News Flash: Cell Phones are Bad for You

 Now it can be told: According to a 2003 meta study by the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), it matters not
whether you are talking on a hand-held cell phone or a hands-free
installation in your vehicle; while you are on the phone, you are no
more competent to drive than if you were legally drunk on alcohol.

o This information is brought to you by the same friendly government
bureaucrats who never met a helmet law they didn't like.

o This information was, however, suppressed by these same friendly
government bureaucrats.  It was pried from their cold, clammy grip by
the Center for Auto Safety and Public Citizen, using Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) requests, after its existence was reported in
_The Los Angeles Times_.

o NHTSA wanted to do a long-term study of 10 thousand cell-phone
owners but was warned off by members of the Republican Congress.
Apparently there was no conceivable use to be made of results other
than to lobby state legislatures for additional regulations.  Precise
statistics about the risk of mobile phones on the road were not
available at the time.  They still aren't.

o NHTSA also prepared a draft letter lobbying the governors and
explaining that state regulations ought not to favor hands-free
handsets in cars over hand-held cell phones regardless of enforcement
issues because both were equally dangerous.  That letter never saw the
light of day.

o Risk assessments from 2003 assumed 6% of drivers are on the phone at
any point in time.  DOT presumes that the proportion is twice as large
nowadays, so the problem -- once epidemic -- in the interim has
ballooned!

o Richtel, Matt. "Driven to Distraction: In 2003, U.S. Withheld Data
Showing Cellphone Driving Risks." _New York Times_ 20 July 2009. 23
July 2009
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/technology/21distracted.html?_r=3&hp=&pagewanted=print> .

--
.. Be Seeing You,
.. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA
.. Weather:  http://LacusVeris.com/WX
.. 63° — Wind S 5 mph — Sky mist.

 SNIP


I think I've been saying a much pared down version for even longer...

Could be wrong and honestly I wish it weren't true.

 bfbe-b3eecb693d81@18g2000yqa.googlegroups.com:


&h.

  why do you want to ignore the fact that every thing in the car is a
distraction just as stat. dangerous. radio, passengers, gps, ect. every
bit as distracting as a phone.  you better study them all. IF you want
safety they all must go.  KB

--
THUNDERSNAKE #9

Protect your rights or "Lose" them
The 2nd Admendment guarantees the others

 
Well you have to admit those who are incapable of riding motorcycle
have to get around some how and they aren't willing to fund effective
mass transite across the country. <shrug> not my problem though, I
just avoid the ones who are obviously incompetant in their driving
ability.

 ba3d-e22f1698741b@u16g2000pru.googlegroups.com:

45b9-

longer...

  the sad part is they are increasing in numbers dailey.  KB

--
THUNDERSNAKE #9

Protect your rights or "Lose" them
The 2nd Admendment guarantees the others