The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent federal agency that investigates accidents and promotes safety on America's roads, recently recommended that all states ban the use of cell phones while driving entirely -including the use of hands-free devices.
While agency Chair Deborah Hersman acknowledges that a complete ban on cell phones while driving will not be popular, she said that it's necessary to keep drivers safe.
"It's going to be very unpopular with some people," she said in a statement. "We're not here to win a popularity contest. We're here to do the right thing. This is a difficult recommendation, but it's the right recommendation and it's time."
To show why such a ban is necessary, the NTSB points to several deadly car accidents involving distracted drivers that have occurred over the years. The most recent accident cited by the agency is a crash in Missouri where a teenager sent and received 11 text messages in 11 minutes. As a result, the 19-year-old driver caused a multi-car crash that injured 38 people and killed two others.
In addition, the NTSB says that statistics support the increasing number of drivers who are distracted on the roads. For example, according to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), two out of ten drivers admit to checking their e-mail while driving. The NHTSA also reports that one in 100 drivers is using a handheld device for emailing, surfing the net or texting at any given moment during the day.
Reactions to the NTSB Proposal
Despite the NTSB's evidence, some are not convinced that a complete ban of cell phone devices is necessary. For example, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press conference that he does not support such a ban because hands-free devices are not the problem.
"If other people want to work on hands-free, so be it," he said.
In California, some lawmakers are equally unconvinced that this kind of ban would even be possible.
"It's a political nonstarter," State Senator Joe Simitian told The New York Times. "I don't believe you'll see such a ban in my lifetime."
The NTSB proposal is not binding on states, meaning that it is up to the states whether they want to legislate a ban on cell phones while driving. Even though it is unlikely that California will legislate a ban, the problems caused by distracted drivers continue to plague the state's roadways. If a distracted driver has injured you or a loved one, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
