Mobile phones are believed to be a contributing factor in six per cent of traffic accidents
US group seeks total in-car phone ban
/v3-uk/news/1979958/us-seeks-total-car-phone-ban
13 Jan 2009, Shaun Nichols , V3
A US safety advocacy group is seeking to ban all in-car mobile phone use across the whole of the country.
The National Security Council (NSC) has issued an open request to the state and national legislatures to issue new driving laws prohibiting the use of all mobile phones and messaging devices while driving a vehicle.
Many states have laws which prohibit talking on handsets while driving, but allow for the use of hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets. The NSC is seeking to extend the laws to cover all mobile phone use.
The NSC cited studies estimating that the mobile phone is a contributing factor in as many as six per cent of all traffic accidents, leading to 12,000 serious injuries and some 2,600 deaths annually.
"When you are on a call, even if both hands are on the wheel, your head is in the call, and not on your driving," said NSC president and chief executive Janet Froetscher.
"Unlike the passenger sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the call is oblivious to your driving conditions. The passenger provides another pair of eyes on the road."
The group is asking employers to initiate new policies forbidding employees from taking business calls or messages while driving.
"Anyone with a busy job knows the temptation to multi-task and stay in touch with the office while driving," said Froetscher.
"Employers understand how dangerous the behaviour is and their potential liability. We are asking all businesses to join us by adopting policies banning calling and texting while driving on the job."
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
So, let's ban passengers and kids while we're at it.
This is the silliest thing I've ever heard. While I completely agree that holding a cell phone, and certainly texting, while driving leads to accidents, I disagree that using a handsfree device has the same level of impact to driving skills. It is no different than holding a conversation with the person sitting in your passenger seat and, in fact, less dangerous as one tends to look at the passenger (rather than the road) while they are talking. Also...what about those parents who insist on disciplining their children while they are driving? Oh yeah...and what about women who decide to make up their face on the way to work? Oh and those who have stopped at the fast food joint for a burger and eats it on their way to their destination. Has anyone ever decided to do a study on those statistics and ban the activity?
As for talking on a bluetooth enabled device while driving, well I think more aptly compared to "walking and chewing gum" at the same time. Puh..lease! Let's get our mind on the REAL safety factors folks!
Posted by Deborah, 14 Jan 2009