Yesterday, the NTSB recommended that the use of cell phones while driving be banned. What do you say we dig into this CNN article, its about to get stream of consciousness-y in here:
“Tuesday’s recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.”
Good to know that emergency calls are OK!
Sir, I pulled you over this afternoon because you were on your phone. But officer, I was making an emergency call, I swear!
Yea, this will be totally enforceable, and in no way problematic. Lets keep reading:
“It would apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices…”
So this applies to hands free devices. Therefore, the distraction is not caused by the phone itself, but by the act of speaking and listening. So the next time you’re driving down the road and the person in the passenger seat tries to start a conversation, politely tell them to shut the hell up, or you’ll kill us all. Check. Lets continue:
“…but devices installed in the vehicle by the manufacturer would be allowed, the NTSB said.”
This makes sense, because, wait no it actually makes no sense at all. Is speaking / listening dangerous, or is it not? Having a conversation is having a conversation, whether it be in person, on a stock hands free device, or on any other hands free device. So what could possibly be going on here? I’m not much of a car guy, so I’ll consult cars.com!
“Some cars come with Bluetooth systems as standard equipment; when available as an option, they usually cost about $300… Aftermarket car kits range in price — starting at around $50…”
A clue! The aftermarket kit would be banned, but the stock system which has the exact same functionality for 6 times the price is just peachy. Its pretty clear that the NTSB really has no interest here in increasing safety. This is a poorly veiled attempt at forcing you to spring for that Bluetooth system when you buy your next car. For this to actually be about safety, the plausible scenarios are:
- The act of having a conversation is the problem. If hands free systems (all of them) are banned, then it must be because of the conversation itself. So lets ban speaking at all.
- Its the physical act of pressing buttons on your phone to place the call that’s the problem. In which case a hands free system with voice activation (all smart phones can do this) should be just fine.
- Ford’s lobbyists are the problem. In this case, the NTSB proposal would be… precisely what it is.
Thanks, NTSB. This is why we can’t have nice things.
520 Chestnut 
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