Automakers Support Texting-while-driving Ban To Prevent Auto Accidents

The move to enact a complete ban on text messaging while driving to prevent the growing number of accidents from such behaviors, received support from another quarter this week, as the country's foremost automakers announced their support for a ban on texting while driving. The automakers also support allowing motorists to use voice activated, hands-free devices to make phone calls.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers represents 11 automakers including Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, General Motors and others. The president and CEO of the AAM, Dave McCurdy, has released a statement expressing the group's belief that using handheld devices to send text messages while driving or make phone calls, is a definite safety risk.

The Alliance is supporting a ban on texting and phone calls using handheld devices, but strongly supports allowing motorists to use proprietary systems and hands-free devices to make calls. Examples include Ford Motor Company's Sync and General Motors' OnStar. These systems allow motorists to make phone calls, and have text messages read out to them. The system uses voice activation technology, so motorists don't have to dial a number, or use their hand to receive a call. Currently, seven states including California and the District of Columbia ban the use of handheld devices by motorists. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have a ban on texting while driving.

It's hard to be very enthused about the automaker's calls for a ban on texting while driving, considering their strong support for the use of voice-activated hands-free systems in cars. The whole issue of cell phone use while driving has more to do with the kind of distractions caused by carrying on a conversation either by text or through phone calls, than with the manner in which the motorist holds his cell phone. In fact, safety experts including the National Safety Council have called for a total ban on all kinds of cell phone use behind the wheel, including hands-free devices. If a driver is going to continue to carry on a conversation using one of these voice activated systems, it still constitutes distracted driving, and increases the risk of an auto accident.

However, a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation earlier this year found that the use of voice-activated systems like OnStar and Sync are less risky than the use of hands-free and handheld devices. According to the Virginia Tech Institute, headset cell phones are not that much safer than handheld devices, because the motorist needs to take his eyes off his road while answering a call, or dialing a number. However, with a voice activated system that is well designed so that the motorist is not required to take his eyes off the road, the risk of an auto accident may actually be lessened. The Virginia Tech study found that the act of dialing a cell phone is between 2.8 and 5.9 times more dangerous than driving without distractions.