Banning teenagers from using cell phones or other wireless devices while learning to drive should be a national auto safety priority, say U.S. transportation safety officials.
The National Transportation Safety Board put the proposed restriction on its “most wanted” list of safety improvements for the upcoming year, which also includes older appeals for more states to impose limits on teens’ night driving and carrying of passengers.
“Learning to drive and being distracted is a recipe for disaster,” Mark Rosenker, the board’s acting chairman, said at a hearing on the new safety priorities.
Thirty years ago in driver’s education classes, I was told that simply being distracted while driving was a recipe for disaster– age had nothing to do with it.
I see no evidence that adults are handling their cell phones any more adroitly while driving than teenagers who are “learning to drive.” How about we just agree not to fumble with our cellphones, hamburgers, notepads, etc. while driving.
There: I’ve attacked the sacred cell phone. I’m sure to catch hell now.
You’re sounding like an old fart.
I don’t see how they’re going to get people (teens included) to NOT talk while driving…even the cops do it around here.
Actually, they’ve done studies that imply that even handsfree cellphones lead to more accidents and distracted driving than a conversation.
So, I agree with the idea of avoiding cellphone usage during driving.
Seriously, I don’t care how old you are. Talking to someone on a cell phone is going to distract you.
I would imagine the ban is targetted at teenagers because they typically aren’t the safest drivers, and tend to use cell phones while driving more than adults. It just doesn’t make sense to only go halfway on this issue. Why make the roads a little bit safer, when you can make them a lot safer?
This cell phone ban is just one more thing that the government says is bad for teens but is alright for adults (e.g. smoking and drinking).
I agree! I always want to yell out the window “are you driving a phone booth?”
But I would never yell out the window – The person would not hear me thru the SUV Glass – A/C – Radio – Onstar Ladies saying you gas cap is not on all the way – and the kids DVD player in the back-
I would just look like some loon waving his hands and mouthing something that looks like Nice Ride to them.
Incrementally attacking teenagers rights to kill themselves with cellphones probably won’t get you much flak except from teenagers….
FIRST thing I told my daughter as she got behind the wheel for the first time a few years ago was that everything gets turned off. Not easy in my car – the stereo’s NBD, but the hi-band radio’s power button is hidden pretty well….
Mom used to crank on me for talking on the (ham) radio while driving forty years prior. It took me a few months to feel comfortable with it. Guess I was more conservative then. (Wanna have fun – yak on the radio or a cellphone in a standard-shift car….)
Overall, I think the real hazard is multiple passengers. You can indeed lose yourself in a phone conversation, but the kids have better reflexes than us old farts, and can usually see better. Adding another kid to the mix makes it more dangerous, though.
Overall, not a bad idea. We oughta limit the kids to only one non-adult passenger, too, unless there’s an adult in the car. Or make ’em drive Miatas?
Teaching the kid, btw, was fun. Did you know there’s a god of the right front hubcap? I did a LOT of praying….
I use a cell phone all the time on the road, but I will admit that one of the most frustrating things to me as a driver is other drivers who are distracted when on the phone. There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the passing lane and sitting behind a driver going 40 in a 65, only to pass them on the right to see them chatting away. Maybe the next killer car app will be hands-free access to bluetooth-enabled phones (with easy, intuitive setup!) as the standard on all cars for safety reasons.
I’ve been rear ended by an _adult_ with a cell phone jammed in his ear.
Ban ’em for adults as well as kids. That includes using a cell phone with a Bluetooth earpiece and mike, which (according to recent articles in the local paper) is apparently just as distracting to a driver as the cell phone alone.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find conversation requires the use of higher brain functions. I will be talking to a passenger in my car when traffic suddenly becomes a “concern”. It may irritate my passenger, but I will interrupt my conversation — without completing the sentence or thought — and will resume only when traffic no longer requires my undivided attention.
Given the high use of cell phones while driving, I can only conclude that:
1) my inability to handle two demanding tasks at the same time is rare for our species or
2) those using cell phones while driving have relegated either their conversation or their driving to the “lower” portion of the brain.
After over-hearing too many cell phone conversations in public, I can accept that a large percentage of the cell-phone drivers are not diverting much brainpower to their speech centers.
