NTSB Proposed Ban On Texting, Cell Phone Use..

[Wedgebuster]

By drivers, whether or not they have a hands free device.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/ntsb-recommend ... ukAnLI7HtE

My car has bluetooth installed, the use of the phone is seamless in there, no different than conversing with a passenger in my case.

While thinking about this commuting to work this morning, I started looking at the drivers I met on the highway to see if they were obviously on the phone, I checked out the next 20 vehicles, 16 were private passenger vehicles including light trucks, four were heavy commercial trucks.

Two of the heavy truck operators had phones stuck to their heads, four of the sixteen private passenger vehicles clearly were holding phones to their heads.

Expect something is going to happen here in the near future, but the NTSB is a bit over the top IMO.

[89Hen]

I can't stand people on their phones while driving.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

I can't stand people on their phones while driving.

I'll shorten that to just:

"I can't stand people while driving."

[GannonFan]

Holding something like a phone is clearly something that should be banned. Where they go off the deep end is with the proposal to ban any talking on a phone, even completely handsfree. I joked with my wife yesterday, if talking in a car even with two hands on the wheel is a distraction, they'll need to erect a sound proof box around the driver so that I can't talk to her or yell at the kids while I'm driving. Too distracting.

I'm still waiting for drink holders to be removed from cars - I'm sure driving one handed while reaching for the coffee is probably unsafe too.

[ASUG8]

Holding something like a phone is clearly something that should be banned. Where they go off the deep end is with the proposal to ban any talking on a phone, even completely handsfree. I joked with my wife yesterday, if talking in a car even with two hands on the wheel is a distraction, they'll need to erect a sound proof box around the driver so that I can't talk to her or yell at the kids while I'm driving. Too distracting.

I'm still waiting for drink holders to be removed from cars - I'm sure driving one handed while reaching for the coffee is probably unsafe too.

Texting in my opinion is dramatically different than simply talking on the phone since you aren't having your eyes constantly averted from the road. Having bluetooth is no big deal and to your point where does the line get drawn? No more radio? Conversation? Eating? Drinking?

[CAA Flagship]

Holding something like a phone is clearly something that should be banned. Where they go off the deep end is with the proposal to ban any talking on a phone, even completely handsfree. I joked with my wife yesterday, if talking in a car even with two hands on the wheel is a distraction, they'll need to erect a sound proof box around the driver so that I can't talk to her or yell at the kids while I'm driving. Too distracting.

I'm still waiting for drink holders to be removed from cars - I'm sure driving one handed while reaching for the coffee is probably unsafe too.

Texting in my opinion is dramatically different than simply talking on the phone since you aren't having your eyes constantly averted from the road. Having bluetooth is no big deal and to your point where does the line get drawn? No more radio? Conversation? Eating? Drinking?

I'm handing in my license if they take away the travel beat.

[93henfan]

Banning hands-free would be really stupid. It's a safety issue. People have to be able to dial 911. I don't see how this will fly. Wait until one white woman gets raped because she couldn't dial 911.

Sure, ban hand held; no problem. Banning hands free would be absolutely ridiculous.

Unsolicited Mopar plug: I love the UConnect system in my Jeep. I can pull up any song from my iPod, operate any radio function, or call anyone stored in my cell with one click from my left thumb followed by voice instructions.

[Rob Iola]

If this is a transportation safety issue, shouldn't the NTSB hand off policy implementation to TSA? The DUI checkpoints would get a whole lot more invasive...

[89Hen]

I can't stand people on their phones while driving.

I'll shorten that to just:

"I can't stand people while driving."

You are correct.

[89Hen]

BTW, when I'm late for my tee time I often change clothes while driving. Including from pants into shorts. That's still OK, right?

[AZGrizFan]

BTW, when I'm late for my tee time I often change clothes while driving. Including from pants into shorts. That's still OK, right?

Perfectly understandable and acceptable, Hen.

[∞∞∞]

Texting is a no-brainer, but banning hands-free communications is ridiculous. A lot of people do business out of their cars because of how much they travel and it's pretty stupid to expect them not to be in contact with clients, employees, bosses, and etc.

Anyways, I think this will be one of those laws that's gonna be lightly enforced...kinda like no one actually gets you for going 60 in a 55.

[lakesbison]

I text and talk on phone every minute im on the road. this is bullshit. some of us are talented enough to do both.. shut up OBAMA

[BDKJMU]

Holding something like a phone is clearly something that should be banned. Where they go off the deep end is with the proposal to ban any talking on a phone, even completely handsfree. I joked with my wife yesterday, if talking in a car even with two hands on the wheel is a distraction, they'll need to erect a sound proof box around the driver so that I can't talk to her or yell at the kids while I'm driving. Too distracting.

I'm still waiting for drink holders to be removed from cars - I'm sure driving one handed while reaching for the coffee is probably unsafe too.

