Following a vote earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is advising states to ban all driver cell phone use in cars. The ban would be in place for drivers and would prohibit talking, texting, and browsing the Internet, even with hands-free devices. The ban does not include on-board, hands-free car systems and does not impact passengers.

The broadest recommendation yet by the NTSB, if adopted, would make the practice of talking or texting while driving a felony and could include driver’s license revocation. Imposing the ban would be a decision to be made at the state level. Currently, the District of Columbia and 35 states already ban texting while driving, but these may not be enough, according to the NTSB.

Current data indicates that texting and driving have increased by 50% in the past year, with one of every 100 drivers emailing, texting, or Web-surfing while driving; a particularly worrisome issue given that younger, novice drivers tend to be more distracted, in general, noted CNN. As a matter-of-fact, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) pointed out that a review of 350 scientific papers found that drivers are typically distracted about half the time; this, without the added distraction of cell phones and smart phones.

"No call, no text, no update is worth a human life," said Deborah A. P. Hersman, chairman of the NTSB. "This is a difficult recommendation, but it's the right recommendation and it’s time," Hersman added.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), at least 25% of all accidents in the United States are linked to smart phone use, said Information Week. In human terms, this translates to about 3,092 deaths annually, said the NTSB, according to The Washington Post. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving,” said Deborah A. P. Hersman, chairman of the NTSB.

An independent agency, the NTSB lacks the regulatory power of the White House and does not have the strength of Congress, noted CNN; however, the NTSB is the country’s leading federal safety advocate and its recommendations carry a good deal of weight and can serve to assist Congress should it consider similar, federal actions.

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