|
Updated: 10:48 PM Jan 14, 2009
A Call to Hang Up the Cell Phone
It's a call to ban cell phone use while driving.
The National Safety Council says it's a dangerous practice that leads to an increased risk for car crashes and fatalities.
Posted: 6:16 PM Jan 14, 2009Reporter: Kristen Ross Email Address: ross@kbtx.com |
|
It's a call to ban cell phone use while driving.
The National Safety Council says it's a dangerous practice that leads to an increased risk for car crashes and fatalities.
Studies have found nearly 3,000 deaths, and 12,000 injuries each year are caused by cell phone use while driving. So now the safety group is advocating a total ban of the device, while traveling on the road.
Most people are guilty of it.
"Both texting and calling actually," Motorist Bryan Williams said.
Whether it be sending off a few messages while waiting for the light to turn green, or returning a few phone calls while on the road.
It's a technology many of us now depend on, and some feel is driving motorists to distraction.
"When I'm texting, yeah, you'll look up and cars you don't remember being by you are there," Williams said. "It's just not safe because you're not completely paying attention to what's going on."
That's why safety groups, like the National Safety Council, are now pushing for a complete ban of cell phone use while driving.
"I think any of us who have driven have experienced the situation where you follow a person using a cell phone and witness their driving behavior is not up to standard," Quinn Brackett with the Texas Transportation Institute said.
Brackett says they've conducted their own simulator studies; where they've asked people to drive or attempt to drive a certain simulator course. Once without a phone, then while chatting it up on the phone and texting.
The results aren't to surprising.
"We found that it increased the risk of distraction and the likelihood of making an error while driving," Brackett said. "If you're going to use them it's much better to pull over and park on the side of the road to use it."
But for motorists like Skip Dent, who says he does most his business by phone while driving to his next job, the idea of pulling over each time he gets a call just doesn't have a ring to it.
"I feel like you're a target sitting on the shoulder," Dent said as his cell phone begins to ring. "There you go, see but I'm not driving. Hello?"
Currently no state bans the complete use of cell phones while driving, but six states have imposed tougher cell phones rules.
California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington, and the District of Columbia only allow hands-free devices to be used when behind the wheel.
For more information click on the link below:
Latest Comments
hi can you get me a phone that is so nice and that is a razer
[ Report Abuse ]
i think we should ban them while driving within 20 feet of a soon to be no smoking area....
[ Report Abuse ]
I do agree that you should not be able to physically have the phone in your hand or held to your ear by your shoulder, but like stated by someone that blue tooth should be allowed. My husband has a job that requires him to carry and answer his cell phone 24/7/365. He uses blue tooth for his calls because he is always driving, he's never had an accident, he still has both hands free and it's honestly no different than talking to a passenger in your car. A complete ban, I do believe is completely uncalled for, but for tighter legislation, yes. If you don't have blue tooth or some type of hands free that you're using, don't answer your phone.
[ Report Abuse ]
| AP Video |
|
|
| Find out Whats On KBTX Tonight | |
| Check Out This Fall's CW Lineup |
| College Station Now | |||
| Bryan's Living and Learning |
- Over a Dozen CS Vehicle Break-Ins Reported Friday
- President Bush Visits Wounded Fort Hood Soldiers
- House Passes Health Care Bill
- Edwards Will Vote Against House Health Care Reform Bill
- Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart
- Fort Hood Private Injured Thursday Describes Shooting
- Aggies Fail To Finish Off CU
- Aggies to Wear Helmet Decal in Honor of Fort Hood
- Fatal Accident Highway 79 Between Hearne & Gause
- Families Spend Weekend Under the Stars
- Update for the Fort Hood Shooting Tragedy
28 Comments - Mayor: CS's Red Light Cameras Will Be Off Wednesday
27 Comments - CS Woman Robbed at Gunpoint Speaks Out
26 Comments - Tragedy at Fort Hood: 12 Dead, 31 Wounded in Shooting
21 Comments - President Bush Visits Wounded Fort Hood Soldiers
20 Comments - Edwards Will Vote Against House Health Care Reform Bill
19 Comments
Send your Halloween pictures for a chance to win |





