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NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving

lpast

lpast

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YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cell phones are the biggest Murderer of people behind the wheel...its long over due for a ban while driving...


Federal accident investigators Tuesday called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving.
111210021940-ac-foreman-dangers-of-driving-and-texting-00013609-story-body.jpg
Study: Half of young people text, drive
The recommendation is the most far-reaching yet by the National Transportation Safety Board, which in the past 10 years has increasingly sought to limit the use of portable electronic devices. It has recommended such bans for novice drivers, school bus drivers and commercial truckers.
The new recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.



NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving - CNN.com
 
I don't see any reason to ban hands-free cell phone use. If you're going to do that, wouldn't the same logic lead you to ban drivers from talking to other passengers in the car?
 
I'm not for this in principle, but it seems anyone under the age of 30 is incapable of driving a car without texting the entire time.

And I'm not sure most women know that the care will actually start without making a phone call first (LOL, I kid, I kid.)

Talking on the phone while driving isn't difficult for most people. Texting and driving is VERY dangerous for anyone. I used to see that car in front drifting in and out of a lane, and think "they're drunk." Now, you see it all the time, and when you pull alongside, they're always in full texting mode.
 
It's not gonna make people give a damn about other people's lives. Symptom alleviated, big deal.
 
AdamT said:
I don't see any reason to ban hands-free cell phone use. If you're going to do that, wouldn't the same logic lead you to ban drivers from talking to other passengers in the car?
Click to expand...

They arent banning hands free I dont believe
 
I like to use my phone for its map app when driving sometimes. This ban would prevent me from doing this, but would not stop me from using an unwieldy paper map. This rule is likely overboard.
 
lpast said:
They arent banning hands free I dont believe
Click to expand...

Okay, well in that case it makes perfect sense. Anyone who's texting while driving is per se grossly negligent.

I was listening to a right wing talk radio station in the car (should that be banned, too?) and of course the host was going on about how the feds were forcing this alleged ban on everyone. Then you'd get to the news break and they would play the clip of the NTSB director saying that this was just advisory and that the NTSB doesn't have the power to enforce the recommendation. :roll:
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
Things that are completely useless for $100 Alex.

Cellphone bans for cars, don't do anything.
Click to expand...

That's what I though about seatbelt laws ... until I got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. :doh
 
AdamT said:
That's what I though about seatbelt laws ... until I got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. :doh
Click to expand...

Yea but it's a bit different.
I think I summed it up best in the thread about cell phone bans not really working, statistically.

Inattentive people, will continue to be inattentive, regardless of the law.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
Things that are completely useless for $100 Alex.

Cellphone bans for cars, don't do anything.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but it can punish people for disobeying, which I actually agree with. I have been in several car accidents and two of them were the result of the other driver being on the phone and having their reaction time doubled as a result.
 
Passively listening to a radio, even rightwing rant shows, is less distracting than actively conversing with someone. You wouldn't do it while defusing a bomb, don't do it while you drive. Using a phone while driving has the same effect as DUI and should carry similar penalties.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
Things that are completely useless for $100 Alex.

Cellphone bans for cars, don't do anything.
Click to expand...
Also could be filed under federal departments that should be immediately shuttered and it's employees told to "shut the **** up and mind your own business" for 500$.
 
Temporal said:
Maybe, but it can punish people for disobeying, which I actually agree with. I have been in several car accidents and two of them were the result of the other driver being on the phone and having their reaction time doubled as a result.
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I generally don't approve of knee-jerk reflexive bans that only serve to punish afterward, but this one I would be in favor of.
 
NTSB bans eating, listening to radio, talking, and thinking too hard while driving as well.

Good job!
 
Paschendale said:
I like to use my phone for its map app when driving sometimes. This ban would prevent me from doing this, but would not stop me from using an unwieldy paper map. This rule is likely overboard.
Click to expand...

No way, it's great for capitalism. Just buy yourself one of those GPS thingies.
 
Texting yes, talking no.
 
whysoserious said:
NTSB bans eating, listening to radio, talking, and thinking too hard while driving as well.

Good job!
Click to expand...

