Cell phone ban for commercial drivers - how it will affect them

The US cell phone ban for commercial drivers means for most companies that they will have to double up personnel if theirs driver arent' allowed to make a phone call to announce an upcoming delivery (most companies give a 30 minutes heads up). If the driver is alone, he will have to pull over to make his phone call. [via Cracked Door]

"The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver's commercial driver's license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule."

Read full article.

Why You Shouldn’t Text and Walk

Casey Neistat filmed a PSA-type video about the dangers of texting and walking at the same time for the NY Times. [via Gizmodo]

What if Insurers Didn’t Pay for Crashes Caused by Texting?

What if insurers didn’t pay for crashes caused by texting? A provocative idea floated by a man from Boulder, Colo, in a letter published in The Wall Street Journal and picked up by The New York Times.

Car-insurance companies could simply add a clause to deny coverage to customers if an accident occurs while the driver is using a cellphone. The risk of a crash, including the liability of injury to others, would expose the driver to paying all damages out of pocket. I wager that this would put a fairly swift end to this practice for most people.

Definitely something to think about.

Why cellphones are an accident waiting to happen

A Finnish study has looked at how mobile phones distract us while we are at work or at play. It's a novel study because to date most research has focussed on the distraction risk mobile phones pose to drivers, generally citing a fourfold increase in crash risk to motorists yakking away on their phones. New Scientist reports.

Writing in the Accident Analysis and Prevention journal, a team from Tampere Institute of Technology reveals the results of a study in which 6000 people were asked if they had actually had any kind of accident - or had nearly had an accident - while using a mobile.

They found that leisure activities posed the highest risk: 13.7 per cent of their sample admitted to having "close calls" - and 2.4 per cent said they had actually had some kind of accident whilst using a phone. In the more health-and-safety regulated confines of the workplace, however, the close calls drop to 4.5 per cent and the accident rate to 0.4 per cent.

Read full article.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Won't Back Ban on Phones for Drivers

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he won't back a proposal to prohibit drivers from talking on cellphones, even hands-free devices, giving a boost to car makers and mobile-phone companies that stand to lose if regulators impose a ban.

The National Transportation Safety Board last week asked states to ban cellphones while driving in response to a deadly collision in Missouri last year that the agency blamed in part on a driver who was texting while driving. The NTSB wants the ban to include hands-free devices, which let drivers keep their hands on the wheel while talking through speakers or a headset.

Read full article.

U.S. Safety Board Urges Cell Phone Ban for Drivers

The National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday that it had voted to recommend the ban on the use of mobile devices by drivers, citing what it said were the risks of distracted driving. The New York Times reports.

The recommended ban applies to hands-free devices, a recommendation that goes farther than any state law to date. The agency said it is recommending that drivers be allowed to use their phones for emergency purposes.

[via The New York Times]

Feds: Phoning, texting killed 3,092 in car crashes last year

The government says that 3,092 people died last year in "distraction-affected" crashes, a newly refined measurement meant to tally the effect of texting, phoning or simply answering a call while driving.

That was one of every 11 U.S. traffic deaths.

[via USA Today]

Disruptions: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

Millions of Americans who got on a plane over the Thanksgiving holiday heard the admonition: “Please power down your electronic devices for takeoff.” Bits reports.

And absolutely everyone obeyed. I know they did because no planes fell from the sky.

Yet, in 2010, no crashes were attributed to people using technology on a plane. None were in 2009. Or 2008, 2007 and so on.

Surely if electronic gadgets could bring down an airplane, you can be sure that the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, which has a consuming fear of 3.5 ounces of hand lotion and gel shoe inserts, wouldn’t allow passengers to board a plane with an iPad or Kindle, for fear that they would be used by terrorists.

New technologies are often greeted with fear and that is certainly true of a disruptive technology like cellphones. Yet rules that are decades old persist without evidence to support the idea that someone reading an e-book or playing a video game during takeoff or landing is jeopardizing safety.

