Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: NHTSA withheld results of studies on cell phone use while driving because of Congress]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/report-nhtsa-withheld-results-of-studies-on-cell-phone-use-whil/#commentsFiled under: ,



As always, it ain't the crime, it's the cover-up. In what looks to be Congress protecting its turf, a planned study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on driver distraction - specifically, drivers using cell phones - was put on hold. The reason, according to The New York Times, was allegedly a fear of upsetting the Capitol body. The reason, according to an ex-head of NHTSA, was "to avoid antagonizing members of Congress who had warned the agency to stick to its mission of gathering safety data but not to lobby states."

In 2003, NHTSA already had "hundreds of pages" of research on the effects of multitasking while driving. And yes, as many Autoblog commenters have surmised, the research does indeed point to people using their cell phones being "as likely to cause an accident as someone with a .08 blood alcohol content." NHTSA officials also felt that hands-free systems weren't a safe enough solution - drivers were still too distracted.

But when the safety agency drafted a letter to then Transport Secretary Norman Mineta that included policy recommendations, the head of the agency began hearing complaints about NHTSA overstepping its bounds. Congress, it was said, "warned the agency not to use its research to lobby states." As the story goes, the threat to NHTSA was that if it upset Congress, it "could jeopardize billions of dollars of its financing."

So instead of going forward with a focused study of cell phone usage that would include 10,000 drivers, the agency shelved everything and stayed quiet. Due to Freedom of Information Act requests, the research gathered up to now is being revealed. But there is still the issue of Congress holding back information that, frankly, could save lives.

What do you think? Do you use your mobile phone while driving? Do you think doing so should be illegal? Drop your fellow reader a line in 'Comments.'

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty]

REPORT: NHTSA withheld results of studies on cell phone use while driving because of Congress originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phonecellphonedistracted drivingDistractedDrivingdistractiondrivingdriving distractionsDrivingDistractionsgovernmentlegalmobile phoneMobilePhonenational highway traffic safety administrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationnhtsaphone while drivingPhoneWhileDrivingsafetyFri, 24 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[New Jersey bill aims to ban driver's use of GPS while driving]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/21/new-jersey-bill-aims-to-ban-drivers-use-of-gps-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/21/new-jersey-bill-aims-to-ban-drivers-use-of-gps-while-driving/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/21/new-jersey-bill-aims-to-ban-drivers-use-of-gps-while-driving/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Satellite navigation systems - click above for high-res image gallery

It is already illegal to manually use a cell phone for texting or calling while driving in New Jersey. A state legislator has aimed at the next in-car distraction: GPS devices. Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Smith wants a ban on manually programming GPS devices while driving. You would need to pull over to input your destination, or have a voice-operated unit. Punishment otherwise would be a $100 fine.

Probably every single one of us has had to drive defensively around someone who was obviously not paying attention to their driving. At this point, the question in New Jersey is how many activities are they going to ban? And what makes a GPS unit worse than an MP3 player or those folks who drive with their knees while they eat?

Another Assemblyman, John Wisniewski, had proposed a blanket ban on distracted driving in 2006 but that was passed over in favor of the cell phone-specific ban. New Jersey also already has a law against careless driving, which carries a $100 fine and two points on your license. Smith's proposed law would give New Jersey officers -- Smith is an undersheriff -- a specific behavior to target, but it all seems a bit scattershot in light of the copious distracting activities drivers engage in. Hat tip to Rich!


Gallery: Satellite navigation systems


[Source: Daily Record | Gallery Images: Getty]

New Jersey bill aims to ban driver's use of GPS while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distractionetcgovernmentgpslawlegalnew jerseyNewJerseySun, 21 Jun 2009 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/22/misguided-youth-teen-driving-distractions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Many have observed the recent uptick in teenage drivers having accidents while text messaging, often with tragic consequences. Liberty Mutual and Students Against Destructive Decisions have recently carried out research that shows texting to be the list-topping distraction among the more than 900 teens they polled. SADD and Liberty Mutual have been collecting data for seven years about teen behavior, attitudes and decision making while driving. They've amassed a treasure trove of information about what kids do while they should be driving, and how effective their parental units are at laying out and enforcing rules.

Rather than merely yell about the sky falling while burying their heads in the sand, Liberty Mutual and SADD have developed a set of recommendations for parents when it comes to teen drivers. The suggestions are all good, and mostly common sense; things such as being familiar with your state's graduated licensing laws, following through with consequences for flouting rules, you know, all the stuff we used to be worried about our parents doing. We hope the effort has some effect - even without the distraction of electronic toys while driving, teenagers are the least experienced drivers on the road, and thus need to be the most vigilant about having all their facilities concentrated on the task of keeping a 3,000 pound potential weapon in control.

follow the jump to see what other top distractions affect teen drivers

[Source: SADD]

Continue reading Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions

Misguided youth: Teen driving distractions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsdistractiondrivingsafetyteenstextSun, 22 Jul 2007 14:04:00 EST<![CDATA[States looking to crack down on in-vehicle electronics]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/states-looking-to-crack-down-on-in-vehicle-electronics-getty-im/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/states-looking-to-crack-down-on-in-vehicle-electronics-getty-im/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/05/states-looking-to-crack-down-on-in-vehicle-electronics-getty-im/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Cell phone usage has proven to be very distracting for drivers, and several states have banned the use of the hand-held devices for drivers. Now lawmakers in a dozen states are taking a broader approach to what electronic devices should be banned. Although there is little in the way of concrete evidence that links front seat DVD players, fax machines, iPods, and computers to accidents, it's pretty obvious that they're a distraction to the driver. To curb the usage of these devices, states like Texas and New York are considering fines ranging from $50 and $600 for offenses.

California has had some level of success enforcing these laws, as they've pulled over 3,200 drivers since 2003 for watching DVD movies. We agree that text messaging and watching a movie is way too much of a distraction for anybody that is simultaneously operating a two-ton vehicle, but it's tough to foresee how well such a law could be enforced. Users of their favorite digital devices may feel like they're being singled out, since major distractions like kids (I have three) and makeup application are still legal.

What is the craziest thing you've ever seen someone doing while driving?

[Source: USA Today]

States looking to crack down on in-vehicle electronics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cell PhoneCellPhoneComputerDistractionDrivingDVD PlayerDvdPlayerexpire-images:2008-7-4iPodThu, 05 Jul 2007 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Low-tech the way to go with fleet vehicles?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/30/low-tech-the-way-to-go-with-fleet-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/30/low-tech-the-way-to-go-with-fleet-vehicles/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/30/low-tech-the-way-to-go-with-fleet-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There was a time when the worst distraction to a driver was either changing the radio station or adjusting the HVAC controls. Now drivers have a few more items to contend with: cell phones; GPS navigation systems, CD changers; satellite radio; iPods; night vision; etc.

Conor Kelly wants to do away with all these new hi-tech distractions. The managing director for Merrion Fleets, which manages corporate vehicles in the private sector in Ireland, is tasking his fleet managers with encouraging corporate clients to minimize their use of hi-tech devices while driving.

"There is a need for companies to put road safety policies in place to ensure safer Irish roads," Kelly states, pointing out there are few fleet companies that provide any formal policies. He is working  to introduce strict guidelines in Merrion Fleet.

[Source: Motoring Life; image by avbuzz]

Low-tech the way to go with fleet vehicles? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Mar 2006 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distractionfleet vehicleGPSIrelandThu, 30 Mar 2006 12:32:00 EST