NTSB want cell phones banned while driving

[+ Charlie]

The main problem with such laws is always enforcement. The police don't want to spend time trying to find, stop and cite all the people who are on their cellphones, and in many states they can only issue a citation if they have first stopped the driver for some other violation. Most traffic violations, including DUI and speeding, are enforced sporadically or selectively, and often only after the damage has been done. Even if they are cited, the punishment would probably be a slap on the wrist.

 

To be effective, such a law would have to be enforced with surveillance comparable to a police state (see current thread on loss of privacy), such as cameras focused constantly on the driver and monitored remotely, and substantial punishments, such as very large fines or huge increases in insurance premiums. A better solution would be technology that stops the car when it senses cellphone use.

[JoeBlow]

Just curious, what other nations have successfully implemented such a ban as the one the NTSB is proposing?

[+ deej]

I don't know of any.

 

NTSB doesn't have the authority to impose anything, but they are an important lobby for legislation and they have the ability to sway public opinion quite a bit which is really the importance of their announcement.

 

I don't think any of us will live long enough to see anything like a ban. It took a full generation before seat belts saturated the cars on the roads. Used cars stay on the road a LONG time, so even if some technology is introduced into new cars it won't be in wide use for many years.

 

On this issue, I suspect technology will move faster than social awareness or legislation, honestly. Today's cell phones just won't exist in their current form in 10-15 years.

[Samai139]

I never dreamed I would live long enough to see gay marriage legalized in any state in this country, and yet I did; I never imagined I would live long enough to see smoking banned indoors in most places in New York State/City, Montreal, etc. and yyet I did; I never dreamed I would live long enough to see the USSR collaps, and yet I did; I never dreamed I would live long enough to see Nelson Mandela free and the President of the Rep. of South Africa and yet I did.

I think I will live long enough to see technology somehow make driving feasible and safe while being able to converse with wireless devices, maybe even long enough to see moving devices which would not depend on a human beings full attention at all times. Who knows? And guess what? I'm, by my own definition, an old geezer and certainly won't live as long as many of the readers and drivers on this forum. I'm hoping that the American people and our ingenuity just won't stand for mass carnage on the highways because of cell phones, pdas, etc.

[orbital sander]

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

 

Actually, this is incorrect in regards to Oregon. Drivers in Oregon who drive a vehicle as part of their employment, Whether public or private, can legally use hand held devices while driving on the job.

[kevininsa]

The only difference I see is that a factory car phone can be voice dialed. A cell phone on blue tooth still has to be handled unless you're calling someone in your directory by voice.

 

 

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.

[Guest]

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.

 

Well, this is not an area that the Constitution authorizes the federal government to legislate on, but the federal government could get around this by using their usual tactic of witholding federal interstate highway funds for states which refuse to pass legislation they like.