Federal safety board wants nationwide ban on cell phone use in cars

Network World:

The federal National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for the first-ever nationwide ban on the use of any personal electronic devices while driving a car. »»

The NTSB wants to ban people from using smartphones while driving cars. This had to happen sooner or later. There were more than 3,000 deaths last year that were directly attributed to smartphone use while operating a motor vehicle. That number has grown exponentially year-over-year for the last few years. Smartphone use is the new drunk driving. 

That is not to say that smartphones are more dangerous than alcohol. It is a question of prevalence. Driving while using a smartphone is mostly legal, so many people do it. Driving drunk is not only dangerous, but also illegal. For that reason, fewer people drive drunk than drive while using a smartphone. Though driving drunk is more dangerous, less people do it, so less people get hurt.

The NTSB is suggesting that we ban smartphone use while operating a motor vehicle, just as we have done with alcohol. Their hope is that this will dramatically reduce the amount of smartphone-related driving deaths that occur each year. I second the NTSB’s motion. By driving while using a smartphone, you are not only putting your own life in danger, but also the lives of those around you.

Not cool.

(Source: techmeme.com)

RILA: Amazon's Holiday App Proves Urgent Need for Congressional Action to Level Playing Field

Earlier this week, Amazon kicked off an aggressive marketing campaign against brick-and-mortar retailers. The promotion, which can only be accessed on Amazon’s Price Check app, promises $5 off any Amazon purchase that is made while standing in a brick-and-mortar retailer.

In response, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) released the following statement:

Amazon’s aggressive promotion of its Price Check App shows the lengths they are willing to go to exploit this tax loophole, and is a stark reminder of why Congress needs to act to protect retailers on Main Street.  A failure to act is an implicit endorsement of a subsidy of Amazon, a subsidy that distorts the free market and puts jobs on Main Street at risk.

RILA supports bipartisan legislation introduced in the House and in the Senate that would level the playing field and force all retailers to compete under the same rules.

Funny, Amazon had already come out in support of that same bill — the Marketplace Fairness Act.