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January 10, 2012
NTSB Recommends Ban on Cell Phone Use by Motorists
The National Transportation Safety Board has in the past, recommended the banning of texting while driving, the use of handheld devices at the wheel, and the use of cell phones by commercial truckers. However, earlier this month, the agency issued what Hawaii personal injury lawyers believe is its toughest distracted driving-related recommendation yet. It called for a complete ban on the use of cell phones while driving, except in emergency situations. The agency was responding to an accident in Missouri, in which 2 people were killed. The accident was ultimately traced to the use of cell phones while driving. This is the first time that the National Transportation Safety Board has actually recommended that all motorists be prohibited from using cell phones while driving, except in certain emergency situations. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, distracted driving is this generation’s drunk driving. Even as the number of drunk motorists across the country is on the decline, the number of persons distracted from the use of electronic devices is increasing. The National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation coincides with data by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration which shows that 3,092 fatalities were recorded last year in distracted driving-related accidents. Another survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates a 50% increase in the use of handheld devices while driving among motorists across the country. Clearly, the influence of distracted driving on motorist safety is expanding every year, and more strategic and broad ranging measures are needed to deal with this threat. Hawaii doesn't have a complete ban on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and texting while driving. However, all of the state's counties have implemented ordinances banning texting while driving. Hawaii state law only bans texting while driving for learning drivers.
Category:
[Car Accidents]
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