Hands-free or hand-held, National Safety Council says cellphones shouldn't be used by motorists

The National Safety Council today announced that it no longer believes motorists should be using cellphones while driving -- whether they're hand-held devices or not. The reason: a number of recent studies that the council says shows cellphone conversations dangerously distract motorists.

"We think the science and research is clear," said Janet Froetscher, the president and chief executive of the council. "There are times when you say that the data is so compelling that we have to do something about it."

The big question, of course, is what the council is prepared to do about it. Several states, including California, have recently adopted hands-free laws, and it seems unlikely at this point that lawmakers will rip those up and make them tougher.

Froetscher said that the council will lobby states for tougher laws. In particular, she said the council will also talk with businesses about getting employees to stop driving while on duty.

-- Steve Hymon

Comments

[Roger Pariseau]

I use an in-ear bluetooth device that automatically connects when I open its microphone. No sweat -- always works. Insofar as chatting while driving is concerned, using the phone is less distractive than taking to one's passengers. With live persons we tend to look at them at times. With the bluetooth we can keep our eyes on the road. Wonder if those reported accidents due to bluetooth also had the driver reading from a paper or trying to write notes?

[Gary]

I agree with Ben... attempting to get your bluetooth sync with any phone is 10x worse than simply answering the phone. Yes, in an ideal world, we would have our bluetooth sync'd before we get in the car... but, this isn't an ideal world.

Not to mention the fact that bluetooth technology is poor at best... Britain is kicking our butts on cell phone while driving legislation... we could learn a thing or two from them on this issue.

[SomerandomJoe]

1) Hands-free is a joke. Trying to get the stupid Bluetooth thing to work is more distracting than just having a simple argument.

2) Apparently, the CHP around here (Corona/Riverside area) must think it's a joke as well, because I've had two CHP units cross directly in front of me in the last week with officers talking on hand-held phones. The first one was while in the midst of the "better get off the phone" panic while I put mine down.

They must have some special ninja-style training that makes their brains work more efficiently than ours.

[Krokay]

The simple solution is for the cell companies to make the phone inoperable when the GPS technology embedded in the phone detects the phone moving at more that 10 mph. It could be determined by states, an optional "safe driver" credit on insurance, a penalty, for teen drivers only...the options are endless and the technology is there. Hopefully one of the cell companies will be brave enough to step up and make it happen!

[Lee Davis]

Bob in LA, that is a good link. We have been using http://mycellphoneiskillingme.com at work to try to convince certain drivers (3 mainly!) to stay off the phone. I will give the boss your link also.