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)