Proposed Ban. NHTSA.

[unit731]

The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for the first-ever nationwide ban on drivers' use of smartphones, iPods and other personal electronic devices while behind the wheel. The recommendation also includes banning "hands-free" phone devices.

 

The safety recommendation specifically calls for the 50 states and the District of Columbia to ban the "nonemergency use of portable electronic devices, other than those designed to support the driving task, for all drivers." Many states already have such a ban.

 

 

LINK

[peteking]

Heard about this. Honestly on the fence regarding my feelings about it. I talk on the phone when I drive, but most often I have my bluetooth earbud in. And I've shot quick texts out while sitting at a red light. So I'm in favor of certain communication functions while on the road. But I do hate it when people cruise at 70mph with the phone up to their ear chatting away, or texting. That's especially dangerous to motorcycles!!

[waumo1]

I'm normally against any restrictive legislation but this cell phone and texting while driving is out of hand. I would rather have to deal with drunk drivers. At least the drunk drivers usually are trying to watch the road.....

[ChevyTech77]

Factory bluetooth and the here and there quick text at a stoplight, that's it. Good luck getting me to stop, as well.

[music]

This gets messy. What about slapping at your kids in the backseat? Or... turning up the radio loud? Or... arguing with the wife about absolutely nothing... again... while barreling down the road. Or... on, and on, and on. I think the bigger problem is with kids doing *anything* while driving. I'd like to see the stats for wrecks caused by 40-somethings talking on a phone, vs putting groups of 2 to 4 teenagers into cars with no electronic distractions at all. As for texting, sorry... but nobody can text and drive at the same time without losing track, although it's crazy to watch a kid type out whole messages with their thumb and barely look at the screen.

 

Since I don't text/drive, and dislike phones with a passion... I'd be happy to see it banned. We'd be a little safer, and I wouldn't miss it at all.

[SouthCo]

Doesn't matter what laws they pass. People will do what the see as ok. Who always does the speed limit? Some people can multi-task and some can't. The only sad part is when someone who can't multi-task kills someone else. If they only harm themselves than it would be fine.

[Daryl LBZ]

There getting a little out of hand with wanting to ban hands free devices and Ipods.

[RyanbabZ71]

On August 5, 2010, on a section of Interstate 44 in Gray Summit, Missouri, a pickup truck ran into the back of a truck-tractor that had slowed due to an active construction zone. The pickup truck, in turn, was struck from behind by a school bus. That school bus was then hit by a second school bus that had been following. As a result, two people died and 38 others were injured.

The NTSB's investigation revealed that the pickup driver sent and received 11 text messages in the 11 minutes preceding the accident. The last text was received moments before the pickup struck the truck-tractor.

 

So was the school bus driver texting or talking on the phone??? How about the second school bus?

 

It couldnt have been because they were following to closely???

[truckofwinandawesome]

There getting a little out of hand with wanting to ban hands free devices and Ipods.

 

 

what about Bluetooth that's BUILT INTO The Vehicle, What about GM's Personal Audio Link, where you can CONTROL The iPod through the VEHICLE'S Radio!? and what about Ford's Sync and MyFord/LincolnTouch, Chrysler's UConnect, or Toyota's Entune Infotainment systems!?! what about ONSTAR!?! ARE THEY GOING TO BAN THOSE TOO!?!

[marine_devildog801]

I'm normally against any restrictive legislation but this cell phone and texting while driving is out of hand. I would rather have to deal with drunk drivers. At least the drunk drivers usually are trying to watch the road.....

 

 

Drunks may be TRYING to watch the road, but texters are not. Both are dangerous in my book. None more than the other, except texters are momentarily distracted while drunks are constantly a hazard while driving. But like SouthCo said, people are always going to do stupid stuff no matter what laws are on the books. That is why I have a job and always will

[dirtfan21]

Might as well pull the radio out of the vehilce too. I toatally understand the concerns but if you are going to take away all handheld devices then you should not be able to drink, listen to music, change radio stations, adjust your seat, mirrors, or anything else that takes your vision or mind off the road for a second. It IS NOT the devices that are killing people, it is the morons who cannot use them responsibly.

 

Give me a friggin break government. Pretty soon I'm going to have rules about taking a dump in my own house.

[unit731]

Might as well pull the radio out of the vehilce too. I toatally understand the concerns but if you are going to take away all handheld devices then you should not be able to drink, listen to music, change radio stations, adjust your seat, mirrors, or anything else that takes your vision or mind off the road for a second. It IS NOT the devices that are killing people, it is the morons who cannot use them responsibly.

 

Give me a friggin break government. Pretty soon I'm going to have rules about taking a dump in my own house.

 

 

 

Calm down.

 

There is nothing to worry about inside your home unless you are creating a health hazard or doing something that the authorities determine to be suspicious.

 

Nothing to worry about at all.

 

 

LINK

[dirtfan21]

Might as well pull the radio out of the vehilce too. I toatally understand the concerns but if you are going to take away all handheld devices then you should not be able to drink, listen to music, change radio stations, adjust your seat, mirrors, or anything else that takes your vision or mind off the road for a second. It IS NOT the devices that are killing people, it is the morons who cannot use them responsibly.

 

Give me a friggin break government. Pretty soon I'm going to have rules about taking a dump in my own house.

 

 

 

Calm down.

 

There is nothing to worry about inside your home unless you are creating a health hazard or doing something that the authorities determine to be suspicious.

 

Nothing to worry about at all.

 

 

LINK

 

 

That was a joke, I'm not paranoid whatsoever. My point with the statement above that is where does this end? Will we now lose radios in our vehicles because they are a distraction, will the government require all hands free equipment to be disabled from factory vehicles?

 

Just like with seat belt laws. They went as far as to put a chime in my truck to tell me to put my belt on, even if I am driving around on the farm and DO NOT need one on. If you don't want to wear a belt then that is your choice, just like a helmet on a motorcycle, not someone else's choice for you. You would be dumb to not wear one though, just saying.

[MikeNH]

They can ban whatever they want, no way I'll stop talking to someone if I have to. Just like any other law of the road, I'll do what I need to do to get through my day and I'll deal with the fallout if I'm stopped. It is BS though because it's the damn feds who pushed handsfree laws in the beginning and now they want nothing at all. Sorry but no. And I'm about as averse to talking or texting as one can get so it's not like I'm always on the phone. If I'm talking to someone it's because I need to. If conditions warrant I will stop and pull off the road but more often than not (especially with bluetooth) I absolutely can drive and talk without any risk.

[unit731]