New safety campaign: 'Death by cell phone'

New safety campaign: ‘Death by cell phone’

July 16, 2009 by Fred Hosier

Posted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Research on safety, Transportation safety

The National Safety Council is encouraging employers and states to ban cell phone use while driving.

“Death by Cell Phone” is the title of a new billboard campaign launched by the NSC.

The billboards feature Linda, a 61-year-old wife, mother and grandmother from Oklahoma, and Joe, a 12-year-old boy from Michigan, both killed in car crashes caused by drivers using cell phones.

The phrase comes from what Linda’s daughter said about her mother’s crash: “My mother died within a couple of hours from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest. I just call it death by cell phone.”

A companion video is also available at DeathByCellPhone.org. The video tells Linda’s and Joe’s stories.

According to a 2008 poll by Nationwide Insurance, 81% of cell phone owners report talking on their phones while driving and 18% admit texting while driving.

In January, the NSC called for a nationwide ban on all forms of cell phone use while driving.

The following state bans are in effect, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

6 states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington) and Washington, DC, ban talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving.
Use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and DC, and
Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 14 states and DC.

Would you support a nationwide ban on all use of cell phones while driving? Let us know in the Comments Box below.

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Tags: cell phone ban, Death By Cell Phone, National Safety Council

Safety King

If my automobile copilot is looking at maps or texting replies for me as a secretary, he won’t be able to alert me to the guy in next lane because I’ve deferred texting, and research to him so I can keep my eyes on the road but I do understand your point. We live in a world of rushing and peer pressure and need to be informed and stay involved with everyone all the time. We are not omniscient beings.
Jason

You have to remember too that talking with someone in the vehicle with you is different than talking to someone on a cellphone. The person on the phone cannot alert you to the guy in the next lane slowly drifting into your lane, the person sitting in the car with you can. Just playing devil’s advocate
Safety King

I think talking on the phone is no more distracting than speaking to someone in the car while driving. Or asking your passenger to look on the map to find next street or exit. I hate the ear peace and I have a voice activated cell phone that dials names or numbers as I dictate it and this does not cause me to take my eyes off the phone or use my hands. My phone when activated prior to driving feeds through my car’s speaker systems. However, texting is a different animal because it requires use of one or both hands and some people drive with knees while texting. A work around I use is to have my child or passenger text responses or comments as they enter my box if they are urgent and I can’t stop. Other than that this is one way nature may be using to eliminate and control over population. Let’s face it resources are becoming scarce and food is running out. Hide the twinkies…
http://WHATWEBSITE??? Alan D Parr

WTH? Tried2find deathbycellphone.org, but that website appearenly DOES NOT EXIST. When I
clicked on the link (www.deathbycellphone.org) I was directed instead to this site. What gives?
John

Maybe we can even have a Cell Phone Czar, too! Get real! Tell your dumb friends to learn personal responsibility and stop waiting for the government to help you out.
Jeff Martin

The only problem I see with all this is that when we start naming violations specifically we open the door for loopholes. Pennsylvania enacted a mandatory seatbelt law and then went and repealled the helmet law. This doesn’t make sense. However, by specifically stating that cell phones be banned while driving won’t work cause someone will get off on other infractions cause it wasn’t specifically stated in the law. I don’t know what the solution is but it needs to be sensible. I think by keeping it vague and general would be the best option… My opinion…
Andy F.

