Fed Agency Wants a National Ban on Using a Phone While Driving Discussion

[Ed Hardy]

Many states already ban using a phone for texting or accessing the Web while behind the wheel, or require a hands-free kit to make voice calls, but now the Nation Transportation Saftey Board has recommended a nationwide ban on all phone use while driving.

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[Varjak]

I'm for it; although I think it will be a tough sell to prevent handsfree devices (headsets, in-car setup, etc.). Personally, for some reason, I'm uncomfortable even using the BT headset. To me, it feels different than a conversation in the car itself. (Or listening to music, which some people give as a somewhat bizarre example.)

[brickman65]

You would think our Government would have bigger fish to fry!!

Can you say "Nanny State"??

Don't get me wrong....I am all for hands Free. That should be mandatory. There are a lot of people that drive and talk on the phone for a living that this would kill! Just one more way our Government is helping the Economy!

[LandSurveyor]

What to do? I deplore these problems and the people who are too stupid to use their common sense while driving. On the other hand, I would rather the government stay out of it. Still, if the problem continues to get worse, there WILL be government action of one sort or another.

Even in states that already have laws against texting while driving, you gotta catch 'em first.

[tmedvick]

You would think our Government would have bigger fish to fry!!

Can you say "Nanny State"??

Don't get me wrong....I am all for hands Free. That should be mandatory. There are a lot of people that drive and talk on the phone for a living that this would kill! Just one more way our Government is helping the Economy!

I think this falls pretty squarely into the NTSB doing its job. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean I am for it, but this is not "The Government" this is one tiny section of the Government doing it's job. Now, congress should review the work and say, "It's great that you are advocating for a strong position here, but we are going to find a middle ground".

The problem that I see it is finding a middle ground that disallows handheld calls and texting while letting me change the song.

[tmedvick]

I think the answer is to kick the awareness up until it is socially unacceptable to do it, and kick the penalty up for those who have been caught to where it isn't worth it.

That's what worked with drinking and driving.

[Varjak]

You would think our Government would have bigger fish to fry!!

Can you say "Nanny State"??

Don't get me wrong....I am all for hands Free. That should be mandatory. There are a lot of people that drive and talk on the phone for a living that this would kill! Just one more way our Government is helping the Economy!

I'm about as anti-nanny state as you can get; but in this case, since people are not 'policing themselves,' it's necessary. By your logic, I can drive my car whatever speed I want (much less dangerous than texting/talking on the phone).

And who are these people who drive and talk for a living? What did they do before 1985 or so?

[AZ-TE]

It is sad when the national government has to step in to pass laws to protect us from ourselves; all because we are unwilling to be responsible enough to safely operate our vehicles.

[Adama D. Brown]

Personally, I don't agree with a complete ban on cell phone use, let alone what the NTSB is suggesting, which is rather draconian: a complete ban on the use of ANY kind of portable electronics by the driver. Ban on texting, yes. Ban on anything that takes your eyes off the road, yes. Possibly even a ban on hand-held phone use.

But first off, bans don't necessarily stop people from doing things. So a NO cell phones policy doesn't necessarily increase safety, while penalizing people who have legitimate reasons or needs to use them.

Secondly, studies have shown that talking on the phone isn't really much more distracting than talking with another person in the car. If we go so far as to bar any kind of electronic distractions, but you've still got a car full of chattering passengers, it's kind of an absurdity.

[rkevwill]

I've made some pretty stupid decisions using a GPS, as well as a phone. No wrecks YET, and these days, try to avoid using either while moving. There are some pretty great bluetooth hands free devices out there, and I have a good one from ioGear, that clips to the visor. I may answer a phone hands free, but don't dial one if possible. Teenagers, on the other hand, text and talk WAY too much. I was passed on the interstate a while back, driving around 70 or so. Gal passed me in the far left lane. She had the phone on her shoulder, putting on makeup with one hand, and a coffee in the other hand. One can only assume she was steering with her knees.