NTSB Want to Nix Cellphone Use by Drivers

There is a growing amount of empirical evidence demonstrating the link between cellphone use and automobile accidents, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently took a step to reduce the number of crashes. The organization released a recommendation that states ban all cellphone use in cars, The New York Times reports.

Currently, no states ban all use of cellphones though some have prohibited texting and use without a hands-free device. Though the suggestion may be met with some resistance, NTSB officials believe it is the right choice to make given the prevalence of accidents caused by distracted driving.

"It's about cognitive distraction," Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the NTSB, told the Times. "It's about not being engaged at the task at hand. Lives are being lost in the blink of an eye. You can't take it back, you can't have a do over, and you can’t rewind."

Given the recent statistics regarding distracted driving, it's not hard to see why the NTSB made its recommendation. A survey by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration found that most drivers will answer an incoming call while they're behind the wheel, while only 9 percent of respondents said they would pull over to take the call. Furthermore, nine out of 10 respondents support a ban on texting.

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