US calls for ban on in-car phone use ... even with Bluetooth

[kytwell 179]

The government's transportation safety experts recommended Tuesday to ban all American drivers from using portable electronic devices — including cell phones, even if you use a hands-free device.

The recommendation, which isn't binding but which is likely to influence the decisions of Congress and state legislatures in writing new safety laws, makes only two exceptions: You could still use GPS navigation devices, and you could use your cell phone in an emergency.

Besides calling for government action, the NTSB also urged consumer electronics manufacturers to figure out a way to "disable the functions of portable electronic devices within reach of the driver when a vehicle is in motion" while at the same time allowing the driver to make a call in an emergency.

Spokesmen for the Consumer Electronics Association and CTIA—The Wireless Association did not immediately return calls for comment on whether such a device is possible .

"No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life," Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at a news conference in Washington.

Safety advocates have long called for such a ban to reduce the phenomenon of distracted driving, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says killed 3,092 people in 2010.

The HTSA reported last week that about 20 percent of all drivers and 50 percent of drivers 21 to 24 years old admit to having texted while driving. Overall, more than three-quarters of drivers say they are willing to answer calls on all, most or some trips.

"People continue to make bad decisions about driving distracted — but what's clear from all of the information we have is that driver distraction continues to be a major problem," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said last week in reporting the numbers.

But similar studies linking cellphone use to poor driving have been challenged, most recently by researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit, who concluded last month that some earlier studies were seriously flawed.

The report, published in the journal Epidemiology, examined to earlier studies that examined crashes in which cellphone records showed that the driver had used a cellphone. Those studies "likely overestimated the relative risk for cell phone conversations," the researchers said, because they improperly assumed that the drivers were actually in motion when they were on the phone — in other words, they didn't factor in such so-called part-time driving.

Abstract: Cell Phone Use and Crash Risk: Evidence for Positive Bias

Only 10 states ban handheld devices right now, and 35 ban texting while driving.

The recommendation comes following the NTSB's investigation of an August 2010 accident in Gray's Summit, Mo., involving a pickup truck, two school buses and several other vehicles.

The accident was blamed on the 19-year-old driver of the pickup, who sent or received 11 texts in the 11 minutes before the pileup, which killed two people and injured 38 others.

"That finding raises a red flag to all of us on the highways," Hersman said.

Full NTSB report on 2010 Missouri crash

The NTSB recommendation wouldn't cover GPS devices, but — if it eventually becomes law — it would ban using your phone for any reason, even with a Bluetooth headset or speakers. The only exception would be to call 911 in an emergency.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/9418504-us-calls-for-ban-on-in-car-phone-use-even-with-bluetooth

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's about fcuking time. All these people yapping on the phone and not paying attention to the road is a major pain in the #######. And those teens that need to text and tweet while behind the wheel should have their arses whipped and their DLs suspended right away. They have no clue just how dangerous that little distractions is.

[Harsh_77 718]

Who is responsible the phone or the parents of the teenager?

[^_^ 5,021]

nevermind

Edited December 13, 2011 by \

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Who is responsible the phone or the parents of the teenager?

Neither, its the teenager.

What teenager?

I assume he is referring to the 19 year old.

[kytwell 179]

Who is responsible the phone or the parents of the teenager?

The evil corporation who made the cell phone and the even more evil communications company, who allowed us to be able to do such things.

Disclaimer: This post contains sarcasm.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Microwaves from cell phones cause brain damage. It is the only thing that could explain the way people that use them drive.

[slim 1,525]

Who is responsible the phone or the parents of the teenager?

Neither. The government is responsible.

We can't possibly be in charge of our own actions. We don't know what's good for us.

I mean, staring at a GPS screen is fine, even when pushing buttons on it. Just as long as you're not looking at or pushing buttons on a cell phone. That's just common sense right there.

[james&olya 1,121]

It is a problem but I don't see an easy solution that will work. Would you ban passengers from cell phone use? How about the local surgeon or OR crew that is on-call? Would you ban them from being able to receive that emergency call from the hospital? Maybe the only answer is individual responsibility. Problem is too many people are irresponsible!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

NTSB can recommend we all use bricks to wipe our butts, but it's not going to happen without legislation and enforcement from the states.

Congress can pass no such law.

The only thing they can do is borderline extortion. Wait, never mind. It IS extortion in which they demand states make a law or they won't receive back a percentage of their highway funds. This is exactly why the drinking age is 21 all throughout the United States. Feds try to be sneaky with #######...

[Darnell 8,478]

great. now i'm gonna revist my heads-up holographic display designed for a car, get it out there again.

The evil corporation who made the cell phone and the even more evil communications company, who allowed us to be able to do such things.

Do they exist anymore? I thought all of that IP was already stolen by Chinese sub-contractors in China.

[slim 1,525]

the only answer is individual responsibility.

The people voted against that in '08 and continue to ask for more of the same.

[dalegg 143]

I'd like to see them prove that I'm talking on the phone hands free when I don't even have Lt Uhura ear piece on. Are they gonna start pulling people over if they are talking to themselves? How about if they are singing to themselves?

This would be totally impractical in California. We spend hours on the highways. There is no way we can be out of touch for as long as we are stuck in traffic, and they cannot expect a million people to pull off the highway to take a phone call.

[sly_wolf 199]

More government intervention to save us from ourselves .... why? .... because most of us are too stupid. Will they still allow talking to a passenger I wonder?

[106206 15]

All the more reason to get the new implantable chip that's coming circa 2015.

Then SkyNet can become self aware and we will all be terminated.