A recent study shows that cell phone use while driving increases the chance of getting into possibly fatal crashes. This study now prompts companies and safety groups, along with the U.S. government debate to have a crackdown on gadget use behind the wheel.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, otherwise known as GHSA, studied over 350 documents which reported the connection between cell phone usage and car crashes. It discovered a link between texting and higher safety risks while driving, and suggested states to allow their own research before deciding to ban phone usage while driving.
“States that have not already passed handheld bans should wait until more definitive research and data are available on these laws’ effectiveness,” the study concluded. “There is no evidence that cell phone or texting bans have reduced crashes.”
However, the GHSA suggested a ban on cell phone usage for teenage driver statewide because they are at the highest risk for crashes, being so new to the road and unaware of problems that could possibly occur.
“Despite all that has been written about drive distraction, there is still a lot that we do not know,” Barbara Harsha, the GHSA’s executive director said. “Clearly, more studies need to be done addressing both the scope of the problem and how to effectively address it.”
Safety groups like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disagree.
“NHTSA agrees with the GHSA recommendation that states should take a data-driven approach in making decisions about whether to push for laws mandating certain driver behaviors,” said the spokeswomen for NHTSA, Lynda Tran“But we feel strongly there is robust evidence on the dangers of distracted driving.”
Before the research of GHSA, states began limiting roadway cell phone usage to hands-free devices including headsets and Bluetooth earpieces. Studies also show drivers using apps behind the wheel of their vehicle, which began cell phone regulation.
30 states currently prohibit all cell phone usage from new drivers, and require all conversations to be used with a hands-free device. 34 states have now banned texting while driving which has penalties of large fines on violators.
The federal government and wireless carriers are also trying to limit cell phone use while driving along with the states’ efforts. The Obama administration has also began thinking of adding warning labels, like the ones on cigarette packages, on phones to keep awareness to consumers about the dangers of texting and driving.
The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood referred to distracted driving as an “epidemic” that has already killed thousands and injured almost half of a million people on the U.S. roads last year.
T-Mobile and Sprint are also taking action to fight against distracted driving. T-Mobile is adding a “DriveSmart” service to its menu to disable functions of the phone once the vehicle starts moving by sensing rapid movements between cell towers. Once the vehicle is on the road for ten seconds, the service automatically sends out voicemail with a message which explains that the person is driving.
Sprint’s “DriveFirst” feature also includes many of the same features. The services can be disable in the event of an emergency.
As long as distracted driving doesn’t continue to remain a problem, governments and many corporations will likely continue to focus on this issue until it is resolved. Stricter regulations and more services like DriveSmart should be the new wave of protection for the younger crowd as technology expands.
