wiright's blog

The New York Times reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration killed an ambitious study on the dangers of cell-phone use while driving in 2003. The study report was not made public in part over concerns of angering Congress.  After the break of the report, the research report “Using Wireless Communication Devices While Driving” finally has been made public.

The report details cell phones - hands-free or not - contribute to accidents, possibly even fatalities. 

The experimental data indicates that, with the exception of the consequences of manipulating a wireless communications device, there are negligible differences in safety relevant behavior and performance between using hand-held and hands-free communications devices while driving from the standpoint of cognitive distraction. Specifically, the experiment data reveal observable degradations in driver behavior and performance and changes in risk-taking and decision-making behaviors when using both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones, and the nature of these degradations and changes are symptomatic of the potential safety-related problems.

You can read the document here:

http://www.wirelessguide.org/2009/090728.php

NHTSA said, "We recommend that drivers not use these devices when driving, except in an emergency,". 

An increasing number of studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone can be dangerously distracting.

Some consumer advocacy groups are asking for a total ban on cell-phone use while driving.   There is no question that talking on a cell phone while driving is a dangerous distraction. 

So should we ban the cell phone use while driving?

There's no doubt that talking on a phone, with or without hands, increases risk.  A cell phone ban might make us feel better, but opponents say cell phone bans are simply not enforceable.  And there are countless things that distract drivers as much as cell phones -- talking to passengers, shouting at the kids, listening to talk radio, eating a burger, drinking a bottle of water, doing their eye makeup. So it makes little sense to outlaw one activity.

What’s your opinion?