Federal Agencies Withheld Information about Accident Risks from Cell Phone Use
According to a New York Times report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2003 decided to withhold information and evidence that Americans were being placed at high risks of accidents because of the growing use of cell phones behind the wheel.
Documents that were buried years ago have now surfaced thanks to the efforts of two public interest groups, and the NYT has published those documents on its website. The research was apparently withheld because, according to the former NHTSA chief, Congress members didn’t want the agency to pressure states for changes in their driving laws. At the time, the researchers have asked for a more intensive study about the dangers of cell phone use by motorists, but the agency stonewalled any such plans because of political concerns. It’s just another example of the manner in which our safety agencies and law makers fail to do what's right for the American motorist.
The researchers, it seems, had wanted to warn states that a ban on handheld devices would do nothing to eliminate the risk of accidents. Earlier this year, I had discussed how the National Council on Safety had called for a ban on cell phone use by all drivers. That included handheld as well as hands free devices.
Currently, only a handful of states including New Jersey have laws banning handheld cell phones for all drivers. No states ban cell phone use of all kinds behind the wheel. However, teen motorists in many states are banned from using cell phones while driving. With cell phone use being traced to not just automobile accidents, but also trucking and train accidents, it’s clear that we need to revise our approach to handling the problem.
- In Boston earlier this year, a trolley operator texting on his cell phone caused an accident that injured dozens of people.
- Last year, a train accident in California that killed 25 people was traced to operators on both trains involved sending text messages on their phones.
- Motorists using their cell phones are up to 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who are not using their phones.
- Studies have shown that use of a cell phone while driving causes a level of impairment that is equal to that caused by a blood alcohol level of .08 percent.
With all those facts and figures at our disposal, I don’t believe we should be dragging our feet on what is such an essential public safety issue. As a Passaic County personal injury lawyer, I don’t believe that a ban on cell phones behind the wheel will be a highly popular measure, but I do believe that it would be a firm step towards increasing the safety of our motorists.
