Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- You could be banned from using your cell phone while in the car. That’s if the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) gets its way. The Federal agency says as technology becomes more advanced, people are becoming too tempted to Tweet or log onto Facebook while driving and cites years of accident investigations to back up their claims.
In New York State right now, it’s illegal to hold your cell phone to talk or text behind the wheel. But now, the NTSB is urging states to ban hands-free devices, including wireless headsets. At this point, no state outlaws such activity.
Right now, when it comes to cell phone use in cars, laws are determined on a state-by-state basis. Implementing such a ban, would come down to our state legislature. A move Syracuse police say they would stand behind.
“Car crashes happen to be the number one killer of people in the U.S. between the ages of four and 32, so I think it's well worth the effort,” said Syracuse Police Captain Shannon Trice.
Captain Trice says driver distraction is typically the reason for those crashes. In fact, even after stepped up enforcement in the city, he says drivers continue to talk, text and tweet behind the wheel.
Other drivers notice it too and think the NTSB’s recommendation is a step in the right direction.
“[There are] too many accidents... people not watching the road... just that little second, you know, you can be in an accident,” said Linda Lazone, who supports an all-out cell phone ban.
The verdict isn’t out just yet, and even if a full-scale ban were to pass in New York State, getting drivers to obey the law would take some time.
"We need to change the culture, just as we changed the culture for seatbelts. It used to be nobody wore their seatbelt, now everybody wears their seatbelt. We need to do the same things with cell phones,” Capt. Trice said.
Such a ban could also have an impact on car makers, many of which now offer hands-free, voice activated systems already built into their cars, allowing to make calls or get directions as you drive. And for some, even that can be a distraction.
If the ban were to be approved by the state legislature, Captain Trice says the city would be ready to enforce it. He said the state, as we all know, already has some strong distracted driving laws on the books that officers here have plenty of experience enforcing over the years.
Right now, New York is one of nine states to ban hand-held phones while driving and is one of 35 states to outlaw texting and driving.