Banning hands-free would be really stupid. It's a safety issue. People have to be able to dial 911. I don't see how this will fly. Wait until one white woman gets raped because she couldn't dial 911.

Sure, ban hand held; no problem. Banning hands free would be absolutely ridiculous.

Unsolicited Mopar plug: I love the UConnect system in my Jeep. I can pull up any song from my iPod, operate any radio function, or call anyone stored in my cell with one click from my left thumb followed by voice instructions.

Why? There's NO safety difference between talking handheld and hands free- you're equally distracted.

"Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate

ARLINGTON, VA — As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study finds no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 US jurisdictions before and after such bans, the researchers find steady claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety......."
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr012910.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Study in NSC Journal Shows Hands-Free Phones No Safer Than Handheld Phones
http://www.nsc.org/Pages/StudyinNSCJour ... dHeld.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...Though drivers tend to think otherwise, there is no evidence that using a hands-free cellphone device behind the wheel is any safer, according to a report compiled for the Swedish government......"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr- ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Experts: Hands-free phones just as risky as hand-held
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10591619" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

9 states I think, including 3 I'm often driving in- NJ, DE, MD- have stupid hands free laws. Either ban the gd cell phone use or don't. But don't do this half a** hands free that don't do jack squat to improve safety.

[bluehenbillk]

I text and talk on phone every minute im on the road. this is bullshit. some of us are talented enough to do both.. shut up OBAMA

+1

[dbackjon]

I text and talk on phone every minute im on the road. this is bullshit. some of us are talented enough to do both.. shut up OBAMA

If you drive/text/talk like you post, I fully support this move.

[AZGrizFan]

I text and talk on phone every minute im on the road. this is bullshit. some of us are talented enough to do both.. shut up OBAMA

If you drive/text/talk like you post, I fully support this move.

Who you kiddin', you big government lover...you fully supported this move even BEFORE lakes' post.

[GannonFan]

Holding something like a phone is clearly something that should be banned. Where they go off the deep end is with the proposal to ban any talking on a phone, even completely handsfree. I joked with my wife yesterday, if talking in a car even with two hands on the wheel is a distraction, they'll need to erect a sound proof box around the driver so that I can't talk to her or yell at the kids while I'm driving. Too distracting.

I'm still waiting for drink holders to be removed from cars - I'm sure driving one handed while reaching for the coffee is probably unsafe too.

Banning hands-free would be really stupid. It's a safety issue. People have to be able to dial 911. I don't see how this will fly. Wait until one white woman gets raped because she couldn't dial 911.

Sure, ban hand held; no problem. Banning hands free would be absolutely ridiculous.

Unsolicited Mopar plug: I love the UConnect system in my Jeep. I can pull up any song from my iPod, operate any radio function, or call anyone stored in my cell with one click from my left thumb followed by voice instructions.

Why? There's NO safety difference between talking handheld and hands free- you're equally distracted.

"Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate

ARLINGTON, VA — As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study finds no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 US jurisdictions before and after such bans, the researchers find steady claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety......."
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr012910.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Study in NSC Journal Shows Hands-Free Phones No Safer Than Handheld Phones
http://www.nsc.org/Pages/StudyinNSCJour ... dHeld.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...Though drivers tend to think otherwise, there is no evidence that using a hands-free cellphone device behind the wheel is any safer, according to a report compiled for the Swedish government......"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr- ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Experts: Hands-free phones just as risky as hand-held
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10591619" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

9 states I think, including 3 I'm often driving in- NJ, DE, MD- have stupid hands free laws. Either ban the gd cell phone use or don't. But don't do this half a** hands free that don't do jack squat to improve safety.

I question any "expert" study that purports to show that talking on a hands free cell phone while driving is just as dangerous as holding a phone in one hand and driving. Like I said, if that is the view of "experts", then I'm sure the only logical step is to build a cocoon around the driver so that they are unable to talk to or see any other passengers in the car because if hands free devices are dangerous, then any form of communication with anyone, even the person sitting next to you, must also be dangerous. Heck, even more so when you think about it. When I talk on a hands free phone I don't have to occassionally look to the side to see who I'm talking to. I'll await the redesign of all cars to comply with the NSTB's call for isolation cocoons around the driver.

[dbackjon]

If you drive/text/talk like you post, I fully support this move.

Who you kiddin', you big government lover...you fully supported this move even BEFORE lakes' post.

Undecided. I want to be able to do this - just ban the idiots around me from doing so

[dbackjon]

Why? There's NO safety difference between talking handheld and hands free- you're equally distracted.

"Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate

ARLINGTON, VA — As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study finds no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 US jurisdictions before and after such bans, the researchers find steady claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety......."
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr012910.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Study in NSC Journal Shows Hands-Free Phones No Safer Than Handheld Phones
http://www.nsc.org/Pages/StudyinNSCJour ... dHeld.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...Though drivers tend to think otherwise, there is no evidence that using a hands-free cellphone device behind the wheel is any safer, according to a report compiled for the Swedish government......"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr- ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Experts: Hands-free phones just as risky as hand-held
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10591619" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

9 states I think, including 3 I'm often driving in- NJ, DE, MD- have stupid hands free laws. Either ban the gd cell phone use or don't. But don't do this half a** hands free that don't do jack squat to improve safety.

I question any "expert" study that purports to show that talking on a hands free cell phone while driving is just as dangerous as holding a phone in one hand and driving. Like I said, if that is the view of "experts", then I'm sure the only logical step is to build a cocoon around the driver so that they are unable to talk to or see any other passengers in the car because if hands free devices are dangerous, then any form of communication with anyone, even the person sitting next to you, must also be dangerous. Heck, even more so when you think about it. When I talk on a hands free phone I don't have to occassionally look to the side to see who I'm talking to. I'll await the redesign of all cars to comply with the NSTB's call for isolation cocoons around the driver.

Makes perfect sense to me. It is the talking that is the distraction, not HOW you are talking.

Of course, a parent with kids is probably more distracted than most cell phone users...

[ASUG8]

Hands free doesn't seem to be any more of a distraction than talking to someone in the car. At least with Bluetooth you aren't blocking some of your field of vision with a handset.

I think banning women on cell phones in SUV's would solve a lot of problems.

[HI54UNI]

We better ban brushing your teeth, reading the newspaper, shaving, putting on makeup, beating your kids, eating, combing your hair, and all the other shit I see on my daily commute.

Better ban drive up windows at restaurants too.

[Wedgebuster]

Hands free doesn't seem to be any more of a distraction than talking to someone in the car. At least with Bluetooth you aren't blocking some of your field of vision with a handset.

I think banning women in SUV's would solve a lot of problems.

FIFY

[ASUG8]

Hands free doesn't seem to be any more of a distraction than talking to someone in the car. At least with Bluetooth you aren't blocking some of your field of vision with a handset.

I think banning women behind any wheel would solve a lot of problems.

FIFY

FIFmyself

[BDKJMU]

Why? There's NO safety difference between talking handheld and hands free- you're equally distracted.

"Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate

ARLINGTON, VA — As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study finds no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 US jurisdictions before and after such bans, the researchers find steady claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) is an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety......."
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr012910.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Study in NSC Journal Shows Hands-Free Phones No Safer Than Handheld Phones
http://www.nsc.org/Pages/StudyinNSCJour ... dHeld.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"...Though drivers tend to think otherwise, there is no evidence that using a hands-free cellphone device behind the wheel is any safer, according to a report compiled for the Swedish government......"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr- ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Experts: Hands-free phones just as risky as hand-held
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10591619" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

9 states I think, including 3 I'm often driving in- NJ, DE, MD- have stupid hands free laws. Either ban the gd cell phone use or don't. But don't do this half a** hands free that don't do jack squat to improve safety.

I question any "expert" study that purports to show that talking on a hands free cell phone while driving is just as dangerous as holding a phone in one hand and driving. Like I said, if that is the view of "experts", then I'm sure the only logical step is to build a cocoon around the driver so that they are unable to talk to or see any other passengers in the car because if hands free devices are dangerous, then any form of communication with anyone, even the person sitting next to you, must also be dangerous. Heck, even more so when you think about it. When I talk on a hands free phone I don't have to occassionally look to the side to see who I'm talking to. I'll await the redesign of all cars to comply with the NSTB's call for isolation cocoons around the driver.

Ok, so the 4 articles I cited, 3 different studies, with supporting facts & data, are all wrong, and GF, without any supporting facts & data, is right, based on his perception..ok...Yeah, those folks at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when it comes to accident rates don't know what they're talking about.. Maybe they should just hire you to work for them..

Lots of folks, including myself, drive with one hand on the wheel. Whether or not the 2nd hand is holding a phone is irrelevant as far as making it less safe than hands free.

I didn't say that hands free is dangerous. I said its no safer that non hands free, as the data indicates.

If you're driving and a person is next to you, why would have to occasionally look to the side to see who you're talking too? Do you forget who got in the car with you? When you're driving and talking to someone in the passenger seat there's no need to look at them unless you're deaf and need to read lips or sign. I don't look at any other people in my truck I'm talking to when I'm driving..

I said "9 states I think, including 3 I'm often driving in- NJ, DE, MD- have stupid hands free laws. Either ban the gd cell phone use or don't. But don't do this half a** hands free that don't do jack squat to improve safety."
I should have said Ban texting. Of course I don't think cell phone use should be banned. And hands free laws that make no difference in increased safety shouldn't be enacted either. Thankfully the state you and I live in hasn't passed a worthless handsfree law like our surrounding states have.