The National Transportation Safety Board is proposing a strict ban on any type of cell phone use while driving and this may make it illegal to use your cell phone while operating a vehicle.
Car crashes related to distraction were the cause of death for over 3,000 people in the United States this year, and the NTSB wants to save as many as possible in the future. Whether it’s texting, calling, or even operating a phone hands-free, the nationwide ban would prohibit all of it. Chairman of NTSB Deborah Hersman speaks strongly about the issue at hand:
“When it comes to using electronic devices, it may seem like it’s a quick call or a quick text or a tweet, but accidents happen in the blink of an eye. No emails, no texts, no calls. It’s worth a human life.”
Many states already have laws in place that make talking on the phone or text messaging while driving illegal, but none go as far as to ban hands-free use. Out of all the types of communication, texting is probably the most dangerous because not only is the driver distracted, but the focus is completely taken off of the road. Talking on a cell phone and hands-free communication is better because the driver’s eyes are still on the road, but it’s still a serious hazard due to distraction.
Presently, Congress did not show heavy interest in banning cell phone use while driving, however the National Transportation Safety Board maintains its recommendation could keep thousands of drivers safer on the road.
What do you think?