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Transportation Head Calls for Full Federal Ban on Cell Use In Cars

Article Comments  67  

Apr 27, 2012, 12:26 PM   by Eric M. Zeman   @zeman_e

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called for a federal law that would make it illegal for all drivers to use cellular phones in moving vehicles. Calling the problem a national epidemic, LaHood cited 3,000 annual deaths attributable to distracted driving as a reason for adopting such a law. LaHood would build the law such that states would be compelled to enforce it in order to receive federal highway dollars. He wants to give police "the opportunity to write tickets when people are foolishly thinking they can drive safely or use a cell phone and text and drive." Using a cell phone when behind the wheel causes as much driver impairment as a blood alcohol level of 0.08%.

Reuters »



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Apr 27, 2012, 12:54 PM

3000 people is not an epidemic

It's tragic, but seriously.
It's 3,000 people a year dying now that weren't being killed in the pre-iPhone society 10 years ago.

That rate of growth is epidemic.
I agree and I also think that if I can not have a conversation on the phone while driving, then car pooling should be out also. There are some seriously distracting conversations going on there as well. Oh yea, and car makers need to stop putting thos...

Apr 27, 2012, 12:58 PM

just another way for govenmentS to

what about all the death cause by gun? are we going to ban guns?
what about all the death cause by DUI? ban alcohol?
what about all the death cause by cigarette? ban smoking?


FINALLY somoene who agrees with me!
No one is talking about banning mobile devices. Read the article, reflect, then post.

Driving distracted is a collision waiting to happen. Shooting a gun from a moving vehicle is already illegal in my jurisdiction as is driving while impaired. No ...
Just because you own a gun doesn't mean you will kill someone with it.
Just because you drink doesn't mean you will drive
And just because you own a cell phone doesn't mean you have to use it while driving.

Just like shooting someone and drinking...
With all do respect netboy. Arent you being a little irrational. Think about it. How many times have you seen an irresponsible driver text and drive swerve all over the road or even someone on a call driving with one hand and then an unexpected mishap...
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein DOT.
as an extra step, i think we should just ban cars altogether ..

3,000 deaths attributed to cell phone use is nothing compared to the millions of deaths the depletion of the ozone will cause.

if the Government were truly interested in protecting ...

Apr 30, 2012, 11:34 AM

An obviously two-faced money grab.

This is dumb. Most new cars come with satellite radio and a GPS unit with touchscreen controlls. What about banning those? What about a trucker's CB Radio?

Look at all the crazy computer stuff that they cram into a policecar. You're telling me I can't be on my phone in the car, but a police officer is required to operate his radar and scanner and god knows what else?

Give me a break. They just want more money.

Apr 27, 2012, 8:54 PM

in the year 1980.. when there is no cellphones.

can someone tell me why is there still car accidents?
i know for a fact that when there is a accident, people are wearing clothes! let' ban wearing clothes while driving!
Let's just ban cars. They cause 100% of all Car accidents.
Because women are still allowed to get behind the wheel.

Apr 27, 2012, 1:09 PM

Oh yes please of great leaders!!

Oh yes, this is what we need, more laws and restrictions. Soon we won't be able to have anything in the vehicle at all. As someone else said, eating, make up, it's all destractions.

Where's the law that says do not commit sexual acts behind the wheel? I mean after all I would think that would be more of a distraction. Wait... you mean we don't have numbers for that? Shock....

The only reason this is even coming up is because we can actually prove through cell phone records, that someone was on the phone at a certain time. No one is going to admit to eating, putting on make up or commiting sexual relations behind the wheel lol

Soon all road ways will be surrounded by concrete walls to avoid distractions and then people will all fa...
Ugh really? I had to typo in the heading? lmao
Just another in a long list of examples of the federal government attempting to overreach their authority. I especially like the part about withholding federal highway funds if the states refuse to comply. Here's an idea... instead of potentially pu...

Apr 29, 2012, 11:24 AM

Won't change ish.

to be honest. People still drive with their phones glued to their ear all the time here in CA.

Apr 27, 2012, 12:41 PM

Its about time!!!

I support this 100000%
I support it -100000%

Apr 28, 2012, 6:50 PM

Fire Him!

Epidemic? Give me a break. Get rid of this guy. Next they will ban talking to passengers in the car or better yet only one person in the vehicle.

Apr 28, 2012, 2:02 PM

$500 fine, and...

...amputation of one finger. Two if their ring tone was set for the default carrier jingle.

Apr 28, 2012, 1:25 PM

While it is a valid distraction........

there are numerous others that are just as bad or if not worse.
One example there is an NBA player who shall remain nameless even though it was published on the web as a brief news article and then disappeared just as fast. The moron was masturbating while driving his pimped out SUV with a DVD player mounted into the front center dashboard. While physically and visually distracted while driving, he drove through a storefront.
Cellphone use is just one of a slew of distractions that cause accidents. Why not ban playing the radio while driving too? 🙄

Apr 27, 2012, 6:26 PM

Only if you can prove....

that the accident rate actually decreases when applying a ban
So... your saying pass the law and if it doesn't show any sign of success, then repeal it? The last time that happened without judicial review was prohibition. Students of history know how that worked out, lol

Apr 27, 2012, 3:35 PM

taxpaying public calls for ban on DOT idiocy.....

Geez! Another example of too many departments, services, bureaus, agencies, etc. in Washington. Really, can we start firing some of these people & eliminating some of these departments. Next some other idiot agency will try to mandate our oxygen intake & fine us if we breathe too often or offer us free oxygen tanks if don't don't take enough breaths. If you have nothing to do but sit around & come up with BS stuff, maybe there is no reason for your job? GET LOST WASHINGTON!!!!!
True dat!
I never thought I'd agree with you on anything, tether. There's a 1st time for everything, lol.

Apr 27, 2012, 12:41 PM

I am sooooo...

Tired of hearing about this. Talking on the phone and driving is NOT anymore of a distraction than eating, smoking, talking to passengers, shaving, putting on makeup, changing radio stations, and whatever other type of distraction(s) and driving.

Sure we do not hear about the deaths or have any statistics of other distractions and driving causing accidents, etc but why always pinpoint in on cell phone use and driving. I understand texting and driving or emailing and driving, but come on, there has to be a stop on this somewhere.
I do agree on that point, texting/driving is a definite distraction since your eyes are OFF THE ROAD. Texting at a red light isn't so bad, especially if you know the area and know it's a long one, and some people do use their phones as GPS devices (me...
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