ZoomSafer: NTSB Recommends Banning All Cell Phone Use While Driving

HERNDON, VA--December 19, 2011: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) voted yesterday to recommend that all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia enact laws banning drivers from any use of personal electronic devices, including both handheld and hands-free cell phone use, while driving. The recommendation also called for states to implement high-visibility law enforcement programs in conjunction with public awareness initiatives. For the modern American society whose long-standing love of motor vehicles is rivaled only by its newfound lust for mobile phone use €“ all the time and everywhere €“ this new recommendation has potentially massive ramifications for individuals, employers and government organizations.

“There's considerable research showing that state laws restricting driver cell phone use are difficult and expensive to effectively enforce”

35 states and D.C. currently have laws on the books prohibiting all drivers from texting behind the wheel, and nine states and D.C. also ban handheld cell phone use. No state currently has a law banning all drivers from all (handheld or hands-free) cell phone use. Recent studies have shown, however, that laws on their own are not sufficient to deter distracted drivers -- and also emphasize the need for innovative enforcement solutions as complements:

• A 2010 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that state texting bans did not create a sustained reduction in driver cell phone use
• High-visibility enforcement programs piloted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2010 did have a sustained impact -- but require more manpower and funds than the average police department has available
• NHTSA's 2011 survey on distracted driving attitudes showed that 25% of drivers believe texting behind the wheel does not negatively impact their own driving

"There's considerable research showing that state laws restricting driver cell phone use are difficult and expensive to effectively enforce," said Matt Howard, CEO of ZoomSafer. "This new NTSB recommendation recognizes that distracted driving is a complex and dangerous behavioral problem and appropriately highlights the important role that technology can play in terms of affordable and effective enforcement."

Employers seeking to promote the safe and legal use of cell phones at their organizations are encouraged to evaluate FleetSafer Mobile and FleetSafer Vision, ZoomSafer's simple, affordable technology solutions that respectively actively or passively enforce policies governing employee cell phone use while driving on-the-job. To take advantage of a demo of FleetSafer solutions, please visit Cell Phone Ban Solutions.

About ZoomSafer

ZoomSafer is a leading provider of enterprise software to prevent distracted driving. FleetSafer solutions enable employers to measure, manage and enforce cell phone usage policies to reduce crashes, risk, liability and expense. For more information, please visit ZoomSafer.