Read more.

Related articles on cell phones (not to be) used on planes blogged by textually over the years.

Billboards Feature Anti-Texting Safety Message

The Ad Council launched a national public service campaign about the dangers of texting while driving. via The Sacramento Bee.

The multi-media campaign includes TV, radio, outdoor advertising, and online banner ads. One fourth of the overall production budget was allocated for out-of-home media, and nearly 800 billboards have been ordered.

Read full release.

Teenagers today would rather have a smartphone than a car

Smartphones, along with social networks and text messaging, have become the expression of liberation from parents that getting a driver’s license and hitting the open road once was. Bits reports.

In a survey to be published later this year, Gartner found that 46 percent of people 18 to 24 would choose access to the Internet over access to their own car. Only 15 percent of the baby boom generation would say that, the survey found. “The iPhone is the Ford Mustang of today,” Thilo Koslowski, lead automotive analyst for Gartner said.

Sheryl Connelly of Ford has an interesting explanation for the behavioral shift. Driving a car limits the valuable time teenagers could use to text-message with their friends or update their social networks, she said. Although public transportation or waiting for a ride from the parents is slower, it gives a teenager more time to engage with friends on a mobile phone.

Read full article.

Cell phone law enforcement nets millions for Chicago

Chicago is making a lot of money off of cell phone users behind the wheel of their vehicles. In 2010, Chicago reportedly made $2.2 million off of the people ticketed for using their cell phones without a hands-free device while driving.

This is an increase of an amazing 73% in the data from 2006 when the law first took effect. In raw data, those ticketed by the Chicago police totaled 23,292 drivers according to the Chicago Tribune newspaper via The Examiner.

Ford adds 'Do Not Disturb' to 'My Key' that will block cell phones whilst driving

US car maker Ford has added a 'Do Not Disturb' feature to "My Key" that will block mobile phones whilst driving. The Inquirer reports.

MyKey launched in September in Europe, enabling parents to pre-program a master key that sets various limits on the vehicle, like speed, the volume of music or or failure to fasten seatbelts .

In what Ford is calling an industry first, the feature will be able to block phone calls and text messages to a driver's mobile phone whilst they are driving with the My Key system. It is designed to give parents peace of mind and encourage younger drivers to concentrate on driving.

Read more. Image from Geek.com

UAE Claims Blackberry Outage Resulted In Fewer Car Accidents

Police in the United Arab Emirates are claiming that a significant dropoff in traffic accidents in the past week or so is due to the giant Blackberry outage that made many of the devices useless for quite some time.

[Techdirt]

National Safety Council Answers Distracted Driving FAQ in New Video Series

The National Safety Council (NSC) has released a new video series that gives the full story on the distractions of cell phone use while driving. EHS Today reports.

The 2- to 3-minute videos in the “Understanding Distracted Driving” series feature NSC Senior Director of Transportation Initiatives David Teater, who explains the science behind cognitive distraction, why cell phones are a dangerous distraction to drivers, how companies can implement workplace policies for distracted driving and more. He calls the use of cell phones while driving “a dangerous, and oftentimes deadly, combination.”

Teater has a personal tie to distracted driving’s potential for tragedy: In 2004, his 12-year-old son, Joe, was killed in a crash caused by a driver using a cell phone. Today, Teater is a frequent speaker on the topic of distracted driving, has testified before Congress and has appeared before several state legislatures to advocate for restrictions on cell phone use while driving.

“You lose a child and it changes your life forever,” Teater said of his son in one of the videos. “The hardest thing to reconcile is that he died because of a phone call. There was no other reason.”

Watch videos on YouTube

Federal board urges cell phone ban for commercial truckers

According to CNN, the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday recommended that commercial drivers be prohibited from using both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones while driving on the job.

The recommendation is the most far-reaching yet by the safety board, which has previously recommended that young drivers and bus drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while at the wheel. The new recommendation calls for a ban on all cell phone use by people holding commercial driver's licenses while operating their vehicles, except in emergencies.

