Just drive

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The National Transportation Safety Board has suggested a nationwide ban on all cell phone use by people driving.

Some people think this is a terrible idea. They are, of course, wrong.

Last year, more than 3,000 people died as a result of using cell phones in vehicles and there were more than 400,000 accidents caused by drivers distracted by their phones, either talking or texting.

The argument that other distractions – listening to the radio, eating a burger – are just as bad is specious, if for no other reason than there is no evidence to support it. There is, however, clear evidence that use of phones gets people killed or, if they’re lucky, merely injured.

At least one national politician has said he opposes this measure because there is nothing in the Constitution about phones. But there was, for many years, nothing in the Constitution giving women the right to vote, either, yet common sense prevailed.

It should prevail again.