Safety group wants even hands-free cellphones banned from cars
By John Lister
A safety organisation says American drivers must be banned from using any cellphones whatsoever while driving. The group argues that hands-free models don’t make it any safer to talk and drive.
The call comes from the National Safety Council, a non-profit group campaigning for public safety. It was one of the organisations which campaigned for road safety measures such as mandatory seatbelts. The group has had a Congressional charter for more than 50 years: that means it’s officially recognised by the government, but doesn’t necessarily mean officials agree with particular policy stances.
NSC president Janet Froetscher says that talking on a phone while driving makes you four times more likely to crash. “When you’re on a call, even if both hands are on the wheel, your head is in the call, and not on your driving.”
She also argues that cellphone use isn’t the same as talking to a passenger. “Unlike the passenger sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the call is oblivious to your driving conditions. The passenger provides another pair of eyes on the road.”
According to the group, cellphones contribute to six percent of all crashes in the US, killing 2,600 people a year. It also claims 45% of businesses it surveyed already ban employees from using cellphones while driving in the course of their work. Of those, 85% say there’s been no loss of productivity.
A nationwide ban would be a major step. According to the Washington Post, there are only six states (plus the District of Columbia) which even ban drivers from using handheld phones, though some others place restrictions on novice users.
Opponents say that an outright ban would be unfair as even those who generally avoid cellphone use may have to make the occasional call. There is also some question about how enforceable laws would be given that you can’t easily tell from sight alone if somebody is talking on a hands-free device.
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