Read full article.

Airline passenger arrested for not turning off his cell phone

The police arrested a Southwest Airlines passenger on a flight from Phoenix after he refused to turn off his cell phone as the flight was landing in El Paso, on Monday.

[via the AP]

Driver spotted using two mobile phones is banned from Driving for 14 months

Remember the story a few months ago of a UK driver caught with TWO cell phones at the wheel? He was talking on one and texting on the other while driving with his knees - though his lawyer said this is not true - he was not texting but reading a cell phone number and was not steering with his knees.

Anyway, he's been sentenced to a ban from driving for 12 months - which he thinks is fair.

[via the BBC]

Huge Billboard PLS DNT TXT + DRIVE

This 13,000 square foot billboard on the 405 Freeway is from art activist "Bubblehead." She has a long history of creating massive street art, graffiti and wild postings with messages calling for the public to do the right thing on important issues that impact our lives.

Bubblehead's new SuperMural text message, is viewed by millions on the 405 Freeway and plane passengers flying into Los Angeles International Airport.

[via PR Newswire]

Nokia introduces voice texting

At the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars, Chris Weber, president of Nokia USA, demonstrated a Microsoft voice-recognition technology being introduced on its new Mango phone that allows users to receive and send text messages verbally.

The hands-free voice texting program could deter people from dangerous behavior.

[via Detroit News and The Nokia Blog]

20 Metrobus Drivers Fired for Using Cell Phones in 2011

Washington's Metro has fired 20 bus drivers for talking on a cell phone while driving since the beginning of the year. The culprits were caught on cameras mounted inside the buses.

The zero tolerance policy was activated two years ago when a photo of a Metrobus driver on a cell phone taken by a passenger became public.

[via NBC Washington]

Driver on two mobiles 'steered with knees' on 70mph road while talking and sending a text

File under not good.

According to The Daily Mail, a driver was caught steering with his knees while he was making a phone call and sending a text message on a second mobile.

Amazingly when police stopped David Secker, 34, on the 70mph dual-carriageway the officer had to wait to speak to him while he finished off his conversation.

Read full article.

Previously: - Man caught using TWO phones at the wheel.

High Use of Phones While Driving Slowly Declining

Even with a number of states banning handheld cell phone use and texting while driving, nearly 50 percent of drivers admit to making phone calls while driving and about 15 percent of drivers admit to sending and reading text messages while driving.

However, according to a survey by car insurance firm, GMAC Insurance, the youngest drivers in the nation are perhaps getting the message that distracted driving is dangerous, with almost three quarters of 16 to 17 year olds saying that they've completely stopped the use of mobile devices while driving.

The vast majority of drivers between the ages of 60 and 65 have completely stopped using mobile devices as well.

[via Cellular News]

Philadelphia pedestrian rule, affects people who are texting

According to Mobiledia, Philadelphia's city police department plans to begin cracking down on distracted walking, joining a growing campaign in other parts of the country.

Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler said on Tuesday that police officers will remind pedestrians to be more aware of where they are going. Contrary to earlier rumors, however, walkers will not be fined for texting. Rather, if a police officer sees anyone, on foot or wheel, moving dangerously, he will first remind the person to be more careful.

"It is not a crime to text and walk," Cutler told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It is dangerous, but not a crime. The only violation that comes close is jaywalking, and no one is giving out tickets for jaywalking."

Read more.

Justin Bieber Backs Anti-Text-And-Drive Campaign

Justin Bieber has thrown his support behind a campaign against texting while driving. Contact Music reports.

The teen pop sensation has filmed a commercial for PhoneGuard, the company behind the free Drive Safe application which locks the text-messaging function on Android and Blackberry phones to prevent drivers from typing while travelling at more than 10 miles-an-hour (16 kilometres-per-hour).

In the commercial, which was unveiled on Tuesday (19Jul11), the Baby hitmaker says, "I get it, it's tempting to text and drive, but maybe it's time to take responsibility for our actions. If someone texts you while you're driving, let them wait. You're more important than a text could ever be."

