National Safety Council Calls for nationwide ban on cell phones for drivers

**StlouisX50** · 01-13-2009, 09:05 AM

National Safety Council Calls for nationwide ban on cell phones for drivers
Posted:

Most of us are guilty of doing but one false move and it could be a deadly situation.
We're talking about using cell phones while driving.
And now, a national group is calling for a total nationwide ban on cell phones behind the wheel.
Action News Anchor, Tiffani Sargent explains what's behind the proposal and why it could take years to pass.
In 2001 it was a mangled mess.
Two people were killed after a woman talking on her cell phone, blew through a red light and slammed into their car on the 215.
Trooper Kevin Honea of the Nevada Department of Public Safety says it's a bigger problem than we'll ever be able to quantify.
National studies estimate that cell phone use on the road is being blamed for at least 2,600 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries.
And that's why the National Safety Council is calling for a total ban on cell phone use behind the wheel.
Here, in the state of Nevada you can't simply be pulled over for talking on the cell phone while you're driving, but N-H-P says those people who are on the cell phone while they're driving often drive like they're intoxicated.
Trooper Honea says that every single hazardous moving violation that they see drivers commit because they're on their cell phones, they can pull drivers over for each and every one of those violations.
Meantime, at Wireless Toyz on Spring Mountain Road, owner, Chris Piazza says he encourages everyone to use a hands-free device while driving or to simply pull over and make that call.
Right now in California and many other states, they've already banned hand-held cell phones and many drivers have already been warned.
Robert Ford who lives part-time in the Golden State says he was pulled over on Sunday and told to get off the phone or they'd issue him a ticket for $200.00.
Still, others like Marilyn Martinez say they never use the cell phone while on the road because it's just not worth the risk, especially if children are on board.
Right now the National Safety Council is the first major national safety group to call for a total ban on cell phone use for drivers.
Group members say it could take years, but they'll continue pushing for it, one state at a time.
Stay with Action News for any new developments concerning our own state cell phone laws.

**partsfreak** · 01-13-2009, 09:17 AM

EVERYONE thinks they can drive and talk on the phone. From what I have seen the majority cannot. Trying to enforce the law if they were banned would be a difficult thing to do. Adding additional penalties to those who caused an accident while driving on the phone would be a good thing tho.

**StlouisX50** · 01-13-2009, 09:18 AM

Well if they ban cell phones then ban radios, scanners, cb's too! Oh and GPS's

**partsfreak** · 01-13-2009, 10:36 AM

When they can pry them from my cold dead hands.....

**StlouisX50** · 01-13-2009, 10:42 AM

Well thats my point seriously, everything thats in a car can be a distraction. Hell start putting dividers in the car so you cant see or hear other people.

**partsfreak** · 01-13-2009, 10:52 AM

The divider thing sounds good. I told my wife i already had an airbag in the car....
and thats when the fight started.

I seriously think that cellphones are much more a distraction tho. I see too many people just disregarding the world around them when driving. If you try to get them to pay attention they get pissed like you are the one doing something wrong for interupting their call.
People using scanners,RD's & CB's are more the type trying to gather MORE info about road conditions.

**DidacticSlip** · 01-13-2009, 01:25 PM

I was all set to say "no" on this, then I went to lunch. Ended up in a Wal-Mart parking lot at a 4 way stop behind someone. And waited, and waited. Finally noticed she had a cell phone glued to her ear.

Prolly breaking up with her boyfriend while the world goes on around her.