Talking on the cell phone while driving is dangerous, because your mind is busy ‘making up’ the missing body language, intonation, etc that are present in a normal conversation. You are paying attentiuon to the conversation, not the riving and your surroundings. If you don’t believe me, look around.. most people driving like morons are either morons or talikng while driving.
If I suspect that a phone call is being made from a moving car, I ask, and if true, I say something like… “I’m sorry, but I think that me talking to you on the cell phone while driving is probably distracting you, and I think that is dangerous. Can you please call me back later when you are not driving?” and terminate the call ASAP. If they don’t like it, when that too darn bad.
I have little sympathy for insurance agencies, but they should have the right to have a ‘no talikng on cell-phone while driving’ option, and offer a nice discount for those willing to comply. If they can prove you were on the cellphone at the time of a claim, your coverage is void (just as if you are drinking and driving).
Cell phone use is already banned in New York State. The fine is hefty too – $150-175 per ticket in most areas.
I think I’d rather give someone a beer rather than a cell phone before they get in their car. Seriously, cell phones are the single most distracting thing to a driver, whether you are answering a call, dialing a number, or god forbid trying to send a TXT message. Even in NYS now, with people using “hands-free” headsets, you still see them dialing the flippin’ number!
I love the latest technological innovations that are found with bluetooth enabled cars (e.g. Prius) or Navi units. I just had a TomTom Go 700 installed in my car and my bluetooth enabled Motorola E815 paired with the navi unit allows me to take calls via the navi unit and the sound is heard through the car speakers.. Also, my phone allows traffic updates and weather reports to sync with my navi unit. At least the technology is out there for people who feel they MUST talk while they are travelling. While these are all fun and great – I don’t talk while I drive. How ridiculous would it be if you were talking on your phone with your buddies about your fantasy football stats from last week and you end up getting into an accident that harms someone?
Bottom line, adults and teens alike need to put the phone down while they drive. If that requires legislation then I’m all for it. Talking on a cell phone endangers those around you and therefore it is the responsibility of our lawmakers to take that ability to harm others or yourself away from you.
Should you ban eating in cars while driving too?
Shoot, in the office I usually step away from the computer while talking so I can give the caller my undivided attention. Driving *seems* easier than typing or walking, until you crash or swerve.
Yes, phones should be banned while driving, as well as eating or drinking, or having car stereos with anything more complicated than a cassette player (volume, tuning, balance). Computers or PDA’s in cars? You crazy? Need these things for long commutes? Then your area needs better mass transit; ride to work and use all the widgets you want.
#12 Yes.
#15
Or… you could pull off on the next exit and pull into a parking lot for a few minutes. That would save the government lots of money.
Are there really cell phones that don’t have free voice mail?
I think that drivers shoulld be aleast the age of 18 before getting a drivers licence. They should always be accompanied by an a driver at least 21 years old. New findings are showing accidents are being caused by drivers talking on the phone with little experience behind the wheel and with a mind that is not fully developed to process decision making.. Just because you pass the drivers test does not make you a good driver. Only time can make you a better driver Personally I am tired of seeing kids driving and talking at the same time and adults. . I would love to see their parents in the car with them so the could enjoy the fear of their child on the highway. Also, a bright purple light should be installed on all cars that are using a phone while driving to give a blinking warning to their fellow drivers.
Just think of all the accident and gasoline could be saved by doing this and I’m getting tired of irresponsible parent thinking I have to be their kids babysitter on the highway.
Also, I figure it is just a matter of time that parents will be sued for allowing their child to drive a 3000 pound weapon and give them a phone so they can put everyone in danger. I don’t see many parent ggiving their children a gun to carry at age 16. So what is the different of givng them a car and a phone. Maybe they should ride scooters from age 16 to 18 to learn driving. Common sense is the are still just kids and we should protect then rather than figure a way for parents to get them out of their hair.
first of all if we let kids drive at 18 then they will be going off to college with no driving experience. They makes for some safe roads!
second, hands free are just as dangerous as as cell phones. when you are on a hands free cell phone you are still not paying attention. So If there was a ban then they need to take away all of the phones.
Third , passengers are always in the car and the take you attention away . You will always have distrations. It will be very hard to enforce the ban when It is hard getiing a person to stop shaving in the car!
Fourth , It will be very hard to enforce the ban. Cell phones are so small that when a person sees a police officer that they can just hide them on their lap and tell who they are talking to ,to hold on.
So I personally think a ban would be a waste of time and money and it will never work.