NTSB Wants Ban on All Cell Phone Use in Cars

[Eupher]

Barry's administration strikes again...

Please note that the NTSB is comprised of five board members, each of which is appointed by the President. Two of the five, including the chairman, were appointed by GWB. The rest, of course, by Barry.

WASHINGTON - States should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday.

The recommendation, unanimously agreed to by the five-member board, applies to both hands-free and hand-held phones and significantly exceeds any existing state laws restricting texting and cellphone use behind the wheel.

Though the board does not have the authority to implement a blanket ban, the agency's comments do carry a lot of weight with lawmakers -- especially since more than 3,000 deaths were attributed to crashes caused by distracted driving last year alone.

Link

NTSB

[NHSparky]

Hate to say it, but I'm kinda torn on this one.  Yeah, it's bullshit, and we have laws against drinking and driving, etc., but those are still broken, so what's this ultimately gonna do?

OTOH, read the news or look on the web for instances of people killed while texting/talking and driving, or worse, getting someone else killed (or 25 someone else's, in the case of the Metrolink train in CA a few years back.)

And 3000 deaths a year, a significant portion of which would be prevented by such laws?  Sorry, but you don't have the right to text and drive, kids.

[CG6468]

Will this also apply to cops?

[Eupher]

I hear ya, Sparky.

In 2005, I was almost taken out by a sweet young thing driving Daddy's Lexus, who was talking and/or texting on her cell phone when she turned in front of me at a traffic light. I laid the bike down and still have issues with my right shoulder as a result.

I am not at all a fan of even cell phone use, much less texting, while driving. BUT I DRAW THE LINE AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT creating conditions whereby laws can be created (and likely will) at their behest.

It's akin to a proxy war. The government ostensibly has no "jurisdiction" in how Oklatucky crafts its driver's laws, but they (the NTSB in this case) votes in "favor" of one damned thing or another and it's not long before Minnehoma "sees the light."

I hear about federal regulators these days and my blood automatically starts boiling......

[thundley4]

I think it should be left up to the states, but in general I do support banning cell phones for drivers.

[NHSparky]

I think it should be left up to the states, but in general I do support banning cell phones for drivers.

I believe that was the gist of the story--the NTSB has no authority to pass laws or regulation, but you can bet the states listen to what they have to say.  Now if the feds start threatening to withhold highway funds unless X, Y, and Z happens, then I'll take issue with it.

[Eupher]

I believe that was the gist of the story--the NTSB has no authority to pass laws or regulation, but you can bet the states listen to what they have to say.  Now if the feds start threatening to withhold highway funds unless X, Y, and Z happens, then I'll take issue with it.

Correct. But historically, the NTSB has been a main, driving force in the implementation of various safety devices in cars - seat belts, air bags, crash bumpers, etc. Rest assured, if they get a bee in their bonnet (and it looks like they do), I can see this thing going exactly how they intend it to go.

Currently, 35 states ban texting while driving. Nine states ban cell phone usage, without hands-free devices.

What they're talking about would ban cell phone usage PERIOD while driving, except under emergency situations. And they're not above going to your phone records to see what you were doing at the point of impact.

To me, this is the start of yet another major incursion in our lives by the feds. They'll do it surreptitiously, even by proxy, but these five yahoos and their budget of $107 million and their 400 employees will see to it that all states will blindly follow their lead and, through legislation, create enough panic and scare tactics to finish the job.

And Barry wins yet another battle for the federal government to encroach on our lives.  

[Karin]

And too, it's a one-size-fits-all kind of deal (as with all Federal junk).  Same rules apply whether or not in a busy shopping intersection or on a straight, lonely Wyoming highway.  BTW, would this apply to commercial truckers?

Much as I hate people talking on cellphones and driving anywhere around me, I think this is a State's call. 

[NHSparky]

And they're not above going to your phone records to see what you were doing at the point of impact.

They do that now in a lot of crashes.

[Eupher]

They do that now in a lot of crashes.

A few weeks ago, I was in a rental coming back from St. Louis after a company-sponsored training seminar. A piece of road debris (looked like a piece of PVC pipe) was kicked up by a truck in the lane next to me and bounced off the hood of the rental. Left a 1/4" dent.

Of course, I reported it to the company TPA and one of the questions the adjuster asked me if I'd been talking on a cell phone at the time of the incident.

I gave him a resounding "No."

So yeah, they go there with the questions. And further if they think they need to.

[LC EFA]

The number of times I've nearly been hit or nearly hit some asshole flapping their cock holster on their cell phones is beyond counting.

It's illegal in all states here to talk on a cell phone while driving without a hands free kit - big fine and heavy demerit points. Doesn't do squat to solve the problem.

Personally I believe that if i get into a wreck with someone who was talking on their cell - I should be allowed to drag them outta their car and beat their face into the pavement.

No one is so important that they can't wait until their next stop to gasbag on with Sally about how Fred and Norma's vacation to Thailand was. If they are so important they've already got a driver / chauffeur.

[docstew]

I don't have an issue with the states banning texting while driving or requiring hands-free devices. My issue would be with the NTSB legislating through coercion.

[Eupher]

I don't have an issue with the states banning texting while driving or requiring hands-free devices. My issue would be with the NTSB legislating through coercion.

'Zackly. Though they've been doing it for decades.....

[docstew]

'Zackly. Though they've been doing it for decades.....

Witness drinking ages being 21... sure has helped eradicate drunk driving, hasn't it?

[diesel driver]

Will this also apply to cops?

My thoughts exactly!

Every freaking time I see a cop car cruise thru the Walmart parking lot, the cop has a cell phone glued to his/her ear.

EVERY FREAKING TIME!!!!   

[DefiantSix]

My thoughts exactly!

Every freaking time I see a cop car cruise thru the Walmart parking lot unless they have some poor jerk pulled over, the cop has a cell phone glued to his/her ear.

EVERY FREAKING TIME!!!!   

FIFY   I can't begin to count the number of cops I've passed/been passed by on city streets or highways who were gabbin' away on the damned cell phone, oblivious to everything around 'em.

[Rebel]

Hate to say it, but I'm kinda torn on this one.  Yeah, it's bullshit, and we have laws against drinking and driving, etc., but those are still broken, so what's this ultimately gonna do?

OTOH, read the news or look on the web for instances of people killed while texting/talking and driving, or worse, getting someone else killed (or 25 someone else's, in the case of the Metrolink train in CA a few years back.)

And 3000 deaths a year, a significant portion of which would be prevented by such laws?  Sorry, but you don't have the right to text and drive, kids.

The people that wreck while on the phone are essentially predisposed to wreck because they're easily distracted. The phone isn't the reason. These are the people that wreck while applying makeup, eating, messing with the radio, etc.

To date I have never wrecked while talking on the phone. Don't ruin it for everyone because it isn't going to address anything. Idiots are still going to wreck due to carelessness and not paying attention to what the hell they're doing.

Besides, do we REALLY want to go down the path of making talking on a cell phone while driving a federal offense? I mean, for reals?

[CG6468]

Besides, do we REALLY want to go down the path of making talking on a cell phone while driving a federal offense? I mean, for reals?

What WE want is not considered. Big brother wants it so keep track of things.

How many "cell phone/texting only" areas will be constructed so we can be monitored?