The company I work for just recently reinforced the “no cell phone/texting while driving” company policy. The Safety Manager sent a safety email reminding all employees that if on company business and driving a car (rental or personal), that their company insurance was not valid if they had a vehicle accident while driving and talking on a cell phone or texting. This is one place to start, with the employers and insurance companies. Although it will take a very long time to become a National Law. Consider that Seatbelts have been mandatory for installation on all motor vehicles since 1968 and we still do not have a national seatbelt law. And only 49 states have some type of seatbelt law. Only 30 states make it a primary punishable/fineable offense, and 19 a secondary offense. We have a long battle ahead of us to get the cell phones banned while driving, but maybe the insurance lobbyists would help us get this accomplished. Thanks for listening.
David Parker Manager

Thank You Mr Wright, I think you have said it all in a nut shell. But here I go. I think if one has been spotted on the phone or texting there should be a heavy fine and points taken.Or even automatic loss of license for a year. But of corse that would tie up our court systems for along time.Lady’s and Gentlemen we need to save lives less don’t play.As adults we should try to talk to as many people as possible about this and the teenagers. This is very, very serous issues. The longer we wait more lives will be lost. I would like to have a weekend like “Leave your phone at Home Campaign”. We do half to get the word out .Just like a preacher we need to preach this. Maybe the radio stations can p/u on this and help . We also can rally. How about the President Why can’t he HELP?? How about Opra or Doctor Phil? Just for a moment Think of what can be acomplished. If we all pull together. Go to the schools, college, churches. Ban the phones while driving. We can get this acomplished.
Thank You

‘National Phone and Text
Walt Wright

I’ve seen too many “near” collisions and nearly hit several times by people on cell phones (mostly women). I refuse to answer my cell phone while driving. I have voice mail, so I can deal with the call later. If it’s important they’ll leave a message, if not, I didn’t need to answer anyway. SImple logic… is it too much to ask? I like the DEATH BY CELLPHONE slogan. Federal laws should be in place to stop the madness, most states are far too relaxed on this issue.
raymond

Well Leigh, I agree with you…stop feeding the kids in the car…don’t play with your gps navigational system…don’t drink or eat while driving…don’t reach in the glove box for maps, or reach into the back seat for a box of tissues. You may be sounding off facetiously, but I am serious. I do not do any of those activities you mentioned while I am driving, I am concentrating on driving. If a driver needs to address any of the activities you mentioned, he or she should pull off to the side of the road first. And I agree with you that government cannot be allowed to control everything, but when individuals act irresponsibly and recklessly, putting innocent citizens in danger, then they should be held accountable for their actions.
Larry M

No dear, Just cell phones.
Jason B

Lets not forget about billboards! Their sole purpose is to distract a driver, from driving, to advertise. I wouldn’t mind seeing those disappear. Flocking up the scenery….
Leigh

OK then let’s stop the Happy Meals and feeding the kidz in the car, …Rover can’t come along…no passengers – too much conversation…no playing with gps navigational systems…no eating or drinking by driver, no changing radio stations, no playing with the heaters and car air conditioners, no reaching into the glove box to get the maps, no reaching into the back seat for a box of tissues, the list is ENDLESS…the government cannot be allowed to control everything…
Larry M

I experience unsafe drivers every day. Probably 75% of those who I see driving unsafely end up being on their cell phones. Those who are claiming that cell phone use is OK are in denial. They probably use their cell phones while driving and think that they are somehow better drivers who can “handle it” (just like those folks that think it’s OK to have just a few drinks before heading out).

Wake up! Don’t use cell phones while driving!
David Parker Manager

Debby, just to let you know i do agree with you on the main issue. You go girl
Debby

Very well said, Gary. I agree that the primary issue isn’t the use of a cell phone, it’s a driver who allows his/her behavior while driving to be negatively impacted by any number of things. Yes, I do believe it is beneficial for people to use hands-free phones while driving, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that person will or won’t be a safer driver than someone who is using a handheld device. I do agree that people shouldn’t be reading, texting, shaving, putting on make-up, using a laptop (including the officers who are sworn to protect us), watching/listening to a movie on DVD or any number of other tasks. If this is to be addressed responsibly, we should be looking for the reckless drivers, whatever the reason for the recklessness, instead of selecting one specific factor. Let’s call the problem what it truly is — reckless driving — and enforce the existing laws instead of pinpointing only one of the hundreds of contributing factors.
David Parker Manager

