U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he believes motorists are distracted by any use of mobile phones while driving, including hands-free calls, as his department begins research that may lead him to push for a ban.
LaHood, whose campaign against texting and making calls while driving has led to restrictions in 30 states, says his concerns extend to vehicle information and entertainment systems such as Ford Motor Co.’s Sync and General Motors Co.’s OnStar.
“I don’t want people talking on phones, having them up to their ear or texting while they’re driving,” LaHood said in an interview this week. “We need a lot better research on other distractions,” including Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calls and the in-car systems, he said.
Even without a ban, which would have to be implemented by individual states, LaHood’s escalating campaign may limit the growth of vehicle features such as Sync, being added by automakers to attract younger buyers. His push also may reduce calls made from vehicles and the revenue of mobile-phone companies such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc.
LaHood, 64, said even hands-free phone conversations are a “cognitive distraction.” Calling for a ban on hands-free communications is a possible outcome of research under way at the Transportation Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into all driver distractions, Olivia Alair, a department spokeswoman, said.
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9 Responses
Hatzlacha passing a law prohibiting talking on any hands-free devices!
Then again these politicians probably have personal drivers..
This is more of the nanny state being
pushed by the socialist liberal democrat workers party. This is NOT a federal issue!!!!!!!!!
I’d love it. Now I have an excuse not to answer the phone when I get called on my way home by me PITA boss with more questions. Or, from my wife with shopping to pick up on the way home.
Great Idea!!!
Texting while driving is purely idiotic. Using a hand-free device is probably no more dangerous than talking to a passenger while driving.
why is it that talking on the phone using hand-free device is any less distracting then having a conversation with a passenger?
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has additional legislation planned that will ban eating while driving. He is also weighing a law requiring the banning of all radio, stereo, and iPod devices in vehicles. If a passenger is in the car, and a cop spots the two of you speaking, there goes your license for a year. This will increase the use of mass transit and eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
Driving a car safely is a halachic responsibility. As the Mishnah Bava Kama 26a teaches: “Adam muad l’olam, bein shogeg bein meizid, bein er bein yashen. A person has liability for all of his actions, both accidental, and intentional” Consequently, one is liable for damage caused through unsafe driving and Halachah clearly deals with damages caused by users of the public thoroughfare.
American law has a concept of negligence per se. If you violate a traffic law, you are deemed to have been a negligent driver. That applies to speeding, running red lights, illegal turns and so on. Halacha has a similar concept. The Shulchan Aruch C.M. 378-8,rules that one who damages his fellow while running in the reshus harabim will be liable if he damaged a person who was walking or standing still. Running in this instance, therefore, is seen as irresponsible and reckless. In Halachic terms, one who runs through a public street acts Shelo birshus. The one who was not running bears no liability. While the Halachos of the Shulchan Aruch operate independently of secular law, applicable traffic laws define what constitutes an act that is Birshus and what is Shelo birshus on the roads. In essence the traffic laws dictate what is considered appropriate behavior on the roads.
Moreover, if a person is acting especially reckless — and I think texting while driving, or even taking your eyes off the road to dial a cell phone number — that person would be in the category of a rodef and chayav misa.
The proposed law is not enacting a restriction on personal freedom as much as it is formally defining an act of recklessness that should be a matter of common sense. Those here who believe otherwise should consult their local rav.
To #7: You forgot to mention that you can’t: turn on the heat in the winter while driving nor the a/c in the summer, roll down your window, check your rear view mirror b/c your eyes must be on the road in front of you, nor check your speedometer or gas, and and and…