Cell phone distraction report released, raises concerns
The 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report "Using Wireless Communication Devices While Driving" (PDF) has now been made public. (Read Cell phone use when driving: Federal research cover-up alleged.)
As our colleagues in the Cars Blog report, the NHTSA document raises significant concerns about safety when driving with a cell phone. Those include signs that the magnitude of the risk posed by drivers distracted by cell phones may be greater than previous studies suggested—and is likely continuing to rise.
It also raises concerns about NHTSA itself—an agency whose mission is to improve vehicle safety and save lives. In the view of Consumers Union, the parent company for Consumer Reports, NHTSA should step up and warn drivers about the risks of cell phone use behind the wheel, and state governments should crack down on this growing problem.