Bieber insists the ad is all about safety, telling HuffingtonPost.com, "This campaign isn't anti-texting. It's about texting responsibly."

Read full article.

After Ford, Chrysler also backs hand-held cellphone ban for drivers

According to Detroit News, yesterday Chrysler Group said it was supporting a federal ban on drivers using hand-held cellphones behind the wheel for calls or texting - becoming the second automaker to do so.

Ford announced its support of a federal law banning the use of handheld cell phones by drivers earlier this week. Verizon Wireless also has endorsed the bill.

Read more.

Are Billboards Banning SMS Advertising?

According to Tatango's SMS Marketing Blog, several of the major billboard companies may be moving towards a ban on SMS advertising on billboards, according to an industry insider.

This is in reaction to the both the popularity of SMS marketing and the increase in accidents due to texting while driving. Is this potential ban just playing it safe or are there actual studies on the effects of SMS campaigns on billboards?

If this ban can help reduce the urge for drivers to respond to a billboard ad via text message, I’m all for it, writes Derek Johnson from Tatango. On the other hand, are they forgetting that there is usually 4 other seats in most cars, all of which are not driving the car?

If you have any strong feelings about a ban or no ban, add your comment here.

Cellphones Cause 25% of U.S. Car Crashes

The primarily distractions when it comes to driving are the cellphones, as the crashes that are associated with cellphone usage when driving rose up to 25% in the U.S.according to a study released by Governors Highway Safety Association(GHSA), reported by autoevolution and MSNBC.

The study assessed research from more than 350 scientific papers published since 2000. It is showed that the driver is distracted up to half of the time he spends behind the wheel, more often causing minor injury and in some cases fatal injury.

Cellphone use raises the chances of a crash, instead texting is likely to increase crash risk more than cellphone use.

Read full article.

Ford Is First To Support Cell Phone Ban

Yesterday, Ford announced its support of a federal law banning the use of handheld cell phones by drivers. It's the first automaker to do so, and as a result, it's received praise from advocacy groups. But the clever move also offers Ford some advantages in showrooms, too. The Car Connection reports.

The "Safe Drivers Act of 2011" was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives by Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). If passed, it would create a federal law prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones by drivers -- a law mirroring those that currently sit on the books in nine states and the District of Columbia. The bill forces individual states to comply with the national law within two years or forfeit 25% of their federal highway allocations.

To date, Ford appears to be the only major automaker supporting the bill.

Ford has something to gain from the bill's passage: greater interest in its Sync system. Sync allows drivers to link their phones with Ford's infotainment system so they can take hands-free calls. Ban handheld calls, and there's greater reason for Ford shoppers to invest in Sync.

Read full article.

Report: Phones really could cause planes to crash

ABC News managed to get hold of a report by the International Air Transport Association that makes for very interesting reading. For it seems to link up to 75 incidents on planes with interference from cell phones or other electronic devices. [via CNet]

Like most airline passengers, you probably have serious doubts about those pre-flight announcements asking you to turn off your cellphones, blackberries, iPods and anything else electronic.

But a confidential industry study obtained by ABC News indicates there really could be serious safety issues related to cellphones and other PEDs. Especially on older aircrafts and at lower altitudes.

Read full article. Watch full report. Image from the Huffington Post.

In-flight Internet: the view from 35,000 feet and three years

As awesome as in-flight WiFi can be, it's often unavailable. Why isn't every flight in the country covered by now? Ars looks at the state of in-flight WiFi—where it is, where it isn't, and what's holding it up. arstechnica reports.

... It's an expensive, long-term investment to supply consistent and usable broadband Internet service at 35,000 feet. Surveys show people want access, but it's unclear how much (or even if) they'll pay for it. Aircell says that 20 percent of passengers on equipped cross-country flights use its service, but it's mum about numbers on shorter segments.

Read full article.