The National Safety Council is urging motorists to stop using cell phone and messaging devices while driving, and is calling on businesses to implement policies prohibiting it and governors and legislators in all 50 states to pass laws banning the behavior.
Janet Froetscher
President & CEO
National Safety Council
“Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the NSC. “Driving drunk is also dangerous and against the law. When our friends have been drinking, we take the car keys away. It’s time to take the cell phone away.”
A study from the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis estimates that cell phone use while driving contributes to 6 percent of crashes, which is about 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths per year. It also says the annual financial toll of cell phone-related crashes is $43 billion.
The NSC also points to studies from researchers at the University of Utah that show hands-free devices do not make cell phone calls while driving safe.
“When you’re on a call, even if both hands are on the wheel, your head is in the call, and not on your driving,” Froetscher said. “Unlike the passenger sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the call is oblivious to your driving conditions. The passenger provides another pair of eyes on the road.”
Many business have adopted polices that ban cell phone use by employees while driving. Among NSC member businesses that responded to a survey, 45 percent said they have company polices prohibiting on-road cell phone use. Of those 85 percent said the polices do not affect business productivity.
“Anyone with a busy job knows the temptation to multi-task and stay in touch with the office while driving,” Froetscher said. “Believe me, I’ve been there. I didn’t realize how much risk I was taking. Most people don’t. Employers understand how dangerous the behavior is and their potential liability. We are asking all businesses to join us by adopting policies banning calling and texting while driving on the job.”
Froetscher is sending letter this week to all governors and state legislative leaders, pressing them to adopt statewide bans. She admits that enforcing bans in all states will be a challenge, but noted the NCS was successful in implementing seatbelt enforcement.
“The change we are looking for, to stop cell phone use while driving, won’t happen overnight. There will be a day, however, when we look back and wonder how we could have been so reckless with our cell phones and texting devices,” Froetscher said.