I do agree with the banding of cell phone use while driving. I do disagree with Gary on alot of his other issues while driving. Gary don’t be ridiculous. I can get on the phone anywhere and loose at least 30 % if not more focus on whatever i am doing. have been in transportation for over 30 years and it does seem like every other vehicle the driver is on the phone. The hwyways are like a war zone everyone needs to stay focused on what they are doing , watching the other driver and yourself all the time. A Hwy Patrolman in NC once was scolding me and he stated that driving was a privilege that can be taken away. Somehow this hit home to me. Save a life today and stay off the phone while driving. We don’t know but the life you save might be your on.
steve

The bottom line is that way too many drivers spend more time doing things other than driving. No doubt cell phones are a tremendous distraction. But, so are radios, conversations, eating, drinking etc. Simply put, most of us do not think about how dangerous an activity driving a vehicle is. Very heavy object traveling at a high rate of speed and we think we can manage it while talking on a phone? I spend a lot of time on the highways and I have learned that you cannot legislate stupidity out of people. Slow down, look high and ahead, give plenty of space, give yourselve an out and watch the other guy….cause you cannot control how they drive but, you can protect yourselve by being aware and concentrating on driving…not phones or any other distraction.
http://ElliottmachineshopMaconga. Hunter Hogan EHS mgr.

I have preached this for over a year now in my safety meetings. I am going to used the viedo with my safety commitee, at this months meeting.
Gary

If you are going to ban talking on a cell phone you should also ban talking to passengers. How is one more distracting than the other?
If you are going to ban holding a cell phone while driving with the other hand, then you should also ban driving with one hand for any reason, weather you are touching the radio, your mirrors, putting on sunglasses or any other activity.
Not sure why people want to pick on cell phones when the problem is based on an individuals behivior of allowing distractions beyond what that individual can keep up with. Cell phones are only a small part of a lager problem.
If distractions are an issue then ban all of them.
Jeff Martin

If talking or texting on the cell phone distracts the driver in any way we should work on a solution to curb accidents and increase safety and awareness. I like the bluetooth arguement. People can use cell phones equipped with bluetooth capabilities. However no one should really be texting on the cell phone while driving period, but where do we draw the line on overregulation. We are going to regulate ourselves right into oblivion. I agree with Chaz… Enforce current laws and have strict punishments for people who cause harm to others due to their own negligence. No one is afraid of the consequences of any crime so why stop doing the irresponsible behavior? We have too many laws now just start making people accountable…
Steve

I would absolutely support a nationwide ban. You can always tell when someone is on the cellphone. You will see them weaving; speeding up; slowing down on the interstate. Also when they are entering via ramp on to the interstate driving 20 MPH! Yikes!
Chuck

Of course Jason is having trouble getting the company to buy into the cell phone ban. Most likely those in power are alos abusers of using the cell phone to talk or text while driving. I know of trucking companies that banded use of company owned phones while driving. So it didn’t take long for a few of the drivers to start carrying two cell phones.

Cell phones are the most common device used but what about laptop computers, CB Radios, eating, drinking, and engaging in conversation while driving? All of these present major distractions as well.
Chaz C

Although use of cellphnes without a hands free device is illegal in New york it is still a widespread occurance. I’d be interested to know if there are studies corrolating laws outlawing cellphones with a drop in accident rates. Here in the New York metro area I’ve seen people eating including bowls of cereal, shaving , applying all manner of makeup and reading the paper all while driving a crowded highway at 60+ miles an hour. I’d rather see the police enforce the already existing laws outlawing distracted driving.
Dan F

Even though cell phone use in Calif. is legal if hands free, it is still a serious distraction. When in a vehicle, cell phone use should be allowed if parked or not moving; otherwise, turn it off and check messages later when you are safely off the road.
Jason B

I have tried to get my company to ban cell phone use while driving company vehicles, but I have failed. They do use hands-free devices but we have all seen the studies and distracted driving is still an issue.