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On December 13, 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a recommendation to ban all cellphone use while driving. The New York Times published an article concerning the recent recommendation. The NTSB, a federal agency that promotes safe driving and accident investigation, made the recommendation after an extensive study of investigations related to distracted driving. The recommendation is non-binding, meaning that each individual state will ultimately decide whether to adopt and apply the recommendation within its jurisdiction.
The recommendation is the first of its kind, advocating for a complete ban on all cellphone use in cars, including hands-free headsets. Currently, 35 states ban drivers from texting while driving, and nine states ban the use of hand-held phones while driving. The NTSB’s recommendation, however, cites evidence showing electronic distraction as a causal factor in many car crashes. With the increased capabilities of mobile devices, the agency feels that completely banning cellphone use in a car is necessary for traffic safety.
There are both advocates and detractors of the NTSB’s recommendation. Although supportive of bans on texting while driving, mobile companies believe each state should decide whether to implement bans on cellphone use while driving. A complete ban on cellphone use in cars could negatively affect automakers, which are responsible for the recent implementation of hands-free voice systems in many newer vehicles.
See the full New York Times article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/technology/federal-panel-urges-cellphone-ban-for-drivers.html
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