NTSB recommends complete cellphone ban when driving

The NTSB (National Safety Transportation Board) has just recommended a total ban on cellphones while driving.  The only exception they have made is for emergencies only.

The NTSB’s recommendation is just that, a recommendation.  It is up for the states to make the decision and decide if they want to go as far as a complete ban.

They are responsible for determining the causes of accidents – you see their people swarming around airplane and train crashes, but you rarely see them at a car wreck.  For automobile accidents they rely upon the police reports.  If the police determine the cause of an accident was “distracted driving” then the NTSB assumes it is caused by a cellphone.

Deborah Hersman, the chairperson of the NTSB, said “No call, no text, no update is worth a human life.  This is a difficult recommendation, but it’s the right recommendation and it’s time.”

I can see how texting can cause accidents as you have to look at the keyboard or keypad to create and sent the message.  I have seen people in their cars texting and weaving back and forth as they try to drive with their knees.  I honk at them and they usually stop, at least momentarily.

I can also see people holding the cellphone between their ear and shoulder.  Trying to drive with your head cocked sideways is not cool and is just asking for an accident to happen.

In my own humble opinion, someone using a hands-free device such as a Bluetooth headset is quite natural and does not interfere with driving.

A much worse distracted driving source is children in the car.  A bratty child will wreck havoc on one’s driving ability.  More than one child increases the distraction exponentially as you add more and more children.

Putting on makeup and plucking eyebrows is even much more distraction than children and the states do not have a law in place to make it illegal to put on makeup as you are driving.  I have personally witnessed an accident caused by this.

I have even seen a person playing a trumpet with one hand while driving with the other. Every state has a law that will fine you for distracted driving no matter what the cause.

The police have enough laws already; just let them use the distracted driving law more often on real distractions and leave the rest of us alone.

Do you think there should be a law preventing cellphones from being used in the car while you are driving?  If you answered yes, why?

Do you think GPS units can contribute to distracted driving?  “Recalculating… TURN LEFT NOW!!!”