| Debbie Hersman, chairperson of the NTSB, recently | | | | conversation, and not the actual device itself. |
| announced this ban which will prohibit employees | | | | Text messaging is another extreme danger, |
| from cell phone use while behind the wheel. Neither | | | | especially in teens. According to a study conducted |
| handheld or hands free devices will be allowed, unlike | | | | by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute just last |
| the state of California which has banned only | | | | month, texting while driving increased the odds of |
| handheld devices. This announcement makes the | | | | having an accident by 23 times when compared to a |
| NTSB the first federal agency to completely ban the | | | | driver who was not sending text messages while |
| use of any type of communications device while | | | | driving. In some states, cell phone use is allowed but |
| behind the wheel. | | | | laws put in to place have banned text messaging. |
| Currently, there are no states that have completely | | | | While numerous states have some form of cell |
| banned cell phone use while driving, making NTSB | | | | phone use ban in place, these are mostly restricted |
| employees that only people who have stricter rules | | | | to drivers of commercial vehicles and other groups. |
| on cell phone use while behind the wheel. Seven | | | | Anyone using common sense realizes that when |
| states do have a ban against handheld devices, but | | | | engaged in a conversation, whether with a hand held |
| allow use of hands-free sets. These states include | | | | device or hands-free, the mind is occupied with other |
| California, plus the District of Columbia. | | | | thoughts and not concentrating on driving. Still, |
| The National Safety Council believes that it is the | | | | every state including California have avoided placing a |
| actual conversation, and not the device, that takes | | | | complete ban on the use of communication devices |
| drivers attention off of the road. Banning cell phone | | | | while driving. Perhaps the NTSB has now set an |
| use while driving has long been an issue with safety | | | | example that other states and federal agencies will |
| experts. It seems that the distraction is believed to | | | | consider following. |
| be caused due to having ones mind engrossed in | | | | |