Using your iPhone while driving, regardless of whether or not you are using a headset, may soon become illegal across the United States. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has proposed a new nationwide policy banning any and all non-emergency cell phone use while operating a vehicle.
A few states already have such policies in place, although most of even those states still allow for the use of Bluetooth headsets. If the new policy passes, however, the use of any personal electronic device while driving will be punishable by law in all 50 states.
The safety recommendation specifically calls for the 50 states and the District of Columbia to ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving task) for all drivers. The safety recommendation also urges use of the NHTSA model of high-visibility enforcement to support these bans and implementation of targeted communication campaigns to inform motorists of the new law and heightened enforcement.
“According to NHTSA, more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents”, said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving.”
“No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life.”
Personally, I somewhat doubt that such an extreme measure will pass into federal law – although I do believe that a blanket policy against using any electronic device without a hands-free headset while driving could easily come into effect.
Either way, prepare for the worst – your long conversations with Siri while driving to work may soon be at an end!