RSS FeedAsk Drivers to Hang Up the Phone
January 26, 2009 at 03:31pm by Sally Flocks · 1 comment
On January 12, 2009, the National Safety Council, the nonprofit advocacy group that pushed for seat belt laws and anti-drunk driving campaigns, called for a complete ban on using cellphones while driving.
More than 50 peer-reviewed scientific studies confirm the risk of talking on cell phones while driving. Research shows that hands-free phones are just as dangerous than hand-held ones. The problem isn’t your hands. It’s your brain.
“Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Driving drunk is also dangerous and against the law. When our friends have been drinking, we take the car keys away. It’s time to take the cell phone away.”
PEDS encourages you to ask your friends, family, and colleagues to hang up while driving. If you sense someone who called you is driving, ask them to call back later.
I totally agree with a ban on cell phones for drivers. Hang up and drive! It’s easy to think it’s not a big risk with so many people doing it, and I’ve seen some people on cell phones who seem to be pretty engaged in driving. But I’ve seen way too many people who are mentally elsewhere, mentally in the phone conversation and not thinking about the road. They’re slow to go at the green light, they drift out of their lane, and worst of all, they’re sluggish to stop. I’d be happy with the ban.