Banning cellphone use while driving

[MooseMom]

The NTSB is making serious noise about making driving while texting or using a cell phone, even a handless set, illegal.  I guess these devices have been around long enough for the NTSB to get reliable data on accidents caused by driving and gabbing.

What do you all think?

[YLGuy]

Reaction times when you are texting are slower than when you are drunk.  There are so many issues.  The Bluetooth industry must be going nuts right now.  What about the cars that have Bluetooth installed in them? It absolutely is a distraction.  We will have to see if the electronics industries can line the pockets of our Congressmen enough to stop any kind of legislation. 

[Jean]

I dont know if it is a state or a federal law here in Ca that you have to wear a seat belt while riding in a car, and look at how many people ignore that one. Also against the law to talk on a cell phone and that is also ignored. Unless the punishmeants are really severe, people will ignore any new laws that are inconvenient to them.

[Riki]

It's been against the law here to talk on a phone or text while driving for a couple of years.  Personally, I think it's only common sense, especially texting.  Anyone who texts while driving really doesn't have a brain and are just another class of organ donor as far as I'm concerned.

[Joe]

While I agree with not allowing texting while driving, I do have a problem with banning hands free phone conversations. I look at that the same as if I'm carrying on a conversation with someone riding in the car with me. And likely to be less distracting because I won't be turning to look at them while i talk!

[cariad]

I wrote a brief Public Health essay for class on texting while driving. Here it is. Not my best work, but it was just a little exercise and I needed to get it done. For your perusal (I won't say enjoyment - it's pretty boring!)

Question #2
A recent study has found that texting while driving is even more dangerous than researchers previously feared. (Forsyth, 2011). Texas A&M University has released their findings that show that reading or typing text messages while driving doubles a driver’s reaction time to roadway hazards. (Forsyth, 2011). Findings such as these are nothing new, however this particular study was unique in that the drivers were in actual vehicles as opposed to a simulator (Forsyth, 2011). Additionally, unlike simulator studies, these tests showed that it could take up to four seconds for a driver to react to a signal, long enough to travel the length of a football field at highway speeds. (Forsyth, 2011).

Currently, only 34 states have bans on texting while driving for all motorists, seven have texting bans only for certain drivers, and individual cities and counties have passed their own laws banning this practice (Forsyth, 2011). The current state of the law cross country is insufficient to protect the public health. Farhad Manjoo (2011) of Slate Magazine calls our country’s laws against texting while driving “unclear, inconsistent, and spottily enforced” (Siri Behind the Wheel).

The Highway Loss Data Institute has found that bans on texting have actually increased accidents involving mobile phones (IIHS, 2010). Manjoo (2011) points out that drivers who insist on texting will put more effort into hiding their actions, and may therefore be increasing their risk of accident. (Siri Behind the Wheel) Not only do we need laws in all 50 states banning this dangerous practice, there should be consequences severe enough to deter more people. This would require research to pinpoint possible next steps. Assessment of the problem could involve surveying a random sample of the population with the goal of determining what sort of deterrents would be most effective.

New technology should be developed and utilized, similar to technology used to prevent drunk driving offenders from being able to operate a car without first passing a breathalyzer test. There are applications that can be placed on mobile phones that will disable all texting when motion is detected. While these devices are not sophisticated enough to differentiate between passengers and drivers, individuals who have been cited for this offense could be ordered to use such an application for a certain period of time, losing the right to text in any moving vehicle. Additionally, a database should be created of all texting-while-driving offenders, and this information should be accessible to service providers so that, if necessary, texting service can be suspended entirely, perhaps in the case of serial offenders. This would further prevent such offenders from switching service providers to avoid certain consequences. It could also serve to place some accountability with text service providers, similar to the way bartenders can be prosecuted for selling liquor to known alcoholics. These measures may seem extreme, but accidents such as the 2008 Chatsworth train crash in Los Angeles, in which the engineer was found to be texting right before the wreck, show that many lives can be lost if this offense is not taken seriously. Manjoo (2011) recommends legal use of voice recognition texting that could potentially make texting as safe as talking on a mobile phone using a hands-free device (Siri Behind the Wheel).

Widespread enforcement is crucial. The offense of texting and driving should be a primary offense in all states, meaning that police can pull a motorist over for the sole violation of texting while driving (Rose 2011). In California, police frequently set up dragnets to spot and cite drivers not using seatbelts. Similar tactics could be used to pinpoint drivers who are also texting. High fines for first-time offenses will not only deter more people from texting in dangerous circumstances, it will also generate revenue for financially strapped states.

