Report Questions Effectiveness of Cell Phone Bans - States Told Wait to Ban Driver Cell Phone Use -

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 7, 2011 - Contact
Gregg Hollander, Hollander Law Firm
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Kim Sailer, BARD Marketing
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Report Questions Effectiveness of Cell Phone Bans
- States Told Wait to Ban Driver Cell Phone Use -

Boca Raton, FL – A new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) {http://www.ghsa.org}, Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do, indicates that there is no evidence that cell phone bans are effective in reducing crashes, injuries, or fatalities. GHSA advises states not to ban driver cell phone use due to inconclusive or contradictory evidence, until more research and testing can be completed.

Today it is legal in 41 states for drivers to use handheld cell phones and no state bans all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers. It is also illegal to text while driving in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

According to the Department of Transportation (http://www.distraction.gov):
* 5,474 people died and another 448,000 were hurt in crashes involving all forms of distracted driving in 2009. (FARS and GES)
* 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).
* Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)
* Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
* 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).
* Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)

Some safety organizing feel the bans don’t go far enough like the National Safety Council (http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/K...), who believes there is enough research (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-07-06-distracted-driving-cellphones-texting-ban-state-laws_n.htm) to require a total ban of both handheld and hands-free cell phones. A spokesperson (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-07/auto-safety-group-questions-merits-of-handheld-mobile-phone-bans.html) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) {http://www.nhtsa.org} stated, “While 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, we feel strongly there is robust evidence on the dangers of distracted driving.” She added “Any activities that take extended focus away from the primary task of driving are both unsafe and unwise.”

While safety and regulatory agencies continue to conduct tests, address in-vehicle distractions, improve incident reporting, work with police to aggressively enforce the laws, and educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving, consumers are cautioned to use common sense when driving and follow their state laws.

The Hollander Law Firm focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, defective products and nursing home abuse cases. The firm is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 500 with additional offices in Naples and Fort Myers. The attorney can be contacted at (561) 347-7770. Additional information about Hollander Law Firm may be obtained from the firm's website at http://www.hollanderlawfirm.com. Also visit our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollander-Law-Firm/116333408408020)  or Blog (http://www.south-florida-injury-lawyer-blog.com/) for additional elder abuse resources and news.

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