should ban drivers from talking to or carrying on conversations with their passengers? If it is because of momentary distraction when answering (you have to locate the button to accept the call for example), then I guess we should ban drivers from adjusting radio stations or turning up/down climate controls? What I am asking is how far do we need to go?

[josephga]

the local news here say this is what got them wanting the total ban. there nothing left of that kids truck or him and his passenger

 

http://news.yahoo.com/driver-sent-got-11-texts-11-min-crash-151619850.html

[nate_sf]

My understanding is the handheld bans have not been particularly effective, and that the real issue is talking on the phone while driving in the first place. Apparently the human brain has a hard time processing the phone call and minding the road at the same time. It's different than having a conversation with someone in the car, because when you're on the phone your brain tries to "fill in" the missing information that you'd ordinarily get from facial expressions, intonations, etc from someone sitting beside you (which is why people talking in the car will often turn to each other briefly or look in the review mirror to look at passengers' faces while they are having the conversation). Without the visual cues, the brain has to concentrate more heavily on following the phone call and is not as able to respond to what the eyes are seeing through the windshield.

 

So if that is indeed the case, "driving while distracted" seems to be a better approach. In my opinion, that would include phone calls of any type, putting on make-up, shaving, eating, etc.

 

I'm not sure why a built-in device would make any difference, but that may be a result of lobbying from the automakers. Along those lines, in the current political climate I think the chance of any type of ban is nil. But that doesn't mean that one can't choose to be responsible themselves, and just pull over to the side of the road to make a phone call or let it roll to voice mail if receiving one.

[+ deej]

My understanding is the handheld bans have not been particularly effective

 

The day after the California ban on hand-helds went into effect, the LA Times ran a story on compliance accompanied by a photo of Maria Shriver pulling out of her driveway talking on her hand-held phone.

 

If you advocated legalizing driving while drunk you'd be laughed off. It kills people. This is provable.

 

Talking on the phone impairs driving ability and kills people. This is provable. Yet as a society we'll continue to allow it until some critical mass is reached, sadly by way of many deaths.

[wayout]

So if that is indeed the case, "driving while distracted" seems to be a better approach. In my opinion, that would include phone calls of any type, putting on make-up, shaving, eating, etc.

 

An article that focuses on a view that the "real" issue is distraction and not the specific technology: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10444717-266.html

 

Here is an excerpt that I found interesting:

 

"Hands-free device are no less risky than using a handheld phone," said Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which sponsored the study. "And this indicates that the issue is really about the distracted driver. It's much bigger than drivers using cell phones."

 

In other words, it's the distraction--and not a cell phone, per se--that causes accidents. Tuning the radio, selecting a song on an iPod, programming a GPS navigation system, eating french fries, digging in a purse for change while approaching a toll booth on the Garden State Parkway, or turning around to scream at the kids--all done while behind the wheel of a car--are things that distract drivers and could potentially cause collisions.

 

"People have been driving distracted since cars were invented," Rader said. "Focusing on cell phones isn't the same as focusing on distracted driving. Distraction is what has always caused car crashes, and cell phones don't appear to be adding to that."

Indeed, Rader said the study also indicates that even though cell phone usage nationally has exploded over the past several years, and more than 89 percent of the U.S. population owns a cell phone, there has been no uptick nationally in the number of car accidents.