Finally, social marketing, when done correctly, can help to tackle the problem. Recently there has been an elegantly simple and poignant public service campaign about the dangers of texting while driving. These advertisements show texts, generally no more than a few words long, usually incomplete in some way, displaying the last text that a person was typing or reading when they died behind the wheel of a car.

It has been estimated that 20% of fatal car crashes involve distractions from a mobile phone (Forsyth, 2011). Manjoo (2011) argues that we will not be able to stop people from texting behind the wheel, so we should develop cars that can drive themselves (Siri Behind the Wheel). Until this technology is more fully developed, however, and everyone in the country is subsequently given access to this new breed of vehicle, state governments need to thoroughly address this issue by exploring new regulations, better methods of enforcement, and more effective deterrents.

REFERENCES
Forsyth, Jim. (October 5, 2011). Texting while driving more dangerous than thought: study. In Reuters.com. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-texting-driving-study-idUSTRE7946GT20111005.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (September 28, 2010). Texting bans don't reduce crashes; effects are slight crash increases. In IIHS.org. Retrieved November 9, 2011, from http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr092810.html.

Manjoo, Farhad. (October 27, 2011). Siri behind the wheel. In Slate.com. Retrieved November 7, 2011, from http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/10/texting_while_driving_laws_are_unclear_inconsistent_and_spottily.html.

Rose, Kara. (October 14, 2011). Texting while driving laws. In USA Today. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-13/texting-driving-crackdown/50757010/1.

[MooseMom]

Within Chicago, it is now illegal to drive and use a cell phone.  Hands free devices are still legal, though, at least for the moment.

As I understand it, the NTSB is floating the idea of keeping legal the use of cellphones if they are built into the car.  A lot of newer cars have this technology already. 

The idea is to cut down on the amount of distractions a driver faces.  Texting has to be the worst offender.  Using bluetooth technology is a big step upward, but it is still a distraction, yet it will probably still be legal if it is built into the car.  I guess it is rather important to keep both hands on the wheel.

My husband ignores the seat belt law, and he has been caught and fined.  But he is the only person I know who doesn't wear a seatbelt.  I'm not sure how many people in my state regularly ignore this law.  With city governments so cash strapped, all of the cities and town around where I live have given notice that many, many more fines are going to be levied against people who don't use their seatbelt or who commit other small misdemeanors, and those fines are being increased 5-fold. 

[billybags]

Driving in the UK and using a cell phone is illegal . Many people ignore this fact and carry on using them, they are a distraction and many accidents and deaths have happened. My son-in-law was caught a couple of months ago, he got a fine and so many points on his license.

[willowtreewren]

I support the ban of using cell phones while driving. Even though it may be LESS distracting than in-car conversations it is still distracting. There are times that I do not want any in-car conversation either, because I know I need my full attention on the situation. When my daughter was little (and any time I had young passengers in the car) I taught that when I said the word all talking was to cease immediately. I also explained why. It worked.

Now that I take school children on field trips on a bus, we practice instant silence at my signal, too (I raise my hand). Any time we are crossing a RR track, all I have to do is raise my hand and the bus immediately falls silent so the driver can stop, look and LISTEN for on-coming trains. Our bus drivers have always been quite appreciative of this assistance.

When I am out driving and see erratic behavior, nine times out of ten the driver is talking on the phone. Sigh. We do NOT have to be electronically connected at all times.

Aleta

[jbeany]

I'm in Michigan, where texting while driving is illegal.  I haven't seen anyone stop doing it if they feel like it, though.  All the law really does is lead to one more charge to lay against a driver who is involved in an accident when their phone records show they were texting when the accident happened.  I do use my phone while driving occasionally - but only if I'm on the freeway, not on regular streets.  It makes me too nervous to be answering it while I'm some place with pedestrians.

Not that the cell ban is going to help some people.  The woman behind me on my way to the office last week was talking on her cell, which was in her left hand, and driving with her right, which she was also using to hold and smoke a cigarette.  When we stopped at the red light, she leaned over and picked up a bottle of hair spray with her right hand and doused her hair, while still holding the lit cigarette.  I was wondering how often she did that, and why she hasn't become a human fireball yet....

[Poppylicious]

As billybags says, mobile phone use (handheld) while driving has been illegal in the UK since 2003.  However, the threat of a fixed penalty £30 fine did little to deter people from using them so from 2007 if you're caught using your phone whilst driving you get a minimum £60 fine AND 3 points on your licence (in the UK once you have 12 points - you get points for things like careless driving, not wearing a seatbelt, being found guilty of causing an accident, driving an unroadworthy vehicle, speeding, etc. - you're banned from driving for however long the court decides, unless you can prove you MUST be able to drive.)

