NTSB -- NTSB VICE CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES ON NATIONWIDE BAN ON DRIVER CELL-PHONE USE BEFORE NEW YORK STATE SENATE COMMITTEE

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

Friday February 9, 2012

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NTSB VICE CHAIRMAN TESTIFIES ON NATIONWIDE BAN ON DRIVER

CELL-PHONE USE

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WASHINGTON- In December 2011, following a Board meeting on a

2010 multi-vehicle highway accident in Gray Summit,

Missouri, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

called for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use of

portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

Following the meeting, Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said,

"It's time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning

off electronic devices when driving."

(See http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2011/HAR1103.pdf)

On Monday, February 13, 2012, at 10:00 A.M. (EST), NTSB Vice

Chairman Christopher Hart will testify before the New York

State Senate Committee on Transportation on the NTSB's cell-

phone ban recommendation.

"In the last decade, the NTSB has identified the use of a

portable electronic device as a factor in the probable cause

of eight accidents and incidents across all transportation

modes. Forty-six people died and 181 were injured in these

events," said Vice Chairman Hart. "In light of this and the

growing penetration of portable electronic devices in the

United States, the NTSB is concerned and believes that now

is the time to act to preserve safety for everyone on our

roadways."

The NTSB did not come to this recommendation lightly. It has

noted distracted operations in its aviation, rail, highway,

and marine accident investigations for almost 10 years, and

distraction has been a continuously growing concern. Before

issuing the recommendation, the NTSB carefully considered

accident statistics and research on the issue of distracted

driving. While the specific statistics and findings may

differ among studies, the ultimate conclusion is the same:

talking or texting while driving-even on a hands-free

device-distracts the driver from the driving task,

increasing the risk of an accident.

For additional information about the NTSB's recommendations

on portable electronic devices, please visit

http://go.usa.gov/Q1c or

http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/category/distraction/

The hearing will be held in the Van Buren Hearing Room A,

Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, New York,

and can be viewed via live stream at: http://go.usa.gov/nM5

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NTSB Media Contact: Nicholas Worrell

(202) 320-3907

Nicholas.worrell@xxxxxxxx

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