NTSB Proposes Outright Ban

[PRBuzz]

The National Transportation Safety Board disagrees, and it declared Tuesday that texting, emailing or chatting while driving is simply too dangerous to be allowed anywhere in the United States.

The board is urging all states to impose total bans except for emergencies following recent deadly crashes, including one in Missouri after a teenager sent or received 11 text messages within 11 minutes.

"We're not here to win a popularity contest," she said. "No email, no text, no update, no call is worth a human life."

Currently, 35 states and the District of Columbia ban texting while driving, while nine states and Washington, D.C., bar hand-held cellphone use. Thirty states ban all cellphone use for beginning drivers. But enforcement is generally not a high priority, and no states ban the use of hands-free devices for all drivers.

Another NTSB recommendation Tuesday urges states to aggressively enforce current bans on text messaging and the use of cellphones and other portable electronic devices while driving.

[spence]

I'd hate to see it but they're right.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[The Dad Fisherman]

I've got no problem with it

[Raven]

on the phone is worse than being drunk
as far as being distracted

the only acception is when following a suspect
involved in a hit and run

[GattaFish]

Couple years ago I was hit almost head on by a kid texting. I went half off the road and he still hit me. Totaled my truck.

Ban it...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by spence

I'd hate to see it but they're right.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

same here

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

Couple years ago I was hit almost head on by a kid texting. I went half off the road and he still hit me. Totaled my truck.

Ban it...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I remember you telling me about that.

[JohnR]

I would like a Hands Free option to remain for calls only.

Everything else - ban it.

[JohnnyD]

It's not difficult. Instead of these individual, specific laws, just enact "Distracted Driver" legislation and enforce it. In the grand scheme of things, the issue is that the driver is not paying full attention to the road. Someone texting is probably paying just as little attention to the road as the people I see shaving, doing makeup or eating out of a container while driving.

I'm typically not for semi-broad legislation, but I think this is one situation where I'd support it (even though I'm just as guilty as the next person).

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I would like a Hands Free option to remain for calls only.

Everything else - ban it.

Same here. I like the integrated blue tooth in cars. There's no reason someone can't wait until they park to send a text.

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

It's not difficult. Instead of these individual, specific laws, just enact "Distracted Driver" legislation and enforce it. In the grand scheme of thing.

Yup, I agree. Last thing we need is another Federal law.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by justplugit

Yup, I agree. Last thing we need is another Federal law.

In this case, I think the NTSB is "strongly recommending" that states adopt their suggestions. I don't believe there is any legal authority for them to mandate it at the federal level. My guess is that doing so would stomp on states' rights.

[Rockfish9]

I've been rear ended twice and side swiped once by people playing with their phones.. it wont break my heart if they ban them alltogether..

[TheSpecialist]

If they are going to crackdown on this like was said before it should be distracted driver, cover everything from dogs on laps of drivers, women putting on makeup, people reading, people eating, everything...

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

I've been rear ended twice and side swiped once by people playing with their phones.. it wont break my heart if they ban them alltogether..

Think also of the many hours additionally spent on the road due to traffic jams caused by these A**holes not paying attention to their driving. Just getting in the left/middle lanes and driving 50 in 65 results in major tie ups during a commute.

[Saltheart]

90 percent of the time someone pulls something stupid while driving I look up and they have a phone in their hand.

[PRBuzz]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I would like a Hands Free option to remain for calls only.

Everything else - ban it.

WASHINGTON — Like it or not, when someone is talking to you, your brain is listening, processing and thinking about what's being said — even when you're in the driver's seat trying to concentrate on traffic.

That's why drivers get distracted during cellphone conversations, even when using hands-free phones, researchers said. It's also part of the reason why the National Transportation Safety Board went ahead this week with a recommendation it knows a lot of drivers won't like — that states ban hands-free, as well as handheld, cellphone use while driving.

It's not where your hands are, but where your mind is that counts, NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman told reporters.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

Think also of the many hours additionally spent on the road due to traffic jams caused by these A**holes not paying attention to their driving. Just getting in the left/middle lanes and driving 50 in 65 results in major tie ups during a commute.

just last night on my way home...sitting at a traffic light... I'm 4 or 5 cars back from the light...I notice the car that should be next to me back about 10'.. SLOWLY creeping up.. I look over.. she has the phone on the steering wheel eyes trained on it.. tottaly unaware of her car creeping foreward... I'd like to tell you how it ended but when the light turned green my entire lane emptied... everyone in front of her went as well.... as I exited the intersection, a glance in my side mirror as i changed lanes told me she was still sitting there at the green light....tottaly unaware that the world was passing her bye...

it doesn't take much on the road to cause an Oh $#!+ moment... I'm sure everyone has had them..I know I have.. just in a brief second while hitting a pre select on the radio when I THOUGHT i had ample room/time... luckily.. I've never suffered anything more than an accelerated heart rate... it surley helps one focus afterwards... there are alot of distractions out there.. cell phones are not the only one.. they just seem to be the one most visable right now... hell.. a tube top and mini skirt caused me to dump my bike many years ago and I was I WAS STOPPED...

[JohnR]

I look at the Hands free like a radio - maybe the radio should be banished as well

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

If they are going to crackdown on this like was said before it should be distracted driver, cover everything from dogs on laps of drivers, women putting on makeup, people reading, people eating, everything...

Agree. However we have had a no cell phone law down here for almost 2
years and I haven't seen a change. Problem is enforcement, hard to catch.
Being drivers licenses are a pivlidge they should be revoked on first offense.
Then people will think twice before breaing the law.
What is so important that you can't pull over to make a call?

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I look at the Hands free like a radio - maybe the radio should be banished as well

it probably wouldn't hurt.. it might save a few speeding tickets as well...

[Fly Rod]

Ban the use of cell phones while driving.

Fine= 1,000.00 first offense.

2nd offense= cut fingers off the hand being used +1,000.00 fine.

They will learn after 2nd offense.

[Mr. Sandman]

I would just like to see cell phones banned altogether. I know they are convenient but life was better without them. People are addicted to them, worse then most drugs, it has dehumanized society. Same goes for facebook, twitter and the rest.

[Stewie]

They ought to ban passengers too. Sometimes when riding to a fishing spot with someone , we have a conversation. Maybe all passengers should ride in the back of the pickup. Oh wait, that's illegal too.


Is a cup of coffee a distraction?

[Mr. Sandman]

Yes...there should be no food or drink or makeup allowed in cars either.

Are BJ's while driving distracting?

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

In this case, I think the NTSB is "strongly recommending" that states adopt their suggestions. I don't believe there is any legal authority for them to mandate it at the federal level. My guess is that doing so would stomp on states' rights.

The Feds can strongarm the states into doing anything by threatening to withhold federal highway funding if they don't comply. Remember the 55 mph limit during the first oil crisis? Another, more recent example, is the .08 OUI limit.