However, lots of people do flout this law; I think they assume they won't get caught or they've been doing it so long and never been involved in an accident that they're invinsible.  I like it when reporters are having a lack-of-news day and they take photos of drivers using their phones and then print them in the local paper for everybody to see.

 

I don't understand how people get caught not wearing a seatbelt.  It's been a legal requirement over here since 1983 so you'd think that after nearly thirty years it would be a natural habit that you don't even think about when you get into a car.  Apparently not though! 

Oh, and to answer your question MM, I think it's a good idea to make the use of mobile phones while driving illegal (although not handsfree; done correctly this should be less of a risk than smoking, eating, drinking, and changing the radio station to something more appealing, and no worse than having a conversation with your passenger.)

[Riki]

When I was using disability transport this summer (my mom got laid off, so she's been driving me), during a major rain storm, my driver was talking on the phone while driving.  He was trying to arrange musicians for a parade float.  At one point, a police car went by, and he joked about hiding the phone so the cops wouldn't see it.  I was so angry.  The man is paid to safely transport people with disabilities anywhere they need to go, and he's talking on the phone about something that is not urgent, and joking about ducking the cops, in a major downpour.  When he dropped me off at dialysis, I called the manager of the service and reported him.  The next time he came to pick me up, he didn't really say much.

[MooseMom]

I don't care that much if people don't want to wear their seatbelt or don't want to wear a helmet if they're on a motorcycle.  I figure that as long as you are a registered organ donor, do what you like.  But when it comes to doing something while driving that could result in you hurting someone else...like DUI or driving while texting, well, I don't care how much you whinge about it...there's no justification for it.

[lmunchkin]

My husband ignores the seat belt law, and he has been caught and fined.  But he is the only person I know who doesn't wear a seatbelt.   

Nope, yours is not the only one.  My husband ignores them too!

Excellent points, Aleta, especially with passengers (young) in the vehicle with you.

Our new car has Bluetooth built in and it has been a Godsend. I just push a button to answer and it automatically hangs up when other party hangs up. Also, the radio will stop playing while Bluetooth on and will play when conversation is over.  I would highly recommend this to people who travel for business and are in their cars alot for travel.

I do not, however, text while driving or answer my cell phone, (and I love to text) but it is unsettleling to see others doing it in their vehicles. When it comes to safety matters, I tend to side with safety first.  Altough, I want freedom to choose what I want to do, in this case, I have to say no, cause you are not only choosing what you want, but other lives are at stake with your decisions.

The Helmet law is a good example of that.  I believe if I want to ride without a Helmet I should be able too.  But in my state, you have to have them on.  Now personally, I think it is a great thing to have a helmet on and would not be caught riding without one.  But if my ridding buddy's do not want to wear them, then they shouldnt have too.  9 times out of 10 if they should wreck, they will suffer the injuries, not anyone else.

lmunchkin

 

[sullidog]

I'm all for it, being blind I rely on other drivers to drive me and that's all they do gab gab gab gab! I see cab/transit companies doing this as well! It's not safe especially when you are relying on a a professional to drive you.

[Rain]

It's been law here for a few years.  I was almost in a car accident when my friend was chatting on the phone, driving onthe highway 4 years back.

I never screamed so loud in my life for her to break or we would have hit the cars that were backed up in front of us.

But even if it's law it hasn't stopped people, but they do do checks every now and then which i believe is smart.

[looneytunes]

I also support the ban (except for handsfree) but I don't believe that enforcing it in the same manner as a seat belt violation will be effective.   I think perhaps penalties that punish lawbreakers with a more severe crime like vehicular assualt or manslaughter if the user was involved in an accident which was contributed to by the use of a device that has been banned would do more good.  While banning the use of such devices is an attempt to serve the public good, as Aleta pointed out, it is still the responsibliity of the driver to make sure they are focused on the driving and not a multitude of other distractions that can not be banned...eating, drinking, smoking, application of makeup, music, children in the rear seat, dogs, highway road signs, the good lookin' dude on the Harley in the next lane.....

[mcclane]

i was nearly sideswiped by a person driving a silver mercedes suv because he was busy texting instead of driving.  needless to say, a few 'friendly' finger gestures were given his way.

i agree with any ban, but one issue i do see is enforcement (if people can get away with it, they will, it is human nature).  it is a shame that our lives have been taken over by devices like smart phones, to the point where a law has to be drawn up indicating when and when not to use it.

[lmunchkin]

the good lookin' dude on the Harley in the next lane.....

Oh Looney, you didn't?  Without a helmet no doubt!!!!!!