Tough New Stance on Cell Phones in Cars

One of the primary focus areas of the Law Offices of Gary Bruce is motor vehicle collisions, wrecks, and accidents.  However you call them, millions of Americans are in wrecks every year.  While some are minor and lead to only physical therapy to rehabilitate sore body parts, others cause dramatic injuries resulting in costly surgeries or tragic deaths.  There is no question that many of these wrecks could have been prevented by a driver simply paying more attention to the road. 

In today's busy society there are numerous distractions for drivers.  Old habits of eating on the go, putting on makeup as you drive to work, or even just talking to the person riding with you are being taken over by technology's focus on GPS devices, satellite radio, and of course cell phones.  Our phones do amazing things these days including texting, web surfing, or even video conferencing.  But with all that power, one must have restraint in using it.  Now though, it appears that the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that people shouldn’t have that discretion.  See the article here.

According to the recent announcement, the NTSB has made the bold recommendation that ALL cell phone use be banned.  Many states have rules on phone usage while driving ranging from no texting, to limitations on age usage, and even allowing only hands free devices.  In particular, Georgia has passed its own variations of the law which prohibit texting/surfing and restrict minors from making calls.  More locally here in Columbus, Ft. Benning bans cell phone usage to protect drivers while on post.  Still, the recommendation of the NTSB is a huge step in attempting to make roads safer by halting all cell phone usage, even with hands free devices.  There is no doubt that its stance is one aimed at protecting people.  The poignant statement that no text or call is worth a loss of life rings true.  But the feel good call to protect driver's has its opposition.

For example, many point out that cell phones are being unfairly targeted while countless other distractions that are equally dangerous go unhindered. Others point to enforcement issues (which the NTSB interprets in its own way) citing that officers have difficulty observing and pursuing drivers texting vs using a GPS device or other activity.  Perhaps a ray of light is that while the debate is set to begin over a complete ban of cell phones in the wake of higher usage, traffic related deaths are actually dropping to their lowest levels since 1949.  See article here.

Ultimately, all drivers must be cautious and responsible not just for their own vehicle but in watching for other drivers as well.  As the holiday season is upon us, we hope that everyone tries to slow down and drive safely in this busy time of year.  Whatever the statistics and debate, there is little reason to risk injury to others for the sake of entertainment or saving time.