The findings of a recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute has found that banning hand held devices (cell phones) has not reduced the rate of car accidents in Connecticut, California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
The study concluded that based on the absence of fluctuations of collision rates before and after the laws were put in place. Increased rates of crashes when drivers use hand-held cell phones have been well documented, so it's unclear why the four jurisdictions' accident rates did not mirror the trend after their cell phone bans took effect.
The Highway Loss Data Institute is trying to determine the discrepancy in the rates, which they believe might be related to drivers resorting to using hands-free devices (bluetooth) that are just as bad as driving while using a cell phone.
A federal ban on texting while driving for commercial drivers of trucks and buses was instituted on Tuesday. Commercial drivers caught texting while driving face a penalty of up to $2,750. Last year, President Obama also signed an executive order asking federal employees not to text while driving government vehicles
I see people driving while on their cell phones a lot, so I don't think that the threat of a fine really bothers people that much. However, I think texting while driving is even more dangerous and there should be a ban on that for all drivers, not just commercial ones. Remember, driving while talking on a cell phone puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash.
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I personally think that is a slight exageration, though I agree that I still see people in their cell phones while driving. Despite that being said, people should still get off their cell phones while driving, because they still have tendencies to do really stupid things while driving in their cars.
I'm still in complete shock that people think that cell phones themselves are the distraction. I, for one, drive one handed almost all the time. It's not the cell phone, but rather the conversation that is the distracting component. Why legislators allowed any form of earset or headset to be used in place of holding a cell phone and expecting results is beyond me. With that said, this study comes to no surprise to me and rather, it was expected.
I always felt that banning cell phones can help reduce accidents. Since so many people are texting on the road these days, it's difficult to really focus on what is going on in front of you. Texters usually look down while texting so half the time, they aren't even paying attention to what is actually going on on the road. People aren't just talking on the phone nowadays, they are also sending messages on their phone. So therefore, more to be distracted by. I think that by banning the use of cell phones while driving can create a safer environment for drivers.
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