NTSB Urges Ban on Texting & Cellphone Usage by Drivers

Federal safety investigators are urging all states to impose total bans on cellphone use while driving (including using a hands-free device). The five-member NTSB would make an exception only if the device is used to aid in driver safety such as a GPS system.

Because NTSB investigators are seeing increased occurrences of texting, cellphone calls and other distracting behavior by drivers in accidents involving all kinds of transportation, it has now become routine to request the preservation of cellphone and texting records during the beginning stages of an investigation.

The suggestion comes after a deadly crash caused by a texting teenager who was found to have sent or received 11 text messages in 11 minutes before he rear-ended a tractor trailer.  His vehicle was rear-ended by a bus that had just run over a smaller vehicle.  That bus was then hit by another school bus.  The texting driver was killed as well as a 15-year-old who was on one of the school buses.

NTSB chairperson acknowledged that their recommendation would be unpopular. A total cellphone ban would be the hardest law to accept for people. She added, "We're not here to win a popularity contest. No email, no text, no update, no call is worth a human life."