I can account for that "thinking too hard" bit. My adviser nearly rear ended a jerk on the highway (not interstate) one year on our way to DAMOP. I know what he was doing, he was thinking of physics and problems in the lab and only relatively paying attention to the visual stimuli given to him by his eyes while driving. The car in front of us put on a left turn signal, slowed down, and Jake took awhile to register that the relative velocity between our vehicles had changed dramatically. Nearly missed that DAMOP.
 
It is a shame we have to make laws to componsate for the lack of common sense in some people. If people used common sense when driving we would not be seeing half the laws that are proposed or passed.

Personally, I don't text with the phone and I don't answer till I can find a place to stop. Voice mail and missed call features are wonderful things. It pixxxx me off when I see people not paying attention for whatever reason while driving. Cell phones is just one of the problems.
 
The Obama administration is considering disabling cell phones in American cars, aiming to cut down on distracted drivers and cell-phone-related road deaths.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the nation’s preeminent anti-distracted-driving crusader, said in an interview on MSNBC yesterday that federal officials are looking at technology to disable cell phones inside cars.

“I think it will be done,” LaHood said. “I think the technology is there and I think you’re going to see the technology become adaptable in automobiles to disable these cell phones. We need to do a lot more if were going to save lives.”

As to an earlier point, this would also stop hands free cell use. Now I can understand all arguement against texting. There is no way one can safely text and drive. I undertand one can make arguements against cell phone use but hands free is no different than as noted, talking to the person next to you.

To Thwart Distracted Driving, US Government Considers Cell Phone Jammers in Cars | Popular Science

LaHood has said it is never safe to talk on a cell phone while driving, hands-free or not, because it is a “cognitive distraction.”

No more so than as noted, talking to your kid about his day at school.
 
There was an interesting discussion about this on one of the Boston radio shows last night. The total ban (including hands-free) was actually suggested at one time here in Massachusetts but didn't get any traction. The discussion centered around the idea that this was coming to pass because the texters cannot stop their addictive behavior (texting behind the wheel) and that if they could, then there wouldn't be a necessity for the full ban because talking on the phone supposedly (according to one of the hosts) isn't anywhere near as distracting as texting.

I wonder if the NTSB has considered what effects this might have on traffic patterns and commerce in general. During that discussion I mentioned a moment ago, a salesman called in and indicated that he would essentially have to stop being on the road at least two days a week if he couldn't take calls while driving. I also know that the business I work in (electric utility) requires our operations personnel to be on the phone while in the vehicle a large percentage of the time. Especially during emergency work. Imagine how much longer it's going to take to get your lights back on when the lineman has to pull over every time his cell phone rings.
 
OSHA has certainly considered the problem, and your firm could be in deep doodoo if they put workers at risk.

"...OSHA is partnering with others across government, industry and the public to bring together important information and tools to attack texting while driving and other distracted driver hazards. We invite you to learn more about combating this problem at Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Home and at DOT’s distracted driving website, Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Texting and Driving.

Most employers want to do the right thing and protect their workers, and some have already taken action to prohibit texting while driving. It is your responsibility and legal obligation to create and maintain a safe and healthful workplace, and that would include having a clear, unequivocal and enforced policy against the hazard of texting while driving. Companies are in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act if, by policy or practice, they require texting while driving, or create incentives that encourage or condone it, or they structure work so that texting is a practical necessity for workers to carry out their job... "

The DoT has words on the issue too...

"The U.S. Department of Transportation is leading the effort to stop texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. Since 2009, we have held two national distracted driving summits, banned texting and cell phone use for commercial drivers, encouraged states to adopt tough laws, and launched several campaigns to raise public awareness about the issue... "
 
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Manc,

We don't do anything by TEXT. However, the linemen and underground workers, especially trouble workers are required to answer phone calls while driving all the time. It's literally part of their job. That's how they get about 90% of the trouble calls that are dispatched to them by our Control Center. The other 10% come over the two-way radio. Workers have to pull over to take switching orders, as they are required to write them down before executing them, but the dispatching of calls is almost always done via phone. To expect that a worker will be able to pull over at any time to take a call is pretty silly. If nothing else, the driver is likely to miss the call and then have to call dispatch back, find out who was trying to contact him, and then get the information from them that way. A very ineffective and time-consuming process at best.
 
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